Review: With the Kindle Click, reading has never been cozier
Looking for an official Bluetooth page turner for your e-reader? Read our in-depth review of the Kindle Click remote to see how it keeps your hands cozy under the covers while turning pages and controlling screen brightness.
At the first signs of fall, it is time to start getting cozy. As autumn leaves turn vibrant colors and outdoor temperatures drop, there is no better place to be than curled up under a heavy pile of warm blankets with a hot beverage close by. Sinking into bed every night and getting tucked under the covers with a great book is one of life's simplest pleasures. However, every avid night reader encounters the exact same annoying problem: suffering from ice-cold hands every time you stick an arm out to turn the page. That common frustration explains the massive rise in popularity of buying a dedicated page-turning remote so you can seamlessly flip pages on your digital e-reader while keeping your hands completely snuggled under the blanket.
The market for hands-free reading gadgets has exploded across online retail stores over the past few years. Countless budget-friendly accessories have been sold on Amazon, proving that book lovers are eager for better ways to read comfortably in bed. Recognizing this huge demand from readers, competing brands like Kobo and Boox designed custom remotes engineered to pair natively with their own hardware lineups. After keeping customers waiting, Amazon has finally joined the market with the release of its official Kindle Click.
There was actually more excitement surrounding the launch of Amazon's first official remote than there was for the newest lineup of new Kindles. After putting the device through thorough daily testing during cozy evening reading sessions, it is a relief to report that it does not disappoint.
What to Know About the Kindle Click Remote
The Kindle Click is a dedicated wireless page-turning remote designed specifically for Amazon's e-reader ecosystem. Built with an intuitive button layout, the device features two primary face buttons that handle moving forward or backward through your digital books. If you prefer flipping pages in reverse or swapping the default layout, you can quickly customize which button triggers each direction right inside your device settings menu.
In addition to standard page navigation, the unit features two extra control buttons positioned along the side. These secondary side buttons give you direct access to raise or lower your screen brightness without ever touching your display screen. Having physical buttons dedicated to ambient lighting adjustment makes late-night reading dramatically smoother.
Establishing a wireless connection to your reading device relies on standard Bluetooth technology. To pair the accessory for the first time, press and hold down any button on the unit until its status light begins blinking blue. Once the light flashes, navigate over to your Kindle's Bluetooth settings menu and select the clicker from your list of available nearby devices. The remote maintains a steady connection during reading sessions, though it goes into standby to save power and requires a single quick button press to wake up.
From a battery standpoint, the device is fully USB-C rechargeable, so you never have to deal with buying or replacing disposable watch batteries. However, hardware compatibility is strictly limited: it connects exclusively to Kindle devices released in 2024 and onward. The accessory retails for $34.99 and is available for purchase directly on Amazon.
Key Features of the Kindle Click
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Direct wireless connection without external hardware receivers.
- Customizable Controls: Two main face buttons that can be assigned to turn pages forward or backward in device settings.
- Integrated Brightness Buttons: Two side buttons dedicated to quick screen lighting adjustments.
- Modern Charging: Rechargeable via a standard USB-C charging cable.
- Safety Accessories: Comes bundled with an optional wrist lanyard attachment.
- Price Point: Retails for $34.99 on Amazon.
It Is a Breeze to Use, With Zero Screen Obstruction
Before Amazon stepped up with an official solution, reading enthusiasts had to get creative with third-party accessories. Off-brand remotes commonly available online usually require a two-piece system: a physical clip that attaches over your display screen to touch the glass, paired with a handheld transmitter clicker. While testing those off-brand products proves they work reasonably well, they suffer from fundamental design limitations that hamper the reading experience.
Most noticeably, third-party screen-tapping devices are physically incapable of turning pages backward because the mechanical clip can only physically trigger a tap on one side of your screen. Furthermore, the plastic clip mechanism hangs over your reading area, causing visible screen obstruction that covers up lines of text. The official accessory completely eliminates both of these drawbacks by connecting through direct wireless Bluetooth signals.
