At just over 56% of the cost of the Kindle, the cover is quite pricey... and I'm not entirely convinced it's worth it.
For your money you receive the neatest and best-fitting case/light combination available. The leather is smooth and well-stitched (for those of you who own Amazon Kindle Keyboard covers, the whole outside part of the new cover is now made from the same texture leather as the smooth section on the right-hand side of the front cover). The Kindle clips snugly and neatly into a hard rubbery tray-type slot which has sculpted edges to allow access to the page turn buttons, power switch and micro USB port.
A couple of good, hard presses and your Kindle is safely housed - and not coming out again in a hurry. The inset design is a really nice feature, making Amazon's the only case I've found that doesn't in some way obscure the front of the Kindle, whilst giving the best protection to the corners and sides that I've seen anywhere. The Kindle connects to the case via the two little square metal 'tabs' on its reverse side - these make contact with 2 small retracting prongs in the tray slot of the case. Very neat, and very easy to set up. The new, centered position of the reading light definitely feels less vulnerable than the pull-out style of the Kindle Keyboard covers.
One of the best features of the Amazon lighted leather cover is that it shares power with the Kindle, without causing too significant a drain on battery life (in my experience, less drain than having Wi-fi switched on). There's no need for heavy/cumbersome batteries that need replacing and add significantly to the bulk of the case - you just recharge your Kindle as/when needed.
The packaging the cover comes in is really minimal - a DVD/CD style envelope and the cover in a plastic bag inside. There were no instructions at all (and they're really not necessary), but also no sign of a warranty document: unusual for Amazon who include a 19-page brochure with even a basic camera lens-cleaning pen... though I'm confident that if anything goes wrong an email to Customer Services will work its usual magic.
So why not five stars for the neatest case + light solution around?
The case is very small, very light, very neat and extremely pocket-friendly. But what it's gained in functionality it has lost in quality. It doesn't feel anything like as robust as the Kindle Keyboard case. Although the felted lining is the same, there's no cushioning at all in the front cover and the spine is disappointingly floppy (there won't be anyone needing to ask if it can be bent back: it does this on its own). The reading light points directly down the page, creating a slightly shaded area in the upper corners of the screen and as it has no shielding at the top it shines into your eyes. Above all, though, I'm disconcerted by the lack of any form of closure. This doesn't inspire me with a great deal of confidence that things won't work their way between the cover and the Kindle screen when it's in my bag.
I loved the previous generation of covers, and expected to feel the same about this. Instead, it's a slightly damp and expensive squib that protects the Kindle in exemplary fashion at the back and sides but overall hasn't been as well thought-out as it could have been.
is the fact that its unique eInk technology does not use a backlight, and this allows the Kindle to read just like a physical book, even in bright sunlight. Unlike backlit devices that appear washed out in bright light, the Amazon Kindle allows readers to enjoy their favorite books even in full sunlight. That also means that readers who want to make the most of the Kindle in dim light should look at purchasing an add-on reading light. This is especially important for those who like to read in bed after their partners have gone to sleep and turned off the bedside lamp.
