Amazon just unveiled three new Kindle Scribes that completely redesign the e-reader experience. The standout is the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, the first large-format Kindle with a color E Ink display, starting at $629.99. These third-generation devices pack AI-powered note summarization and sport a dramatically thinner profile at just 5.4mm - thinner than an iPhone Air.
Amazon is making its biggest play yet for the professional e-reader market with three new Kindle Scribes that fundamentally rethink what a large-format e-reader can do. The company's third-generation 11-inch devices launched this morning with a surprise that nobody saw coming - color E Ink technology finally comes to the big screen. The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft represents Amazon's most ambitious hardware push since the original Kindle, targeting professionals, students, and anyone who's ever wished their digital notebook could do more than just display black text on white backgrounds. At $629.99, it's not cheap, but early hands-on impressions from The Verge's Todd Haselton suggest this might be the breakthrough color e-readers have been waiting for. The color implementation works particularly well for PDFs, textbooks, and magazines - exactly the content types that benefit most from a larger screen format. The technology enables highlighting in five different colors and full-color drawing capabilities, while maintaining the two-week battery life that makes E Ink displays so compelling. What makes this launch particularly interesting is how Amazon has positioned these devices squarely against tablet distraction. The company is doubling down on the focused reading experience, betting that professionals want a device that can't ping them with Slack notifications or tempt them into social media rabbit holes. This philosophy extends to the new AI features, which focus specifically on productivity rather than entertainment. The cloud-based document summarization requires Wi-Fi but promises to quickly digest lengthy PDFs and work documents stored in Microsoft OneDrive, with Google Drive integration coming soon. All three models feature a completely redesigned interface with a Quick Notes area that functions like a persistent Post-it note. The physical design has been dramatically refined, with bezels that no longer dominate the device's appearance. At 14.1 ounces, these Scribes are lighter than their predecessors while maintaining the 11-inch screen size that makes them viable for serious document work. The entry-level model at $429.99 launches early next year without a frontlight, while the mid-tier $499.99 version includes frontlighting and ships later this year alongside the Colorsoft. Amazon has also redesigned the included stylus to be more ergonomic with stronger magnets, addressing one of the most common complaints about the previous generation. The company added textured glass to reduce the slippery feeling when writing, though initial hands-on impressions suggest the improvement is subtle. The timing of this launch is particularly noteworthy as faces increasing competition in the premium e-reader space. Companies like reMarkable have carved out significant market share among professionals, while color E Ink technology has appeared in devices from manufacturers like Boox. By bringing color to its largest format and adding AI capabilities, is clearly trying to reclaim the high-end market it helped create. The integration with cloud storage services represents another strategic move, as recognizes that modern professionals don't work exclusively within the Kindle ecosystem. The ability to search and summarize documents stored in Google Drive or OneDrive makes these devices more valuable for actual work rather than just reading. Early reactions from the professional market will be crucial for determining whether has successfully positioned these devices as productivity tools rather than just premium e-readers. The color technology, in particular, could be transformative for textbook publishers and educational content creators who have long struggled with the limitations of monochrome displays.
