This old Kindle model could be getting a free upgrade soon

When Amazon launched its new Kindle Scribe models last year, two features that really stood out were the redesigned home screen and the new cloud storage integrations that let you connect your Scribe directly to Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive.

However, one key question remains unanswered about these features: will owners of the 2022 or 2024 Kindle Scribe also receive the new home screen and cloud integrations via a software update? Or will they remain exclusive to the 2025 models, including the new Kindle Scribe Colorsoft?

Unfortunately, Amazon has not yet confirmed whether the new home screen or cloud integrations will be rolled out to older models. But there’s at least a reason to be optimistic that it will.

According to a report from Good E-Reader, Amazon has recently begun emailing owners of the first-generation (2022) Kindle Scribe in the EU, notifying them of a major software update coming soon that will fix bugs and add new features to their device.

The full email reads (translated from French to English): “Hello, Amazon regularly updates the internal software of its devices to improve your experience. Your Kindle’s operating system and other pre-installed software automatically receive updates via the internet. We would like to inform you that a new update will be available for your Kindle. This update will enhance security and performance, include bug fixes, and introduce new features. In this update, the software will be upgraded from version 5.19.1 to 5.19.2 or later. This update is 390 MB.”

What this Kindle Scribe update includes is unclear

There’s no word on whether it will come to the 2024 Scribe either

While the email Amazon is sending to 2022 Kindle Scribe owners is encouraging, it’s still pretty light on specifics. The company says the update will introduce “new features,” but doesn’t specify what they are. It could be the new home screen design and cloud integrations found on the 2025 Scribe models, but that’s not confirmed.

According to reports on Reddit, it seems like 2022 Kindle Scribe owners in France received the email, but there is no word on 2024 Scribe owners receiving it, or users in the US. It’s hard to imagine Amazon giving the older 2022 Scribe a major update while leaving the 2024 version out — or limiting it to one region — so it’ll be interesting to see how this plays out once the update actually releases.

As for timing, based on the email Amazon is sending out, it sounds like the update could arrive any day now.

The Kindle Scribe is for more than just reading

Amazon has now launched three generations of Kindle Scribes

Amazon launched its first-generation Kindle Scribe in 2022, featuring a 10.2-inch glare-free E Ink display designed for note-taking, journaling, and editing PDFs. Thanks to its larger screen, it’s also well suited for reading textbooks and encyclopedias. Of course, it’s a Kindle, so you can read lots of books on it as well. In 2024, Amazon refreshed the Kindle Scribe for the first time, introducing a more paper-like screen and an improved stylus.

In late 2025, Amazon refreshed the Kindle Scribe with a major overhaul, completely changing the design by reducing bezel size and weight, making it more like an iPad. It also released the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, the first-ever Scribe with a color screen.

Amazon’s latest Kindle Scribe starts at $500, and a cheaper model without a frontlight is coming soon for $420. That said, the 2024 Kindle Scribe is much cheaper, and you can get one for as low as $250 if you opt for a Like-New model. With that in mind, I think it’s completely understandable that anyone buying them, or anyone who already has one, hopes that some of the newest features on the 2025 Scribe will trickle down to the older models, which are cheaper and more accessible.