e-Ink e-Readers with Text-to-speech support

2025. Kindle's firmware updates bring TTS to all users



Amazon has released firmware 5.18.5 for the 11th and 12th generation Kindle, as well as Kindle Scribe and Kindle Colorsoft. It adds Kindle Assistive Reader (now available worldwide) - TTS system that uses natural voice to read books aloud. Kindle doesn't have speakers, but it does have Bluetooth. You can easily connect wireless headphones or earbuds for listening. You can also now change the font size in Kindle user interface (under the "Screen & Brightness" menu in Settings) and there's a new line spacing option: you can now adjust the spacing between paragraphs, words and characters (in addition to lines) under the "Font" tab in the Reading Settings menu ("Aa").


2025. Bigme lanches B6 Color e-Reader with text-to-speech



Bigme has released a new Bigme B6 e-reader with a 6-inch color E Ink screen. It runs on Android (allows to install apps from the Google Play Store, set up various settings and modes for different types of content: magazine, comic, video and default). And now real-time voice translations and text-to-speech are supported. A unique feature of the Bigme B6 is the presence of virtual buttons under the screen, which are not actually part of the E Ink display. This increases the useful area of ​​the screen without taking up part of it. The device has a 2100 mAh battery and supports dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The weight of the device is 176 grams. The price of the reader is just $169

2025. Amazon added and then removed Assistive Reader from Kindle eReaders



Amazon has released a new software update for its 11th and 12th generation Kindle e-readers, which introduced Assistive Reader - function which helps visually impaired people listen to books instead of reading them. It was previously released in Kindle app for iOS and used standard AI-powered voice in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian. Along with reading aloud, each word is highlighted on the screen. For users with low vision, Kindle also had a new way to zoom in on all UI elements, including menus and text. Of course, to listen to the voice on the eInc Kindle, you need to connect Bluetooth headphones. However, it was only available only for a couple of days before Amazon removed it. They disabled the feature remotely from Amazon's servers. Perhaps they found some bugs.


2024. Pocketbook released new Kaleido 3 e-reader Era Color



Pocketbook has introduced the new Era Color e-reader with a 7-inch color screen based on the latest generation of color e-paper Kaleido 3. The screen is ideal for viewing comics, manga and PDF files. In addition, it has improved scratch protection and is waterproof in accordance to the international IPX8 standard. The USB-C port allows you to charge the device and transfer data. You can listen to music via single speaker at the bottom of the reader or connect wireless headphones via Bluetooth. Another useful feature for those who prefer to listen to books is the text-to-speech function, which converts any text into a natural-sounding audio track. Pocketbook pays Adobe a monthly fee for using the Content Server, so you can access Adobe Digital Editions to download e-books in EPUB or PDF formats purchased from other bookstores. Digital Editions can also be used to download books from libraries such as Overdrive. The price of the device is $260.


2023. Bigme introduced its first 7-inch e-note - B751



Bigme has released a new E Ink e-note-reader B751 with a 7-inch display. It is notable for its use of AI for speech-to-text, translation and transcription, stigmatization, chat, text and image generation. Other features include physical page-turning buttons and external OTG port support. The notebook supports accessories such as a keyboard, mouse and headphones. For those who need more space, microSD cards allow to expand the storage up to 1TB. The device includes a standard stylus with pressure sensitivity (4096 levels) and is powered by a 3000 mAh battery. The price is about $240


