Amazon completely revamped its Scribe range of large e-readers this week, basically starting afresh with a new design, software approach and a rejigged selection of devices.
There are now three Scribe models, giving the range a broader appeal to those with varying budgets and needs.
The entry-level Scribe, for instance, ditches the front light, while the flagship model adds a colour display – a first for the line – and uses the same Colorsoft branding as the Kindle launched in late 2024.
All the models have a slick new design, with 11-inch textured displays, thin bezels and improved internals for faster page turns.
The Kindle Colorsoft comes in a striking purple colour and uses Colorsoft display tech to, according to Amazon, ‘enhance color without washing out the details’ and ‘deliver an incredible colour writing experience’.
It looks like there’s been just as much of a focus on the software side, and from the images Amazon has shared, the UI is going to look very different from a standard Kindle.
It now has a new homescreen that includes quick access to notes and an AI-powered search to quickly find information inside notebooks.
A complete restart and a Remarkable rival
These are huge updates and feel like they are making the Scribe into the product and line it should have been from the start.
I liked the first Scribe, but it was basically just a big Kindle with some pretty average note-taking skills. The second-gen model improved things a lot, but it still felt like a better Kindle than a digital notebook.
Now, this third iteration looks to be much complete, both in its more focused hardware and bespoke software.
The multiple device offering is similar to rival Remarkable, which sells the entry-level Remarkable 2 without a front light (much like the entry-level Scribe) and then a much pricier Pro model with a colour display.
A model is missing, though
While I haven’t used or seen the new Scribes yet, I am already a fan. The focus on software that’s different to the Kindle, which focuses more on reading, is great and rids the Scribe of that feeling that it’s just a bigger Kindle.
But, there’s a model I really wish Amazon had included in the range – and that’s a ‘mini’ Scribe; a smaller version with all the same note-taking features and pen support, but in a body that’s similar in size to the Kindle Colorsoft.
I recently reviewed the Remarkable Paper Pro Move, and I have continued to use it every day. It’s my new notebook, as it’s big enough to write comfortably on, but small enough to slip into a bag without really knowing it’s there.
When I am already carrying a laptop and possibly an iPad and a Kindle for reading, the last thing I want is another 11-inch+ device to haul around too.
The Paper Pro Move is basically the same size as a reporter notebook, and it has all the same features as the larger Remarkable devices. It works with the same stylus, too.
My only issue with the Paper Pro Move is that it’s not a Kindle, and it’s not built for reading books. Reading on it is possible, but all my ebooks are locked inside Amazon’s ecosystem, and it’s clear that Remarkable doesn’t really see it as a reading-first device.
Having a device that combines both a Kindle, which is excellent for reading, and one that is incredible for taking notes is an enticing prospect I would be very much on board with.
Take the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, keep the design the same (definitely keep the purple colour, which looks great) and differentiate the software from the standard Kindle Colorsoft by including all the note-taking aspects. Call it the Scribe Mini and get it into my hands as quickly as possible.
Easy, right?
