Should You Upgrade? Ask These Four Questions
The Reader’s Edge | Charlie Samways | October 11, 2026 |
There has been some huge Kindle news over the last two weeks, with the announcement of the 2026 Kindle Basic, Paperwhite and Colorsoft, as well as Prime Big Deal Days.
This news is a timely reminder to be critical of whether we actually need every new device.
It gets you asking if we’re actually seeing an improvement on what has come before, or a marketing push to make small changes seem disproportionately better.
Based on these 2026 devices, Amazon have made incremental improvements, while running promotions on their last generation models. The Paperwhite and Colorsoft appear to be thinner and lighter versions of the 2024 release, rather than demonstrating any standout changes.
That provides an opportunity to consider which model is actually the better choice, considering features and pricing.
A great example of this is the Kindle Scribe 2024, which I love as a product. It's still available to buy on Amazon, even with the latest selection of Scribes that were released in 2025 and 2026. Because of its lower price point, the 2024 Scribe may be the better choice for many, even without some of the newer features, like file cloud syncing.
And with more deals on the horizon with Black Friday, it is important to have a way to determine whether paying the price for an upgrade is the right call.
The Upgrade Test
Regular readers will know that back in April I discussed the idea of when it’s the right time to upgrade your tech.
Back then, the concept introduced was tool blindness, which suggests that we can become blind to the fact that our existing devices already provide the core functionality we need. We can get distracted by the newness of a product and forget to consider whether this new device will improve something in our lives.
To protect yourself from tool blindness, there are a series of questions you can ask, with each yes a reason to stay put, and each no a reason to upgrade:
- Does my existing device still complete the main function I need it for?
- Is my existing device still receiving updates for the latest operating system?
- Is my existing device still good enough that the new one wouldn’t significantly improve how I complete that function?
- Is the new device’s price hard to justify for what it would add?
Question one carries the most weight, because if your device can no longer do its job, that alone can justify upgrading. Beyond that, two or more no answers are the point where you take an upgrade seriously.
I used this exact method recently with my Kindle Paperwhite, an 11th generation model I bought in 2022, and question two came back as a no. But the other three answers came back with yes responses, meaning that although not having the latest operating system is a shame, I didn’t need the upgrade.
The same questions applied when I was deciding whether to upgrade my MacBook Pro. At the time, my old model was beginning to struggle with editing my content, and having found a deal online for the latest model, all four questions came back as no.
One no meant I stuck with my Paperwhite. Four no answers on the MacBook made the decision easy for me.
Maybe your existing device is the right fit for now, but as time goes on, more no answers may start appearing. If they do, you can make an intentional choice whether or not to upgrade.
This Week’s Question
Run your current device through the four questions. How many no answers did you get?
Reply to me at hello@charliesamways.com. I read every one.
From The Channel This Week
If you’re interested in some of the deals on older Kindle models, I released a video on the best deals from Prime Big Deal Days this week. I’ve left it up because some of the deals are still running, so worth checking out.
It's Prime Day, and I Found the Best 10 Kindle Deals
And if you’re interested in the mini e-reader market, then I unboxed the Xteink X4 Pro and gave my initial impressions. Keep an eye on the channel for the full review to see if this would pass the upgrade criteria.
Unboxing the Xteink X4 Pro: What to Expect
If you haven’t already, keep an eye on my free resources page. You’ll find the Reading Tracker that helps books stick, plus a Free Kindle Guide and notes from some of my favourite non-fiction books. Available to all website members.
Wishing you all the best this week, and making decisions on your existing devices.
Catch up next week,
Charlie