I’m not the biggest fan of reading; I’d much rather listen to a podcast. It’s one of those habits I wish I had developed, but I just could never get myself to stick with it. But then the FOMO hit when I started noticing everyone around me was reading. BookTok was blowing up, the romanticization of vacation reads was everywhere, and my friends endlessly raved about Colleen Hoover while I sat there silently, unable to relate.
I realized I never got into reading because I wasn’t able to be present and attentive, whether I was reading with a physical book or a tablet. Taking a clunky book on the go was too difficult, and attempting to read on a device that also had Netflix on it did not go as planned. That’s when I considered trying a Kindle, hoping that a distraction-free ereader would help. Entrepreneur, podcast host, and blogger Lauryn Bosstick, an avid reader herself, even recommends it as a way to pick up the enriching habit of reading. So when I got to try out the Kindle Scribe ($340), Amazon’s ereader that you can write on as well, it was a game changer. Keep reading to see how the Scribe made me fall in love with reading.
What I Like About the Kindle Scribe
The most underrated feature of the Kindle Scribe (and all Kindles, for that matter) is that it’s stripped of all the distractions that regular tablets have. I can’t just open up another app and get sucked into the world of TikTok or watch “Love Island.” This ereader has made me realize that I am an active reader who needs to highlight and engage with the content I’m consuming. I can create note annotations and reflect immediately on certain passages or bookmark pages for when I want to reread something. It allows me to be attentive and present and truly understand what I’m reading, which right now is “The Shift: Change Your Perspective, Not Yourself” by Tinx.
The Kindle Scribe is split into four main sections: the homepage, where you can see your recent items and discover new reads; a library of the books you’ve purchased and document and PDF imports; your notebooks, a collection of your notes you’ve taken on the device; and a tab featuring your reading lists, Goodreads, a web browser, and your settings. It comes with a basic pen, but you can upgrade to the premium pen for some extra perks. Either way, the pen writes beautifully on the display screen; it really does feel like pen on paper. You can choose from a variety of pen styles and widths, and you can highlight, erase, and even cut and paste prompts.
The notes section is the place where you can free-write and organize your thoughts. You can create notes, to-do lists, journals, etc., with a variety of note-taking templates like lined paper, grid paper, checklists, and more. It’s pretty much a digitized bullet journal. You can even organize your notebooks into folders if you’re juggling multiple projects. For more streamlined visibility, you can also send the notes to yourself or others via email and even convert your handwritten notes into text.
I’ve used this feature for two main things: to-do lists and journaling. It’s a great way to keep track of everything going on in my life, whether it’s chores I need to get done, grocery lists, reminders, or little bits of self-reflection. The Kindle Scribe speaks to my minimalist side and houses my thoughts in an organized fashion, allowing me to get rid of the clutter of random notebooks.
What’s Worth Noting About the Kindle Scribe
With a 10.2-inch display, the Scribe is the largest ereader in the Kindle lineup. It’s thin and lightweight enough to carry around and travel with, especially compared to the 10-inch iPad. However, if you want to travel with it, consider using a bigger bag like a tote or a backpack to accommodate its size and the accompanying pen. It’s also important to note that if you’re looking to use the Scribe poolside or at the beach, this model is not waterproof. If you want a waterproof ereader, I recommend the Kindle Oasis ($250) or the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition ($190), which is also compatible with wireless charging. You can shop more Kindle models here.
One of the things I would really appreciate is being able to write in the margins of the books I’m reading. The Kindle Scribe has a new feature that lets you write on certain books and titles rather than create note tabs, but it’s only available for books in the “Write-on Books” section in the Kindle store or labeled with “On-page writing.”
Who’s the Kindle Scribe Best For?
The Kindle Scribe is created for the active reader and avid notetaker who appreciates and needs a distraction-free experience. Although it may seem like a simple device, you can do so much with it, whether it’s self-reflecting while reading, making notes and edits on reports and presentations on the go, or just doodling. It’s a useful device for readers, students, creatives, professionals, and pretty much anyone and everyone who needs to be hands-on in the most streamlined way possible.
Is the Kindle Scribe Worth the Splurge?
If you’re in the market for an ereader that isn’t just for reading, the Scribe is worth every penny. Kindles are the happy medium between an actual book and reading on a screen. The display screens are glare-free and have a paper-like feel and even have the page-turn effect. Plus, you get the benefit of consuming content without having piles of books, all while being able to listen to audio books, read, and write in a slim, distraction-free device.
As a now-active reader and someone who benefits from writing things down, I find it so useful to have my books, journal, to-do lists, and so much more all in one place. I don’t have to carry around random notepads, shove books in my overstuffed bags, or have a highly disorganized Notes App. This is something I can use in many different ways, whether it’s for leisure or productivity.
Additional Details
- The Kindle Scribe is available in 16 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB.
- You can choose between the basic pen or premium pen, which is an extra $30.
- This ereader has a 10.2″ 300 ppi glare-free Paperwhite display with a 16-level gray scale, an adjustable warm light, and an auto-adjusting front light.
- It can last up to 12 weeks on a single charge averaging about a half hour of reading per day or up to three weeks based on a half hour of writing a day.
- The Kindle Scribe fully charges in seven hours when the USB-C cable is connected to your laptop. However, it only takes 2.5 hours when connected to a power adapter.
Where Is the Kindle Scribe Available?
The Kindle Scribe is available at Amazon and Target ($340).
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