Kindle users in uproar after Amazon to end support for pre‑2013 devices: ‘F–k you!’

What’s changing

It has been reported that Amazon will stop supporting Kindle and Kindle Fire models released in 2012 and earlier, with the cutoff set for May 20, 2026. The change means owners of those older devices can reportedly continue to read books already downloaded, but will no longer be able to purchase, borrow or download new content from the Kindle Store. It has also been reported that Amazon is notifying affected customers and offering transition promotions, and that libraries and accounts remain accessible via the free Kindle apps and Kindle for Web.

Which gadgets are affected

The list includes original Kindles from 2007 through several 2012 models — everything from the Kindle 1st and 2nd Gen to early Paperwhites and the first Kindle Fires. The company, it has been reported, says these devices have been supported for 14–18 years and that “technology has come a long way.” Old hardware, old protocols, and — in Amazon’s telling — limits to keeping legacy services running. Pragmatic? Maybe. Brutal? For some users, absolutely.

Outrage and the human angle

Users erupted on X and other forums, calling the move a betrayal and airing some expletive‑laden grief. It has been reported that screenshots of messages allegedly sent by Amazon circulated online, and many owners described those devices as perfectly functional daily drivers — treasured anniversary gifts, bedside companions, the devices they learned to read on. The anger landed where it often does: on convenience, cost, and the sense of something personal being yanked away. “We hate the touch screen versions,” one longtime button‑fan wrote — and you could feel that small, specific grief cut through the wider noise.

Bigger picture

Is this just product lifecycle housekeeping or a shove toward new hardware and ad revenue? Both narratives are getting airtime. The announcement lands amid a broader retro wave — Gen Z’s fondness for analog gear and a nostalgia economy that prizes durable, simple tech — which makes the timing sting for some. Companies retire old platforms all the time. But when your e‑reader is also a keepsake, it’s not just a device being phased out. Who gets to decide when something is done? For many Kindle owners, the answer landed like a slap.

Sources: nypost.com, Hacker News