Kindle Scribe vs reMarkable 2: Which E-Paper Tablet is Best in 2025?

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Kindle Scribe vs reMarkable 2. The two most popular e-paper tablets on the market today.

Amazon’s Kindle Scribe arrived to challenge reMarkable’s dominance in the digital note-taking space, while reMarkable 2 continues to refine its paper-like experience.

Both offer impressive hardware, but which one deserves your money?

In this comprehensive comparison, I’ll examine every aspect of these devices to help you decide which e-paper tablet best fits your needs and workflow.

Let’s get started.

Kindle Scribe vs reMarkable 2: Overview

Kindle Scribe

Released by Amazon in late 2022, the Kindle Scribe combines the company’s established e-reader technology with digital note-taking capabilities. It features Amazon’s largest e-ink display to date at 10.2 inches and comes bundled with either a Basic or Premium Pen for writing and annotation.

Some of Kindle Scribe’s key features include:

• 300 ppi e-ink display with front light (35 LEDs with adjustable warmth)
• Cloud sync with Amazon ecosystem
• PDF annotation and markup
• Excellent Kindle ebook integration
• Premium Pen with eraser and shortcut button (no charging required)
• 8 to 12 weeks of battery life
• 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB storage options

Amazon positions the Kindle Scribe as an e-reader first, with note-taking as a complementary feature, giving you the ability to read and annotate books, documents, and PDFs in a single device.

reMarkable 2

The reMarkable 2, launched in 2020 as a second-generation device, focuses exclusively on providing a paper-like digital writing experience. The ultra-thin tablet (just 4.7mm) features a 10.3-inch e-ink display with a textured surface designed to mimic the feel of writing on paper.

reMarkable 2’s key features include:

• CANVAS display with paper-like friction when writing
• Industry-leading latency of just 21ms
• Convert handwriting to text
• No distractions (no web browser, email, or social media)
• Marker or Marker Plus pen options
• 2-3 weeks of typical battery life
• 8GB internal storage
• Connect subscription model for additional cloud features

reMarkable has positioned its tablet as a digital paper notebook replacement, focusing exclusively on writing, reading, and note-taking without additional distractions.

1. Design and Hardware

The physical design and build quality of these devices reveal their different priorities and target users.

Kindle Scribe:

The Kindle Scribe maintains Amazon’s minimalist design language with an asymmetrical bezel that provides a comfortable grip on one side. The aluminum back gives it a premium feel, though at 433g, it’s significantly heavier than a traditional Kindle.

The 10.2-inch screen with 300 ppi resolution provides crisp text and images, with 35 LEDs offering adjustable front lighting including warmth control for comfortable reading in any environment.

The Premium Pen attaches magnetically to the side of the device and requires no charging or pairing. It includes an eraser button on top and a customizable shortcut button for quick access to tools.

Physical dimensions:

• Height: 9.0 inches (229 mm)
• Width: 7.7 inches (196 mm)
• Depth: 0.22 inches (5.8 mm)
• Weight: 15.3 oz (433 g)

The Kindle Scribe lacks physical page-turn buttons, relying instead on touch controls, which some longtime Kindle users might miss.

reMarkable 2:

The reMarkable 2 features an ultra-slim profile at just 4.7mm thick, making it one of the thinnest tablets available. Its minimalist design has no physical buttons on the front, with only a power button on the top edge.

The 10.3-inch CANVAS display (226 ppi) includes a textured surface that creates friction when writing, closely mimicking the sensation of pen on paper. Unlike the Kindle Scribe, it lacks front lighting, making it difficult to use in low-light conditions.

The Marker or Marker Plus pen attaches magnetically to the side or front of the tablet. The premium Marker Plus includes an eraser on the top end, similar to a traditional pencil.

Physical dimensions:

• Height: 9.7 inches (246 mm)
• Width: 7.4 inches (187 mm)
• Depth: 0.19 inches (4.7 mm)
• Weight: 14.1 oz (403.5 g)

The reMarkable 2’s design emphasizes thinness and simplicity, creating a device that looks and feels more like a paper notebook than a tech gadget.

