Amazon Kindle: Difference between revisions

|Description=Amazon Kindle is a product line of e-readers made by Amazon.

=Consumer impact summary=

==Incidents==

 

===No native support for EPUB format===

Kindle devices regularly receive bad scores in repair reviews.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Frauenheim |first=Carsten |title=Kindle 11 Repair |url=https://it.ifixit.com/Device/Kindle_11 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260221125927/https://it.ifixit.com/Device/Kindle_11 |archive-date=21 Feb 2026|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[iFixit]]}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Kris |title=Kindle Paperwhite 5 (11th Generation) Repair |url=https://ifixit.com/Device/Kindle_Paperwhite_11th_Generation |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251212013608/https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Kindle_Paperwhite_11th_Generation |archive-date=12 Dec 2025|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[iFixit]]}}</ref> The baseline model has a replaceable battery, but provides no official replacement parts or repair instructions, and solders the power button and usb-c port to the motherboard.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">[https://www.ifixit.com/repairability/e-reader-repairability-scores e-reader repairability scores] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251211041003/https://www.ifixit.com/repairability/e-reader-repairability-scores Archived])</ref> The paper-white model uses excessive amounts of adhesive for the battery and motherboard, which make it harder to replace the battery.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Most of the components of the device, most importantly the e-ink screen, are not available to the general market. Any stock for e-ink displays for these devices can rarely be found, and they usually approach the cost of the device itself, making repair uneconomical.

Kindle devices run a Linux distribution, however the bootloader is locked down and users have had trouble accessing debug ports on newer hardware.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Iftikhar |first=Hasib |date=2025-10-30 |title=Kindle Linux: Running Linux on Kindle Devices the Right Way |url=https://cyberpanel.net/blog/kindle-linux |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-21 |website=[[CyberPanel]] |quote=Every Kindle device runs on a customized Linux kernel that Amazon has built. However, it is extremely locked down and does not allow users to have access to the system-level interface.}}</ref> Adding to this, Amazon relies on proprietary software and drivers which make it difficult to port a standard mainline Linux kernel onto their devices.{{Citation needed|date=30 Nov 2025}}

===Download feature removed for purchased books (''2025'')===

[[File:Amazon removal notice of download-transfer.webp|alt=Amazon notice about removing download capability|thumb|Amazon notice about removing download capability.<ref name=":03">{{Cite web |date=12 Feb 2025 |title=FYI Amazon is removing Download & Transfer option on Feb 26th |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/kindle/comments/1inr9uy/fyi_amazon_is_removing_download_transfer_option/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250804001513/https://old.reddit.com/r/kindle/comments/1inr9uy/fyi_amazon_is_removing_download_transfer_option/ |archive-date=4 Aug 2025|publisher=Reddit |language=en |format=forum thread}}</ref>]]

===Support discontinued for pre-2013 devices===

On April 7, 2026, Amazon began emailing customers that, starting May 20, 2026, the Kindle Store would no longer support nine pre-2013 Kindle e-reader models and four Kindle Fire tablet models, ending the ability to purchase, borrow, or download new content on the affected hardware.<ref name="kindle2026-pcmag">{{Cite web |last=Kan |first=Michael |title=Got a Kindle From Before 2013? Amazon Is Pulling Support |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/got-a-kindle-from-before-2013-amazon-is-pulling-support |website=PCMag |date=April 7, 2026 |access-date=April 8, 2026}}</ref><ref name="kindle2026-register">{{Cite web |last=Kunert |first=Paul |title=Amazon rewards loyal Kindle devotees by closing the book on old e-readers |url=https://www.theregister.com/2026/04/08/amazon_kindle_support_discontinued/ |website=The Register |date=April 8, 2026 |access-date=April 8, 2026}}</ref> Amazon's email warned that any affected device deregistered or factory-reset after the cutoff cannot be re-registered and cannot be used "in any way."<ref name="kindle2026-pcmag" /><ref name="kindle2026-register" /> Amazon's only on-record justification was that the affected models had been supported "for at least 14 years, some as long as 18 years" and that "technology has come a long way," with no specific technical reason cited; the company offered affected owners a 20% discount on select new Kindle devices plus an eBook credit, valid through June 20, 2026.<ref name="kindle2026-pcmag" /><ref name="kindle2026-bgr">{{Cite web |last=Sayers |first=Jonathan |title=Amazon Is Discontinuing Support For These Older Kindle Models |url=https://www.bgr.com/2143389/amazon-discontinued-support-older-kindle-models/ |website=BGR |date=April 8, 2026 |access-date=April 8, 2026}}</ref>

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