Amazon’s new Kindles appear to have a light leak problem

is the Verge’s weekend editor. He’s covered the tech industry for over 18 years and knows a thing or two about synths.

Some users are reporting that the new Kindles have a light leak issue that is especially apparent when using dark mode. The latest base-model Kindles have a flush bezel that gives them a sleek appearance and looks great… as long as you keep the lights on. But things can change once you turn down the lights and turn up the brightness on the e-reader.

In some cases, users see shadows around the edges of the screen, or even visible LED strips. The issue appears to affect both the plastic and aluminum models in all colors. Some minor glowing around the edges might be a byproduct of the combination of front lighting and a flush screen. But Reddit users say images shared there show something more dramatic that appears to be a defect.

Good e-Reader says that Amazon is aware of the issue and has confirmed that a manufacturing issue may have led to defects in the current batch of Kindles. However, when contacted by The Verge, the company declined to provide an on-the-record statement.

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