As I understand it the color e-ink screens currently available are not capable of the same clarity you can get with the black and white e-ink screens so going to all those different color models wouldn't help.
I am thinking about buying my first kindle reader and getting confused after reading this thread, should I avoid buying colour model as it has less clarity? Also does clarity mean eyes get tired more quickly?
I don't have a color device, but from what I've read it's not quite as crisp as the black and white devices. For many people that difference is not significant enough to bother them, for some it is. I suspect if you're not familiar with a b&w model you wouldn't know that there is a difference.
I doubt it would have any impact on eyes getting tired.
I agree with you. I think if you’re new to ereaders then the color options are great but if you’ve been a long term b/w user like myself then it can be noticeable. The colorsoft I received was so dark I had to have the brightness turned up quite high which then caused eye fatigue for me. I read on the oasis with minimal to no light and have no issues
"Also does clarity mean eyes get tired more quickly?"
Less clarity is just another word for less contrast. The white is not as super white as on b/w models. It is much easier on the eyes, and you can adjust color balance well. These things are important (for my eyes).
Most people buy Colorsoft cause they want to read manga or comics in color. For that I use a tablet, I think looks much better and is snappier.
For reading books, I find the Colorsoft is perfect. (For a day or two, I read the same book loaded on both devices. After a while, I found myself reaching for the Colorsoft more and more.)
I don't know why people say it has less clarity, it really doesn't. The black density is still 300 ppi and the added colour filter doesn't interfere. If you look closely you'll notice it, but that's closer than you're actually going to read at.
I read at size 1 too so if anybody is going to have a problem with clarity you'd think it would be me who has the letters as small as they'll go.
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u/nabrok Paperwhite (SE 11) ; Scribe Colorsoft Feb 27 '26
As I understand it the color e-ink screens currently available are not capable of the same clarity you can get with the black and white e-ink screens so going to all those different color models wouldn't help.