Amazon just dropped three new Kindle Scribe models, headlined by the Colorsoft - the first Kindle with a color E Ink screen. The redesigned lineup packs larger 11-inch displays and AI-powered features that could finally make digital note-taking feel natural. Starting at $430, these devices represent Amazon's biggest push yet into the digital notepad market dominated by reMarkable.
Amazon is betting big on color. The company's new Kindle Scribe Colorsoft marks the first time Amazon has brought its customized E Ink Kaleido technology from the Kindle Colorsoft e-reader to a larger, note-taking device. The move signals Amazon's determination to grab market share from reMarkable, which has dominated the premium digital notepad space.
The hardware upgrade is immediately noticeable. All three new Scribe models feature 11-inch screens - a bump up from the previous 10.2-inch display - while actually getting lighter at 400 grams compared to last year's 433-gram model. At 5.4mm thick, they're now thinner than an iPad Air. Amazon ditched the previous generation's asymmetrical design for a cleaner, more tablet-like appearance that should feel more familiar to users.
"We've completely redesigned the front lighting system," according to Amazon's announcement. Tiny LEDs now create more uniform lighting while reducing bezel size, and Amazon improved the glass texture to better simulate pen-on-paper friction. The company also closed the gap between the glass and E Ink panel beneath, making stylus strokes feel more connected to the tip.
Performance gets a major boost with a new quad-core processor and additional memory. Amazon claims writing and page turns now feel 40% faster than previous versions - addressing one of the biggest complaints about E Ink devices. The speed improvements could be crucial as Amazon tries to convince users that digital note-taking can match pen and paper.
But it's the software where Amazon is really pushing boundaries. The new AI features read like a preview of the future of reading and writing. "Story So Far" generates spoiler-free recaps of books up to your current reading point, while "Ask This Book" answers questions based on highlighted text passages. These features will roll out on Kindle iOS apps later this year before hitting devices in early 2025.
Perhaps most ambitious is Amazon's plan to integrate Scribe notes with Alexa Plus. Starting next year, users will be able to send their handwritten notes to Amazon's smart assistant and have conversations about them. It's the kind of seamless AI integration that could differentiate Amazon's approach from competitors focused purely on hardware.
