Amazon has just discounted the Colorsoft e-reader and a bevy of Fire Tablets, but they have not forgotten their second-generation Scribe e-notebook that came out in 2024. There are a few different configurations, but generally, you can save $75 to $85 on each one, amounting to some hefty savings. The significant differences with the Scribe 2 are the newly designed premium pen, a screen that is easier to write on, and the new industrial design.
The Kindle Scribe 2 features a 10.2-inch Carta 1200 E INK display with a resolution of 1860×2480 and 300 PPI. Its redesigned display has uniform white borders. The screen is flush with the bezel and protected by a layer of glass. It also has 35 white and amber LED lights that can be adjusted automatically. This allows you to read in dark or low-light environments. The light from the device does not shine directly into your eyes but spreads evenly across the screen.
Underneath the hood is a 1GHz MediaTek MT8113 processor, 1 GB of RAM, and 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB of internal storage. It has Wi-Fi 5 to download e-books from the Amazon Store. Bluetooth 5.1 is available in select markets to wirelessly connect earphones or an external speaker to listen to audiobooks. Audiobooks are unavailable in every country, such as Canada, but they can be used in the US, UK, Japan, and other international markets. A USB-C port is available to charge the device. Amazon rates the new and original Scribes as having the same battery life — up to three weeks if you write for about half an hour a day and up to 12 weeks if you read for that same amount of time. The dimensions are 196 x 230 x 5.8mm and weighs 433g.
The software has been drastically changed, too. A new AI-driven notebook quickly summarizes pages and notes into concise bullet points in a handwritten-style font that can be shared from the notebook tab. You can also refine your notes in a handwritten-style font so they’re legible while maintaining the look and feel of handwriting.
Another standout feature is Active Canvas; you can write your thoughts directly into the book when inspiration strikes. Your note becomes part of the page, and the book’s text dynamically flows around it—whether you increase the font size, change the font style, or change the book layout, the note stays visible exactly where you want it, so you never lose any meaning or context. You’ll also be able to write your notes in the side panel and easily hide them when you’re done.
There are two main reasons to purchase the new Kindle Scribe 2. One can use it as a digital tablet to take notes, write in e-books, and use current and future AI-driven enhancements. The other is to use the large screen to read Kindle Books. Reading e-books is the sole reason I use the Scribe regularly.
- New Kindle Scribe - A Kindle and a notebook, all in one. Redesigned flush-front display with uniform white borders and upgraded Premium Pen, feels like writing on paper.
- Write in books – Start writing on the page and Active Canvas will create space for your notes. Expand the margins to add more notes, or collapse them to see the original page.
- Built-in notebook - Create meeting notes and to-do lists, or journal all in one place. Convert handwritten notes to text and email them to yourself or your contacts.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.