E-Ink, or electronic paper display technology, is a growing product category in the world of digital displays. Unlike traditional displays like the LCD and LED that use a backlight, E-Ink displays reflect light – just like paper. This makes them easier on the eyes for long reading sessions.
Some e-readers today offer this technology and a stylus marker to give users a precise writing and drawing experience. While other devices like the iPad can provide similar solutions, e-readers are more suited for long reading sessions, sketching, and taking notes.
The current leaders in this product category are reMarkable 2, Amazon Kindle Scribe, and Kobo. Each is equipped with an E-Ink display and ships with a stylus marker for digital scrawling.
But which of the two tablets is better for e-readers in 2024?
We have compared Kindle Scribe and reMarkable 2’s product details, tabulated their specs, and reviewed their product offerings to help you make a better choice in your next purchase.
Key Takeaways
- Kindle Scribe has a sharper display resolution and built-in front lighting, making it better suited for reading in various lighting conditions.
- reMarkable 2 offers superior stylus sensitivity and responsiveness, making it ideal for note-taking and sketching.
- Kindle Scribe provides more storage options (16GB, 32GB, 64GB) compared to reMarkable 2’s fixed 8GB, but reMarkable 2 compensates with unlimited cloud storage via its Connect service.
- Kindle Scribe has a longer battery life, lasting up to three weeks, whereas reMarkable 2 typically lasts about two weeks on a full charge.
- reMarkable 2 supports integration with cloud services like Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive. Kindle Scribe supports a broader range of file formats and is better integrated with the Amazon ecosystem.
- Kindle Scribe is generally cheaper, with its base model starting at $339.99, while reMarkable 2 starts at $399.99 without the Stylus Marker.
reMarkable 2 vs. Kindle Scribe: Specs Comparison
The table below summarizes how reMarkable 2 and Kindle Scribe E-Ink tablets compare.
Specs | reMarkable 2 | Kindle Scribe? |
Display | 10.3in monochrome, 226 ppi | 10.2in Paperwhite, 300 ppi |
Storage | 8GB, non-expandable | 16GB/32GB/64GB options, non-expandable |
Built-in light | No | Yes |
Dimensions? | 187x246x4.7mm | 196x229x5.8mm |
Weight? | 404g | 430g |
Web browsing | No | Yes, but with limited experience |
Release date | May 2020 | November 2022 |
Prices? | Started at $399.99 without the Stylus Marker | The base storage configuration (16GB) starts at $339.99 with a basic pen |
Kindle Scribe vs. reMarkable 2: Which Is the Top E-Ink Tablet in 2024?
reMarkable 2 and Amazon Kindle Scribe share many similarities in features and functions.
Choosing Amazon Kindle Scribe vs. Remarkable 2 or vice versa requires evaluating their performance and usability. Here is how the two digital notepads battle it out on some core parameters.
Kindle Scribe Versus Remarkable 2: Display
Kindle Scribe wins with a sharper resolution and built-in front lighting.
The reMarkable 2 display measures 10.3 inches, but its resolution is less sharp, with just 226 ppi. On the other hand, the Kindle Scribe display is slightly smaller, 10.2 inches, but the resolution is sharper, with about 300 ppi.
Kindle Scribe also has built-in adjustable front lighting, which means you can use it regardless of the ambient light condition. This gives the Kindle Scribe a significant advantage over the reMarkable 2 since you will have to find a lamp or a window where the light condition is favorable to use the reMarkable 2.
Some people might still prefer reMarkable 2’s display for stylus use since it gives users more paper-like friction. That’s paired with a low-latency pen, which is both tilt- and pressure-sensitive.
reMarkable 2 vs. Kindle Scribe: Features & Performance
reMarkable 2 stylus input is more sensitive and responsive.
Most e-ink tablets are generally less impressive in speed performance since they are purpose-built for writing and reading and have low-end chipsets and RAM to keep their prices down compared to other LCD or OLED panel tablets.
