Amazon debuts redesigned Kindle Scribe, including a color version with AI

At its annual fall hardware event on Tuesday, Amazon introduced two major updates to its Kindle lineup: a redesigned Kindle Scribe and the company’s first-ever color e-reader, the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft. Both devices mark a push toward blending the familiar paper-like Kindle experience with new AI-powered features.

A Bigger, Faster Kindle Scribe

The updated Kindle Scribe features an 11-inch glare-free display, measures just 5.4mm thick, and weighs 400 grams. Amazon says it’s now 40% faster when writing or turning pages, thanks to a new quad-core chip, additional memory, and the company’s latest Oxide display technology.

To make digital writing feel more natural, Amazon developed a texture-molded glass surface that increases friction when the pen glides across the screen, simulating the feel of writing on paper.

The new Kindle Scribe will come in two versions:

• With front light – launching later this year in the U.S., starting at $499.99.
• Without front light – launching early next year, starting at $429.99.

Introducing Kindle Scribe Colorsoft

The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is Amazon’s first Kindle with color capabilities, designed with eye-friendly display technology that produces soft tones without the glare and strain of LCD screens.

Key features include:

• New rendering engine for faster, more natural writing.
• Weeks of battery life, despite its color display.
• Support for 10 pen colors and 5 highlighter colors.
• A new shader tool that allows artists to create smooth gradients and subtle tones.

The Colorsoft will be available later this year starting at $629.99.

Smarter Note-Taking and Reading With AI

Both new devices are built with a stronger focus on handwritten notes and AI features:

• Users can search across all notebooks and generate AI summaries of their notes.
• Beginning next year, users will be able to send notes and documents to Alexa+, enabling interactive conversations about their content.
• A new Home experience makes it easier to jump into recently opened books, documents, or notebooks.

On the reading side, Amazon is introducing new AI-powered tools:

• “Story So Far” provides spoiler-free recaps of books to help readers pick up where they left off.
• “Ask This Book” lets users highlight passages and get context-driven answers about characters, themes, or events.

These AI reading features will roll out first on the Kindle iOS app later this year, before coming to Kindle devices in early 2026.

A Step Forward for Kindle

For nearly two decades, Kindle has dominated the e-reader market with its focus on distraction-free reading. With the new Scribe and Colorsoft, Amazon is signaling a shift: Kindle isn’t just for reading—it’s becoming a smarter, more versatile workspace for notes, study, and creativity.

With prices ranging from $429 to $629, Amazon is positioning these devices as premium e-readers that go beyond novels, catering to students, professionals, and creatives alike.