Amazon Kindle Lighted Leather Cover, Wine Purple (for Kindle 5th Generation, 2012 model - does not fit current Kindle, Paperwhite, Touch, or Keyboard)

I read every single review for this cover before I decided to buy it, but I am glad that I finally decided to pull the trigger. I have never had a Kindle or another cover, so my review is based on a first-timer's perspective. This is my feedback: 1) I agree that this cover is expensive. Ridiculously expensive. But, after pricing other covers and other lights, then factoring in that I would have to buy replacement batteries for any other light, it did not seem like I would be saving much money if I bought something else. Plus, the fact that the light is "built-in" was very appealing and turns out to be extremely convenient. 2) Yes, the cover should have had a magnet or something for closure. That was the main reason for my initial hesitation, not the price. I thought about using a rubber band around it, but some people mentioned that a rubber band would look ugly around the pretty cover (which, by the way, is quite pretty in the wine purple color). I ended up knitting a small little sleeve to slip over my Kindle cover to keep the cover closed, for additional protection, and to prevent scratches, because: 3) The cover does scratch quite easily. I agree with one reviewer who did not seem to mind the scratches on the cover, because doesn't that show that the cover is doing its job to protect the Kindle? But, it does sound like the same cover for the Kindle Keyboard was much more durable. It would be nice for the cover to keep looking fresh and new, but I would rather my Kindle be protected than for my cover to look perfect. My little knitted sleeve is helping with that, but I know a lot of people wouldn't want to use an additional cover. 4) Some people commented that the cover added too much to the size and weight of the Kindle. Really? How small were the books that you people were reading before you got the Kindle? Maybe it is because I am a new Kindle owner, but I think this cover is small and light-weight, and I have an additional knit sleeve over the cover. I am used to carrying around actual books, and the Kindle in this cover is smaller and lighter than any of the them. 5) A few reviewers mentioned that the cover prevented them from using the side buttons on the Kindle properly. After reading all the reviews, it seems to me that there was a defective batch. My cover fits perfectly. If you order a cover and you have issues with this, I would contact Amazon for a replacement. 6) Some people said that it seemed like they would damage their Kindle if they tried to remove it from the cover since it is such a tight squeeze. I can't really comment on this, because I am not planning on ever taking my Kindle out of the cover. To me, the cover fits so perfectly that it really just seems like a seamless extension of the Kindle itself. I do not see the point in taking the Kindle out of the cover. 7) The light is perfect. I have no issues with it being too bright, not bright enough, too flimsy, or whatever other concerns people have had with it. It is easy, convenient, and only uses the Kindle battery when the Kindle is on and the light is flipped open. Some people have found the light too bright in their eyes and have put a piece of electrical tape on the front of the light to shield their eyes. I think that would be an easy, inexpensive solution if I had the same concern, but I don't. 8) There were reviews that commented on the durability and quality of the cover. Except for the lack of a closure device, the cover seems very durable. I do not think the cover is flimsy in the slightest, and as I previously mentioned, the Kindle fits like a glove inside of it. The front part of the cover also folds back very nicely if you like reading that way. Hopefully this review helped somewhat. If you are considering it, I definitely would buy it. Return it if you don't like it. I am happy with it and do not think there is a better cover out there!

