Kindle Scribe in the test: Amazon's first reader with pen input

The Kindle Scribe is Amazon's first 10-inch e-book reader with a pen. The hardware shows itself to be of the usual high level in the test, but the software still has to add a lot to the innovations in pen input and note function in order to deliver the promised benefits in practice from 369 euros.

Table of contents

1 Amazon's first reader with pen input
1. Design and processing
2. Variations and prices
3. Accessories
2 Display and source selection
1. Display brightness and illumination
2. Kindles lag behind when it comes to source selection
3. PDFs only with restrictions
4. Audio only via Amazon Audible
3 Library, reading quality and audio support
1. Library provides a better overview
2. Reading with Kindle Scribe
3. Limited audio function
4 Working with the pen
1. Ergonomics and pressure levels
2. Annoying software limitations
5 Conclusion< /li>

Design and Processing

From its design, the new Kindle from Amazon could at first glance be considered a new generation of the Kindle Oasis (test).

The 10.2-inch display of the new e-book reader is also completely surrounded by aluminum. While the back and the side frame of many models in the tablet sector are made up of two segments, the case of the Scribe is made entirely of one unit. The edge protrudes slightly beyond the inside, but this is not really a problem due to the rounded edges.

What is more striking is the non-centered display and the thick border on the left side. This division is a bit unfortunate, since the left thumb has to travel a long way to scroll while the same finger on the right almost triggers incorrect inputs. In general, the new offspring from Amazon looks valuable and above all stable.

Amazon Scribe Amazon Kindle Oasis 3 Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2021 PocketBook InkPad X PocketBook InkPad Lite Operating system: Linux proprietary operating system Display: 10.20 inches
1,860 × 2,480, 304 ppi
E Ink Carta 1200, 16 shades of gray, illuminated 7.00 inches
1,264 × 1,680, 300 ppi
E Ink Carta, 16 shades of gray, illuminated 6.80 inches
1236 × 1648, 303 ppi
E Ink Carta 1200, 16 shades of gray, illuminated 10.30 inches
1404 × 1872, 227 ppi
E Ink Carta, 16 shades of gray, illuminated 9.70 inches
1,200 × 825, 150ppi
E-Ink Carta, 16 shades of gray, illuminated Blue light filter: Yes Brightness sensor: Brightness sensor Brightness sensor? –Brightness sensor variant – Operation: Touch, pen input Physical buttons, touch Touch Physical buttons, touch SoC: ?, ? 1.0 GHz, 1 core 0.8 GHz, 2 core 1.0 GHz, 2 core RAM: ? 512 MB 1,024 MB Internal memory: 16 GB
(? available)32 GB variant
(? available)64 GB variant
(? available) 8 GB
(? available)32 GB variant
(26 ,9 GB available) 8 GB
(6.4 GB available) Variant32 GB
(27.0 GB available) 32 GB
(28.0 GB available) 8 GB, expandable
(7 ,1 GB available) Connectivity: USB Type C
802.11 b/g/n Micro USB 2.0
802.11 b/g/n USB 2.0 Type C
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac USB 2.0 Type C
802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth: Yes 5.0 Yes – Cellular: – -Variant 4G – Size (W×H×D): 196.0 × 229.0 × 5.8 mm 141.0 × 159.0 × 8.4 mm 124.0 × 174.0 × 8.0 mm 173.0 × 249.0 × 5.0 mm 173.0 × 236.0 × 8.0 mm Weight: 433 g 188 g 208 g 300 g 369 g Protection class : – IPX8 – Battery: ? 1700 mAh 2000 mAh 2200 mAh Wireless charging: No Yes? NoVariantYes No Text formats: DOC, DOCX, HTM, HTML, Kindle (AZW), Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), Mobi (unprotected), PDF, PRC (native), TXT DOC, DOCX, Kindle (AZW), Kindle Format 8 ( AZW3), Mobi (unprotected), PDF, PRC, TXT DOC, DOCX, HTM, HTML, Kindle (AZW), Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), Mobi (unprotected), PDF, PRC (native), TXT ACSM, CHM, CBR, CBZ, DJVU, DOC, DOCX, Epub, FB2, FB2.zip, HTM, HTML, Mobi (unprotected), PDF, PRC, RTF, TCR, TXT ACSM, CBR, CBZ, DJVU, DOC, DOCX, Epub, FB2, FB2.zip, HTM, HTML, Mobi (unprotected), PDF, PRC, RTF, TCR, TXT DRM formats: Kindle (AZW) Adobe DRM E-Pub, Adobe DRM PDF Adobe DRM E-Pub, Adobe-DRM PDF, LCP Audio formats: Audible audio books MP3, OGG, M4B – Reading function: – Text-To-Speech – Text-To-Speech – Price: from €360/– from €220/from €320/from €260 € from €125/from €150/from €190 from €419 from €229

