E-ink tablets like the Kindle Scribe and reMarkable 2 have grown in popularity among avid readers and note-takers alike. With large, paper-like displays designed to reduce eye strain, these devices aim to recreate the tactile sensation of writing in a notebook or reading a print book.
But with two leading contenders on the market, how do you choose? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare the key features of the Kindle Scribe and reMarkable 2 to help you decide which e-ink tablet is the right fit.
At a Glance: Kindle Scribe vs. reMarkable 2
Before we dive into the details, here’s a high-level overview of how the two tablets stack up:
Kindle Scribe
- 10.2” 300 PPI display
- Choice of 16GB, 32GB or 64GB storage
- Up to 12 weeks battery life
- Built-in access to Kindle ebooks
- Supports handwritten notes and sketches
- $339 starting price
reMarkable 2
- 10.3” 226 PPI display
- 8GB storage + unlimited cloud storage
- Up to 2 weeks battery life
- Native integrations with cloud storage like Google Drive
- Advanced note-taking capabilities
- $399 starting price
Now let’s explore some of the key factors in determining which device better suits your needs.
Design
On the surface, both tablets sport a clean, minimalist design built for simplicity. But when it comes to build construction, the reMarkable 2 wins out.
With an ultra-slim 4.7mm aluminum body, the reMarkable 2 is one of the thinnest tablets in the world. It’s lighter than the Scribe at just 404g and exudes premium craftsmanship. In contrast, the plastic casing of the Scribe feels cheap by comparison.
However, the Scribe offers a more compact footprint with smaller bezels surrounding its display. This makes it slightly easier to grip in one hand for long reading sessions. And while the reMarkable 2 only comes in grey, Scribe buyers can choose between black and rose gold colors.
Display
A crisp, paper-like display is paramount for an immersive e-reading and note-taking experience. Here’s how the two tablets compare:
Size: At 10.2”, the Scribe’s display is marginally smaller than the 10.3” reMarkable 2. In practical terms, this 0.1” difference is negligible. Both offer ample room for reading documents and digital notebooks.
Resolution: With 226 PPI density, text and drawings look noticeably sharper on the reMarkable 2 compared to the Scribe’s 300 PPI display.
Front light: Unlike backlit tablets, e-ink displays rely on reflected light for illumination. Both devices provide front lighting that automatically adjusts brightness based on ambient lighting conditions. This makes it comfortable to use in dim environments without eyestrain.
Responsiveness: Those accustomed to glass displays may need some adjustment period with e-ink. The upside is a more natural, paper-like tactile sensation. Of the two, scribbling notes feels more fluid on the reMarkable thanks to its 21ms latency over the Scribe’s 43ms.
Verdict: While the displays are comparable in size, the reMarkable 2 wins out with superior sharpness, responsiveness and more refined front lighting.
File Support & Cloud Integrations
Beyond ebooks, support for common file types and cloud storage services dictates what documents you can view and edit.
The Kindle Scribe only supports a limited range of file formats including PDF, JPEG, PNG and MOBI. While you can email documents to the device, transferring files requires connecting to a computer with a USB-C cable.
Meanwhile, the reMarkable 2 handles PDF, EPUB, Microsoft documents like Word and Powerpoint as well as image formats. Better yet, it offers native mobile and desktop apps allowing you to transfer files wirelessly from cloud sources like Google Drive, Dropbox and more.
This makes the reMarkable 2 far more flexible for accessing and interacting with documents from anywhere. The Scribe’s limited format support and lack of cloud integration severely limits its capabilities beyond reading ebooks.
Writing Experience
As digital paper replacements, a fluid, natural writing experience is essential. Both tablets include a basic stylus in the box, but serious note takers will want to shell out extra for the premium pens available.
The Scribe Premium Pen aims to mimic everything from fine tip pens to paint brushes. Shortcut buttons can erase or undo actions with ease. Impressively, it never needs charging.
reMarkable’s Marker Plus also approximates the feeling of various tools like ballpoints, pencils and markers. It too allows quick access to an eraser and other shortcuts. Unlike Scribe’s offering, this pen needs charging after about 2 months of average use.
In practice, both premium pens feel extremely realistic on their respective devices. Latency is imperceptible and pressure sensitivity allows natural variations in stroke width and opacity. You’d be hard pressed to feel any difference during real-world use.
Battery Life
Let’s face it, there’s nothing worse than your device dying mid-way through an important meeting or reading session. With typical usage, here’s what you can expect from each tablet:
Kindle Scribe: Up to 3 weeks of battery from a single charge, assuming 30 minutes of daily reading without Wi-Fi. Reducing front light levels can extend this even further. However intensive note-taking significantly reduces this to just a few days.
reMarkable 2: Gets about 2 weeks of use from one full charge with average engagement. So you’ll need to top it up more frequently compared to the Scribe if used primarily for reading. Plan on weekly charges if you’re actively taking notes for hours daily.
For infrequent note takers who mainly consume long-form content, the Scribe offers longer endurance between plug-ins. But the reMarkable 2 won’t leave you hanging for a few days at least.
Unique Features
Beyond the core experience, each tablet touts a few special features that might tip the scales for specific use cases:
Kindle Store Integration – As an Amazon product, the Kindle Scribe seamlessly connects to the Kindle bookstore. This provides instant access to millions of ebook titles you can load directly on the device. No other e-ink tablet offers such robust native distribution.
Live View for Note Sharing – The reMarkable 2 lets collaborators digitally peer over your shoulder in real-time using the companion mobile app. Great for sharing meeting notes remotely.
Handwriting Conversion – Scribe can intelligently convert both printed notes and your handwriting into text for easy exporting. For now, this only works for English.
Third-party Templates – reMarkable lets you import templates for planners, sheet music, storyboards and more to expand functionality. The Scribe lacks any official template support.
Pricing
The base model Kindle Scribe includes 16GB storage, a standard stylus, and a 1 year limited warranty for $339. To get the premium pen, expect to spend $369 total.
Meanwhile, the entry-level reMarkable 2 with 8GB storage and Marker stylus retails for $399. Adding the Marker Plus takes it up to $499.
Keep in mind you’ll need to pay $30 annually for full web access and LiveView sharing on Remarkable. Plus applicable taxes still need to be added to both products depending on your region.
In the end, Scribe pulls ahead as the more affordable option for getting started in e-ink tablets. But the ad-free reMarkable grants you more functionality through subscriptions down the line.
The Bottom Line
So which device is better for you? Here are some guidelines:
Choose the Kindle Scribe if you want:
- Seamless access to ebooks via Kindle Store
- The lowest upfront cost
- A tablet you mostly use for active reading
- The option of drawing and note-taking occasionally
- Least amount of learning curve coming from e-readers
Choose the reMarkable 2 if you want:
- The biggest and best-looking display
- To actively take a lot of written notes
- Smooth cross-device connection to cloud documents
- More power-user customizations and third-party features
- A premium device closer to a paper notebook or graphics tablet replacement
At the end of the day, both tablets are excellent choices that come down to personal preferences. The Scribe offers casual e-bookworms an affordable entry to e-ink alongside basic notes. But for maximum flexibility between reading and writing with more customization, the reMarkable 2 leads the pack.
Hopefully this detailed look at the Kindle Scribe versus reMarkable 2’s displays, software, cloud support and other key factors helps steer you toward the right decision! Let us know if you have any other questions.
