The Kindle Colorsoft is experiencing shipping delays, but don’t let the yellow screen problem deter you
- Amazon warns of shipping delays for Kindle Colorsoft
- ‘Small number’ of Colorsoft customers affected by yellow screen issue
- A TechRadar study shows that the problem is barely noticeable
Amazon has warned that its first-ever color ereader, the Kindle Colorsoft, could face shipping delays while it fixes a minor screen issue that it says has affected a “small number of customers”. Now that we’ve published our full Amazon Kindle Colorsoft review, we’ve come to the conclusion that the problem shouldn’t be a major factor in your purchasing decision.
After a report from The edge highlighted that some users were experiencing a small yellow band along the bottom of the Kindle Colorsoft’s screen, Amazon acknowledged the issue.
It told us that “a small number of customers have reported a yellow band along the bottom of the screen” and that “customers who notice this can contact our customer service team for a replacement or refund.”
It added that the issue should not affect future units, stating “we are making the necessary adjustments to ensure that new devices will not experience this issue in the future.” Amazon also told us that the availability of the Kindle Colorsoft may be affected while these fixes are applied, and that anyone affected can continue using their device until a replacement arrives.
How big is the problem? While we saw signs of the yellow band (see below) during our review, it wasn’t particularly noticeable. That led us to give it a four-and-a-half-star rating, concluding that “it doesn’t feel like a first-generation technology” and that “it might be the best Kindle yet.”
An important problem?
So, should you worry about Kindle Colorsoft display problem? We don’t think so, and Amazon says replacements will be sent to the “small number” of affected customers.
We spotted small signs of the problem in our review section (above), so you can see for yourself. But as our US Mobiles editor Philip Berne concluded in our review, “The effect is so small that I would never have seen it if I hadn’t read The Verge’s report.”
“I don’t expect perfect color fidelity from a Kindle, so it didn’t bother me,” Philip Berne added, concluding that the ereader “will change the way we see Kindle forever.”
Although we still don’t think the Kindle Colorsoft feels premium enough for its $279.99/£269.99 price tag (an Australian launch date hasn’t been announced yet), and the lack of access to Marvel Unlimited or DC Infinite subscriptions is a downer, our review says that “the Kindle Colorsoft feels like the fastest, smoothest e-reader I’ve ever used, whether you’re reading in color or just black-and-white text.”
This includes rivals like the Kobo Libra Color, so if you’ve been waiting for a Kindle upgrade, we think this is the way to go – despite minor display issues on certain devices.