While both reMarkable 2 and Kindle Scribe have slower refresh rates, the reMarkable 2, nevertheless, is more impressive in stylus input pressure, responsiveness, and tilt sensitivity.
This advantage comes with an extra cost as Amazon charges less to upgrade users to a Premium Pen, with an eraser tip and shortcut button than the reMarkable 2 stylus whose only premium addition is the eraser tip.
Regarding storage, Amazon Kindle Scribe has an advantage over reMarkable 2. Kindle Scribe offers a choice of 16, 32, and 64 gigabytes capacities, while reMarkable 2 storage capacity is capped at 8GB.
However, reMarkable tends to make up for this lag by offering a subscription service called “Connect.” This service provides reMarkable 2 users unlimited cloud storage and sync, plus extended warranty coverage of up to three years.
There are also rumors that reMarkable is readying a reMarkable 3 with up to 16GB of internal storage.
reMarkable 2 vs. Kindle Scribe: Battery Life
Kindle Scribe wins on longer battery life – up to three weeks on a single charge.
Kindle Scribe’s 3000mAH battery capacity promises up to three weeks of battery life on a single charge. Amazon boasts that you can stretch the Kindle Scribe’s battery life to up to 12 weeks if you turn off the Wi-Fi, use the front light at a specific level, and write for just 30 minutes a day.
The reMarkable 2 runs on a 1.2Ghz dual-core processor with a 3000mAH battery capacity. On the surface, this capacity promises about 2 weeks of battery life from a full charge. This battery life is likely to drop if you are doing hours of note-taking every day.
Which Is Better for Note-Taking & Reading?
Kindle Scribe is better for reading, while reMarkable edges it in note-taking.
Many users on a Reddit discussion forum prefer Kindle Scribe for reading and reMarkable 2 for note-taking.
While the Kindle Scribe does have some built-in templates and unique annotation capabilities, like the ability to annotate Kindle books, its note-taking capability is still inferior to that of reMarkable.
reMarkable 2 is far more organized and suitable for note-taking. It also offers optical character recognition (OCR), which aids in live presentations or note-searching. Artists may find reMarkable 2 sketching tools more powerful, too.
On the other hand, Kindle Scribe knocks out reMarkable 2 in reading suitability. Kindle Scribe’s display is sharper with front lighting and supports more file formats beyond the Kindle files. Files like DOC/DOCX, TXT, GIF, RTF, PNG, JPEG, HTML, PDF, EPUB, MOBI, and BMP can all be handled by the Kindle Scribe. Whereas, reMarkable 2 can only take care of EPUB, PDF, PNG, and JPG, with no attached storefront.
reMarkable 2, however, does support integration with Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive, meaning you can download materials and read them later. Kindle Scribe only supports Word documents created in Microsoft 365.
Which E-Ink Tablet Wins on Price?
Kindle Scribe is relatively cheaper at a starting price of $339.99.
Amazon Kindle Scribe starting prices are relatively cheaper than what reMarkable offers. When Kindle Scribe was launched in 2022, the price for the base variant (16GB with basic pen) started at $339.99. The pricing went up to $419.99 if you opted for the 64GB variant with a Premium Pen.
reMarkable 2 only had one basic variant sold at $399.99 without the Stylus Marker. Purchasing the Stylus Marker or Stylus Marker Plus attracts additional costs.
The Bottom Line: Which Is the Best Buy in 2024?
Our detailed review of reMarkable 2 vs. Kindle Scribe showed that both E-Ink tablets are good for different use cases.
reMarkable 2’s software and stylus tech is great for note-taking. Plus, its integration of cloud services like Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive is a good advantage for users who prefer syncing their materials in the cloud.
On the other hand, Kindle Scribe is better for reading. Its superior battery life, built-in front lighting, and broader access to file formats, including Kindle library, is an advantage over reMarkable 2.
So, after comparing all the pros and cons of both options, the best note-taking tablet in 2024 depends on what you want from the e-reader.