Kindle Scribe, Amazon’s first e-paper device designed for both reading and writing, comes with handwriting support, and features a large 10.2-inch display.
Announced on September 28, 2022, and available from November 30, 2022, Amazon’s latest e-reader is one of the most important milestones in Kindle history.
Kindle Scribe sports the 300 ppi 10.2-inch Paperwhite, glare-free touchscreen display that’s enhanced by both the front and warm light. The e-reader is offered in three storage variants (16, 32 and 64 GB), is equipped with a USB-C port, and has the asymmetrical look of the Oasis.
Most importantly, the Scribe is the first Amazon e-paper device that supports handwriting. You can choose from two compatible pens – Basic or Premium – that come free with a chosen Kindle Scribe variant.
Below, you will see our usual, detailed list of comparison tables, tech spec tables, and home-made visualizations.
However, we’d like to stress that for many users, the Scribe will be the most challenging Kindle model ever released. When you consider buying it, it’s not only about the display size, front light, or pen support.
You will have to change your habits, routines, and – most probably – productivity tools, to make the most use of the Kindle Scribe. For more details, read our extensive Kindle Scribe pros and cons overview.
1st-generation Kindle Scribe 2022 – main features
Large 10.2-inch display – this high-resolution, 300 ppi touch screen with Paperwhite technology is glare-free and can be used even in direct sunlight – not only for reading, but also writing.
Handwriting support – you can use the pen that comes free with Kindle Scribe to make handwritten notes, annotations, or write your own notebooks, journal entries, and lists. Writing on the Scribe feels like writing on paper. Handwritten document markup is possible with pdf files.
Dedicated pens – you can get the Kindle Scribe with either the Basic or Premium pen. Both are battery-fee and attach magnetically to the side of the device. The Premium stylus comes with a dedicated eraser and shortcut button.
Notebook templates – Kindle Scribe can be also used as a notebook for writing journal entries, making to-do lists, or doodling. You can choose from a number of templates, such as lined paper, blank paper, or checklists. The notebooks you create are managed on the Scribe and will come to the web-based Kindle app in early 2023.
USB-C port – USB-C becomes the standard in charging and data transfer. It lets you charge and send data to and from the Scribe much faster than the standard USB port. You will need approximately 2.5 hours to fully charge the Scribe using a 9W USB-C power adapter (not included in the box).
12 weeks of battery life – larger device needs more energy, but the Scribe offers the longest battery life in the Kindle range. It’s up to three months, based on reading for half-and hour a day. If you read actively, make frequent notes or write a journal, the battery will last up to three weeks.
Dark Mode – like the 6.8-inch Kindle Paperwhite and the latest Kindle 11, the Scribe comes with the Dark Mode. The feature inverts colors on the screen. The display background is black and text is white. You can toggle Dark Mode in the Quick Access menu.
Three storage variants – you can choose from 16, 32, or 64 GB storage. In the 16 GB variant, about 2 GB are taken by the system files, so 14 GB will be available for you. It’s enough for thousands of ebooks files or about 80-100 full-length audiobooks.
Built-in Audible player – just like other Kindles, the Scribe doesn’t come with either speakers or headphone jack. However, you can easily listen to Audible audiobooks via connected Bluetooth earphones or speakers.
Writer-friendly case covers – original Amazon Kindle Scribe covers fold vertically with an option to create a writing pad that you can place on a desk or your laps. Plus there is a stylus loop on the front cover. Available in fabric and leather variants.
Amazon Kindle Scribe 2022 – comparisons
When you take a look at the Kindle Scribe without the size reference (the palm or the stylus), it looks just like the Oasis 3. It has an edge-to-edge glass front and asymmetric design.
So, at first, the 3rd-generation Oasis looks most suitable for comparison. However, this 7-inch model is now over 3 years old, and we don’t even know whether it will be continued.
For many demanding ebook lovers, Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 is an e-reader of the first choice, and they plan to buy it in the near future. It’s probably them to start considering the Scribe as an alternative.
Let’s take a look at the Kindle Scribe vs Paperwhite comparison table.
Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 vs. Kindle Scribe 10.2
| Paperwhite | Scribe | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.8-inch | 10.2-inch |
| Pixel density | 300 ppi | 300 ppi |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Front light | Yes, 17 LEDs | Yes, 35 LEDs |
| Warm light | Yes | Yes |
| Stylus support | No | Yes |
| Handwritten document markup | No | Yes |
| Storage | 8 GB, 16 GB | 16, 32, 64 GB |
| microSD card | No | No |
| Speakers | No | No |
| Headphone jack 3.5 mm | No | No |
| USB-C port | Yes | Yes |
| Dark Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Audible ready | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Battery life | Up to 10 weeks | Up to 12 weeks |
| Cellular variants | No | No |
| Waterproof | Yes, IPX8 | No |
| Climate Pledge friendly | Yes | Yes |
| Kindle Unlimited free plan | Yes, 3 months | Yes, 4 months |
| Colors | Black | Tungsten |
| Weight | 7.23 oz / 205 g | 15.3 oz / 433 g |
| Dimensions | 6.9 × 4.9 × 0.32 in 174.2 × 124.6 × 8.1 mm | 9.0 × 7.7 × 0.22 in 230 × 196 × 5.8 mm |
| Release date | October 27, 2021 | November 30, 2022 |
| Price | from $139.99 | from $339.99 |
If you ever considered getting a large-screen e-reader or missed your old Kindle DX, you will most probably want to see with your own eyes how big the Kindle Scribe is.
The 10.2-inch display means the device is comparable in size to Amazon Fire HD 10 or the basic iPad model. But with the larger bezel on one side, it’s actually wider.
Please find below the Kindle Paperwhite vs. Scribe size comparison.
Kindle Scribe 1 (2022) ports and buttons
As the new Kindle Scribe supports handwriting and is much larger and heavier than 6-8-inch models, the USB-C port and the power button were moved to the side. They are placed on the “grip” side of the device – the side intended to hold the device in your hand, where the bezel is wider.
As the display is fully rotatable, you can hold the Scribe in either the right or left hand.
When it comes to the pen, it magnetically attaches to the “non-grip” side of the Scribe. That’s why the cases should have a long cutout for the pen. The pens don’t recharge when being attached to the Kindle Scribe, because they are battery-free.
The position of the port and power button will affect the design of compatible Kindle Scribe cases. The standard design that opens like a book to the side will have to have cutouts for the USB-C port and the power button, which won’t be easy, as they are positioned under the folding edge.
That’s why, most third-party producers will follow the vertical design offered in original Kindle Scribe case covers.
Original Kindle Scribe cases also have a pen holder that’s positioned at the bottom of the front cover. It’s clever because when you open the case the pen lands behind the device together with the case’s foldable front.
Kindle Scribe (2022) full specs
The full technical specifications of the newest 1st-generation Amazon Kindle Scribe e-reader are listed in a table below. For further reference, please read the full Kindle Scribe user guide online.
| Screen | 10.2-inch Paperwhite touchscreen, glare-free |
|---|---|
| Levels of gray | 16 |
| Front light | Yes, 35 LED lights, auto-adjusting |
| Warm light | Yes, adjustable |
| Dark Mode | Yes, available from the Quick Access menu |
| Screen resolution | N/A |
| Screen pixel density | 300 ppi |
| Handwriting support | Yes |
| Handwritten document markup | Yes, on pdf files |
| Stylus support | Yes |
| Compatible pens | • Basic Pen – free with 16 and 32 GB variants * Premium Pen – free with 16, 32, and 64 GB variants |
| Personal notes | Yes, ready-to-use templates for notebooks, journals, and to-do lists |
| Notes management | Yes. Notebooks sync coming to the web-based Kindle app in early 2023 |
| Waterproof | No |
| Storage capacity | • 16 GB * 32 GB * 64 GB |
| microSD card | No |
| Body color | Tungsten |
| Battery life | A single charge lasts: * Up to 12 weeks, based on a half hour of reading per day, with wireless off and the light setting at 13. * Up to 3 weeks based on a half hour period of writing per day, with wireless off and the light setting at 13. |
| Charge time | • Approximately 7 hours from a computer via USB-C cable * Approximately 2.5 hours with a 9W USB-C power adapter (adapter not included) |
| USB-C port | Yes (USB-C power adapter sold separately) |
| Wireless charging | No |
| Charging dock station | No |
| Weight | • Device: 15.3 oz / 433 g * Basic Pen: 0.49 oz / 14 g * Premium Pen: 0.53 oz / 15 g |
| Dimensions | 9.0 × 7.7 × 0.22 in / 230 × 196 × 5.8 mm |
