18 years after its debut, the Kindle continues to be the large title relating to e-readers. Nonetheless, it’s struggled to make bigger note-taking E Ink units a hit to date.
The unique Kindle Scribe launched in 2022 and instantly confronted issues, with criticisms together with options that didn’t work, fundamental note-taking capabilities and poor format assist. It was solely a small step ahead over Kindle’s different e-readers, although a number of subsequent updates made it far more interesting.
Up to date in 2024, the second-gen Kindle Scribe moved to a white border across the web page to higher imitate paper, whereas additionally altering the glass floor for a extra paper-like writing expertise and boosting the efficiency with a brand new processor. It additionally expanded the software program options to make it extra interesting general.
Nonetheless, maybe as a sign that the Kindle Scribe nonetheless wasn’t what Amazon needed, the Kindle Scribe has been up to date once more in 2025. This newest model is available in two variations: an up to date black and white mannequin, and the brand-new Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, which brings color to Amazon’s largest Kindle for the primary time.
I used to be on the launch of the brand new mannequin to present it a fast check. Listed below are my early impressions.
A refined design
Whereas the Scribe stays a slim slab, there have been a lot of modifications to the design that make it extra engaging. It’s now solely 5.4mm thick, in comparison with the 5.7mm of the earlier model, whereas it weighs 400g as an alternative of 433g beforehand.
The show is bigger, rising to 11 inches over the ten.2 inches of the earlier fashions, whilst you’ll discover that the border across the display screen now matches the color remainder of the system. A lot for Amazon increasing the paper floor, which was the intention of the change in 2024.
Chris Corridor / Foundry
Nonetheless, the largest design change is that it’s now symmetrical. Beforehand, there was a wider part operating down the left-hand facet that was wider. It by no means regarded nice, so now that it has been eliminated, the brand new Kindle Scribe simply appears to be like higher and extra premium than each of its predecessors.
There are a few colors – the Fig pictured right here, or Graphite for the Colorsoft, whereas the common black and white model is available in Graphite solely. Apparently, the black and white mannequin retains the white encompass to the show, which is a fast approach to inform them aside.
Internally, the {hardware} has been boosted with a extra highly effective processor, which Amazon says results in a 40% increase in efficiency. As it is a Kindle, efficiency is measured in web page flip speeds and writing, with a transfer to 4GB RAM over the unique 1GB.
Show enhancements – and the addition of color
It’s not simply the processor that enhances the expertise: the show has been redesigned on each fashions, too. There are 70 mini LEDs operating down the facet to enhance the illumination, whereas the display screen floor is once more a textured glass designed to sound and really feel like paper.
Elsewhere, the hole between the floor of the display screen and the floor the place the ink seems has been decreased to spice up the pure look when writing. It seems in 12ms, so there’s a very seamless look, and it feels nice – similar to writing on paper.
Chris Corridor / Foundry
The show additionally runs at the next voltage to hurry up the web page turning, so that you’ll even have a easy expertise when studying. All this is applicable to each fashions of the Kindle Scribe, however the enormous change – and the one which makes the Kindle Scribe now make sense – is the addition of color.
We first noticed color on the Kindle Colorsoft, a model of the Paperwhite with a 7-inch display screen. On that mannequin, color made no sense in any respect – books that small actually don’t name for color that a lot.
The brand new Kindle Scribe simply appears to be like higher and extra premium than each of its predecessors
However bigger format books, similar to graphic novels or textbooks, can actually profit from color, and that is the place the Colorsoft has a function. For the smaller mannequin, I feel it missed the mark, however for the Scribe, it suits effectively.
That’s cemented by the writing capabilities, as a result of the type of people that wish to learn textbooks would additionally profit from notetaking and highlighting. It’s a boon for anybody learning, with easy accessibility to content material by the Kindle Retailer for starters, but additionally assist for PDFs and different paperwork.
Chris Corridor / Foundry
There are ten ink colors, 5 highlighter colors and 5 brush kinds, so a great deal of selection relating to marking up or sketching out new notes and concepts. Whereas you should utilize this for drawing, it’s not going to supply the kind of expertise that you just’ll get from a full color system just like the iPad, although it’s nonetheless potential.
Higher software program assist
Amazon’s means of refining the software program expertise continues on the Kindle Scribe.
One of many massive new options is the power to sync with Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive. That’s going to make it a lot simpler to get paperwork on and off the Scribe and match them into your workflow. It sounds boring, however integration with third-party cloud storage suppliers might be the Scribe’s most significant improve.
One of the best information is that this function is coming to older Kindle Scribe units, too, so everyone seems to be a winner.
There’s additionally a brand new house web page, giving entry to Fast Notes to get you writing, whereas present notebooks are organized down the facet and books throughout the underside.
Chris Corridor / Foundry
Elsewhere, the Kindle Scribe continues to be supported by synthetic intelligence, together with an AI-powered search which might scan your handwriting to seek out issues. That is additionally supported by an AI chat, which will help you course of your notes by asking questions. This additionally means you’re not restricted to specific phrase looking; it’s extra dynamic.
I didn’t check the AI options to any nice extent, however I did witness an illustration the place the AI summarised the notes and prompt follow-up questions. There’s lots to be explored right here, however extra time with them is required for correct testing.
Integration with third-party cloud storage suppliers might be the Scribe’s most significant improve
There’s a however, and it’s an enormous one
Whereas every thing sounds nice – giving the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft the talents it must compete as a studying and writing system – all of it comes at fairly a value. The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft begins at £569.99 within the UK or $629.99 within the US.
For those who’re joyful to drop the color and simply need the up to date Scribe, it can price £449.99/$499.99 or £449.99. Lastly, there can be a model with no entrance gentle for £389.99/$429.99.
The brand new Kindle Scribe can be obtainable within the US earlier than the tip of 2025; within the UK it will likely be obtainable in early 2026.