Days after Spotify’s entry into physical book sales with an audiobook feature that syncs listening and offline reading progress, Audible, an Amazon company, has introduced a feature that merges e-books and audiobooks.
On Wednesday, Audible unveiled an “immersion reading” feature in its app that lets users who possess both e-book and audiobook versions of a title to read the e-book text while listening to audio. This feature allows format switching across devices, and the text is highlighted in sync with narration in the “Read & Listen” mode.
Previously, the Kindle app allowed users to switch between Audible and e-book versions, provided both were purchased. This feature is now integrated into the Audible app. Users need both versions of the book, but can access discounted audiobooks when owning the matching e-book.
The new “Read & Listen” feature supports hundreds of thousands of titles in languages like English, German, Spanish, Italian, and French. Initially available in the U.S., it will extend to the U.K., Australia, and Germany soon.
Audible will identify Kindle e-books with audiobook matches. Despite Alexa’s ability to narrate Kindle library e-books, it lacks professional narration quality. Offering audiobooks at a discounted price with e-book purchases aims to increase cross-format sales.
Research shows that combining reading and listening enhances focus and comprehension. Customers who read and listen consume nearly twice as much content monthly as those using audiobooks only, according to Audible.
The feature suits students, language learners, and anyone wishing to consume more books quickly. It’s also valuable for those frequently switching between reading and listening or enjoying narration by favorite voice actors. Additionally, narrators can introduce characters by name, aiding in pronunciation—important for fantasy novels.
Andy Tsao, Audible’s chief product officer, stated, “Audiobooks count as reading… Read & Listen gives book lovers the best of both worlds,” emphasizing the versatility of engaging with content across formats.
Amazon clarifies that the feature will not affect publishers’ royalty payments.