Amazon
Kindle Scribe (2024)
$399.99Cheaper
Released 2024-12
Best E Ink Tablets · head-to-head
Kindle Scribe (2024) vs Boox Note Air5 C
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Kindle Scribe (2024) is cheaper at $399.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Onyx Boox
Boox Note Air5 C
$499.99
Released 2025-10
Which is better: the Kindle Scribe (2024) or Boox Note Air5 C?
The Boox Note Air5 C wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Kindle Scribe (2024) is the cheaper at $399.99. Get the Boox Note Air5 C for the stronger spec sheet, the Kindle Scribe (2024) to spend less.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices verified at capture; live price may differ.
Key specs, head to head
The numbers that decide it, drawn to scale — longer bar wins, the accent bar is the stronger figure.
Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Kindle Scribe (2024) | Boox Note Air5 C |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $399.99 | $499.99 |
| Brand | Amazon | Onyx Boox |
| Released | 2024-12 | 2025-10 |
| Screen size (in) | 10.2 | 10.3 |
| Ppi | 300 | 300 |
| Storage (GB) | 16 | 64 |
| Color display | No | Yes |
| Front light | Yes | Yes |
| Pen included | Yes | Yes |
| Waterproof | No | No |
| Battery weeks | 12 | — |
Sources — Kindle Scribe (2024): amazon.com (verified 2026-07-11). Boox Note Air5 C: shop.boox.com (verified 2026-07-11).
What's the difference between the Kindle Scribe (2024) and Boox Note Air5 C?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (3 of 8). Matching specs are omitted.
- Screen size (in): Kindle Scribe (2024) 10.2 vs Boox Note Air5 C 10.3
- Storage (GB): Kindle Scribe (2024) 16 vs Boox Note Air5 C 64
- Color display: Kindle Scribe (2024) false vs Boox Note Air5 C true
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Kindle Scribe (2024)
Three hands-on testers — TechRadar, Tom's Guide and Engadget — agree the 2024 Kindle Scribe is the best big-screen E Ink e-reader and a much-improved writing tablet, with handwriting-recognition AI that works better than expected. All three flag the $60 price hike to $399, and note that annotating books (Active Canvas) still feels awkward or buggy. No Verge or PCMag review was captured. (3 sourced reviews, 3 lab-tested.)
Praised: Best-in-class E Ink reading: sharp 300ppi 10.2-inch screen, roomy and comfortable to read on; Handwriting-recognition AI works impressively well on messy scrawl; Redesigned Premium Pen now included standard, comfortable to write and erase with.
Flagged: $60 price increase to $399 is hard to justify — now costs about as much as an iPad; Writing/annotating on books (Active Canvas) still feels awkward and can be buggy; AI features are slow because every request is a cloud round-trip.
Boox Note Air5 C
Two whitelisted testers reviewed this exact model: TechRadar (lab-tested, benchmarked) and Digital Trends (hands-on, no measurements). Both praise the Pen 3 writing/note-taking experience and Android 15's open Play Store ecosystem, and rate it strong value against the pricier Kindle Scribe. TechRadar flags typing lag, heavy 440g weight, weak battery life, and muted colors; deep-lab outlets like RTINGS are absent. (2 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Pen 3 writing/note-taking experience is among the best, with paper-like friction; Runs full Android 15 with an open Play Store app ecosystem and versatility; Strong value versus the pricier Kindle Scribe / reMarkable Paper Pro.
Flagged: Noticeable typing lag on both the on-screen and physical keyboard folio; Disappointing battery life for an Android e-notebook; Heavy (440g); uncomfortable for long one-handed use.