I tried Amazon's ultimate new Kindle and it’s not as smart as it should be

Amazon Kindle Scribe review (Image: AMAZON)

The Kindle Scribe is back with a new look, an improved stylus in the box plus better ways to jot down your daily notes, reminders and upcoming events. It looks like a nice update from Amazon but is this latest e-reader what fans have been waiting for or is it just another gimmick?

I've had the new Scribe tucked in my backpack for the morning commute and popped it on my desk to jot down those daily notes and it's definitely a mixed bag.

Yes, it looks great with the giant 10.2-inch 300PPI glare-free display offering a sublime way to lose yourself in a best-selling novel.

The refresh white bezels are less distracting than the original 2022 model and there's a chunky edge on the left side of the screen which offers a comfortable way to hold it without accidentally turning the page.

The screen is nice and responsive, features a soft backlight with auto adjustment for reading at night and it now comes as standard with the improved premium pen - that's something you had to pay extra for before.

For those not aware, the Scribe is more than just a way to read Kindle books as it’s also designed to become an instant digital notebook.

Writing on this device feels very much like drawing on real paper with an actual pencil - that's thanks to the screen featuring a slightly textured finish.

All versions of the Scribe ship with the improved premium pen (Image: AMAZOM)

There are lots of useful note templates to choose from such as ruled, graph and dotted paper, and you can even create instant daily and weekly planners which is a feature I've used a lot since taking delivery of it.

The pen now snaps neatly on the side of the device so it doesn't get lost and there's a neat quick button which transforms the nib from a pen into a highlighter without tapping on endless settings. That’s really handy when you want to start striking things off that ever-expanding to-do list.

When you are reading books you can add notes or annotations to remind you of things you’ve spotted and you can even spin the pen around and rub your musings out - just like an old-fashioned pencil. But unlike the Kobo Libra Colour, you can’t write directly onto a book. Instead, the Scribe lets you write but then jigs the text around and keeps your scrawl in a little box. This is still far clunkier than Kobo’s method, and is a barrier to quick annotations.

Amazon has been clever with the design with the Scribe featuring four small rubber feet on the rear case which means it doesn’t move around when placed on a desk.

Kindle Scribe 2024 review (Image: AMAZON)

Although it’s not quite as feature-packed as the latest reMarkable e-paper tablet, the Scribe really is a great way to make notes and read books. It also lasts a whopping 12 weeks on a single charge and comes in a smart new Jade colour - the model I tested is the less funky Tungsten Grey.

However, as much as I really want to love it, there are some glaring issues.

Firstly, it still doesn't link up with other apps or sync to cloud services from the likes of Google.

Once I’ve made a handwritten note (which can be turned into editable text) I have then found myself sending it to my own email address which feels a bit pointless.

There's also the fact that some of the best AI features announced at launch still have not made it to the UK version of the Scribe.

That means I can't summarise my notes or tidy things up using the "refine writing" tool.

The Kindle Scribe offers a nice way to make notes (Image: AMAZON)

Those are nice upgrades that I could honestly see myself using but at the moment they are only available in the US. Then there's the price as the Scribe isn't cheap. The basic 16GB model will set you back a hefty £379.99 while the 64GB version costs £429.99 - ouch!

Although Amazon says the Kindle Scribe is meant to be a gadget that lets you read and take notes without distractions that also means that is all it does. There are no games, social media or productivity apps.

That might be what you want but I can't help feeling an iPad or Android tablet might be a better investment as at least you have the option of using those gadgets for more than just books and note-taking.

This isn't to say that the Scribe is a bad product. It's actually very good and I've really enjoyed using it.

It's well made, offers that lovely big screen and a nice way to jot down your to-do lists. There's also ludicrously long battery life, the premium pen in the box and a backlight so your book binges don't need to end at night.

If that ticks all the boxes for you, you won't be disappointed.

Just beware of its limitations, very high price and don't get excited about it coming with AI as there's no word on when that smart update will arrive in the UK.