Amazon Kindle Scribes Hands-On: Color Screen Model Tested
▼ Summary
– Amazon announced three new Kindle Scribe models with an improved design, including one with a color screen and thinner, lighter builds.
– The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, starting at $629.99, features a color display for highlighting, drawing, and viewing work documents like PDFs and magazines.
– All models include new AI features for summarizing notes and documents, requiring a Wi-Fi connection for cloud-based processing.
– A new, more ergonomic pen with stronger magnets is bundled, offering a fluid writing experience on a textured glass screen.
– The lineup includes an entry-level model at $429.99, a mid-tier frontlit model at $499.99, and all have a new user interface with a Quick Notes feature.
Amazon has just unveiled three new Kindle Scribe models, including a groundbreaking version with a color screen, all featuring a more refined design. I had the opportunity to test these devices before their official announcement, and the improvements are immediately noticeable. These third-generation 11-inch eReaders target professionals, students, and anyone wanting a spacious display for reading books, magazines, or taking notes. The addition of a color display is a major step forward, but the devices also impress with their lightweight build at just 14.1 ounces and an incredibly slim 5.4mm profile, thinner than many popular tablets. New AI capabilities are onboard to help summarize notes quickly, and the aesthetic is cleaner thanks to significantly thinner bezels.
Leading the lineup is the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, priced starting at $629.99 and scheduled for release later this year. While the cost may seem high for a device that isn’t a full tablet, that’s precisely the point. It avoids distractions like email, social media, or games, creating a focused environment for reading and writing. The Colorsoft offers two weeks of battery life and supports highlighting, drawing, and writing in multiple colors, with seamless synchronization to Microsoft OneDrive and upcoming Google Drive integration.
Some may question the need for color on an eReader, since most books are black and white. However, the larger screen really shines when viewing work documents, PDFs, textbooks, or magazines where color adds clarity and impact. It’s a feature that makes you appreciate the potential for rich media, even making you wish newspaper subscriptions were still available on the platform.
Alongside the Colorsoft, Amazon introduced an entry-level model starting at $429.99, available early next year, and a mid-tier option with a frontlit display beginning at $499.99, launching later this year. All three share a fresh user interface, including a handy top section for Quick Notes that acts like a digital, endless sticky note.
A new AI search function was demonstrated, providing fast summaries of your documents. This feature requires Wi-Fi, as processing happens in the cloud, but it promises to help manage and condense large collections of files stored in services like Google Drive.
Each model comes with a redesigned stylus that’s larger, rounder, and easier to grip. Stronger magnets keep it securely attached to the Scribe’s side. Writing felt more fluid compared to the first-generation model, partly due to a textured glass surface that reduces slipperiness, something I’m eager to test more thoroughly in a full review.
The front lighting on the new models appeared evenly distributed, though the base model does not include a backlight. While I’ve been satisfied with the lighting on older versions, the lack of a front light on the cheapest option might be a dealbreaker for some, though personal preference will ultimately guide that decision.
(Source: The Verge)
