The ReMarkable 2 and Amazon Kindle Scribe are two of the greatest e-readers for writing on.
Both devices blur the distinction between an e-reader and a tablet because they are equipped with E Ink screens that are intended to mimic paper. Each comes with a stylus for writing on computers. So you may hand-draw and annotate just like on paper. Your notes, in contrast to written notes, are editable, securely saved, and simple to distribute without running to the photocopier.
Tech specs
| Amazon Kindle Scribe | Remarkable 2 | |
| Display | 10.2in Paperwhite, 300ppi | 10.3in monochrome, 226ppi |
| Built-in light | Yes | No |
| Storage | 16/32/64GB, non-expandable | 8GB, non-expandable |
| Dimensions | 196x229x5.8mm | 187x246x4.7mm |
| Weight | 433g | 404g |
Design
The Remarkable 2 and Amazon Kindle Scribe both use a very similar design approach. Both have E Ink screens in grayscale and a tablet-like design. The displays are framed by distinctive bezels, with a wider strip on the left for better handling. However, the two slates can be distinguished from one another visually as well.
The Kindle Scribe’s three edges have neat, consistent bezels that are all black. The Remarkable 2 has a thicker bottom bezel and a white surround with a silver accent grip strip. It will depend on who you ask which looks better.
Both gadgets are around the size of an A4 sheet of paper in terms of size. The Remarkable 2 is 17mm broader than the Kindle Scribe, which is 9mm taller than it. Each tablet is slim, measuring 5.8mm for the Kindle and 4.7mm for the Remarkable 2, making them both thinner than modern smartphones. There is a bit more in there on the scales. The 404g Remarkable 2 outweighs the heavier 433g Kindle Scribe.
Display
Those E Ink displays steal the spotlight in both performances. The screen size of the Kindle Scribe is 10.2 inches. Although Amazon hasn’t disclosed the precise resolution, it comes out to be a respectable 300ppi. A 10.3in panel is available on the Remarkable 2. Despite being slightly larger, the resolution is just 226 ppi.
We’ll evaluate the practical impact of this feature in our comprehensive side-by-side comparison of the two E Ink tablets. Theoretically, this indicates that the Amazon Kindle Scribe can produce text and edges that are sharper than the Remarkable 2. Nevertheless, the difference is not likely to have a significant impact on both reading and scrawling legibility.
The appearance and texture of paper is replicated on both sides. This includes a covering that blocks light for reading outside and a surface texture that encourages natural stylus writing. Both e-readers lack the ability to make color images, but the Amazon Kindle Scribe beats out the Remarkable 2 thanks to its programmable front light, which enables you to keep scribbling in low light.
Interface & pens
The Kindle Scribe and Remarkable 2 are in a different league from other e-readers because of its scribbling capabilities. Both devices’ touchscreens enable finger inputs for navigating the interface and swiping across pages, but they are also built with pen use in mind, whether you’re tapping around or taking notes.
When you use Amazon’s Basic Pen, a stylus that resembles a pen will appear in your hand and adhere magnetically to the side of the Kindle Scribe. Additionally, there is no battery to charge because it is a passive instrument. Paying for the Premium Pen adds an eraser to the end and a shortcut button that enables quick switching between pen settings. As a result, you can quickly switch from noting to underlining.
For the Remarkable 2, the arrangement is comparable. The regular Marker resembles a pen and is more secure than tucking it behind your ear because it attaches magnetically to the side of the E Ink tablet. It has no batteries, just like Amazon’s quills. You must select the Marker Plus if you want an eraser on the end, just like with Amazon’s quills. Its tip is also changeable.
Another aspect of our comprehensive side-by-side evaluation will be how the styli compare in real-world use. In our five-star evaluation of the Remarkable 2, we discovered that tilt support and 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity made taking notes on the device feel natural and fun. There was also little lag and a good selection of stroke settings. The Kindle Scribe should provide a similarly simple user experience, but we won’t know how well-performing features like palm rejection work until we’ve actually used it.
Software & features
Both the Kindle Scribe and the Remarkable 2 run customized software. Each has a simple design style with clear images, organized menus, and tidy tool switch icons. The E Ink tablet from Remarkable has 51 layouts to help you organize your note-taking, ranging from lined paper to imaginative storyboards. The Amazon gadget has layouts, checklists, and notebooks.
When it comes to file format support, the Kindle Scribe beats out the Remarkable 2. With a workaround for Word documents, Remarkable‘s slate enables you to open ePUB and PDF documents. For annotating, files are converted to PDF. All of the following, as well as Kindle e-books, are supported by the Kindle Scribe. As a result, you can make notes about any of the innumerable books in Amazon’s collection. Additionally, you may easily add sticky notes to Word documents. Later this year, Microsoft Word will also let you send documents to the Scribe.
Additionally, the Scribe triumphs in terms of storage, providing twice the capacity of the Remarkable 2 even in its most basic form. Additionally, Amazon’s E Ink tablet provides limitless document cloud storage. The Remarkable 2 has this feature, however it’s only available with a Connect membership. There is a one-year trial period provided, after which $2.99 per month will be due.
The Remarkable 2 now supports Google Drive, Dropbox, and One Drive in addition to handwriting-to-text conversion thanks to firmware updates. The Remarkable 2 has an advantage here because the Kindle Scribe does not provide any of those features.
Battery & performance
Depending on how often you use it, Amazon has guaranteed a battery that can last for several weeks on a single charge. According to Amazon, if you scribble for 30 minutes a day, you may perhaps live for 12 weeks. Even while it doesn’t have the zippiness of a full-fat tablet, performance is still rather good.
Remarkable is more forthcoming about the details of its E Ink tablet. It has a 3000mAh battery and a 1.2GHz dual-core processor with 1GB of RAM. The Remarkable 2 is rated to last three weeks from a full tank despite having no backlight.
Amazon Kindle Scribe vs Remarkable 2
The Remarkable 2 and Amazon Kindle Scribe appear to be identical devices on paper. They have E Ink screens that mimic paper and similar slate-like patterns. Additionally, they allow the use of battery-free styli for writing and drawing. But they also approach completing the brief in distinctly different ways.
The Remarkable 2 can be used as an e-reader, but its primary function is as a digital notepad. The Amazon Kindle Scribe goes the other way; it’s an e-reader with extra note-taking capabilities. Their individual spec sheets and skill sets reflect that. The former is less intelligent but offers practical note-taking tools for uncluttered productivity. The latter builds on the feature-rich framework of earlier Kindle devices, adding helpful features like the ability to annotate papers and a battery life that lasts for weeks.
The Remarkable 2 is the best option for working without interruption, but the Kindle is a great option for readers who need a notepad despite its high price.
