Turning pages on a Kindle is as simple as tapping or sliding your finger across the screen, but previous versions of Amazon’s popular e-book reader had physical buttons that served the same purpose. The idea behind page turn buttons was simple. You can press the button to turn a page regardless of which way you hold the device, making physical buttons a practical choice for situations where one-handed use is important, like reading beside you in bed. But Amazon removed page-turning buttons in 2024 when it discontinued the Kindle Oasis, deciding to offer buyers touch-only Kindle options. This decision is not really a surprise in a world where touch interfaces are omnipresent. Smartphones and tablets have touchscreen interfaces, and most Windows laptops have touchscreens. We also use touchscreens in public places, for example to order fast food or buy public transport tickets from a vending machine.
Touchscreen interfaces may also become natural for new generations of users, who may begin interacting with tablets and smartphones at a young age. By the time they use an e-book reader, which has almost the same design as a tablet, they are trained to switch apps and turn pages by swiping and tapping. In this regard, iPads and Android tablets can replace Kindle readers, as they support various e-book reading apps, including the Kindle app. Turning pages on a tablet relies on touch gestures. Tablets only have a limited set of buttons, including sleep and volume controls.
Will Amazon bring back page-turning buttons in the future?
Amazon is well aware of these tactile trends when interacting with computing devices, given comments made about the decision to remove the page turn buttons from the Kindle. In May 2025, Amazon’s Devon Corvasce told Good e-Reader that “all of our devices are touchscreen, which our customers are comfortable with.” Corvasce likened Amazon’s decision to the mobile industry’s shift from keypad smartphones (BlackBerry models and similar phones) to touchscreen handsets and indicated that Amazon would not bring back page-turning buttons. The Amazon executive made similar remarks to The Verge several months earlier, in October 2024, saying Amazon would not restock the Kindle Oasis once inventory was depleted.
In other words, it seems unlikely that Amazon will relaunch Kindle models with page-turn buttons, with the company focusing on several Kindle models with larger screens, thinner bezels, and without page-turn buttons. Amazon’s Kindle lineup for mid-2026 includes the Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Colorsoft, Kindle Scribe, and Kindle Scribe Colorsoft. Models with the “Scribe” name also support note-taking, as they come with a built-in stylus for writing and drawing. These features further blur the lines between e-book readers and tablets, allowing Kindle users to be more productive when consuming specific content.
Shoppers who want readers with page-turning buttons can purchase devices from Amazon’s competitors. Options include the Nook GlowLight at $119.99, the Kobo Libra Color at $199.99, the Boox Go 7 at $269.99, and others.