'Just received my "[...] Lighted Leather Cover" -- I absolutely LovE the damn thing. It only took 2 business-days to get here (even though, FREE SHIPPING has a 5 - 8ᵈᵃʸ projection) which is pretty remarkable. Just so you know, that's without* an AmazonPrime account either. Arrived safe & sound too. I purchased the Tan version and it genuinely looks even better* than those computerized pictures suggest. It has a very solid, grey rubberized perimeter, and the Kindle fits inside all nice & snug; so it really gives the overall unit this great looking, two-tone æsthetic. The Black version, I'm sure, would look just as nice as well. Oh, I even went and tried violently* shaking it around to see if it might fall/slip out [?] ...NOPE: perfectly secure. After I first put my Kindle into the pocket, I started to get worried when the light wasn't coming on (even though I had the Kindle on StandBy). To my surprise, however, the light lit right up the second I turned the Kindle back on. I'm not sure how it's able to read the difference between the two, but wow is that an awesome feature. Speaking of which, the light itself is very soft, with no glare what-so-ever. Turns off the second you flick it back as well, meaning it doesn't end up draining the battery. The plastic swivel feels a bit flimsy so just be mindful of that aspect. I'm sure a lot of people might snap it right off if they're not careful. (If they ever made another model of this, which I'm hoping they do, I'd recommend them changing it from a swing-type mechanic, to a flip-down panel, with a longer rectangular space for the lighting. This would make it less accident prone, would allow for a much more even distribution of the light, and give it an even more streamlined look) Not to mention the fact that it draws energy directly from the reading device (how cool is that?). I mean, just knowing you never need batteries, ever*, was such a significant selling-point for me. All in all, I'm just impressed through & through with this piece in its entirety. If you're an avid reader like myself, if you are frequently using your Kindle, or even if you're only checking around for some quality lighting/protection for it -- there's nothing out there better than this excellent combo. It has a sleek, burnished feel; a brilliant, intuitive design; while maintaining a sturdy, prominent sense of security & durability. I'm very happy with this product, and, should you decide to purchase one for yourself, so will you.

*UPDATE: I returned my original purchase of the Kindle cover because the issue with the cover blocking the buttons was just too annoying to deal with. I just received a replacement, and now I think this cover is absolutely perfect. I was hesitant to reorder this cover because I was scared there would still be an issue with the buttons, but there is not. I also tried out another cover and tried to use it with a separate reading light the for Kindle, but that set up was so bulky compared to this elegant cover, that I just had to give it another chance. Now, I couldn't be happier with my purchase! I just upgraded from a first generation Kindle. I tend to read before bed, and on my 1st gen Kindle, I would clip on a bulky light. It was so annoying! Part of my excitement in upgrading to the latest Kindle was the fact that you can buy a cover that comes with a light that runs off the Kindle's batteries. It seemed like the perfect solution for me. I absolutely love the idea that I don't have to worry about whether or not I brought my book light with me. Plus, it's extremely convenient that the light is a part of the case. For the most part, I am happy with the light/cover combination. The light works perfectly and the cover is unobtrusive. HOWEVER, I am one of the people having an immense amount of trouble with the buttons no longer clicking or giving feedback. The right hand buttons click if I press them just right (another reviewer mentioned that you need to click the buttons from within the Kindle, not from the side, but that doesn't always work for me). Sometimes the click is very mushy, or if I get sloppy while I'm reading, it's not even there at all. I don't want to worry about having to position my fingers just so in order for the click to register. The case completely blocks the left hand buttons, so I have to push very hard, and there is no click at all! It's really agitating. I'm not sure if there is a defective batch where there is just a tad too much rubber near the buttons because not everyone seems to have this problem, but if you do, it pretty much ruins your reading experience.

