The new version of the Kindle launched today on Amazon with the e-reader device now available for the first time directly from the etail giant’s UK site.

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The new smaller, faster Kindle is 15% lighter and has up to one month of battery life. The device offers 20% faster page turns and up to double the storage; up to 3,500 books.

The Kindle is now cheaper, at £109 and will be dispatched to UK customers from August 27.

On July 27, Amazon will also launch an e-bookstore in the UK with over 400,000 books.

Amazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos said: “Kindle is the best-selling product on Amazon for two years running. We lowered the price to $189 and sales growth tripled. Now, we are excited to introduce a new generation Kindle that is smaller, lighter, and faster, with 50 percent better contrast. Readers are going to do a double take when they see Kindle’s bright new screen and feel how remarkably light the smaller 8.7 ounce design feels in one hand.”

Last week Amazon said strong sales of the Kindle helped lifts revenues by 41% in its second quarter to $6.57bn.

In its international markets including the UK sales soared 35%.