| Wi-Fi | Supports 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz networks with support for WEP, WPA, WPA2 and WPA3 security using password authentication or Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS). Does not support connecting to ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) wifi networks |
| Cellular version | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes, with Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) support for audio streaming from Kindle Scribe to your Bluetooth speakers or headphones. Bluetooth speakers requiring PIN codes are not supported |
| Speakers | No |
| Headphone jack | No |
| Audible-ready | Yes; capable of playing both Audible audiobooks and Audible companions for Kindle ebooks. Pair with Bluetooth-enabled speakers or headphones |
| Kindle Unlimited offer | Yes, free 4-month of Kindle Unlimited subscription with the purchase of Kindle Scribe |
| Accessibility features | VoiceView screen reader, available over Bluetooth audio, provides spoken feedback allowing you to navigate your device and read books with text-to-speech (available in English only). Kindle Scribe also includes the ability to invert black and white, adjust font size, font face, line spacing and margins. |
| Climate Pledge Friendly | Yes, built with 60% post-consumer recycled plastics and 70% recycled magnesium; 95% of the packaging is made of wood fiber-based materials from responsibly managed forests or recycled sources |
| Supported formats | Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; PDF, DOCX, DOC, HTML, EPUB, TXT, RTF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion; Audible audio format (AAX) |
| Original case covers | Yes; sold separately. Three variants to choose from: Black water-safe fabric, Black genuine leather, Dark Emerald genuine leather |
| Warranty | 1-year limited warranty and service included. Optional 1-year, 2-year or 3-year Extended Warranty available for U.S customers sold separately |
| Included the box | • Amazon Kindle Scribe (1st generation, 2022 release) * Basic or Premium Pen * USB-C charging cable * 5 replacement tips * Tip replacement tool |
| Generation number | • Kindle Scribe generation – 1st * Overall Kindle generation – 12th |
| Bundles | Yes, Fabric Cover Essentials Bundle ($410), Leather Cover Essentials Bundle ($430), and Premium Leather Cover Essentials Bundle ($450) |
| Launch dates | • Announcement: September 28, 2022 * Pre-orders: September 28, 2022 * Release: November 30, 2022 |
| Prices | • 16 GB + Basic Pen – $339.99 * 16 GB + Premium Pen – $369.99 * 32 GB + Premium Pen – $289.99 * 64 GB + Premium Pen – $419.99 |
Kindle Scribe 10.2 (2022) product description
Here are the highlights from the Kindle Scribe 2022 product page on Amazon.
Amazon Kindle Scribe (2022 release)
16 GB / Basic Pen
Read and write as naturally as you do on paper
With a 10.2-inch 300 ppi glare-free Paperwhite display, Kindle Scribe is perfect for reading and writing, even in direct sunlight. The large display gives you room to take notes and journal, and makes it easy to adjust font size and margin width for improved reading comfort. Writing on Kindle Scribe feels like writing on paper.
The power of the pen
Kindle Scribe includes either a Basic or Premium Pen. Both give you more ways to use your Kindle than ever before. The Premium Pen has a dedicated eraser and a shortcut button, which can be assigned to seamlessly switch between pen, highlighter, and more.
Add handwritten notes to your books
Create handwritten sticky notes in millions of eBooks from the Kindle Store without cluttering up the page. Simply tap where you want to insert a note on the page to quickly capture that handwritten thought for later. Sticky notes are automatically organized by book, into one place, so you can easily navigate and browse.
Streamline your life’s notes
Kindle Scribe is also a notebook and a journal with included templates like lined paper, blank paper, to-do lists, and more. Stop searching through stacks of paper—keep notes organized in folders, and search for notebooks by title to quickly reference later.
Make notes in your documents
Easily import and mark up PDF files or insert sticky notes on Microsoft Word documents and other compatible formats. Send them to your Kindle Scribe through your desktop web browser or via the Kindle app using the “Share” button on your iOS or Android device.
Read and write in any light
Adjustable warm light and auto-adjusting front light provide a comfortable, personalized reading and writing experience, day or night. And with USB-C charging and a battery life that lasts months for reading and weeks for writing, you can immerse yourself in your content without the worry of finding a power outlet.
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