...
By Lydia Patrick
Life & Trends Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Amazon has sparked backlash online after informing customers that it will soon end support for some of its earliest Kindle devices—a move that readers say renders still‑working technology effectively obsolete.
The controversy erupted after Katie Notopoulos, a senior correspondent at Business Insider, shared a screenshot of an Amazon email on Threads, writing: "Amazon is bricking my beloved Kindle 5 with the side buttons……Jeff Bezos you will never know peace."
The email, sent to longtime Kindle users, outlines that, from May 20, 2026, Amazon will discontinue support for Kindle devices released in 2012 or earlier—between 14 and 18 years after their original launches.
Read More on Life
"Thank you for being a longtime Kindle customer," the message begins. "We’re glad our devices have served you well for as long as they have."
Newsweek reached out to Amazon.
The company explains that, after the cutoff date, users will still be able to read books already downloaded onto affected devices. However, they will no longer be able to purchase, borrow or download additional books directly to those Kindles.
The email also warns that, if these devices are de-registered or factory-reset, users will not be able to re‑register or use them again "in any way."
Devices impacted by the change include:
- Kindle 1st and 2nd Generation
- Kindle DX and DX Graphite
- Kindle Keyboard
- Kindle 4 and Kindle 5
- Kindle Touch
- Kindle Paperwhite (1st Generation)
For many readers, the announcement landed as a shock—and a betrayal.
"Shame on you @amazonkindle!" one user wrote on Threads, echoing anger from others who said their devices were still in perfectly usable condition.
"This is so irritating," another user shared. "No, I should NOT have to just replace an item in otherwise good working condition simply because the company has decided not to support it anymore. This is so wasteful and stupid."
The decision has also reignited broader frustrations over tech longevity and environmental impact, with users arguing that modern devices should be designed—and supported—to last far longer.
...
"Our technology should be made to last," another commenter added. "I used the same laptop from about 2013—2026."
However, not everyone agreed with framing the move as "bricking" older Kindles altogether.
"Threads user discovers hardware and software end of life," one commenter wrote. "It’s not bricked, btw [by the way]. It will work. You’re not losing your ability to read on it. You just can’t download new stuff."
Another user, Freddie, echoed that position, saying: "I don’t think the device is bricked—unless people have changed the definition. You can still read the ebooks you already purchased."
Freddie added that users may still be able to email books to their Kindle or side-load content, suggesting the devices will not become completely unusable overnight.
Even so, critics argued that limiting access to official purchases and re‑registration effectively forces consumers toward newer products—regardless of whether their existing hardware is still functional.
The debate highlights a recurring tension within the tech world: balancing ongoing support costs with customer expectations of longevity, particularly as consumers grow increasingly vocal about sustainability and digital ownership.
Amazon has not publicly responded to the backlash surrounding the email or the reaction on Threads.
For affected Kindle owners, the countdown to May 2026 has already begun—and so has the conversation about how long tech should truly last.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines