I had no idea when I ordered this just how much easier it would make reading. At the time I really couldn't afford to upgrade my Kindle so I thought this cover with a light would be the next best option. I absolutely made the right move! Not only does it look good, it protects the screen on my Kindle from scratches and it shines a soft light onto my screen for easy reading no matter where I am, no matter what time of the day or night it is. One of my sons asked me why I don't upgrade to a new model but I just don't feel the need. I love my lighted cover and, sorry Kindle, I don't feel the need for an upgrade.
To get it out of the way - Yes, this cover costs almost as much as the Kindle. It's not that the cover is expensive, it's that the Kindle has gotten that much cheaper.
This cover has a very nice molded cradle that the Kindle snaps into easily & securely. The connectors in the cradle power the LED light from the Kindle's battery, and a cutout at the bottom of the cradle gives access to the charging port and the power button.
Cutouts along both sides make the page-turn buttons easy to find and manipulate.
The front cover is a double layer of leather, stiff enough to provide good screen protection. The leather "hinge" or binding is very flexible, so the cover has no tendency to spring away - even though there is no catch or other means to hold the cover down onto the screen, it wants to stay shut. It's also comfortable & convenient to fold the cover around behind the Kindle while holding it.
The little bit of extra thickness that this cover offers, as well as the rough leather inside of the cover (which becomes the back of the Kindle when it's folded open), makes this new Kindle much more comfortable to hold. Without a cover, it was SO thin and slick that I had a difficult time holding it with one hand while still having the proper leverage/angle to actuate the page buttons. Not a problem now.
The light is more than adequate to illuminate the entire screen comfortably for reading. It's a little bright if you hold the Kindle at an angle where the top is tilted away from you; that causes the light to glare into your eyes.
Aesthetically, I wish they'd used the same shade of dark grey for the molded cradle as they do for the Kindle body. The cradle is a rather light grey and contrasts heavily with the Kindle itself. This is a minor detail & doesn't affect the use, of course, but it's odd that they would choose such a different color.
I'm curious to see how well the cover holds up over time; I hope it proves to be as sturdy as it looks. I'm going to take mine in to a leather shop and see if they can emboss my name into the cover; I think that would look pretty nice.
4 stars for the light glare and color mismatch, if I could give 4-1/2 stars I would.
EDIT December 2012: Over a year later, the cover has held up very well. The front cover is still in good shape, no fraying or other wear issues on the cover at all. I never did get the cover embossed; the leather shop in town closed :( but overall I'm still very happy with this product.
I generally figure simpler is better. I have the simplest Kindle on the market and also had the simplest cover for it, and have been quite happy. However, when I saw this lighted version, I knew I had to have it. So many times I have struggled to read in low light! Also, I love to read by my window at night, sipping wine and occasionally gazing out at the moon or city lights. An overhead reading light makes this impossible with its reflection off the glass. I love the look of this cover, the quality feel of this cover, the rich wine color. The light is just the perfect amount to read by without disturbing anyone else. A note of caution: it is not quick and easy to get the Kindle in and out of this cover. I am not sure why you'd want to do that, anyway. The cover adds very little weight or thickness. It opens and folds back without having any straps or closures to get in the way, snag in your purse, etc. I can't think of any improvements I would make.
While I found the cover to be a bit pricey, the free shipping helped off-set that concern.
As to the cover itself? Well, it is leather, despite some reviewers comments. I have no concern that the light will snap off when in use. The light has a very solid feel to it, it is not flimsey.
The cover does weight as much as the Kindle but that extra weight disappears once you start using it. The front cover folds to the back and doesn't interfer with reading.
The very best part for me and, it is personal, is that I read my Kindle each night before going to sleep. I turn off the lights in my bedroom and read and I feel like a kid again. Sneaking a quick read with a flashlight under the covers! That feeling is priceless. For the practical, it's so much better than a flashlight or any other book light I've used over the years. I do not find the light hitting my eyes in a weird angle when laying down and reading. I find that the light is sufficient to the bottom of the page.
I have found that having the wi-fi on and using the light can cause a battery drain but I read an average of 2 to 3 hours a day and the wireless is typically on all day long because I have a weird internet connection. So for me it is easier to leave the wi-fi on so I don't have to reboot the router to get it to connect to my Kindle. I just put my Kindle on the USB cable and charge up in the morning. It doesn't take more than 20 minutes or so for a full day's use. I find that acceptable. I think that if you weren't using the wi-fi and only used the light for a couple of hours a day the charge would last for at least a week.
I take my Kindle with me everywhere. I throw it in my backpack and the cover protects my Kindle in that bottomless pit quite well. I think it is safe to say that the cover has actually increased my pleasure of owning the Kindle.
In summary, 5 stars from me!!!
First of all, this olive color is very beautiful! I actually had trouble picking which color I would want to buy. I've had this case for my Amazon Kindle 4 for about five years now and the color is just as vibrant and the light is just as bright and helpful! The sucky thing about leather in general is that you have to take care not to scratch it... I can't quite figure out it I'm too rough with the exterior or if it's sensitive to "wear n' tear" but the scratches on my case are not too easily seen unless the item is in direct lighting. The case does a good job at protection and it's very easy to fold back the cover to hold my kindle while standing on the train. The only issue is that I WISH it had some sort of elastic band to help keep it closed! This is because one day, in my bag, my keys managed to finagle their way in between my kindle screen and cover and now I have some permanent scratches on my kindle screen!
Feature Product
- Built-in LED reading light provides even lighting across Kindle's entire screen
- Light draws power from Kindle device. No batteries required
- Premium leather exterior looks and feels great
- Sleek, lightweight design protects Kindle without adding bulk
- Cover folds back for easy one-handed reading
Description
Amazon's Kindle Lighted Leather Cover
Protect and Illuminate Your Kindle
| Our sleek, form-fitted leather cover was designed to be the perfect companion for Kindle. The premium leather exterior looks and feels great, while the soft microfiber interior protects your device from scuffs and scratches. No matter where you take your Kindle, you'll never be without illumination thanks to the integrated reading light. Our innovative design allows the built-in LED light to draw its power from Kindle, so no batteries are required. Never Be Without a LightAn integrated LED reading light lets you read comfortably anytime, anywhere. The high-quality LED light is designed specifically for Kindle's paper-like display, adding brightness without adding glare. A permanent part of the cover, the reading light is located just above your Kindle and is optimally positioned to provide an even light across the screen. When needed, simply flip the light out and it automatically illuminates, eliminating the need for a separate power switch. To turn the light off, just snap it back into place or close the cover. Since the light draws its power from Kindle, no batteries are needed.  How It WorksOur innovative cover interfaces seamlessly with your Kindle, securing your device while providing easy access to all controls and connections. Two small connectors draw power from the device to power the attached light. Our cover is designed specifically for the latest generation Kindle and secures your device without any hinges or straps. Simply place your Kindle into the form-fitted interior of the cover and then gently press the device into place. Read Comfortably with One HandReading with the cover on, you can easily access Kindle's navigation features and buttons, while the rounded edges offer a perfect fit in your hands. The reading light is easily accessible when the cover is open and the cover is designed to fold back, so you can read comfortably with just one hand. On the Go
Thin, lightweight, and durable, this cover is perfect for taking Kindle wherever you go. The stylish, genuine leather exterior and form-fitting interior provide ultimate fit and protection. You'll also never be without a reading light, and since the light draws its power from Kindle, no batteries are needed.  Amazon's official Kindle lighted leather cover features a genuine leather exterior and microfiber interior, and comes in four different colors.
|  Read Kindle easily in the dark with Amazon's revolutionary, all-new lighted leather cover.  Built-in connectors draw power from the Kindle device to power the integrated reading light.  Protect your Kindle on the go, and never be without a reading light. |
This cover is a perfect fit for the basic Kindle. Installation is as simple as inserting the kindle in the cover and pressing it down in place. It feels more like high quality plastic than leather. It feels a tad slippery to touch and may thus be prone to dropping. I will be careful with it. Another thing is that it adds a bit of heft to the kindle. Even though the top flap stays shut a restraining rubber band would have been nice like the one on Marware Eco-Vue for Kindle and Kindle Touch Cover, Black.
Functionally the cover is well suited to the kindle and provide easy access to all the buttons and ports without hindrance. The led is thoughtfully positioned and provides even illumination to the screen. When deployed the light turns on if the Kindle is on and turns off if the Kindle is powered down. One can read comfortably with the light while lying down if the head is propped up with a pillow. I am not sure how the light would affect the overall power consumption of the Kindle but I suppose it would depend on how often one uses the light.
I am of the opinion that this cover is a good buy provided it lasts as long as the Kindle. However, if you don't envision yourself doing a lot of midnight reading on the kindle you may be better of off with the non-lighted version Amazon Kindle Leather Cover, Black which is lighter and cheaper.
I got this cover yesterday and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I bought the used version from Amazon warehouse deals and saved close to twenty dollars. I thought this thing would look used and had pretty low expectations. The cover looks brand new, I personally did not notice a single scuff mark or scratch on this cover.
Now for the review, the purple leather is very nice to look at and gives me a break from the monotony of brown and black covers for everything else. The Kindle fits in very snug and I do not forsee it popping out of this cover if it's accidentally dropped. I would have preferred a elastic or a magnet closure on this cover but it's not a deal breaker.
The one thing that really annoys me though is that the light shines straight into your eyes if you're reading in bed, this did prevent me from giving this product five stars. The bulb is flush in the plastic arm with no hood over the bulb at all. If there has been a small hood I think the bulb would not cause the distraction. I am considering putting tape over the arm like another reviewer did in the pictures to lessen the effect of the light shining into one's eyes.
Also for the people who say it doesn't fit, the description says specifically in the little box that it is not for the Kindle Touch. The differences are minor but they are there, this one is for the regular Kindle not the Touch version. Not the fault of Amazon, it wasn't measured wrong, you just ended up ordering the wrong case.
Overall, I am very pleased with the lighted leather cover; I would buy it again, and I would recommend it to friends and family.
Cons: I wasn't crazy about the color options; I would have preferred some brighter/more interesting selections. I don't dislike the green, but it does seem more drab in person than it does on the screen. If you are just looking for a black or brown cover, this will not be a problem for you. Also, the leather scratches quite easily. The cover looks like I have had it for longer than a month, and I have been careful with it.
Pros: Just about everything else. The cover is designed to fit the device exactly so that the front flap closes precisely over the screen, which diminishes bulk and makes for a neat appearance. I love how the front flap is easily folded back or held open-- it feels like the best possible version of an actual book. The front flap is very thin, which I do like because it makes the cover very streamlined and easy to hold, but it also seems a bit delicate. The light is well integrated and illuminates the screen beautifully. The built-in light is also unobtrusive to others, which is a great plus reading in bed with a partner who needs darkness to sleep. I was considering using the reading light I already own along with a non-lighted cover, but seeing how well the Kindle, cover, and light work together, I am so happy that I went for it. The lighted leather cover is a bit expensive compared to the price of the Kindle, but I consider it to be a great value, and I am delighted with my purchase.
After MUCH searching for just the "right" cover, I decided on this lighted model. It's fantastic. I don't find the cover to be cheap as some other's have said. I LOVE the light. I would give it 4-1/2 stars instead of 5 only because as one other person noted, the light's cover doesn't come down quite far enough and if you don't have the Kindle positioned at just the right angle, the light kind of shines in your eyes. But I'm getting used to it and overall it's just perfect. I haven't had it but a week or so, so it will be interesting to see how well it wears, considering I am using my Kindle a lot. I don't know if the leather will scratch a lot or not, and I don't know if the microfiber inside will get messed up over time from my fingers (I fold it back and hold it with my fingers touching the inside cover while I read). So far it shows no sign of wear though.
I do think it's pricey, and maybe not quite worth what they are asking for it, but when you consider that even a plain cover (no leather, no light) is going for $30 (even at Target), then the leather and the light make the price of this seem very reasonable. I would definitely buy it again knowing what I know now, so I guess as long as I am still someone who is willing to pay what they are asking, the price won't likely come down.
But if you do a lot of night reading I highly suggest this cover!
I can't believe how much I enjoy this little accessory! It adds a quaint element to my otherwise utilitarian kindle reader - in fact it makes it look and feel like a real book - a high quality little book with stitched leather hardcover (albeit extremely thin leather). Sort of connects you back to the books that have been read for thousands of years - I just enjoy picking it up and opening it just like a real book. Granted, you don't have to press a little button on he bottom of a real book, but then you don't get this kind of coverage in a real book either. Makes it easier to hold, too. The light is a little dim for me, but it'll do in a pinch, or if you have younger eyes. Oh, watch the pricing on this, seems to really fluctuate, and seems like a rip-off at the moment...
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