The best Kindles 2026: I compared every model head-to-head
Read our full Kindle Scribe (3rd generation) review.
If, as you browse your shelf, your books have dog-eared pages, highlighted lines, and scribbles in the margins, your instinct might be that an e-reader isn’t for you, but I’d like to introduce you to the Kindle Scribe. It’s the only Kindle with writing capabilities and comes with an included stylus that attaches magnetically to the side of the e-reader; it’s ready for all your handwritten thoughts.
The pen moves nicely across the screen, mimicking the texture of writing on paper. In addition to a library of books, the Kindle Scribe also comes with a journal section where you can take notes. The notes feature is especially great for students who want to write handwritten notes and convert their handwriting to text.
The Kindle Scribe 2025 has received a much-needed upgrade. All the good things have been retained with the addition of some major improvements.
It’s still large, with an 11-inch screen, which makes it a little harder to hold while reading, but for writing or annotating it’s optimal. Unlike other tablets (I’m looking at you, iPad) that require purchasing a stylus separately, the Kindle Scribe comes with a stylus that easily attaches to the side so you don’t lose it. However, it’s not the most secure magnetic holder, so be careful not to accidentally bump the pen.
Writing on the Kindle Scribe is a joy. Before testing this e-reader, I used my iPad and Apple Pencil to annotate readings, but I never liked it because the screen was too smooth for the Apple Pencil. The Kindle Scribe doesn’t suffer from this problem, as the matte screen gives some friction to the pen, making it feel like you’re writing on paper. I loved writing with the pen and I swear my handwriting was better on the Kindle Scribe than on my iPad.
It finally got a processing update that makes it as fast as every other Kindle. No more lag when switching between magazines and books. Additionally, the displays have also improved significantly, as the Kindle Scribe 2025 has virtually no ghosting. Like the Kindle Paperwhite, the Scribe’s battery life is 12 weeks. It also has several storage options, since you can choose between 32 GB or 64 GB.
It’s not your only option if you want a Kindle that can write. The Scribe Colorsoft is also available, and while we like this model, it is a bit more expensive. The Scribe 2025 offers better value for money, but it just doesn’t have the color wow factor.
