Amazon’s Kindle Scribe makes minor enhancements nevertheless it’s not sufficient

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I see you, annotators — the readers with color-coded highlighting methods and tabs protruding of each e book. Going digital with an e-reader won’t seem to be it is for you, however with all of the developments available in the market, issues are altering. I’ve seen all of it, from essentially the most fundamental Kindle to a shade e-reader and now the Kindle Scribe.

Launched in late 2024, Amazon debuted the subsequent era of the Kindle Scribe. It is the biggest within the model’s lineup and the one mannequin that comes with a pen and the flexibility to put in writing. I would hung out with the earlier era of Scribe, so I wished to see how Amazon improved the machine. Sadly… it wasn’t a lot.

Here is what I take into consideration the Kindle Scribe and if it is price it.

Kindle Scribe worth and specs

The 2024 Kindle Scribe is identical measurement because the earlier era however incorporates a redesigned display with even borders surrounding the display.

These are the total specs for the 2024 Kindle Scribe:

• 10.2-inch show, as much as 94 nits brightness, and 300 ppi decision

• USB-C charging port with as much as 12 weeks of battery life

• Begins at 16GB of storage, with 32GB and 64GB choices out there

• Premium pen included

• Is available in tungsten (darkish grey) and metallic jade

• Not waterproof

All of the perks of a Kindle e-reader, plus annotation

Jotting down my ideas on the Kindle Scribe… on the Kindle Scribe.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Kindles are nice e-readers — our favourite, the truth is. So, it is no shock that the Kindle Scribe has the identical potentialities. You’ll be able to entry books by the Kindle Retailer or Libby. Like all Kindles, there’s seamless Libby integration to make it simple to learn your library books.

Nevertheless it has one thing different Kindles do not, the flexibility to annotate. With an included stylus (referred to as the “premium pen”), you possibly can write utilizing the pocket book characteristic as a digital pocket book. Plus, this newest era of Kindle Scribe means that you can annotate throughout the margins of books. I used it to annotate lengthy PDFs, write notes within the margins, and handwrite line edits. As soon as I used to be completed, I might ship the annotated doc from the Kindle to my electronic mail so I might simply ship it again to my colleague.

When not in use, the premium pen magnetically attaches to the Kindle Scribe, preserving it inside attain.

It is the slowest e-reader within the line-up

Whereas it provides the identical means as different Kindles to learn by an unlimited array of books, it’s noticeably slower than different fashions in Amazon’s line-up. When Amazon introduced the brand new era of Kindles in late 2024, the Kindle, Paperwhite, and Paperwhite Signature Version have been all touted because the model’s quickest gadgets, which they definitely are.

Whereas the Kindle Scribe’s shows have been redesigned, its processor has not been up to date. The Scribe usually lags when beginning to get up or switching between journals and books. I additionally observed some pauses when turning pages, one thing I by no means expertise on different Kindles. That is particularly disappointing contemplating the worth, which is greater than double that of the Paperwhite.

It is good to put in writing on, however the shows will ghost you

After switching to the pocket book part of the Kindle, you possibly can nonetheless see e book covers from my library bleeding by the display.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

On the subject of annotating and writing on a Kindle Scribe, I like the tactile really feel. The anti-glare display and premium pen of the Kindle Scribe have a texture that emulates the sensation of writing with pen and paper. It is a lot totally different and preferential to the slippery texture of writing on an iPad with an Apple Pencil.

Nonetheless, whereas the show has a pleasant really feel, it suffers from a ghosting problem. The again finish of the premium pen works as an eraser, so you possibly can flip it over if you wish to erase some notes. Nonetheless, a shadow of your erased writing actually lingers. Once I exited the pocket book I had erased, the shadow lingered whilst I opened a brand new e book and tried to learn.

It is dearer than an iPad

The Kindle Scribe just isn’t a pill. It is an e-reader with the flexibility to put in writing. Why am I noting this? As a result of it is definitely priced like a pill. The Kindle Scribe begins at $399.99 for the 16GB mannequin and tops out at $449.99 for the 64GB mannequin. Contemplating the lately launched eleventh era iPad with 128GB of storage begins at $349.99, the Kindle Scribe is a horrible worth.

A pill, like an iPad, has so many capabilities, like looking social media and the net, streaming video, gaming, drawing, and even studying, with entry to the Kindle app, Apple Books, and even Libby on there. In the meantime, you are restricted to simply studying or writing on a Scribe — no streaming, gaming, or extra. When you’re searching for a distraction-free reader, perhaps that is a draw. However in any other case, it is simply too costly.

Is the Kindle Scribe price it?

Kindles are normally nice e-readers, however the Scribe would not stay as much as the remainder of the line-up.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino

There’s just one particular circumstance I think about the Kindle Scribe is price. When you’re an avid annotator and need a distraction-free e-reader, the Kindle Scribe is nice. It means that you can write notes within the margins of e-books or annotate PDFs, which you’ll be able to then view in your laptop.

However in any other case, if you happen to’re excited by the thought of an e-reader you possibly can annotate on, look elsewhere. For $399.99, the Kindle Scribe is not price it with its meager efficiency and display ghosting points.

In order for you an e-reader you could annotate with, try the Kobo Libra Color, which prices $229.99. The Libra Color is $170 lower than the bottom mannequin Kindle Scribe and comes with twice the storage. Or, if you wish to spend your cash on one thing that may do extra than simply learn and write, swing for the iPad eleventh era, which is $349.99 — nonetheless $50 cheaper than the Scribe.