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The new Kindle Scribe is Amazon’s first e-reader that supports writing.
Amazon
Amazon’s new Kindle Scribe brings its ebook reader to a new level with writing capabilities.
With an included stylus, users can annotate, make lists, and even draw on the e-reader.
The Kindle Scribe starts at $339 and ships in November but is available for preorder now.
Amazon’s new Kindle is going beyond basic reading. The Kindle Scribe adds the capability to write on the screen, using an included stylus. Announced on Tuesday, it’s available for preorder, starting at $339, and will ship on November 30.
The new Kindle Scribe is larger and built with a higher-resolution screen than earlier models, and besides reading, the stylus allows for new note-taking functions ideal for studying, working, and even running errands. Here are six features that caught our attention.
1. Note-taking, sketching, and more
With the included pen, you can make annotations while you’re reading.
Amazon
The most exciting new feature of the Kindle Scribe is its writable screen. With the included pen, users can annotate, create lists, and even sketch with the e-reader’s paper-like feel.
It’s a feature that Kobo, a competing e-reader developer, isn’t new to; the Kobo Elipsa has long offered mark-up and note-taking capabilities with a similar form factor. So far, the Kindle Scribe appears to include more thoughtful design and capabilities, with the ability to browse your annotations all in one place and immediately travel to related bodies of text. It’s also cheaper, starting at $339 versus the Elipsa at $399.
2. A charge-free pen
The Scribe comes with either a Basic or Premium stylus, which Amazon refers to simply as the pen. Both don’t require charging and attach magnetically to the side of the e-reader; the main difference is a shortcut button and eraser on the Premium pen.
The device itself allows both pens to write with a variety of line widths and different tools like a highlighter, eraser, and undo tool. These settings can be toggled via the on-display writing menu, or in the case of the Premium pen, by using the customizable shortcut button.
3. A new high-resolution display
The Amazon Kindle Scribe has a larger, high-resolution screen that adjusts to the lighting.
Amazon
With the addition of writing is the need for a larger screen, so the Scribe has a 10.2-inch, 300 ppi glare-free display with front lighting that’s more customizable than previous Kindle displays.
The Kindle Scribe’s display is actually designed to toggle the lighting to adjust to your surroundings. This means an optimized experience for reading and writing no matter what time of day, or where you are.
4. Easy document imports
A major new feature of the Scribe is its ability to receive documents easily and directly from your smartphone or computer. It makes the e-reader more tablet-like since it can now be used to mark up PDFs, Word documents, and sign forms.
Coming soon, users will be able to send documents straight to their Kindle Scribe from Microsoft Word, too. That feature is set to arrive early next year.
5. Up to 3 months of battery life
Similarly to previous Kindle models, the new release is built with a very long battery life. Depending on your usage, you can go up to three months without recharging your device; reading uses less power while note-taking and writing use more.
6. Four months of Kindle Unlimited
The Amazon Kindle Scribe will be accompanied by new covers in leather and fabric.
Amazon
Kindle Scribe buyers get four months of Kindle Unlimited for free. The device starts at $339 with 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB options; the base price is considerably more affordable than the competition.