2023. Pocketbook unveiled Verse e-reader with Text-to-speech



In the far-flung, ever-unpredictable realms of technological innovation, PocketBook has waved its metaphorical wand to conjure up two shiny new e-readers, the Verse and its slightly swankier sibling, the Verse Pro. Both are adorned with 6-inch screens, effectively nudging the erstwhile Touch Lux 5 and Touch HD 3 into the dusty archives of e-reader history. The Verse Pro, however, is the one likely to cause the most raised eyebrows (and possibly jealous glances) at intergalactic book clubs—it not only reads to you aloud with voices so naturally expressive they could pass for a slightly smug linguist, but it does so with the simple magic of a double-click. It’s even IPX8 water-resistant, making it the ideal companion for bathtime existential crises. This marvel of modern storytelling comes at the rather precise Earth currency of $169.99. Meanwhile, the more humble Verse, priced at a breezy $129.99, offers its own set of niceties with an E Ink Carta touchscreen and SMARTlight technology, perfect for those quiet, shadowy corners of the galaxy. Both devices are equipped with MicroSD slots (up to 128GB, should you feel the need to archive the Library of Alexandria), USB-C ports, G-sensors, WiFi, and a tidy 1500 mAh battery. They even share identical dimensions, measuring in at 108 × 156 × 7.6 mm—a size so universal it might just fit into your hyperspace jacket pocket.


2023. iReader Neo e-Readers come with AI for Text-to-speech function



The iReader Neo series, a recent debut in the brand's line-up, is what one might call e-readers with a touch of existential minimalism—they steadfastly eschew note-taking in favor of simply being, well, readers. The range includes two models: the Neo, with a perfectly adequate 212 PPI for everyday existential crises, and the Neo Pro, which flaunts a near-outrageous 300 PPI for those who like their text crisp enough to cut reality itself. At $230, the Neo Pro will set you back $40 more than its contemplative sibling, but both share an Android-powered soul. Their pièce de résistance is a suite of AI wizardry that seems uncannily clever: an intelligent edge-trimming function that tames unruly PDFs, letting you fiddle with fonts, font sizes, and typesetting to your heart’s content. The Neo series even whispers your books aloud with text-to-speech, spruces up contrast, and performs the digital alchemy of one-click PDF watermark removal, ideal for indulging in the visual splendor of magazines and comics. As if that weren’t enough, these devices speak English quite fluently, armed with a dictionary that instantly translates words as if it were an old friend looking over your shoulder. For the linguistically adventurous, there's even a language learning mode with real-time translations, making the Neo series as cosmically clever as an improbability drive in paperback form.


2021. Onyx BOOX Nova Air - 7.8 inch E Ink tablet



The Onyx BOOX Nova Air is a new E Ink tablet featuring a 7.8-inch, 1872 x 1404 pixel E Ink Carta display, support for both finger and stylus input and software based on Android 10. Available for pre-order at $350, the Nova Air can be used for reading eBooks, taking notes, or running third-party applications from the BOOX Store (or sideloading other Android apps from different sources). Onyx claims the BOOX Nova Air supports over 10 different text file formats, as well as JPG, PNG, TIFF and BMP images and WAV and MP3 audio. It also includes text-to-speech functionality, enabling the system to read books aloud through the device’s speakers or headphone jack.


2016. Amazon released Kindle Paperwhite USB Audio Bundle



Amazon introduced a new USB audio package that enables Kindle e-Readers to provide audio cues when navigating menus and offers text-to-speech features for listening to e-books. VoiceView for Kindle, which utilizes Amazon’s natural language text-to-speech voices, also allows visually impaired users to read Kindle books. The USB audio adapter connects to headphones or speakers, enabling users to both listen to and navigate the interface, in addition to enjoying books. Currently, the new adapter is compatible only with the latest generation Kindle Paperwhite. Amazon indicates plans to expand compatibility to other models in the future, such as the Kindle Voyage and Kindle Oasis.


2014. Pocketbook InkPad with Text-to-Speech announced



Ukrainian company Pocketbook has been making e-readers consistently since 2007 and the company has unveiled a new e-Reader - InkPad that seeks to provide more screen area to read on with its giant eight inch display. Its screen is based on E Ink Pearl technology and has the highest screen resolution for such devices – 1600×1200 pixels. High resolution allows you to adjust the font size from the minimum to the maximum without losing definition. A powerful 1GHz CPU and 512MB of RAM provide smooth pages turning and stable use of any application. 4 GB of internal memory expandable up to 32 GB will allow to collect a real library, which is always at your fingertips. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack to listen to audiobooks or music. Pocketbook has integrated Text to Speech in this model, to have books read aloud.