Why? It costs them nothing. They don't release updates for them anyway. They also disabled whisper-net so they are no longer on the cell network. You have to put them on wifi to get book downloads. I have what I think is a 2nd gen Kindle (one with a keyboard still) and it works fine. I don't have a reason to replace it and don't want to. It has no backlight and is not a "tablet". I won't use a "ebook" that is like one. Archive: https://archive.today/DCDfo From the post: >>Amazon is rewarding long-time Kindle users by ditching support for aging devices, though it is trying to "minimize disruption" for existing customers by dangling a 20 percent discount for new models along with an eBook credit. As Reg readers know, nothing in tech lasts forever, and so from May 20, 2026, Amazon is "discontinuing support for Kindle devices released in 2012 or earlier," the company states in an email to customers today. Affected hardware includes first and second-generation Kindle versions, as well as Kindle DX and DX Graphite, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle 4, Kindle Touch, Kindle 5 and Kindle Paperwhite 1st generation.