Amazon is rolling out a major Kindle update tomorrow, and it brings terrible news for owners of certain older models. From May 20, 2026, a range of legacy Kindle devices will lose the ability to purchase, borrow, or download new content from the Kindle Store. This change was first announced last month, and the deadline is now just 24 hours away.
Which Kindle Models Are Affected?
The following devices will be blocked from accessing new books from tomorrow:
- Kindle 1st Generation (2007)
- Kindle DX and DX Graphite (2009 and 2010)
- Kindle Keyboard (2010)
- Kindle 4 (2011)
- Kindle Touch (2011)
- Kindle 5 (2012)
- Kindle Paperwhite 1st Generation (2012)
What Happens to Existing Books?
Owners of these older Kindles will not lose access to books they already own. Their existing libraries will remain available for reading. However, after the deadline, these devices will effectively become read-only, meaning no new content can be added.
Amazon's Statement
Amazon confirmed the update, stating: "Starting May 20, 2026, customers using Kindle and Kindle Fire devices released in 2012 and earlier will no longer be able to purchase, borrow, or download new content via the Kindle Store. These models have been supported for at least 14 years — some as long as 18 years — but technology has come a long way in that time, and these devices will no longer be supported moving forward."
Discounts and Offers for Affected Users
To soften the blow, Amazon is offering affected customers 20 percent off selected new Kindle models, along with a £15 eBook credit. The company is notifying customers whose devices are impacted.
There are plenty of new Kindles to choose from, including standard models, the Colorsoft with a colour screen, and the Scribe range, which comes with a digital pen for writing notes, annotating documents, and marking up books.
