Kindle Click Review: Amazon's First Official Bluetooth Remote
Review of the $35 Kindle Click, Amazon's first official Bluetooth remote accessory that lets users turn pages and adjust brightness without holding the device.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Amazon launched the Kindle Click, a $35 Bluetooth remote for 2024 and later Kindle models.
- Allows users to turn pages and adjust front light brightness from a distance without holding the reader.
- Ideal for convenient reading during workouts or while staying cozy under a heavy blanket.
- Lacks advanced controls like audio chapter skipping or volume adjustment for Audible books.
The Kindle stands as the world's most ubiquitous e-reader, yet Amazon has historically been slow to introduce hardware innovations compared to rivals like Barnes & Noble or Boox, which pioneered features like color screens and adjustable lighting. Furthermore, Amazon has strictly controlled third-party ecosystem integration, restricting Bluetooth connectivity on Kindles exclusively to wireless headphones despite the underlying technology being present since 2018.
The introduction of the Kindle Click, priced around 35 dollars plus tax, directly addresses this long-standing hardware gap. Although the price tag might seem high for a compact remote with just four buttons and two primary functions, it costs only five dollars more than the competing Boox Tappy. While a recent firmware update allows Kindle devices to support cheaper third-party alternatives, official compatibility offers greater reliability.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Setting up the Kindle Click is a seamless process. Users simply press and hold a button on the remote to enter pairing mode, navigate to the Settings menu on a 2024 or newer Kindle, tap Accessories, and select Kindle Click from the device list. Once paired initially, the remote automatically connects to the e-reader whenever both devices are powered on and nearby, eliminating the need for repeated manual pairing.
Once a book is open, users can press the large grey buttons to advance or reverse pages according to their reading preference. The volume-style buttons along the side function as brightness controls for the built-in front light. However, the remote cannot be used for general device navigation or switching between different titles, meaning readers must select their book beforehand.
Amazon's release of an official remote marks a notable shift toward accommodating user-requested convenience features after years of tight ecosystem control. While the initial iteration remains relatively basic and misses opportunities to control audiobook playback or screen warmth, it successfully resolves everyday reading friction points and paves the way for a more versatile Kindle accessory market.
Although the Click performs as advertised, Amazon missed an opportunity for deeper functionality. Competitors like the Boox Tappy offer multi-mode switching for web browsing and media playback. Given that Kindle hardware fully supports Audible audiobooks, the inability to skip chapters or adjust volume using the remote feels like a missed feature, alongside the absence of color warmth controls for the front light.
Source: Lifehacker
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