Amazon has released three new models of its official e-reader with note-taking capabilities, the Kindle Scribe, including the first model with color display, the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, so I tried them out.
In September 2025, Amazon
First, let's unbox the 2026 model of the Kindle Scribe.
This is what it looks like when you open the box.
The contents include the Kindle Scribe device, a premium pen, a small box containing pen nibs, a USB-C charging cable, and instruction manuals.
The 2026 Kindle Scribe will feature a front-lit model. A distinctive feature of this front-lit model is its white bezel.
The 2026 Kindle Scribe measures 189mm wide x 245mm high x 5.4mm thick, with an 11-inch screen. When held in the hand, it feels quite large compared to other Kindle devices, but its weight of 400g makes it lightweight enough to hold in one hand and turn pages with the other without any problems.
The bottom of the device has a USB-C port for charging.
The power button is located on the right side.
There are no buttons on the left side or top.
The back looks like this. It has non-slip grips on all four corners, making it easy to use not only when holding it in your hand, but also when laid flat on a desk and used as a notebook.
The premium pen included with the 2024 Kindle Scribe model was black, but the premium pen included with the 2026 model was white.
This is what the premium pen looks like when you hold it. There are shortcut buttons near the tip, and the end of the pen functions as an eraser.
Additionally, the premium pen has a built-in magnet, allowing it to easily attach to the side of the Kindle Scribe.
Below is a comparison of the 2026 Kindle Scribe model (left) with the older Kindle Scribe model released in November 2022 (right). In
The back of the 2026 Kindle Scribe model (left) and the back of the older Kindle Scribe model released in November 2022 (right).
When you stack them, you can clearly see the difference in size.
Next, we'll be using a 2026 Kindle Scribe model without a front light.
The contents are the same for all models.
Below, the left image shows the model with a front light, and the right image shows the model without a front light. The bezel color is white on the model with a front light and gray on the model without a front light.
Furthermore, upon booting up each device, the model with a front light on the left has 'Brightness' and 'Color Warmth' options in its menu, while the model without a front light does not.
The image below shows the front light-equipped model with the brightness set to zero (left). The model without a front light looks almost the same in this state.
The image below shows a manga displayed on a front-light-equipped model at maximum brightness (left) and the same page displayed on a non-front-light-equipped model (right). The non-front-light-equipped model is about 10,000 to 20,000 yen cheaper, so it's perfectly fine for people who only use it in bright environments. However, if you want to carry it around and use it in various places, it's probably better to choose the front-light-equipped model.
Finally, I'll try using Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, which supports color display.
The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft looks like this. The size, weight, and button placement are the same as other models, but the bezel is black. Also, the initial screen displayed a faint color.
If you launch the app and open the book settings, you'll notice that Kindle Scribe Colorsoft (pictured left) has an added setting called 'Page Color.'
I actually opened a color manga. While the colors aren't as vibrant as when reading on the Kindle app on a smartphone or tablet, they are still displayed clearly on the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft (left).
Kindle Scribe Colorsoft's color settings include a 'color style' option, which has two settings: 'Normal,' suitable for reading, and 'Vivid,' which emphasizes the colors of images with low saturation.
Below, the image on the left shows the 'Standard' setting, and the image on the right shows the 'Vivid' setting. You can see that the 'Vivid' setting produces more vibrant colors.
You can get a good idea of how a color-enabled E-ink display looks by reading a review of the 'Kindle Colorsoft' app .
Unboxing and reading a full-color manga on Amazon Kindle's first color-enabled e-paper device, 'Kindle Colorsoft' - GIGAZINE
The 2026 Kindle Scribe model features a larger display while remaining thinner and lighter, significantly improving its usability as an e-reader. The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, with its larger display, allows you to enjoy color content, making it ideal for those who frequently read full-color works or books with color designs.
In our next article, we'll be focusing on the improved note-taking features of the new Kindle Scribe and providing a further review, so stay tuned!
The new Kindle Scribe is priced at ¥89,980 (tax included) for the 32GB model and ¥98,980 (tax included) for the 64GB model. The Kindle Scribe without a front light has 16GB of storage and costs ¥72,980 (tax included). The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft has 32GB of storage and costs ¥106,980 (tax included) for the 64GB model.
Amazon.co.jp: New Amazon Kindle Scribe (without front light) | 11-inch display, 16GB storage, note-taking function, premium pen included, graphite: Amazon Devices & Accessories
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