Amazon's Kindle Scribe 2 is big, sleek, and finally lets you scribble in the margins — but is that enough? Here’s what works, what doesn’t, and why my dad might have permanently “borrowed” it.
There are two ways to review the new Amazon Kindle Scribe 2024 (we'll call it the Kindle Scribe 2 from now on, because wow, that name sucks).
The short version: It’s probably the best Kindle you can get right now. If you want a big screen with lots of real estate, decent highlighting/annotation tools, and you’re already in the Kindle ecosystem, the Scribe 2 is a no-brainer. My dad saw it and immediately started googling how to buy one.
The long version: Let’s go.
The note-taking stuff
The Kindle Scribe 2 is basically a big-ass Kindle that supports handwriting. While testing it, I’ve also been comparing it to the reMarkable Paper Pro and the Supernote Manta — two devices focused entirely on handwritten notes.
So yes, I know it’s a little unfair to compare them, but no device exists in a vacuum (well, maybe the Kindle in the ebook market does, but still).
The note-taking on the Scribe 2 is… fine. Not bad, not amazing. You get a “Notebooks” section where you can create folders and notes using built-in templates, which are fixed. If you want custom templates, you’ll need to sideload them via PDFs.
There’s a surprisingly deep world of PDF planners out there — I found some great ones on Etsy. But my favourite is a free LaTeX-based planner you can fully customize. I built my own journal-style one with mood trackers and more, with the help of ChatGPT (Ping me if you want it.)
This is, in my opinion, the only way the Scribe’s note-taking features really shine. Use a planner PDF, maybe one or two blank notebooks for scribbles, and call it a day.
But if you’re looking for a serious note-taking machine? Look elsewhere. It's decent for occasional use, but it’s not reliable enough. For example, during this review, one of my notebooks just didn’t open any more. I couldn’t reproduce the bug on other notebooks, but still, not exactly confidence-inspiring, when all of your notes suddenly disappear.
You get basic tools: pen, pencil, marker, fountain pen, eraser. The Pro Pen I’m using has a built-in eraser and a button that activates a highlighter (or any other tool you assign). It’s Wacom-compatible, so third-party pens are fair game, and the community really likes this one.
Some notes on AI
Initially, I thought the Scribe 2 had no AI features at all. But turns out that’s not entirely true.
Amazon has started rolling out AI-powered tools like handwriting clean-up and note summarization. These features launched first in the U.S., and as of early 2025, they're becoming available in the UK, Canada, and Australia through a firmware update.
If you’re in Europe (like me), tough luck, they’re not here yet. No clear timeline from Amazon either.
The reading stuff
This is the biggest Kindle on the market, period. If your entire reading life lives in Amazon's cloud — Kindle Unlimited, Audible, ebooks brought from the Kindle Store — and you want a bigger screen, this is it.
My dad is that person. After five minutes with the Scribe 2, he wanted to borrow it. When this review is done, I'll maybe let him have it, but I may never get it back.
The interface is classic Kindle: heavy on store recommendations, book suggestions, and subscription upsells. If you’ve used a Kindle before, you’ll feel right at home.
But here’s what sets the Scribe apart: the pen actually makes reading better. You can highlight or scribble in books. The highlight experience is miles better than using your finger. I never accidentally select too much text.
My favourite feature? Reading in landscape with a two-column layout, highlighting interesting stuff to later sync into Readwise. This works even with sideloaded books, just make sure you’re using Calibre with the KFX plugin and set output to “personal document” if you want your covers to show up.
Kindle’s handwriting mode lets you tap a margin and create a “canvas”, a space to scribble without overwriting the text. It’s clever, and for those who love margin notes, kind of great.
A quick note on marginalia
One of the most exciting things about the Scribe 2 isn’t just the pen — it’s what the pen represents. By letting you scribble in the margins, highlight fluidly, and create handwritten annotations, Kindle is inching ebooks closer to the experience of real paper books.
And I'll be honest, I love it.
What makes paper books great is the ability to interact with them, underline, doodle, write in the notes. If you read to learn, you'll know that reading with a pen is the best way to remember. And the Scribe 2 shines here thanks to that pen and these “canvas” notes.
So... who’s it for?
If you want a big-ass Kindle? This is it.
If you practice marginalia, but want the advantages of ebooks? This is it.
If you sometimes jot down a thought or two with a pen? Still good.
If you want a full-blown digital notebook? Look at the reMarkable or Supernote instead (reviews for those are coming soon).
For me, the Scribe 2 became my go-to non-fiction reader. I keep my fiction reads on other devices (aka, on the Boox Go Color; fewer risks it falls on my face when I fall asleep on the couch), but for highlighting, margin notes, and two-column layouts, this thing just works.
That is, until my dad steals it. (Or gets his own for $400.)
