Digital notebooks are not new. One of the most famous models is the reMarkable 2, from the eponymous Norwegian brand, presented on March 17, 2020 (bad timing…). But there are many others. FNAC and Rakuten, for example, launched the Kobo Elipsa in 2021, the latest 2E version of which, like the reMarkable, competes with the model that interests us here, the Amazon Kindle Scribe.
An e-reader/notebook without colors (shades of gray only) offered from €369 in 16 GB version storage and with the basic stylus. Be aware, however, that options 32GB and 64GB are also available, as well as a Premium Pen, but we will come back to that. We were able to play (and draw) with the Scribe for a few days. So here are our impressions.
Our readers also have their opinion on the question of the best e-readers, do not hesitate to consult it.
All-in on the screen!
To distinguish itself from its competitors, the latter is banking on its large 10.2-inch illuminated Paperwhite e-ink display, which offers the best defined image of e-readers of this size to date, which will be particularly appreciated when you read comics with fine details. In addition, the (adaptive) lighting is based on 35 diodes, which provides a uniform image in brightness and is relatively insensitive to reflections. This is also due to the anti-reflective coating, which is quite effective. The “paper” effect is also successful, so that it is very pleasant to read with the Scribe, whether it is eBooks, PDFs or press articles.
Because it is also possible to use an Internet browser to consult your favorite news site (by chance, Femme Actuelle!). However, we already notice a slight lack of fluidity in the menus, but this is even more pronounced on the Internet.
The interface is a little slow overall and the screen is not very responsive, but this defect being largely due to the electronic ink (and certainly a little to the processor), it does not only concern this model. We also note among the downsides of the screen a small retention of the image previously displayed. But if this can sometimes be disturbing, the display remains undeniably very good.
Pleasant but limited note-taking
Let’s get to the heart of the matter! We must admit that we had a lot of fun drawing and taking notes with this Kindle Scribe. It’s a very nice tool for adults and children alike. They can also use it as a drawing book. The home page gives pride of place to Amazon’s vast catalog of eBooks (part of which is included with the Prime subscription), and it is even possible to listen to audiobooks via the Audible service by connecting headphones wireless.
To move to the “Notes” section, you must press the “Notebook” tab at the bottom of the screen. Different types of funds are offered. There is even a scope, for musicians. Once on your blank page, you have a side menu giving access to the main types of pencils and pens. There are four in total, including a fairly stylish fountain pen. We also note the presence of a highlighter, an eraser and a lasso allowing you to select entire elements to copy/paste them, delete them, modify their size, etc.
The thickness of the lines is configurable among five levels. Writing or drawing is perfectly responsive and the feeling of writing on paper is quite convincing. Among the flaws, we note a range of tools that is increasing with device updates, but still limited. The pressure of the stylus on the tablet is also taken into account, which is a good thing because it is possible to adjust the thickness of the line, but we would have liked a slightly higher sensitivity. The lowest pressures are sometimes not detected. Finally, the highlighter always offers the same density. We would have appreciated if the tool (or another) took care of the nuances when we go over the same place several times in order to have different gray levels.
Note that Amazon’s Premium Stylus has an eraser on the back, like a real pencil (and like reMarkable’s Marker Plus or the Kobo Elipsa 2E stylus), as well as a shortcut to switch from pen to highlighter notably. We strongly advise you to opt for this stylus to save time. Finally, it is possible to convert the notes/drawings into PDF files and send them by email. Moreover, the tablet can also transform handwritten notes into typewritten text. Here again, the document import and export possibilities are limited compared to reMarkable in particular, which offers many more options. From the digital notebook specialist, it is possible to synchronize the device with Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive to retrieve or store notes and documents.
A slim design
The tablet is made of a relatively dirt-repellent and very stylish aluminum back. It weighs 433 g and is very thin, less than 6 mm thick. It’s a little more than at reMarkable but it’s still very fine. A margin on the side allows for a better grip on the device when drawing while preventing us from placing our fingers on the screen, but this comes at the cost of taking up more space. A design choice inherited from the Kindle Oasis it seems.
We don’t have much to complain about in terms of design, the device is very well made and the stylus can attach magnetically to the edge. The only small regret is that the accessory is a little annoying when it is hung and you read while holding the device in portrait mode (vertical). It would have been good for Amazon to provide a second magnetic hook on the other slice. This is not dramatic and you can always store the stylus elsewhere. Just plan to buy a pouch for this and to be able to protect the e-reader.
We finish with the connectivity, in USB-C version 3. Nothing to complain about, you just need to use any recent phone charger to recharge the Kindle Scribe. The company announces a maximum autonomy of three weeks for note-taking and up to 12 weeks for reading. A figure that we will confirm (or not) when we publish our full test of the tablet.
The best alternatives to the Kindle Scribe
Kobo Elipsa 2E: good value for money
reMarkable 2: the complete and high-end alternative
Should we abandon paper?
Once we’ve said all that: should you ditch your notepad for this Kindle Scribe? Despite a still somewhat limited range of tools and less developed features than with reMarkable for example, we really enjoyed writing and drawing with this device. Of course, the experience remains different from a real sheet of paper and a real pen, but it can also prove more practical in several respects, notably thanks to the automatic transformation into typewritten writing, the possibility of finding all your notes or all your drawings in the same place, or the possibility of highlighting or annotating documents as well as certain books (without damaging your physical copy).
We should also not forget that this is a top-notch e-reader with a very nice screen. If reMarkable will be more effective on the notebook aspect, the Kindle Scribe stands out as an e-reader. It will therefore be particularly interesting for those looking for a hybrid device for both reading books and taking notes. Those who are mainly looking for an e-reader can opt for the Kindle Paperwhite and those who only want to take notes can opt for the more specialized reMarkable 2. You have the keys, we now let you decide according to your uses and your needs.
Some links are affiliated and may generate a commission for Femme Actuelle. Prices are given for information purposes only and are subject to change. The content presented was written completely independently by a professional journalist.