Versatile Kindle
Finally, Amazon gave us what we’ve been wanting for years. Kindle Scribe is just as good as other Kindles, but it also supports writing input with a stylus. Get the signature Kindle experience with e-book and audiobook support and an indestructible battery that lasts for weeks. One thing Amazon didn’t add is an IP rating, which means the device isn’t waterproof.
for
- Supports numerous file formats including audiobooks
- amazing battery life
- Good for reading and writing
- beautiful levels of contrast
- Comes with two stylus options
Against
- No OCR
- not waterproof
- No Google Play Store
one trick pony
The Remarkable 2 is a niche e-ink tablet designed from the ground up specifically for writing. No speakers and limited apps mean you can’t listen to audiobooks. This one doesn’t even have Bluetooth.What that To do have is the ultimate electronic paper display that feels great to write on. The writing experience is unmatched, but the Remarkable 2 is too expensive for such limited uses.
for
- Unbeatable paper-like display with excellent writing comfort
- Comes with two stylus options
- excellent battery life
- Superior native OCR
Against
- Does not have Bluetooth or audio
- Very limited file and app support
- not waterproof
- No Google Play Store
The e-paper tablet market has grown significantly in recent years, thanks in large part to Amazon’s excellent range of Kindle e-readers. Amazon, rivaled only by a company called Onyx Boox, dominates the world of e-ink devices with its budget-friendly offerings.
Traditionally, Kindle devices have always focused on reading, and have enhanced that experience with audiobook support. With the introduction of Kindle Scribe, that story changed. Amazon most recently announced Kindle Scribe with stylus support. Most were well received, but not everyone was happy with the price.
Remarkable 2 is a dedicated writing tablet made for other tasks. Like other Kindles, it also features a gorgeous E Ink display that emulates the feel of paper unlike other e-paper tablets. It’s a dream to write, but it’s also lacking a lot. It’s going to be a shirt debate, but a worthwhile one nonetheless. So let’s compare both e-ink devices to find out which one is the right tablet for you.
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Anyone reading this will most likely prioritize stylus input above all else. But just because your goal is to buy a note-taking e-ink his tablet doesn’t mean you don’t want to do anything with that device. On the contrary, most people want to get the most out of their money spent on anything.
This is important because the Amazon Kindle Scribe is both an e-reader and writing tablet. Whereas the Kindle Scribe is versatile, the Remarkable 2 is non-adaptive and inherently limited. Worse, the dedicated writing device is more expensive than the Kindle, considering the expensive stylus.
| Category | Amazon kindle scribe | great 2 |
|---|---|---|
| screen | 10.2 inch, 300ppi, black and white | 10.3 inch, 300ppi, black and white |
| stylus | basic pen, premium pen | Marker, Marker Plus |
| Supported file formats | AZW3, AZW, TXT, PDF, MOBI, PRC, PDF, DOCX, DOC, HTML, EPUB, TXT, RTF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, AAX | PDF, EPUB |
| memory | 16GB/32GB/64GB | 8GB |
| connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C | Wi-Fi, USB-C |
| battery | 3,000mAh | 3,000mAh |
| size | 196×230×5.8mm | 187×246×4.7mm |
| weight | 433g | 403.5g |
| price | From $340 (with stylus) | Starting at $299 (no stylus) |
After Kindle Scribe, Remarkable 2 fails in almost every category. Amazon’s e-paper device supports more file formats, comes with Bluetooth connectivity, supports audiobooks, and has significantly more internal storage than the Remarkable 2. It’s also cheaper, especially if you choose to grab a basic pen over a premium pen. Lowest memory variant.
So what do you get? Admittedly, this is not a simple comparison. Well, that’s mostly true. Amazon has done a lot with the Kindle Scribe, but how many weeks does the battery and USB-C last? Yes please! — We forgot that a decent writing tablet should have important features.
Surprisingly, Kindle Scribe doesn’t do OCR, also known as optical character recognition, and can’t search handwritten notes. This is a big deal because it’s the first feature you want in a note-taking device.
Surprisingly, Kindle Scribe does not perform OCR and cannot search handwritten notes.
Not a device made for any other purpose, Remarkable 2 excels at OCR, handwritten note searching, note syncing, and everything related to writing. It gives a very realistic, lifelike writing feel and feels great. E-paper tablets have many cool features such as LiveView, a tool that reflects the user’s writing on the computer.
You can read e-books on Remarkable 2 because if it’s in PDF or EPUB file format, the tab only supports these two formats. Considering the Kindle Scribe has 32 front-lit LED lights, this tablet also lacks a front light. And while it’s easy to receive files from your device, sending them is tedious.
The Remarkable 2 is available with two styluses, the Marker and Marker Plus, but the tab itself doesn’t come standard. The entry-level Marker costs a whopping $79, and the premium Marker Plus is even more expensive at an eye-popping $129. That brings the total for the cheapest combo to about $378, which is $30 more than the asking price of the 16GB Kindle Scribe with Basic Pen.
Even if you value a good writing experience with a robust set of complementary features above all else, I wouldn’t recommend the Remarkable 2. Don’t get me wrong. The Remarkable 2 is one of the best E Ink tablets for note taking. Sorting. However, it is very expensive for a device with few features. And the fact that Remarkables doesn’t include markers as standard in tablets is too rich in my blood.
Amazon may have skipped water resistance with the Kindle Scribe, but it has all the basics. This is a great e-reader with stylus support and offers great value for the price. OCR is not available, but the device supports many file formats, including audiobooks.
If you can’t live without optical character recognition and want an e-paper tablet that can convert your handwriting to text in seconds, Onyx Boox is the alternative. For $400, the Onyx Boox Nova Air C offers a color e-ink display with a Google Play store, excellent OCR capabilities, USB-C charging, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, stylus support, and a speaker. .
If you want something that doesn’t display color, get the Nova Air 2. The Nova Air 2 also comes with a stylus, dual speakers, a microphone and an open Android system on the Google Play store. The Onyx Boox Nova Air 2’s 7.8-inch display is small, but it’s light and you can pick it up for $340. (opens in new tab).
Maximum value
Kindle Scribe is a great e-reader with minimal note-taking capabilities. You can enjoy e-books and audiobooks in various formats, but the device does not have built-in handwriting recognition. That robs it of its viability as a great writing tablet, but it’s still a much better deal next to the Remarkable 2.
niche device
Remarkable 2 offers the ultimate digital writing experience with a wide range of lighting-centric features. Unfortunately, this device is too expensive for an e-paper tablet that can’t do anything else, so I wouldn’t recommend buying it.
