Amazon’s color e-reader finally gets a dark mode.I am an avid reader who prefers to indulge in my literary adventures during the night. My preferred method of reading is through an e-reader, specifically in its native dark mode. For those unfamiliar with this feature, dark mode transforms the background into a deep black while the text and lines become a stark white. This creates a dimmer display that is still easy to read. This mode is particularly beneficial as it allows my husband and our nearly four-year-old child to sleep peacefully next to me, undisturbed by any glaring light from my device.
As a dedicated nighttime reader, I found the absence of a dark mode on the Kindle Colorsoft or Kindle Scribe Colorsoft to be a significant drawback. While it is possible to change the page color to black on books, this feature is not available for imported documents, including AZW3 files, which are specifically designed for reading on Amazon’s devices. Furthermore, the menu bars and homepages would emit a bright light in a dark room, making it uncomfortable to switch books or use a menu feature. This was one of the many features that I found lacking in the Kindle Colorsoft, and it was a key factor that deterred me from choosing it over another Kindle. Instead, I would opt for my Kindle Paperwhite, knowing that it wouldn’t blind me at nearly midnight.
However, this issue has been addressed today. Amazon has announced the introduction of dark mode to Colorsoft Kindle devices, with the rollout commencing today and continuing over the next few weeks. This new feature will also include customization options, allowing users to choose which parts of their Colorsoft Kindle they want to darken when using this mode. If the lack of dark mode was a factor preventing you from purchasing a Colorsoft, you can now cross that off your list of cons.
For those who already own a Kindle Colorsoft, you can start checking your device for updates today. However, these updates may not appear immediately. If you’re impatient to wait, you can download the update directly from Amazon. However, you’ll need to install it on a desktop computer and follow specific instructions to manually update your Kindle.
The Colorsoft dark mode will also provide you with options. You can choose to darken some screens while leaving others on the regular, brighter screen. This feature seems to be primarily designed for the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, the digital notebook version of the colorful Kindle line. This allows you to keep your digital notebooks in light mode while having your home screen and books in dark mode. This feature will work on all Colorsoft devices. Amazon has stated that you can access this by clicking on dark mode in the Quick Actions menu, and from there, you can customize what gets dark mode.
Amazon has also confirmed that any color you’ve used on the Colorsoft Kindle Scribe notebooks or colorful highlights you’ve used to annotate your ebook on any Colorsoft device will remain the same color when the device switches to dark mode.
If you’re now considering owning a Kindle Colorsoft due to the arrival of dark mode, here’s a quick overview of the lineup. The Kindle Colorsoft comes in a basic and Signature version. The Signature version adds wireless charging into a fully enhanced long‑form article. This device is currently available at a discounted price of $190, down from its original price of $250.