Finally received the Kindle Lighted Leather Cover for the newest version Kindle. It is VERY lightweight and I had to double and triple check the description considering it states this is a leather cover. The front cover is very thin with a medium-weight cardboard feel to it. The "leather" on the front cover is extremely thin and you can immediately tell the surface will be easily scratched and marred with normal everyday use. The inside of the front cover has a thin microfiber material to protect the screen. The back cover is hollowed out plastic to form-fit your Kindle and snaps in with relative ease. Using the enclosed graphic instruction card, I removed the Kindle as shown, having to use just enough pressure to make me a bit concerned for someone who would place and remove their Kindle in this cover frequently. However, I plan on using this cover as a full-time solution for both protection and as a light source. I went ahead and pulled up a book and switched the light on, heading to a closet to see how this looked in complete darkness. The light pulls out of the back cover and is nice and stiff and has a locked full-out position. The spread of the light is greater on top obviously but it does reach the entire screen on the Kindle. There was no glare or reflection and I was able to easily read the page without any noticeable straining. If I were to choose between this design and the Kindle Keyboard lighted cover, which I have used since its release, I would choose this newer cover. Although it feels flimsy and "cheap" compared to the Kindle Keyboard lighted cover, it makes up for it with its ease of use, no hooks/connectors to worry about and the light "stick" itself seems sturdier than the pull-out plastic flimsy light of the original Kindle Keyboard cover (which, after a year of use needs to be wiggled at times for the light to come on). I tried a few attempts at taking a picture of the cover in use, but my photography skills are definitely lacking because each picture I took created a glare from the camera which would not be helpful to anyone. Pros: NO batteries to continuously buy or recharge Sturdy light stick Lights the entire page Easy connection Form fitted Cons: Feels very flimsy and cheap The cover scratches easily I plan on editing this review in a week or two after I go through a couple full Kindle charges to see how well this holds up with regard to battery drain. Edit 12/1: So I've run through two full charges of the Kindle and am working on my third but wanted to give a head's up on power consumption I've seen so far. The first charge was approx. 7* hours of reading before I got the "pop-up" message about low battery. The second charge was just under 8* hours. If I notice a dramatic change in the next several charges, I'll edit this again. *I use my Kindle with the light on 100% of the time, with Wi-Fi turned off. Even though the lighted cover pretty much halves the battery life per charge of the Kindle, I am still super happy with the fact that I am not spending money on any extra batteries. The amount of reading time it allows is more than enough between charges considering I usually don't read more than an hour or so a day, which allows me to go around a week between charges. Edit 8/7/2012: Just wanted to follow up that this cover is still going strong after over eight months' of almost daily use. The light stick joint is still stiff so that it extends correctly to light the entire page. There hasn't been any degradation to the battery life of the kindle and I'm still getting a good 7-8 hours of reading with wifi off and light used 100% of the time. What I mentioned as a con in my original review still applies regarding the flimsy front cover and paper thin leather-over-cardboard texture. I feel that I handle my Kindle (and other electronics) very gently but there are several small scratches all over my cover. There is a high shine and obvious wear on the cover where you can see where I normally hold it while reading. While this doesn't distract from the utility of this cover I still believe higher quality material should have been used to further justify the price of this product. All in all, I still do not regret this purchase as I have saved several times over the amount I would have spent on batteries over this time period.

This is a really excellent product, although I must say that I was worried considering how many poor reviews I read, even though I knew most of them were just whining about product availability and price. The front cover is thin, but I don't worry about it bending. It looks nice, with appropriate materials inside and out. It could use something to help it stay shut, but I don't really see that being an issue. It is meant to be moved 180 degrees to get it out of your way. The difference between this and the "touch" version, which I bought for my sister, is that this has cutouts for the side buttons, thankfully. The back is basically a rubber composite surround that holsters the Kindle very nicely. This cover doesn't detract in any way, but adds basic protection and the functionality of the light. I've been using the light surprisingly often, and find it comfortable, although when using the light, I do make it point to hold the Kindle parallel to my face because holding it even somewhat perpendicular will have the light shining in one's eyes. Price: Sheesh! Yes, it is expensive. And I am one of those people that won't buy something I want even if I can afford it if I think that someone (or a company) is trying to screw me. But this is a quality product, and to me it is worth it. I like to buy something one time and always be happy with it. That seems to have been the case with this cover. I do take price into account on my reviews, but in this case, it does not lose a star. Availability: Who knows. Maybe Amazon pushed it back just to tempt a few without patience to buy something else just to hold them over (I went on a couple of flights and lugged it around in its original packaging during the time I was waiting). But I doubt it: Amazon may be a giant company, but they never seem to be underhanded (if only because they know it's not a good business model). More likely they had a schedule slip, but still wanted to release the Kindle well before the holidays. Anyway, well worth the wait.

Great for customers who love to read, compact and lightweight, carry it every where.

