The second-generation Kindle Scribe aims to refine the e-reading experience by integrating enhanced note-taking capabilities directly onto ebook pages, a feature sorely missing from its predecessor. While the original Scribe confined annotations to ephemeral sticky notes, the 2024 model introduces “Active Canvas,” allowing users to write directly on a broader range of Kindle ebooks, PDFs, and Word documents. This, coupled with new AI-powered features like handwriting-to-text conversion and note summarization, positions the Scribe as a more versatile digital reading companion. However, its $399.99 price tag raises questions about its value proposition, especially considering the original Scribe, now available at a lower price, can access these new features via a software update.
The Scribe’s physical design remains largely unchanged, retaining the sleek form factor of its predecessor with a new Metallic Jade color option and white trim. The 10.2-inch, 300ppi E Ink display provides a sharp, paper-like reading experience, superior in resolution to the Kobo Elipsa 2E and on par with the Onyx Boox Go 10.3. While its size can be cumbersome for one-handed reading, the expansive screen real estate enhances both reading and note-taking. The inclusion of the Premium Pen, with its responsive eraser and customizable shortcut button, further elevates the writing experience, making it feel akin to using a traditional pen and paper.
Despite the improved hardware and software, the Scribe’s note-taking functionality still falls short of its competitors. While Active Canvas allows for direct annotations, its implementation is flawed. The automatically resizing text boxes often disrupt page formatting, occasionally disappearing altogether, and the inability to precisely anchor notes to specific words or phrases makes referencing them later a frustrating exercise. This contrasts sharply with the seamless annotation experience offered by rivals like Kobo and Onyx, which allow for intuitive note-taking that mirrors the natural flow of annotating a physical book.
Furthermore, the Scribe’s handling of Active Canvas notes presents limitations. These annotations are currently inaccessible on Kindle mobile or browser apps, restricting their visibility to the device itself. This siloed approach hinders seamless note review and integration with other workflows. While the sticky note feature, retained from the previous model, does synchronize with mobile apps, the lack of cross-platform compatibility for Active Canvas notes is a significant drawback. The promised expandable margins feature, slated for a 2025 release, hints at future improvements, but its absence in the current iteration further underscores the Scribe’s incomplete note-taking ecosystem.
Amazon has enhanced the Scribe’s built-in notebook functionality with a wider array of templates, catering to diverse organizational needs. The addition of AI-powered features like note summarization and handwriting-to-text conversion adds further utility, though requiring an internet connection for these functionalities can be limiting. While these features are helpful, they still lag behind the comprehensive note-taking capabilities of competing devices like the Onyx Boox, which offer features like note linking, voice recording, split-screen functionality, and access to the Google Play Store. Even the Kobo Elipsa 2E, while lacking the Scribe’s summarization feature, provides a more streamlined handwriting-to-text conversion process within the original notebook document.
The second-generation Kindle Scribe represents a step forward in integrating note-taking into the e-reading experience, addressing a key shortcoming of its predecessor. The ability to write directly on ebook pages and convert handwriting to text are valuable additions. However, the flawed implementation of Active Canvas, the limited accessibility of annotations, and the comparatively less robust notebook functionality compared to competitors temper the Scribe’s overall appeal. Given that the original Scribe can access the same new features through a software update at a lower price, the 2024 model struggles to justify its higher cost. For users primarily seeking a large-screen Kindle for casual note-taking, the original Scribe remains a compelling option. However, those requiring a more sophisticated and integrated note-taking experience may find the Scribe’s current offering lacking in comparison to its rivals.
