Why Even Your Kindle Is Getting More Expensive

We've reported several times on how AI is driving up consumer technology prices, especially for computers and phones.

Now, we're beginning to see something different: the cost burden is spreading from mainstream products like computers and phones to more niche products like Amazon's Kindle.

On Thursday, Amazon announced that it was refreshing its Kindle lineup. The update comes as the company begins its early celebration of the e-book reader's 20th anniversary next year. But this refreshed lineup also comes with higher prices, as the wider consumer tech industry deals with rising memory prices driven partly by demand from AI.

And the timing comes just ahead of Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days, which kicks off next week.

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The new lineup and the prices

Amazon has refreshed its Kindle lineup with new versions of the Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Colorsoft.

The base Kindle starts at $149.99 for the plastic model, or $189.99 for the aluminium version. The Paperwhite starts at $199.99, while the Paperwhite Signature Edition costs $249.99. The Colorsoft starts at $289.99, while the Colorsoft Signature Edition costs $319.99.

Kids versions are also available, starting at $179.99. They include a year of Amazon Kids+ and a worry-free guarantee.

These price increases could be a bummer for avid readers or students who prefer reading electronically without dealing with the distractions that come with the internet. Amazon's vice president of devices even acknowledged the situation, saying, “Memory pricing is a little bit crazy.”