Because there is no screen-tapping clip involved, you enjoy 100% full view of your display with zero screen obstruction. The handheld remote itself is remarkably lightweight and easy to navigate entirely by touch. Each physical button features a distinct tactile feel, allowing your thumb to identify buttons instantly in the dark without having to look down at your hand.
Amazon also includes an optional wrist lanyard inside the packaging. That lanyard is an extremely useful addition for anyone who has a habit of nodding off while reading late at night or routinely losing small electronic accessories inside heavy bed blankets.
If there is one area where the design could be refined, it would be the overall physical shape. A slight ergonomic curve, similar to the shape found on Kobo's remote control, would make the accessory fit even more comfortably into the natural contour of your palm during extended reading marathons.
Kindle Click vs. Off-Brand Remote Turners
- Screen Visibility: Official Bluetooth connection leaves the screen 100% unobstructed; off-brand clip units block display text.
- Page Navigation: Turns pages both forward and backward; budget remotes only flip pages forward.
- Lighting Control: Includes physical side buttons for brightness adjustments; third-party remotes cannot adjust screen light.
- Design Complexity: Single sleek handheld remote; generic remotes require managing two separate physical pieces.
The Brightness Control Buttons Are Absolute Genius
While simply having two reliable page-turning buttons would have made the product a solid success, the inclusion of dedicated screen brightness controls is what elevates it to greatness. When you are fully snuggled under warm blankets on a cold night, reaching your hand out into freezing room air to adjust display settings is a major annoyance. Yet screen brightness is easily the most common setting readers tweak as natural room light shifts or eyes grow tired before sleep.
Throughout daily use, having side buttons to adjust lighting quickly proves to be an indispensable touch. Whenever your reading environment changes, you can brighten or dim your display instantly while keeping your hands tucked away in warmth. It is the type of intuitive feature you might not think to request in advance, but once you experience it, you will wonder how you ever managed without it.
Device Compatibility Disappointment: Older Kindles Excluded
Despite the excellent build quality and performance, device compatibility is the biggest drawback of Amazon's new accessory. Amazon is known to gradually phase out Kindles over extended timeframes, but millions of older models remain active and fully functional today. Because of this, it is disappointing that the remote only supports devices released in 2024 and 2026.
Ever since the 10th-generation Kindle Paperwhite launched back in 2018, Amazon's e-readers have included built-in Bluetooth hardware to let users listen to audiobooks through wireless headphones. Because the remote relies on standard Bluetooth protocols, any e-reader with Bluetooth chipsets should theoretically be able to pair with it. Unfortunately, software restrictions prevent older models from recognizing the device, leaving many existing owners left out.
If you want to use the official page tuner, you must already own or be willing to upgrade to a 2024 or 2026 e-reader model.
Device Compatibility Summary
- Compatible Hardware: Amazon Kindle e-readers released in 2024 and 2026.
- Incompatible Hardware: All e-reader models released prior to 2024 (including the 2018 10th-Gen Paperwhite).
- Bluetooth Requirement: Older Bluetooth-enabled models cannot pair due to device software limitations.
Is the Kindle Click Worth the Money?
For readers who currently own a compatible 2024 or 2026 e-reader, buying this accessory is an easy decision. At $34.99, it costs just $5 more than Kobo's native remote control and slightly more than cheap off-brand clip remotes. However, the added value easily justifies the slight price premium. You get fully customizable page-turn direction, zero screen obstruction, USB-C charging, tactile buttons, and built-in screen brightness controls that competitor remotes lack.
While nobody strictly needs a remote control to read a book, having one transforms nighttime reading into a luxurious, warm, hands-free experience. If you love staying cozy under the covers during autumn and winter nights, it is a worthy upgrade to your setup.
$34.99 at Amazon
Overall, investing in a Kindle Click remote is one of the best ways to enhance your bedtime reading routine and keep your hands warm all winter long.
from Mashable
-via DynaSage
