Kindle Scribe Colorsoft review: fun but not a must-have

I spent two months testing the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, and it quickly became clear that this device is made for a very specific kind of note-taker and reader. It's pretty and lightweight, but its hefty price tag and large size mean it isn't something most people need. That said, if you've been waiting for a color Kindle that doubles as a digital notebook, it's worth considering.

Price, size, and design

The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft starts at $630 and comes in two colors: Black and Fig, a muted purple shade. It weighs 400 grams and has an 11-inch display, making it similar in size to a traditional sheet of paper.

Its thin design is impressive, but the larger size means it isn't comfortable to hold in one hand. I found it most comfortable propped up against my knees while sitting in bed or placed flat on a desk.

Portability is another trade-off. E-readers are usually easy to throw in a bag, but the Scribe Colorsoft's size meant I never ended up taking it out of the house. If you're an avid note-taker or researcher, you might want to carry it in a work bag to an office or coffee shop. Outside those situations, it's not the device I'd reach for during a quick Uber ride or while waiting at the doctor's office.

Reading and note-taking experience

The larger display gives you more room for writing, note-taking, sketches, and diagrams. It also makes reading PDFs and other documents easier. When it comes to reading, the extra space helps with books that include charts or maps, but it also removes the cozy, compact feel that makes smaller Kindles appealing.

I liked that I could create a color-coded digital planner and reading journal on the device. It comes with templates for daily, weekly, and monthly planners. As someone who normally keeps a physical reading journal, I found it efficient to finish a book and then open a digital notebook on the same device to log my reading.

Pen and color display

The device includes a Kindle Scribe Pen that attaches magnetically to the side. The pen feels nice in your hand and can be programmed for various actions. The eraser works smoothly and responds almost instantly.

While the color display is fun, it's important to know that colors look more like soft highlighter shades than the vibrant tones you'd see on a regular tablet. That's not necessarily an issue for note-taking, but it does mean comics and other visual content won't look as rich as their original colors.

Color highlighting was useful for organizing notes while reading. For example, while reading a twisty thriller, I used blue to mark details I thought I might need to remember and red for quotes I enjoyed. Switching between colors is easy thanks to the device's fast refresh rate.

Battery life

Battery life was excellent. I only charged the device twice over two months. It's worth noting, however, that writing uses more power than reading.

Who should buy the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft?

The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft makes the most sense for students, researchers, and journalers who want one device for reading, annotating, and organizing handwritten notes. For everyone else, the steep cost is hard to justify.

If you're simply looking to upgrade an older Kindle, I don't think the Colorsoft is worth the investment. You'd be better off with the more reasonably priced Kindle Paperwhite, which starts at $159.99.