Winner: reMarkable 2

The reMarkable 2 takes this category with its thinner profile, lighter weight, and premium paper-like feel. While the Kindle Scribe offers useful front lighting, the reMarkable 2’s focus on providing a writing experience as close to paper as possible results in a more cohesive design for a note-taking device. If reading in low-light environments is important to you, however, the Kindle Scribe’s front lighting might make it the better choice.

2. Reading Experience

Both devices offer reading capabilities, but their approaches and strengths differ significantly.

Kindle Scribe:

The Kindle Scribe delivers the polished reading experience Amazon has refined over years of Kindle development. The 300 ppi resolution provides crisp text rendering, while the adjustable front light with warmth control allows for comfortable reading in any lighting condition.

As a Kindle device, it offers seamless access to Amazon’s extensive ebook ecosystem, including:

• Direct access to the Kindle store with millions of titles
• Whispersync technology to sync your reading progress across devices
• X-Ray feature for exploring book details and character information
• Dictionary lookup, Wikipedia access, and translation tools
• Goodreads integration
• Adjustable margins, font sizes, and typefaces
• Ability to highlight passages and add notes

The Scribe also supports PDF reading and annotation, making it useful for work documents and academic papers. The larger 10.2-inch screen provides ample space for comfortable reading of textbooks and documents with complex layouts.

One notable limitation is the lack of support for EPUB files without conversion, though Amazon now offers email conversion for this format.

reMarkable 2:

The reMarkable 2’s reading capabilities focus on PDFs and EPUB files, with no access to a proprietary bookstore or ecosystem. The 10.3-inch screen offers plenty of space for documents, but the 226 ppi resolution is noticeably less sharp than the Kindle Scribe for small text.

The reading experience on reMarkable includes:

• Support for PDF and EPUB formats (DRM-free)
• Markup and annotation capabilities
• Simple organization system for documents
• Cloud sync through reMarkable Connect subscription
• Zoom and pan for PDFs
• Limited font size and margin adjustment for EPUBs

The most significant drawback for reading is the lack of front lighting, limiting use to well-lit environments. Additionally, the tablet lacks the polished reading features Kindle users expect, such as dictionary lookup, X-Ray, or WhisperSync.

Winner: Kindle Scribe

The Kindle Scribe easily wins this category with its superior display resolution, front lighting, extensive ecosystem access, and refined reading features. While the reMarkable 2 is adequate for reading PDFs and simple EPUB files, it lacks the comprehensive reading experience that makes the Kindle Scribe a true dual-purpose device.

3. Note-Taking Experience

Both the Kindle Scribe and reMarkable 2 position themselves as premier digital note-taking tools, but their approaches differ significantly in execution and philosophy.

Kindle Scribe:

The Kindle Scribe offers a straightforward note-taking system that integrates seamlessly with its reading experience. Amazon’s Premium Pen requires no charging and features a dedicated eraser button on top, allowing you to quickly toggle between writing and erasing without switching modes in the interface.

Some of Kindle Scribe’s key note-taking features include:

• Five pen types (ballpoint, fountain pen, marker, pencil, and highlighter) with adjustable thicknesses
• Predefined templates for different note-taking needs, including lined paper, grid, checklists, and planning sheets
• The ability to add sticky notes directly to Kindle books
• Handwritten annotations on PDFs
• Organization through notebooks with customizable covers
• Simple folder structure for organizing notes

The writing experience feels natural with minimal latency, though not quite as paper-like as its competitor. The Premium Pen’s magnetic attachment to the side of the device ensures it’s always available when needed.

One significant limitation is the lack of text conversion functionality – what you write remains handwritten with no option to convert to editable text. Additionally, the organization system is relatively basic compared to reMarkable’s more robust tagging and folder options.

reMarkable 2:

The reMarkable 2 positions itself as the paper tablet, and its note-taking capabilities reflect this laser focus. The writing experience comes impressively close to the friction and feel of writing on paper, enhanced by the textured surface of the display.