I primarily bought this to protect the screen from scratches when I put this in my laptop bag, and to have a good light to use when needed. PROS +Light: I will say that the light is a nice pure white and illuminates the screen uniformly. +Cover: Some other reviewers have said that they don't like the fact that the cover doesn't snap or tie closed. I have not found this to be an issue as it's obviously going to stay closed in my bag, but I have also found that it stays closed well enough that even when just laying on my coffee table, no dust ever appears on the screen. It also folds back nicely for one handed reading. CONS -Fit: It fits extremely tight. It goes in easy enough, but once it's in there, there's no getting it out. I do realize that in order for the Kindle to power the light that this was going to fit snugly like a dock. However most docks have a release mechanism (slider, button, etc) for undocking the unit. I have read online that a butter knife will work but I'm afraid I'll damage it. -Weight: This more than doubles the weight of the Kindle. The Kindle's extremely light weight and feel in the hands is why I decided on it instead of the Kindle Touch. Those advantages have pretty much been nullified (and then some) with this case. Combined with the above issue of not being able to remove it, I'm very disappointed. Also I've found that I don't use the light nearly as much as I thought I would. BOTTOM LINE If you really need the light and don't mind your Kindle being permanently sandwiched in this case, then it's a good buy. I'm pretty sure this is the best lighted case out there. However if you're like me and just need a light occasionally but really like the size and weight and look of the Kindle, then I'd suggest finding another solution. UPDATE After reading some more reviews I found out that there was supposed to be an instruction card for removing the Kindle from the case that apparently mine did not ship with. But you simply pull the lower right corner down and the Kindle comes out quite readily. The only caveat is that it's very easy to keep hitting the power button when trying to do this, so it takes a bit to get the knack of it. But it still does come off easily enough to change my original review score of 3/5 to 5/5. I am now completely satisfied that I bought this case.

I wanted to be thrilled about this case / cover, especially since it took a while for it to be released. However, once I received it, I was a bit disappointed in the quality of the case, considering the price. I previously had a Kindle 2, and the Amazon cover for that model had a nice build, with a leather finish that felt sturdy, and of quality material. Unfortunately, this particular case feels like it's made with cheap plastic, not leather (although it is leather), and scratches easily. The light mechanism doesn't feel sturdy either. On the upside, the light distributes well, and although the light cuts my battery life in half, it beats using a clip on. I also like that the light is built into the case, so you don't have to carry anything extra. The Kindle fits snugly inside the case, so I'm not worried about the Kindle accidentally slipping out of it, but I wish there was a way to secure the cover closed so it doesn't open on its own when it's inside my bag. Pros: - Good light distribution, no glare, and not too bright or dim. - Since the light is small, and points directly to the middle of the Kindle screen, it won't disturb anyone next to you. - It's good for reading in bed, even if someone is sleeping next to you. - Since the light is built-in, you don't have to carry an extra accessory. - Uses Kindle's battery, so you don't have to recharge it, or keep extra batteries. - Kindle fits snugly inside the case, and feels secure. - Does a good job of protecting the screen and the unit itself, assuming the cover stays closed. Cons: - Light arm feels unstable, like it might break easily, or not have a long life span with daily use. - "Leather" feels super cheap and plastic-like. - Finish scratches easily. - No way to secure the cover closed, so the Kindle screen could potentially be exposed inside your bag. - A bit of a battery drain on the Kindle (cut's battery life in half), but really, I'd rather have this than carrying extra batteries. Overall, it's an okay case, and I'd be satisfied if it were priced around $30. But at $60, it feels like there's a bit of price gouging going on, because there aren't any other lighted cases available for this particular model Kindle yet. I'd give it four-stars if it were priced at $30. At $60, it gets a solid three.

I looked long and hard at all the alternatives, but this one is just excellent in all the important places. IMHO worth the money in the long-run: - 1) The protection. You want to protect the screen day-to-day and the edges/corners if dropped, but not be bulky or faffy. This cover is as sleek and small as it can be but provides a solid enough front cover (unless you are attacked with a spear maybe) and the stiff rubber 'holder' protects the edges perfectly. 2) The light. I worried about this, but it's pretty much perfect. It's more than bright enough and very small and neat. The light cast is a little uneven, but there's really no way around that - even a light on your forehead would reflect badly. It's not uneven enough to make it difficult or annoying. Oh, and it gets it's power from the Kindle! Yay! Awesome idea - no battery changing or extra battery bulk. It feels a *little* flimsy, but that's probably just perception rather than it actually being flimsy. One thing - depending on how you hold the Kindle, the actual LED might be visible to you and being bright it's a little off-putting. As long as you can change your hold though, it won't be a problem. I actually customised the light, coz I'm a geeky perfectionist: I attached a piece of tape which still allows it to be closed, but effectively shields my eyes from direct view of the LED in all positions. I also put some scotch tape on the LED to make the light a little more dim and diffuse. 3) The quality. The leather is smooth but still 'leathery' not plasticky. I like it a lot. Feels nice. In summary: I find it hard to think how this could be improved by more than slight tweaks. A great product if expensive.

