The new Kindle briefly sold before being announced

Amazon has not yet officially announced the next generation of Kindle e-readers. However, following leaks of several models, the UK retailer John Lewis made the 12th-generation entry-level Kindle and the new Kindle Kids Edition available for purchase on its website earlier today, as reported by Good e-Reader. Both listings have since been removed.

The 12th-generation Kindle Paperwhite recently appeared in an eBay listing that was also subsequently removed. This listing included images showing the new e-reader’s packaging, which revealed minor upgrades such as a slightly larger seven-inch E Ink screen.

John Lewis’ listing for the 12th-generation entry-level Kindle model seemed to confirm leaked details from September. These details indicated that the updated e-reader would feature a six-inch, 300ppi E Ink screen with a higher contrast ratio, illuminated by a front light that is now 25 percent brighter at its maximum setting. Nevertheless, the front light of the new entry-level Kindle continues to lack the color temperature adjustments found in the Kindle Paperwhite and other more expensive E Ink devices from Amazon.

According to the listing, the 12th-generation Kindle also introduces a new dark mode that inverts the black and white E Ink screen for easier reading in the dark, offers faster page turns, and includes 16GB of storage. John Lewis had priced the new e-reader at £94.99, which equates to approximately $124.

The listing for the 12th-generation Amazon Kindle Kids Edition displayed the same specifications as the 12th-generation entry-level Kindle, including brighter backlighting and an E Ink screen with better contrast. As with previous versions of the Kindle Kids Edition, the 12th-generation model comes with a case, an extended two-year warranty, a subscription to Amazon Kids+ featuring ebooks and audiobooks aimed at children, and a dashboard with parental controls. The pricing was set at £114.99, or approximately $150.

In previous iterations, the Amazon Kindle Kids Edition included a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+, even in the UK. However, John Lewis’ listing noted that the 12th-generation model comes with only a six-month subscription to the service. Thereafter, monthly plans start at $5.99 for Amazon Prime members, or $7.99 without.

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