The reMarkable 2’s note-taking system includes:

• Multiple pen styles including fineliner, marker, pencil, and ballpoint with varying thicknesses and pressure sensitivity
• Over 40 templates, ranging from simple lined paper to complex planning grids and storyboards
• Layer system similar to professional design software, allowing for complex, multi-layered documents
• Handwriting conversion that transforms your notes into editable, searchable text
• Advanced organization with nested folders, favorites, and custom tags
• Quick gestures for erasing, undoing, and selecting content

The company’s Marker Plus pen includes an eraser on the end, mimicking the familiar experience of flipping a pencil to erase. The magnetic attachment is convenient, though slightly less secure than the Kindle Scribe’s implementation.

reMarkable shines with its Convert to Text feature, which accurately transforms handwritten notes into editable text that can be exported via email. This functionality gives it a significant advantage for users who need to digitize their handwritten content.

Winner: reMarkable 2

The reMarkable 2 takes this category with its superior writing experience, extensive template options, layer system, and critical text conversion functionality. While the Kindle Scribe offers a very good note-taking experience that integrates well with its reading capabilities, reMarkable’s dedication to replicating and enhancing the paper experience results in a more comprehensive and versatile note-taking system.

4. Software and Ecosystem

The software experience and ecosystem integration differ substantially between these devices, reflecting their different priorities.

Kindle Scribe:

The Kindle Scribe runs on Amazon’s Kindle OS, providing a familiar interface for existing Kindle users with additional note-taking capabilities. The system is stable and refined, if somewhat basic compared to full-featured tablets.

Ecosystem integration includes:

• Seamless access to Amazon Kindle store and personal library
• Cloud sync of books, documents, and notes through Amazon’s servers
• Send-to-Kindle feature for documents (supporting PDF, DOCX, and other formats)
• Integration with Audible (though no built-in speakers or headphone jack)
• Web browser (experimental)
• Amazon account integration

Recent software updates have added features like notebook sharing, PDF markup improvements, and additional templates. However, the Kindle Scribe lacks a true file system or support for third-party applications, limiting its functionality compared to general-purpose tablets.

reMarkable 2:

The reMarkable 2 runs a custom Linux-based OS focused exclusively on reading and writing. The minimalist interface emphasizes distraction-free use, with no notifications or multitasking to interrupt your workflow.

The software ecosystem includes:

• reMarkable Connect subscription for cloud sync and additional features
• Mobile and desktop companion apps
• Chrome extension for web article clipping
• Email integration for sending documents to your device
• Integration with Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive (with subscription)
• Custom template support

While the reMarkable ecosystem is more limited than Amazon’s, the focus on distraction-free productivity gives it a unique advantage for certain users. The company regularly updates the software with new features and improvements.

The subscription model (Connect) puts some features behind a paywall, including cloud sync beyond 50MB, handwriting conversion, and screen sharing. This subscription requirement for core functionality may be a drawback for some users.

Winner: Kindle Scribe

The Kindle Scribe wins this category with its more comprehensive ecosystem, free cloud storage, and seamless integration with Amazon’s services. While reMarkable’s focused software has advantages for distraction-free work, the subscription requirement for basic functionality like adequate cloud storage gives the edge to Amazon’s more generous offering.

5. Battery Life and Performance

Battery life and overall performance significantly impact the daily usability of these devices.

Kindle Scribe:

The Kindle Scribe boasts impressive battery life, with Amazon claiming up to 12 weeks of reading time or 3 weeks of writing time (based on 30 minutes of use per day with wireless off). Real-world usage typically lands somewhere between these figures, depending on your mix of reading and writing.

Performance-wise, the Scribe demonstrates:

• Low latency when writing (though not as low as reMarkable 2)
• Quick page turns when reading
• Fast document loading for most PDFs
• Smooth navigation through the user interface
• Occasional lag with very large or complex PDFs

The device uses a USB-C port for charging, reaching full capacity in approximately 2.5 hours. The pen requires no charging, which is a significant convenience compared to active styluses used with other tablets.

reMarkable 2:

The reMarkable 2 offers more modest battery life, with the company claiming about 2 weeks of typical use. Heavy users might need to charge more frequently, especially with wireless enabled for cloud sync.

