Kindle e-readers from 2012 or earlier can no longer buy, download or borrow content from the Kindle Store.
An Amazon spokesperson said “technology has come a long way” since it launched the oldest Kindle models.
Critics have called on Amazon to rethink the decision, citing e-waste concerns.
Australia is one of the top global producers of e-waste per person.
Update
Amazon first released the Kindle e-reader in 2007. As of 20 May, Kindles released from 2007 to 2012 can no longer purchase, borrow or download content from the Kindle Store.
In a statement to TDA, an Amazon spokesperson said the models “have been supported for... as long as 18 years.”
“Technology has come a long way in that time, and these devices will no longer be supported moving forward.”
Users can still manually add non-Kindle-Store content.
The impacted devices are:
- Kindle 1st and 2nd Generation;
- Kindle DX;
- Kindle Keyboard;
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Your details:
- Kindle 4 and 5;
- Kindle Paperwhite 5thGeneration; and
- Kindle Touch.
To check what model you have, swipe down from the top of the screen and select ‘All Settings’.
Go to ‘Device Options’ and select ‘Device Info.’
Criticism
The U.S-based Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) launched a petition against the change, saying the Kindles are “the latest in a steady stream of working tech products turned into e-waste because manufacturers pull the software plug.”
“Software shouldn’t be the reason we throw working devices in a landfill,” they said.
In 2024, the UN Global E-waste Monitor (GEM) listed Australia in the world’s top five countries for e-waste per person, with 22.4kg annually.
What’s next?
An Amazon spokesperson said they are “notifying those still actively using [the devices] and offering promotions to help with the transition to newer devices.”
Council and community recycling facilities, and electronics retailers such as The Good Guys and Officeworks, can safely recycle e-waste, including e-readers.
Customers can also send their devices to Amazon’s recycling facility.
