GoKawiilKaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
A few days ago, Amazon emailed Kindle users to say that some older models are about to lose support. At first glance, it reads like routine housekeeping; devices age out all the time.
But these e-readers aren’t breaking or struggling — they still do exactly what they’ve always done: download, store, and display books. There’s no obvious reason these devices should be any less useful tomorrow than they are today.
Amazon has chipped away at the Kindle experience before, but this is the first time I’ve seriously questioned whether the tradeoffs are worth it.
Do you own a Kindle that was released in 2012 or earlier? 23 votes Yes, and I am frustrated by this change. 43 % Yes, but I understand the change. 9 % No, my Kindle is unaffected. 22 % No, I don't own a Kindle. 26 %
Why Amazon’s latest announcement is so bad
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
Starting May 20, affected Kindles will lose direct access to the Kindle Store. Users will still be able to read whatever is already on their devices, but won’t be able to add anything new (at least not with official channels). There are workarounds, sure, but the sunsetted models will no longer have access to the Kindle experience you originally paid for.
As of May 20, Amazon will no longer support Kindles released in 2012 and earlier.
Yes, the relevant Kindles are old (such as the 2012 Paperwhite), but people don’t hang onto old Kindles out of habit. They keep using them because they still work. I can pick one up, load a few books, come back weeks later, and everything is right where I left it. That’s the whole appeal, and it’s why so many of these devices are still in rotation years later.
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