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Kindle Paperwhite Colors 2026: Every Finish Compared

5 min read Electronics

The Paperwhite comes in three colours, and the Signature Edition comes in metallic versions of the same three. The difference between the two families is finish rather than shade.

None of this affects reading, but the device lives in a hand for hours and the finish decides how it ages. Here is what each one looks like in practice.

What is in this guide

Quick verdict

  • The safe choice: Kindle Paperwhite 16GB (2024)
  • The distinctive one: Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 32GB
  • Cover it anyway: Kindle Paperwhite and Colorsoft Fabric Cover

Colours by model

Model Colours Finish
Paperwhite (2024) Black, Jade, Raspberry Matte
Paperwhite Signature Metallic Black, Metallic Jade, Metallic Raspberry Metallic
Kindle (2024) Black, Matcha Matte
Colorsoft Black Matte

Colour choice does not change any specification. A jade Paperwhite and a black Paperwhite are the same device.

The picks

Kindle Paperwhite 16GB (2024)

Black

  • Finish: Matte black on the standard model
  • Fingerprints: Hides them best
  • Resale: Easiest to sell on

Black is what most people buy and it is the least likely to be regretted. The matte finish on the standard Paperwhite hides fingerprints and the fine scratching that a device picks up in a bag.

It also disappears behind a cover, which matters because most Kindles spend their lives in one.

Pros

  • Hides marks and fingerprints
  • Matches any cover
  • Best resale demand

Cons

  • Nobody will call it interesting

Check Kindle Paperwhite 16GB (2024) price on Amazon

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 32GB

Metallic finishes

  • Finishes: Metallic black, jade and raspberry
  • Model: Signature Edition
  • Note: Slightly more reflective than the standard shells

The Signature Edition uses metallic versions of the same three colours. Metallic jade is the one people notice: a deep green that reads as almost black indoors and clearly green in daylight.

The metallic finish is a little more reflective and shows fingerprints more readily than the matte standard shells. A cover solves that.

Pros

  • The most attractive finishes in the range
  • Jade is distinctive without shouting

Cons

  • Shows fingerprints more than matte
  • Only available on the pricier model

Check Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 32GB price on Amazon

Kindle Paperwhite and Colorsoft Fabric Cover

Protects the finish

  • Fits: Paperwhite 2024 and Colorsoft
  • Feature: Wakes and sleeps the device
  • Material: Fabric

Whichever colour you pick, the shell spends most of its life hidden. The official fabric cover wakes the device when opened and holds it shut in a bag, and it is the part you actually see and touch every day.

Third party covers cost less and work the same way. The magnet placement on cheap ones is sometimes wrong, so check that the sleep function works in the first week.

Pros

  • Protects the finish you paid for
  • Auto wake and sleep
  • The colour you see daily

Cons

  • Official covers cost a noticeable fraction of the device

Check Kindle Paperwhite and Colorsoft Fabric Cover price on Amazon

Each colour in practice

Black

Available on every model in the range and bought by most people. On the standard Paperwhite it is a matte charcoal rather than a true black, which is the reason it hides marks so well. On the Signature Edition the metallic version catches light along the edges and looks more expensive than it photographs.

Jade

A deep muted green. Indoors and under lamp light it reads as almost black, and only in daylight does the green become obvious. This is the choice for someone who wants their device to be identifiable in a house full of black rectangles without it being loud about it.

Raspberry

The boldest option, a deep pink rather than a bright one. It is the colour people either choose immediately or never consider. It shows fingerprints more than black and is the most likely to feel of its moment in a few years.

Matcha, on the basic Kindle

The basic Kindle comes in black and a pale sage green called matcha. Matcha is lighter and more obviously coloured than jade, and it is the only genuinely pale shell in the range, which means it shows grime at the edges sooner.

How the finishes age

A Kindle is carried in bags and read with damp hands from a bath. After a year the differences show.

  • Matte black ages best. Fingerprints do not show and light scratching disappears into the texture.
  • Metallic finishes keep looking new if covered and show swirl marks if not.
  • Raspberry is the most striking on day one and the most likely to feel dated after two years.

The practical advice is to buy the colour you like and put a cover on it. For the rest of the buying decision, see which Kindle to buy or the Paperwhite against the basic Kindle comparison.

FAQ

Do the colours cost different amounts?

No. Every finish is the same price within a model.

Which colour hides scratches best?

Matte black. Metallic finishes and lighter shades show fine scratching sooner, though a cover prevents most of it.

Is jade very green?

It reads as near black indoors and clearly green in daylight. It is the subtle option rather than the bold one.

Can I change the colour later?

Not the shell, but a cover changes what you see and hold, which is most of the experience.

Does the Signature Edition come in different colours to the standard?

Same three shades, metallic rather than matte.

Which should you buy?

Final verdict

Black is the safest and hides wear best. Jade is the most distinctive without being loud. Raspberry shows the most character and the most fingerprints.