Amazon to end support for older Kindles, prompting user outcry

Amazon has announced that it will cease providing updates for older Kindle devices, a decision that has sparked significant frustration among users. In messages sent by the company, customers were praised for their loyalty but informed that devices launched in or before 2012 will no longer be updated starting May 20, 2026. This change will prevent owners of older models from accessing newly released e-books, according to the tech giant.

Despite Amazon’s claim that these models have received support for years, some users argue that the move effectively makes up to two million devices obsolete. One user on X expressed disappointment, stating:

“I have a Kindle Touch that I’ve had since 2013, it works great, I bought a book on it a few months ago, and suddenly it’s obsolete.”

Another criticized the decision, noting:

“A Kindle is a text device! There is no need for updates.”

Amazon defended the move, explaining that the affected models have been supported for at least 14 years—some as long as 18 years. The spokesperson added:

“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.”

The company listed the impacted models, including the Kindle Touch and certain Kindle Fire tablets, but clarified that users will still retain access to previously downloaded e-books and their accounts.

Kay Aaronicks, 46, shared her surprise at the news, highlighting the emotional attachment she has to her 14-year-old Kindle.

“It does show how much of a part that Kindle plays in my life,” she said, adding that it has enabled her to “take all of my books with me” while working and traveling.

She also voiced concerns about advertisements on newer, discounted models, fearing they might disrupt the reading experience.

Tech analyst Paolo Pescatore acknowledged the decision as “understandable from a security and support perspective,” but noted the challenge of outdated hardware struggling to handle modern features.

“These devices were built for a different era and are not equipped to run newer, more data-hungry services,” he told the BBC, emphasizing that aging hardware can lead to technical issues.

However, he warned that losing connectivity to updated services could transform once-seamless devices into limited offline tools.

Ugo Vallauri, co-director of the Restart Project, criticized the trend of phasing out older devices.

“Manufacturers’ promises of newer models offering better performance… have been seen before,” he said, adding that the move “could amount to 2 million devices rendered obsolete, potentially generating over 624 tons of e-waste.”

Additional reporting by James Kelly. Sign up for our Tech Decoded newsletter to follow the world’s top tech stories and trends. Outside the UK? Sign up here.