Amazon's Kindle Scribe 1 is discounted for Prime Day, priced at $199
The Kindle Scribe 1 and 2 are the latest large-screen e-readers from Amazon, designed for both reading and note-taking on a 10.2-inch E Ink display with a resolution of 300 PPI.
Key Features and Specifications (common to both Kindle Scribe 1 and 2):
- Display: The Kindle Scribe features a 10.2-inch Paperwhite display with a resolution of 300 PPI, providing a clear and spacious reading and writing experience.
- Writing capability: The Kindle Scribe comes with a stylus (called "Amazon Kindle Scribe Premium Pen") for writing, drawing, and note-taking directly on the screen.
- Screen technology: The Kindle Scribe uses E Ink Carta 1200 technology, which offers great contrast and reduced ghosting for sharper blacks and faster page turns.
- Software: The Kindle Scribe includes features such as Active Canvas and Side Margin notes, allowing users to attach notes to specific words or sentences. It also supports note-taking on sideloaded eBooks.
- Design: The Kindle Scribe has dimensions of roughly 196 x 230 x 5.7 mm, similar to the size of an A4 paper, and a metallic finish. The weight is about 433g without the stylus, and the stylus weighs approximately 15g.
- Battery life: The Kindle Scribe boasts a long-lasting battery, suitable for extended reading and writing sessions.
Differences and Comparisons: Kindle Scribe 1 vs. Kindle Scribe 2
- Hardware updates: The 2024 refresh (Scribe 2) added a slightly textured front glass to better mimic paper feel and improve stylus grip. The screen technology remains the same E Ink Carta 1200.
- Performance: Both models have similar performance in terms of page turns and responsiveness, though some users find stroke recognition and responsiveness somewhat inconsistent in both models.
- Software/Features: Scribe 2 introduced AI-powered features such as a Summarize feature for notes, enhanced note-taking tools like Active Canvas and Side Margin notes, which also work on both newer and older Scribe models through software updates.
- Price and value: The newer model has a higher price but offers mostly software improvements and minor hardware tweaks. The original Scribe remains a viable option due to its comparable features at a potentially lower cost.
- User experience: Both models deliver a spacious writing and reading experience with the benefit of integrating reading and advanced note-taking functions, but note-taking experience still lags slightly behind competitors like Kobo and Onyx Boox in terms of flexibility for margin scribbles and writing tools.
Summary Table:
| Feature | Kindle Scribe 1 | Kindle Scribe 2 (2024 Refresh) | |---------------------------|---------------------------------|-------------------------------------| | Screen Size & Type | 10.2-inch, 300 ppi Paperwhite, E Ink Carta 1200 | Same screen technology and size | | Writing Experience | Stylus support, note-taking | Same plus textured glass for better stylus feel | | Software Features | Basic note-taking, Kindle library access | Adds AI note summary, Active Canvas, Side Margin notes (also back-ported) | | Design & Dimensions | ~196 x 230 x 5.7 mm, ~433g | Similar; slightly updated glass texture | | Performance | Fast page turns, some stroke recognition issues | Similar performance, minor refinements | | Price | Lower, still available at some retailers | Higher, more software-driven improvements | | Additional Features | Good integration with Kindle ecosystem | AI-based feature additions |
In conclusion, the Kindle Scribe 2 mainly offers incremental improvements in writing feel and software features over the original Scribe, while both share the same core hardware and display specifications. Buyers focused on hardware can consider the earlier model for cost savings, while those interested in the latest AI-enhanced note-taking may prefer the newer version.
The Kindle Scribe's battery life, suitable for extended reading and writing sessions, enhances the user experience, particularly for those using smart-home-devices or multiple gadgets, where prolonged device usage is common. The Kindle Scribe 2, with its AI-powered features such as Summarize and enhanced note-taking tools like Active Canvas and Side Margin notes, can seamlessly integrate with other technology products, improving efficiency and productivity in your tech-focused lifestyle.
