Unexpectedly brilliant: Kindle Scribe is my favourite all-in-one device – get £100 off for Prime Day

Having owned a Kindle Paperwhite for years now and love it, I was not expecting to like its bigger sibling, the Kindle Scribe. But it is unexpectedly brilliant, so much so it has become my favourite all-in-one device.

Let me explain, the Kindle Scribe is, first and foremost, an eReader and works, in that respect, in exactly the same way as all other Amazon Kindle models. However, the major difference with this model is its size and added functionality. With a 10.2-inch screen and weighing 433g, it is over three inches bigger and 200 grams heavier than the Kindle Paperwhite, which, when you are holding to read is a significant difference. There are pros to this too, though - the device being bigger enables much more copy to fit on a 'page'.

But the Scribe has hidden talents, and is so much more than just an eReader, offering an in-built digital notebook with a plethora of formatting options, AI tools, and a stylus that not only allows you to use said notebooks but also make mark up books already downloaded in your Kindle library.

I'll be honest, the latter feature is one I didn't know I needed, but now would never want to be without. Being able to make notes on the pages of a book would normally mean me scribbling in them in pencil or writing them in a separate notebook. The Scribe means I can do it directly on a page without ruining it, and are organised in a way where they are very easily found.

I would never have expected to position the Kindle Scribe as one of the best Kindles you can buy, but the combination of having a handy productivity tool built into a device that allows me to read whenever and wherever I want makes for a very compelling case.

It is significantly more expensive than other Kindle models. At £379 it retails for over £200 more than the Paperwhite, which seems like a lot, but accounts for the additional size, added functionality and fantastic stylus. Having used various digital styluses over the years, I would say the Scribe stylus is up there with the best of them, and helps justify some of the additional cost.

However it's worth keeping an eye on the Amazon Prime sale for any discounts. Right now the Kindle Scribe (2024) has dropped to its lowest price ever - £279.99 - in the Amazon Prime Day sale, making it amazing value.

Kindle Scribe (2024): Specifications

Who would the Kindle Scribe (2024) suit?

If it's an eReader you want simply for reading, I wouldn't recommend the Kindle Scribe – the Kindle Paperwhite is the best model for that. Where the Scribe excels is rolling that functionality in with note-taking. In a similar way an eReader saves me from lugging multiple heavy books around with me, the Kindle Scribe does the same from a notebook perspective.

A heavy note-taker, I have always carried at least two notebooks around with me, which is a heavy and cumbersome affair. The Kindle Scribe takes all of that away, offering everything I need in a thin, sleek, much lighter than multiple notebooks device with a digital stylus that is a pleasure to use.

The Kindle Scribe is also a brilliant tool for anyone who enjoys annotating books. You can write directly on a page with the stylus included, which the Kindle then places neatly in the closest space. The formatting options also place notes in a margin, and summarised via page to make finding them a cinch.

The biggest downside for me is the size of the Kindle Scribe as an eReader - it's big and heavy to hold for long periods of time. But it's easily manageable using a stand or placing on my lap to read, and I just love the fact that it gives me access to my book collection in between work. There is also the option to pair it with Bluetooth headphones to listen to an audiobook, which, with the size of this device is a welcome option.

The Kindle Scribe doesn't have page turning buttons (much to my dismay - I love them), however the screen is quick and very responsive to touch 'turn' the page. It also isn't waterproof, so definitely not the best eReader option for use by the sea or pool.

This Kindle model is the most expensive of the range, which accounts for the built-in notebook, AI functionality that helps refine and summarise notes and the bigger device. However, if you predominantly want a device for reading, I would definitely opt for the classic Kindle or a Kindle Paperwhite.

Kindle Scribe (2024): Design

The Kindle Scribe is sleek, slim, and weighs slightly less than a 9th Generation iPad, so it's highly portable. The 10.2-inch screen is incredibly bright and clear, and the body is made of aluminium, which gives it a polished and elegant appearance.

The Metallic Jade color is such a refreshing change from black or silver and really stands out. The back of the device, however is slippery and easily collects fingerprints. Like most Kindle devices, a case is a must to not only keep it protected but prevent it from slipping out of your hands.

A personal highlight of the Kindle Scribe is the side placement of the power button. On both the classic Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite, the power button is at the bottom of the device, and I used to regularly press it accidentally mid-read, which isn't an issue here.

It's a premium device and you can feel that when using the stylus on the screen, which has a surprisingly natural feel when you consider it's actually note-taking on textured glass.

Kindle Scribe (2024): Display

The big, beautiful screen on the Kindle Scribe is the same high quality as the Paperwhite. The crisp monochrome display has auto adjusting light, which is clear to see in action when I use it in the evenings with more ambient lighting. However, I will say the adjustment doesn't seem as accurate as that of its smaller sibling. That said, the soft light is incredibly gentle on the eyes, and I have never had to manually adjust the screen lighting when in use.

Kindle Scribe (2024): Performance & Highlights

The Kindle Scribe performance is good enough as an eReader, is the best way to describe it. It's not blisteringly quick, but also not frustratingly slow. The page turn is responsive to touch and quick, and at no point have I been aware of the device's performance from a negative perspective.

Where the Kindle Scribe excels in its performance is the stylus - it glides across the beautiful big screen with no lag whatsoever. Using the pen feels very natural to use, the pressure and weight of the stroke making for a very satisfying experience.

Amazon has added many features to take advantage of the stylus too. There is a tool bar, which has a pen option, where you can choose from a bog standard pen, fountain pen, felt tip and pencil. You can also pick from four different stroke weights, the differences between which come in really handy when writing and adding notes.

There is a highlighter, which, tidies up your markings if you haven't got the steadiest of hands, an eraser and tools to insert comment boxes as big or as little as you like within book pages

Other key highlights include AI notebook tools, which are a bit hit and miss depending on what you use them for. Simply write in a notebook, click the AI tools button and it can either summarise or refine your handwritten notes (which is actually really helpful if, like me, your handwriting has suffered after many years of typing instead).

Kindle Scribe (2024): Battery

I have used the Kindle Scribe everyday for at least 30 minutes, mostly for note-taking, annotating, and using the AI notebook features and I nearly five weeks passed before I need to charge it. Kindles are renowned for having incredibly battery life, and the Scribe is no exception. The amount of use you can get from this device on a full charge is really quite remarkable. It charges via USB-C cable, which comes included in the price.

Should you buy the Kindle Scribe (2024)?

If you are a heavy note taker and would benefit from having a variety of notebook styles at your disposal, without carrying loads around, the Kindle Scribe is hard to beat. The writing experience is really enjoyable, and having a great productivity tool that also allows you access to all your favourite reads is a device I didn't know I needed but now wouldn't be without.