Amazon released two different versions of the 6″ Kindle for 2026. I already posted a review of the Aluminum Kindle, and it includes some additional information about the 2026 Kindles in general, with a list of pros and cons, but I wanted to post a separate summary for the plastic version to talk about and clarify the features that are specific to it.
First off, the plastic Kindle comes in two colors, Ube (purple) and Graphite (black). At $149 when it’s not on sale, the base plastic-backed Kindle is $40 less expensive than the aluminum-backed Kindle. Half of that price difference is because of the lockscreen ads. The aluminum Kindle is ad-free, whereas it costs $20 to remove the ads on the plastic Kindle.
For the remaining extra $20, the aluminum version adds more storage space (32GB instead of 16GB) and magnets on the back for magnetic accessories, and it’ll even stick on a refrigerator, as I showed in the video review for the aluminum Kindle.
The build quality of the aluminum version feels more solid, obviously, and it has a classier appearance too. But the plastic Kindle is noticeably lighter at 140 grams compared to 162, and it has a warmer, more book-like feel with the matte coating on the plastic. It does feel cheaper than the aluminum version, but if you’re using a case all the time the difference is negligible.
The back panel on the plastic Kindle is easier to remove because it doesn’t have screws like the aluminum version, which could be a pro or a con. The battery is easier to get to, but some people are noticing the back can sometimes start to come loose just by removing the Kindle from a case.
Another thing people are noticing, the 2026 Kindle has a “light bleed” issue, as some people are calling it (even though that term is not really accurate here) when using Dark Mode for white text on a black background. What’s happening is the frontlight is reflecting off the inner edge of the front bezel, and it creates an illuminated line. It’s less noticeable at lower brightness settings, and it’s less visible on the plastic Kindles, and seems to be least visible on the black Kindle specifically. If you use Dark Mode a lot you might want to consider that into the equation.
Plastic Kindle Review Summary
Here’s a summary of how the plastic Kindle compares to the aluminum version:
Pros
- The plastic-backed Kindle is noticeably lighter than the aluminum version, making it more comfortable to hold.
- The matte plastic casing feels warmer and more book-like.
- It’s less expensive.
- Same exact software with the same exact performance as the more expensive version.
- Less visible “light bleed” when using Dark Mode, specifically the black version.
Cons
- Ads on lockscreen, have to pay $20 extra to remove them.
- The build quality doesn’t feel as solid; the plastic looks and feels cheaper.
- The plastic scratches fairly easily.
- No magnets on the back, but it still has the wake/sleep cover magnet on front.
- Less storage space.
Kindle Ube Video Review
Kindle Aluminum Review >
2026 Kindle vs 2024 Kindle Comparison >
Kindle Ube vs Kindle Aluminum >
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