Excellent complément au kindle. Permet de lire sans lumière. Spécialement intéressant en camping car. Prix un peu élevé, mais obtenu avec réduction.

E' un must per gli acquisti kindle ! L'ho acquistata insieme al Kindle 4. La custodia si adatta perfettamente. E' molto elegante, protegge bene il kindle e in più ha la luce che si estrae e ti permette di leggere anche al buio. Non è vero che la luce illumina male la parte inferiore dello schermo, si legge perfettamente tutto lo schermo. Leggere al buio con la sola lucetta incorporata è una figata ! Io ho scelto il colore marrone, forse il più raffinato, ma anche gli altri non sono male. Certo il costo è un pochino alto, ma questa custodia protegge, è cool !.. e vi permette di illuminare ottimamente il vostro kindle.

Pros: la luz incorporada es genial. Se carga con la misma batería del kindle. Se retrae y apaga sola al cerrar la tapa. El haz de luz cubre la página de forma homogénea y con la intensidad adecuada. Ya no necesito la lámpara que utilizaba para leer en la cama. La funda protege muy bien el reader y el cuero tiene un tacto muy agradable. Encaja como un guante. Contras: precisamente por ese encaje tan super ajustado, al apretar el botón lateral de pasar página, el borde de la funda actuaba como tope y dificultaba su función. Pero lo solucioné rápido: inserí un trocito de cartulina (una targeta de visita doblada por la mitad) entre la funda y el dorso del reader, a la altura del botón, para "levantarlo" medio milímetro. Es todo lo que necesitaba.

