According to Android Authority, Amazon has confirmed that a system-wide Dark Mode is coming to its most expensive Kindle, the Scribe Colorsoft, in a future software update. The feature, a notable omission at the device’s launch, is slated to arrive sometime in 2026 alongside other AI features. Currently, the $500+ large-screen color E-Ink reader only offers a Page Color inversion setting that works within supported ebooks, not across the home screen, library, or workspace interface. This leaves the premium device lagging behind cheaper models like the Kindle Paperwhite, which already supports the feature. Amazon has posted the confirmation on its official product listings and support materials, though a specific release date within 2026 is not yet available.
The Premium Problem
Here’s the thing: missing Dark Mode on a budget device is one thing. You can kinda forgive it. But on your flagship, most advanced model? The one that’s supposed to represent the pinnacle of your tech? That’s a harder sell. It feels like buying a luxury car and finding out the power windows are an extra-cost option coming next year. For a device firmly in the “premium” territory, these quality-of-life features aren’t just nice-to-haves. They’re expected. And when your cheaper siblings have had it for ages, it makes the omission look even more awkward. It basically signals that the hardware shipped before the software was fully baked—a classic tech industry move, but one that stings more when the price tag is high.
Why Now and What’s Next?
So why the wait until 2026? That’s a good question. E-Ink, especially color E-Ink, is a different beast. Implementing a system-wide dark theme isn’t just about inverting colors; it’s about managing refresh rates, ghosting, and the overall user experience across a completely new interface for Amazon. The Scribe Colorsoft’s “workspace” is a new frontier for them. But let’s be real, a two-year wait for a basic UI feature also feels like a prioritization choice. It seems like Amazon is bundling it with a wave of “AI features” to make the update sound more substantial. I think the real story here is about trajectory. Amazon is slowly morphing the Kindle from a simple book reader into a more complex digital notebook and tablet competitor. Every update, even for basic features, is now part of that larger, slower evolution.
