Key facts
- Amazon's new Kindle case has physical page-turn buttons located only on the right side.
- Early Kindle models featured physical buttons on both sides of the bezel for page turning.
- The Kindle Paperwhite, introduced in 2012, shifted to screen taps for page turning, with the left side for back and the right for forward.
- Amazon recently announced it would no longer support older Kindle models for adding new titles.
- The author argues the new case design is inconvenient for left-handed users who prefer holding the device in their left hand.
Amazon's recent refresh of its Kindle lineup includes new color options and minor upgrades to the Paperwhite and Colorsoft models. Alongside these updates, the company introduced two new accessories for page turning: a remote control named the Kindle Click and a case with physical buttons. While the remote control is seen as a useful addition, the design of the new case has sparked criticism from left-handed users.
The author argues that the case's physical buttons, located solely on the right side, present a significant inconvenience for left-handed individuals. This design choice is contrasted with earlier Kindle models that featured physical buttons on both sides of the bezel, allowing for comfortable use in either hand. The introduction of the Kindle Paperwhite in 2012 marked a shift to screen-based page turning, with left-side taps for backing pages and right-side taps for advancing them, which is considered more user-friendly for right-handed operation.