When the original Kindle Scribe debuted last year, it was the first Amazon e-reader to support a pen, transforming what was a device for consumption into one that can be used to create.
Announced along with three other new Kindle tablets, the 2024 Kindle Scribe improves on its original design with a new, more responsive interface, a more pen-like writing experience, and AI to better understand your handwriting. It has several enhanced features. This looks like it will replace ReMarkable as the best e-book reader for writers. I had a chance to get my hands on the new tablet and see how it compares.
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Kindle Scribe 2024 Hands-On: Pricing and Availability
Kindle Scribe will be available on December 4, 2024, with a model with 16 GB of storage priced at $399 (32 GB and 64 GB versions will also be available). It comes in two colors, black and metallic teal, and it looks very impressive when you see it in person. The tablet also comes with a color-matching pen that attaches magnetically to the side of the device.
This is a bit more expensive than the original Scribe, which came with 16 GB of storage and a basic pen, and was priced at $339. Amazon also offered the original Scribe in 32GB and 64GB capacities for $389 and $419, respectively.
Amazon Kindle Scribe 2024: Design
Like the original, the 2nd generation Kindle Scribe (9 x 7.7 x 0.22 inches) is about the same size as paper and has a slightly thicker bezel along one of its long sides, making it easier to grip while gripping. . write. The screen is 10.2 inches diagonal, the same as the previous generation.
Unlike the ReMarkable tablet and the new Kindle Colorsoft, Scribe is black and white and has a resolution of 300 ppi.
Overall, the tablet weighed 15.3 ounces, making it very comfortable to hold, and the display was incredibly easy to read, even in direct sunlight.
The premium pen was a little heavier than the first generation, but it was very easy to use. Amazon has modified both the pen tip and Scribe’s screen to give it a more pen-like writing experience. The eraser on the tip of the pen has also been updated and is more rubber-like, so when erasing something it’s like using an old Ticonderoga #2.
Amazon Kindle Scribe 2024: AI features
While we wait for an improved Alexa, Amazon is bringing AI to its tablets. Kindle Scribe’s AI capabilities, although in a much more limited form, could be very useful for writers who use handwritten chicken scratch or take copious notes.
The Notebook app has two AI-powered features. The first is called Refined Writing, which analyzes all your handwritten notes and transforms them into something more readable.
The second feature is called “Summarize” and it goes through all your writing and creates a one-page summary of all the important points.
When I played with these features, they seemed to work well, but it took 15 to 30 seconds for the notes to be analyzed and the results to be returned. For both features to work, Scribe must be connected to the internet, as notes are uploaded to the cloud for analysis. This is not done on the device itself. However, Amazon said the notes are encrypted.
Amazon Kindle Scribe: Note-taking
The second generation of Scribe seems to have vastly improved note-taking. This is because the notes and annotations you make within the book are less interrupted overall and are kept within the proper context.
When you’re reading a book and start writing over sentences or paragraphs, Scribe creates a little box with your handwritten notes and automatically flows the book’s text around it. Additionally, the note remains attached to that specific paragraph, so its context is preserved even if you resize the book’s text.
You can now also write notes in the margins of books. When you tap the small icon on the right (or left), a blank field the length of the screen will appear where you can write freely. Like all notes, this one stays fixed in the book where you started it, so it doesn’t lose context even if the book changes.
Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024): Outlook
For those looking for an iPad replacement for note-taking, Kindle Scribe may be what writers are looking for. At $399, it’s $100 cheaper than the just-announced iPad mini and $180 cheaper than the ReMarkable tablet.
What I’m interested in exploring more is Scribe’s AI-powered features. If I can reliably transform my really bad handwriting into something readable and summarize those notes well, Scribe could be more than just a glorified notebook. We hope to have review units available soon, so please be patient.
