Kindle is one of the highest-rated and popular e-readers available today. They have always been praised for their paper-like user experience. So, when Amazon announced its first e-book reader with color, the Kindle Colursoft, the e-reader community was excited. However, within weeks of the launch, negative reviews started pouring in from the users. One of the biggest drawbacks that the users pointed out was the yellow color tint by the bottom quarter of the screen.
Amazon has commented on the issue and said that they are looking into the customer’s grievances. So, if Amazon could find out a majority of the devices sold so far have the same problem, then they might recall them for fixing. However, this is wishful thinking at this time, and we should wait for the official statement from Amazon to know what they are trying to do.
Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition: Yellow Tint Issue
Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition is Amazon’s first color e-reader, which started shipping on October 30. The device came with a price tag of $279.99 on Amazon. Since Kindle e-readers from Amazon were already popular, Colorsoft also had a good welcome in the market. The high-contrast Colorsoft display that reads like actual colored paper allowed users to read their favorite books in the originally intended way. It also gave users the ability to use different colored highlighters to better mark important parts of their books. So, overall, Colorsoft had enough perks that some of the long-time Kindle e-book readers considered switching to Colorsoft.
However, the reviews that the users have shared on the Amazon shopping website and various community forums such as Reddit suggest that a majority of people are not happy with the device. While other Kindle products such as Kindle Paperweight, and Kindle Paperweight Signature Edition have about 4 Star rating or more, the Coloroft is sitting at a concerning 2.6 rating out of 433 global ratings. It is a bit more concerning when you consider the fact more than 32% of the ratings are 1 Star.
One of the most common issues raised by the users is the yellowish tint on the bottom quarter of the screen. While some users noted that the color tint isn’t that distracting, the uneven coloring on the screen cannot be good for the eyes. “The bottom 5-10% of the screen is slightly yellowish, while the rest of the screen looks even and consistent.” said a reviewer on Amazon, he also added that “The issue becomes more pronounced if the warm light is on at a low/medium setting.”
Kindle Colorsoft Yellow Strips: Amazon Addresses the Issue
Users are having hot back and forth on Reddit about the causality of the Yellow strip on Amazon Colorsoft. Some users argued that they noticed the issue only when the “Edge Lighting” feature is turned on, so it must be a software issue that can be fixed in an update. However, users who are experiencing the issue are either replacing their device or exchanging the Colorsoft for another model.
In the thread of the discussions, a person said that he was able to talk to the customer support team of Amazon, and they confirmed that they are working to find a fix for the issue. In the same thread, multiple people argued that they started noticing the color tint after a software update.
Amazon spokesperson Jill Tornfoglio confirmed to the press that they are aware of the small number of reports from customers who see a yellow band along the bottom of the display. He also added that the customers who are noticing the same can reach out to the customer support team.
Also Read: How Does Amazon Kindle Unlimited Work? Get The Most Out Of It
Is Colosoft Yellow Strips Noticeable?
While the reviews of Colorsoft have been majorly focused on the uneven coloring in the device, it is not noticeable for most of the users. Users have admitted that they started noticing it only after it became trending on Reddit. Even with a zoomed-in photo taken of the device, you can barely notice any difference. That being said, even a slight mismatch in colors is not acceptable from a device that is priced at $279.99. So, if you are planning on purchasing a Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition, it is better to wait for a resolution.