Anmerkung vom 19.09.2012: Diese Hülle ist auch problemlos mit dem Nachfolger des ersten deutschen Kindles Kindle, 15 cm (6 Zoll) E Ink-Display, WLAN, Schwarz benutzbar. Ich habe sofort nachdem ich den neuen Kindle erhalten habe den alten aus der Lederhülle genommen, den neuen hineingetan und alles passt genau so gut wie beim Vorgänger Model, was ja auch kein Wunder ist, da sie äußerlich abgesehen von der Farbe nahezu identisch sind. Und, um schonmal dem Ende der Rezension vorzugreifen: Die Lampe hält auch nach 9 Monaten immer noch. Ursprüngliche Rezension: Zwei Wochen nachdem ich mir meinen Kindle zugelegt habe habe ich mir auch die dazu gehörige Lederhülle direkt von Amazon bestellt. Allerdings erst nach grundlegender Recherche. Ich wollte auf jeden Fall eine Hülle und da ich über keine Nachttischlampe verfüge auch eine Leuchte. Am besten also beides in einem. Dabei bin ich natürlich über dieses Produkt gestolpert, allerdings hat mich der hohe Preis sehr abgeschreckt, das gibt es in der Bucht z.T. deutlich billiger, auch einige der negativen Rezensionen bei Amazon fand ich zunächst abschreckend. Doch dann habe ich mich auch im Internet weiter über die günstigeren Varianten belesen und auch über die Varianten wo Hülle und Leuchte nicht kombiniert sondern jeweils extra waren. Nach einigen Tagen der Suche habe ich mich dann doch dazu entschieden diese recht teure Amazonhülle zu bestellen, wobei ich allerdings im Hinterkopf hatte, dass ich sie ja binnen vierzehn Tagen wieder zurückschicken könnte. Wie man sieht habe ich sie heute noch, und das aus guten Gründen, den das Teil überzeugt mich voll und ganz. Ich würde gerne sagen es sei sein Geld wert, allerdings bin ich nach wie vor der Meinung das 2/3 des Preises auch angemessen wären. Vor allem die Leselampe hat es mir angetan. Sie hält was sie verspricht und hat meine Erwartungen übertroffen. Mit ihr ist es Möglich in kompletter Dunkelheit sehr angenehm zu lesen. Eine Nachttischlampe ist nicht mehr erforderlich. Das gesamte Display wird gut ausgeleuchtet, wobei es natürlich in der Natur der Sache liegt, dass das Licht oben, wo die Lampe angebracht ist, heller scheint als ganz unten am Rand. Aber auch unten ist noch mehr als genug Licht vorhanden um sich in seinem Lesefluss zu keinem Zeitpunkt gestört zu fühlen. Allein dafür würde es schon fünf Sterne von mir geben. Dazu kommt noch dass die Leselampe ihren Strom direkt vom Kindle bezieht. Damit erspart man sich das Gewicht zusätzlicher Batterien. Da es sich um eine LED Lampe handelt ist der Stromverbrauch auch relativ gering. Ich lese jetzt nicht übermäßig viel, aber ich muss meinen Kindle im Schnitt alle 6 Wochen aufladen - und ich habe die Lampe immer an. Apropos Gewicht: Der Kindle alleine wiegt ca. 160 Gramm, zusammen mit der Lederhülle sind es dann schon über 300 Gramm. Das finde ich persönlich absolut okay, damit ist der Kindle immer noch deutlich leichter als die meisten Bücher. Ich hatte bisher auch noch nie das Verlangen den Kindle wieder aus der Hülle zunehmen. In der Tat habe ich ihn gerade zum Wiegen das erste mal hineingetan und denke nicht, dass ich das so schnell wieder tun werden, außer die Lampe geht mal kaputt. Womit wir bei der Stabilität der Lampe wären: Ja sie ist wirklich so filigran wie sie auf den Bilder aussieht. Allerdings braucht man definitiv keine Fingernägel um sie ausklappen zu können, dass dürfte auch die gröbste Männerhand hinbekommen. Ich bin eigentlich jemand bei dem so Sachen wie eine so zerbrechliche Lampe nach kurzer Zeit kaputt gehen. Jetzt sind über vier Monate um und sie hält immer noch. Einfach immer schön einklappen, dann dürfte man sehr lange Spass mit der Lampe haben. Einen Sturz des Kindles direkt auf die Lampe dürfte im ungünstigen Fall dazu führen das sie abbricht. Dadurch das sie abgerundet und nicht eckig ist dürfte sie sich in 95% aller Fälle aber einfach von selbst einklappen - da hat wirklich mal jemand mitgedacht. Weiterhin sind alle Bedienelemente sehr gut zu erreichen. Beim Umblättern ist die Hülle zu keinem Zeitpunkt störend, man merkt sie nicht einmal. Auch die unteren Anschlüsse sind frei und sehr gut zu erreichen, eben wie der On/Off-Schalter. Von Leder habe ich persönlich keine Ahnung, es wirkt aber eher wie Kunstleder. Die Hülle ist auch letztlich einfach nur Stück Pappe mit Leder überzogen, aber das ist absolut okay. Es erfüllt seinen Zweck meinen Kindle zu schützen voll und ganz. Die Hülle hat naütrlich im Laufe der Zeit einge Spuren und Macken bekommen, aber das ist ja Sinn der Sache: Die Hülle soll die Macken bekommen und nicht der Kindle. Mein Kindle sieht noch wie am ersten Tag aus. Der Kindle liegt auch mit dieser Hülle sehr gut und griffig in der Hand. Fazit: Ich habe den Kauf dieser mir doch recht euer erscheinenden Hülle zu keinem Zeitpunkt bereut. Nach über vier Monaten sieht mein Kindle noch aus wie am ersten Tag. Speziell in die Leselampe habe ich große Hoffnungen gesetzt und sie ermöglicht ein Lesen an jedem Ort sogar in völliger Dunkelheit ohne zusätzliches Licht oder dass es ermüdend für die Augen wäre. Daher kann ich diese Hülle nur wärmsten empfehlen. Vielen Dank fürs Lesen meiner Rezension. [...] P.S.: Sollte mir tatsächlich irgendwann mal die Lampe abbrechen werde ich diesen Beitrag hier editieren und sagen wie es dazu gekommen ist. Solange es diesen Zusatz aber nicht gegeben hat könnt ihr davon ausgehen, dass die Lampe alles überlebt hat und seit dem 04. Januar 2012 brav ihren Dienst verrichtet :)