Is Amazon Developing a Solar-Powered Kindle Case? [Rumors]

This week, it was revealed by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos that a new top-shelf Kindle e-reader will be unveiled. Now, a report is claiming that the company's new Kindle will be thinner than its predecessor.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Amazon's new e-reader will be equipped with a rechargeable, removable case, allowing the device's body to be thinner.

In addition, the news outlet claimed that Amazon is working on a Kindle case that can be charged by solar power. However, WSJ said that the company will probably not release the Kindle e-reader case in the immediate future.

WSJ's report also provided codenames for the products: the new Kindle e-reader is known internally as "Whiskey," while the case is called "Soda."

New Kindle E-Reader to be Launched Next Week

Bezos said on Twitter that the 8^th generation Kindle to be released next week is "top of the line."

Amazon's current flagship Kindle is the Voyage, which can be purchased for $200 and comes with an auto-brightness sensor and a design resembling a tablet, Ars Technica reported. The new variant announced by Bezos is expected to serve as the substitute for the Voyage instead of the cheaper Kindle Paperwhite, which costs $120.

Customers have opted for more versatile tablets since 2011, pushing the e-reader market to drop, CNET wrote. However, the Kindle still remains an important product for Amazon and its CEO, given that the device is the company's first electronic gadget it released and is directly connected to Amazon's founding business of selling books.

The Kindle still belongs to Amazon's top-selling electronic gadgets on its website despite the competition with versatile tablets. The mid-range Paperwhite is its sixth-biggest product, while the low-end Kindle is at the 26^th spot. The top-range Voyage places at No. 30, the news outlet further reported.

Kindle Discounts

Amazon is currently offering huge discounts on its current-generation Kindles for Amazon Prime members. As indicated on the company's website, the $200 Voyage is being offered for $150, the $120 Paperwhite can be purchased for $90, and the $80 standard Kindle is priced at $50.

The Kindle Voyage was released in 2014 and boasts of a slimmer design, bigger storage, and sharper screen resolution, CNET listed. Amazon's strategy is to unveil a new Kindle design every two years, so Bezos' recent announcement fits the company's tradition.

Last month, Amazon has released a mandatory update for the Kindle and required users to install it by March 22. The update is required for downloading books from the Cloud, opening the Kindle Store, and using other Kindle services, Time listed.