The EU has passed a few laws that make life easier for tech-enthusiasts, most notably being the legislation that made all phones switch to using USB-C, reducing e-waste and making life a lot more convenient.
Well, the EU is at it again, and while the law about replaceable batteries may not be as big a throwback as some assumed, it might mean we’ll soon see user-replaceable batteries in new Amazon Kindle e-readers.
Hints contained within the latest update
As spotted by the always-thorough team at Good E-reader, Amazon’s latest Kindle update contains the following line:
“This battery cannot be recognized and may not perform as expected. Charging has been limited to protect your device. To restore your device to its original performance specifications, we recommend installing a battery that meets Amazon specifications. Go to Settings > Device Options > Battery for battery troubleshooting guidance and support. Scan the QR code below to purchase a battery replacement kit and view the replacement instructions.”
It would be strange for this line to exist in a world where all Kindles continue to be glued shut, like the latest models are. However, because EU legislation now mandates that all electronic devices like phones and tablets (and e-readers) either have batteries that are “easily” replaced by the user, or meet certain standards for battery lifespan. It appears as if Amazon is deciding to go the former route.
But there’s a fly in this ointment: Amazon has pulled the update. Firmware release 5.19.4 has been yanked back from rollout, and Amazon is yet to comment as to why.
This is becoming a depressingly common occurrence for Kindle fans. The update before this one, 5.19.3, was also pulled from release, after it became clear it was causing an enormous number of bugs. It’s possible that something similar has happened with the latest release, though we’ll likely never know for sure. However, there are rumors that Amazon has been leaning heavily on vibe coding for its Kindle releases, which may explain why the most recent releases have been so buggy and prone to being yanked back.
But still, at least we got something positive out of a potentially botched update. For now, the mention of “battery replacement kits” is enough to make me feel slightly better about the Kindle’s future in a world of botched updates, murdered older models, and better alternatives.
7.5/10
- Resolution
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300ppi, Carta 1300
- Storage
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16GB
- Connectivity
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Wi-Fi 2.4 & 5GHz, Bluetooth
- Screen Size
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6 inches
