(checked 2026-10-10)Small sample (488 ratings).
TechRadar calls it the best Kindle Amazon has made, with a big, fast 11-inch screen and a pen in the box. But Wirecutter and Tom's Guide find the price hard to justify compared with other digital notebooks, it's too big to hold comfortably for long reading, and it isn't waterproof.
Top complaints
- Very expensive
Wirecutter says the Scribe is too expensive compared with other digital notebooks. TechRadar lists 'very expensive' and says it's hard to justify. Tom's Guide says the high price makes it hard to recommend. Amazon owners are mixed on value.
- Too big for handheld reading
TechRadar says the larger size makes handheld use difficult. NBC Select lists the older Scribe as less portable.
Source: TechRadar, NBC Select - Freezing, clutter and limited file support
Amazon's review summary says some owners report routine freezing. TechRadar finds the home screen cluttered with Kindle Store recommendations, says the OS takes nearly 10 GB of storage, and says file support still trails Kobo and Boox.
What owners love
- Big, fast, bright screen
TechRadar calls it the best E Ink performance it has seen from any brand, with no ghosting. Amazon shoppers praise the crisp text.
- Paper-like writing
Amazon owners say writing feels like real paper. TechRadar saw no input lag with the new Premium Pen.
- Cloud and AI note tools
Google Drive and OneDrive support, Quick Notes and AI search across handwritten notes (TechRadar, Wirecutter).
Source: TechRadar, Wirecutter (NYT)
- You mainly read novels (an expensive e-reader if you don't write)
- You want something to hold one-handed in bed
- You want the best writing feel (Tom's Guide prefers reMarkable)
- Kindle users who annotate books and PDFs
- Handwritten notes with AI summaries and search
- Reading large-format documents
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- TechRadar: Best Kindle (updated 2026-09-23), even better than the Scribe Colorsoft. The cons are that it's very expensive and hard to hold.
- Wirecutter (NYT): Not a pick. Wirecutter thinks the Scribe (2025) is too expensive compared with other digital notebooks.
- Tom's Guide: 'Also tested' (4 stars), a cheaper alternative to the Scribe Colorsoft. Tom's Guide says the reMarkable Paper Pro is the better pick for writing.