Only at second glance does it become apparent that the “bulge”, which is characteristic of the Oasis, is missing on the Scribe. This also makes sense, since Amazon primarily markets the test candidate as a digital notepad and it must therefore be able to lie on the table like a sheet of paper – a curved back would only be annoying. However, this is not quite flat, as a precaution the developers have attached rubber knobs to each of the four corners. This should prevent the Scribe from slipping when writing, which works quite well. With a certain amount of pressure, however, the reader can still be moved, which is certainly what is wanted – it should also be able to be pushed to the side.

With a width of 196 mm and a height of 229 mm, the Scribe is larger than some tablets with the same display dimensions, but it is thinner at 5.8 mm. With a weight of 433 g, on the other hand, both technologies are again very close. Users who come from a smaller Kindle will first have to adjust to the weight and dimensions, as the new representative of the Kindle series is by far not as handy as a Paperwhite (test) or an Oasis.

The smooth back also contributes to this, with dry hands and due to the combination of low thickness and weight, the Scribe can literally slip through the fingers of the user. Some representatives with a roughened or rubberized plastic back clearly have an advantage here. Users who switch from such a device to the now largest Kindle might find the aluminum case a bit too cool on their fingers. In contrast to its brothers Paperwhite and Oasis, the Scribe also has no water protection.

The new reader only has a button and a USB-C connection, so the scroll buttons known from the Oasis are missing. This makes it immediately clear that the Scribe is operated either with the fingers or the stylus. This is included in the price in two versions and will be examined in more detail later in this test.

Variants and prices

In terms of price, the new Kindle Scribe* is well within the range known from Amazon. The Oasis from Amazon already has an RRP of 229 euros in the smallest memory size with 8 GB – and that with a 6.8-inch display. The 369 euros* that the online retailer calls for the 16 GB version of the Scribe don't seem overpriced at first – especially because the pen is included in the price. It works completely inductively and therefore does not require its own electricity. If the pen is not needed, it is simply attached to the right half of the device and held there magnetically.

The pen is available in two versions, with the Premium variant differing from the normal one in that it also has an eraser on the top (which saves going to the menu) and a programmable shortcut key. With the more functional pen, the price then rises to 399 euros, with a larger memory of 32 GB or 64 GB, 419 euros and 449 euros* are then due – these are only available with the premium pen.

Accessories

Amazon offers both a fabric and a leather case for the Scribe. Even if these leave a noble impression visually, they could not convince in the test. On the one hand, they are not exactly cheap at around 63 euros and 90 euros, on the other hand, the reader is only held magnetically on the back wall. In general, the Scribe sits quite firmly, but the device can come loose from the case even with light impacts. So if the reader slips out of the user's hand and can just about be held by the lid, the Scribe will very likely come loose from the case – damage cannot be ruled out. Thus, this case offers a rather deceptive security.

In addition, with the reader, basically only the back and front as well as the upper and lower edges are protected, while the sides are open. Storing the stylus, which is pushed into a small flap at the lower end of the case, is just as unsuccessful. Put in a pocket, it is not protected in the form used. Simply attached to the half of the case as described at the beginning, the pen also protrudes from the case, which also offers no real protection.

For the reasons already mentioned the buyer should rather look around at one of the already numerous third-party manufacturers for a cover that encloses the complete reader.

In contrast to the cases we are used to from tablets, the version from Amazon does not open to the side, but rather upwards. There is a reason for this: The lid can be folded back and fixed with a magnet to support the reader, which is only an advantage when reading. With the case closed, the Scribe goes into sleep mode after a few seconds and wakes up immediately when the case is opened.

(*) For those with Links marked with an asterisk are affiliate links. In the case of an order via such a link, ComputerBase participates in the sales revenue without increasing the price for the customer.

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Display and source selection