Where reMarkable excels is in writing performance:

• Industry-leading 21ms latency (nearly imperceptible)
• Extremely responsive writing experience
• Quick UI navigation
• Fast waking from sleep mode
• Capable handling of large PDFs

The device charges via USB-C and reaches full capacity in about 3 hours. The Marker and Marker Plus pens require no charging, similar to the Kindle Scribe’s pen.

Winner: Kindle Scribe

The Kindle Scribe wins this category with significantly longer battery life, making it more reliable for extended use without charging. While the reMarkable 2 offers superior writing latency, the Kindle Scribe’s overall battery performance provides a more convenient experience, especially for frequent travelers or those who dislike frequent charging.

6. Price and Value

Price considerations include not just the initial hardware cost but ongoing subscriptions and ecosystem purchases.

Kindle Scribe:

The Kindle Scribe is available in different storage configurations, starting with a 16GB model that includes the Basic Pen. For those needing more storage capacity, Amazon offers higher-tier options up to 64GB, which comes with the Premium Pen.

Important value considerations:

• No subscription requirement for cloud storage or basic functionality
• Includes access to Amazon’s ecosystem (though books must be purchased)
• Free Send-to-Kindle document service
• Regular software updates without additional cost
• Premium Pen recommended for the best experience

reMarkable 2:

The reMarkable 2 has a simpler hardware pricing structure but includes a subscription model for full functionality:

Value considerations:

• Higher initial cost when including a pen
• Subscription required for unlimited cloud storage and some core features
• No ongoing content purchases required (unless buying templates)
• More focused device with fewer distractions
• Regular software updates

Winner: Kindle Scribe

The Kindle Scribe provides better overall value with a lower entry price that includes a pen, no required subscription fees, and free unlimited cloud storage. While the reMarkable 2 offers superior writing features, the additional costs for both hardware and subscription services make it significantly more expensive over the device’s lifetime.

Who’s the Winner? Kindle Scribe or reMarkable 2?

This comprehensive comparison between Kindle Scribe and reMarkable 2 should help you make an informed decision based on your specific needs. While both devices offer excellent e-paper experiences, they excel in different areas.

The Kindle Scribe is the better choice for:

• Readers who want to add occasional note-taking to their experience
• Those already invested in the Amazon ecosystem
• People who read in various lighting conditions
• Users looking for better value without subscription fees
• Anyone needing longer battery life

The reMarkable 2 is the better choice for:

• Those primarily focused on note-taking and drawing
• People seeking the most paper-like writing experience
• Users who need handwriting-to-text conversion
• Those who value distraction-free work
• Artists or designers who will utilize the layers system

When it comes to reading, the Kindle Scribe is clearly superior with its higher resolution display, front lighting, and extensive ecosystem. For note-taking, the reMarkable 2 offers the more complete and refined experience with better latency, text conversion, and organizational tools.

For a dual-purpose device that handles both reading and note-taking competently, the Kindle Scribe provides better overall value, especially considering its longer battery life and no subscription requirement. However, if you’re primarily looking for a digital paper replacement with the best possible writing experience, the reMarkable 2’s focused approach is worth the premium price.

Evaluate all features carefully against your specific requirements to ensure you select the right device for your needs.

FAQ: Kindle Scribe vs reMarkable 2

Q: Is there anything better than reMarkable 2?

A: Supernote, Boox, iPad, Kindle Scribe, or Kobo may be better, depending on your specific needs and priorities.

Q: Can you use reMarkable 2 as a kindle?

A: No, the reMarkable 2 doesn’t function as a Kindle directly. It doesn’t connect to Amazon’s ecosystem or support Kindle formats natively.

Q: Is Kindle Scribe better than reMarkable 2?

A: Kindle Scribe: better for reading, Amazon ecosystem. reMarkable 2: better for writing experience, distraction-free notes. Choose based on priority.

Q: Who competes with reMarkable 2?

A: Supernote, Onyx Boox, Kindle Scribe, Kobo Elipsa, Fujitsu Quaderno, iPad with Pencil, and Huawei MatePad Paper compete with reMarkable 2.