In this chaotic and never-pausing world, it’s not always possible to take some time out for yourself and get to read a book. And that’s where audiobooks come in handy.
They can be listened to anywhere, whether you’re on a train, or driving to someplace, or doing some chores.
And there are several other advantages of listening to audiobooks. Sometimes you can hear the author narrate their own book, bringing a personal touch to their words.
Or sometimes, they’re dramatized, as if listening to a movie, in audio format. There are numerous ways in which audiobooks can be enjoyed as much, if not more, as physical books.
Now, a question that might occur to many of you: which device to use to listen to audiobooks? And that’s why this article.
Before we look into the different types of devices, a simple and economical option is to use your smartphone for listening to audiobooks.
Most audiobook platforms like Audible and Audiobooks.com have their iOS and Android applications that you can simply download on your phone.
There are different public library platforms as well, such as Librivox, that offer free audiobooks, and whose apps you can find as well.
Features to Look Out For
With all that being said, let’s first look at the different characteristics to look out for in a device using which you can listen to audiobooks.
1. Storage
An audiobook can take up space anywhere from 100 MB to 10 GB, and perhaps even more. It all depends on the quality and length of the audiobook in question.
Therefore, you should be looking for devices with ample storage space so you don’t have to face any issues later.
2. Portability
It’s another important factor to consider since you don’t want your bags or pockets to be heavy or stuffed by your device.
Therefore, a smaller device size having a lightweight is generally advisable, unless you have a preference for larger screens.
3. Audio Quality
You don’t want anything to come between the audio and you, right? And therefore, you need to consider the audio quality of the device for a premium and seamless listening experience.
4. Battery
Audiobooks can have a runtime of a mere half an hour to even 60-70 hours or more. And therefore, you should look out for a device that can operate for long hours by not draining the battery quickly.
5. File Compatibility
An audiobook file can have an array of extensions: .wav, .mp3, .aac, and more. While you can interconvert one file format to another, it’s always desirable to have a device that can support different extensions.
6. Connectivity
Having Bluetooth and Wifi connectivity means you can share and download audio files easily. This is why it’s more convenient to have different connectivity options available on your device.
Best Devices for Audiobooks
There are different products available for you to choose from. All of them have a different set of features and benefits, so choose wisely and as per your preferences:
1. Kindle Paperwhite
Thin and light, Kindle devices are easily one of the best e-readers in the market for a long time now. Add to it the enormous Kindle catalog of books, and it’s the perfect device for readers.
But if you thought those devices are just for ebooks, think again. Because you can listen to audiobooks on the device too.
All you need is a speaker or a pair of earbuds that can connect via a Bluetooth connection and you’re good to go.
These devices are perfect for usage during any time of the day and have a long-lasting battery that’ll ensure uninterrupted reading or listening for as long as you want.
Although storage might be a concern, as many Kindle devices have a memory of 8 GB, you can overcome that by either upgrading your model or keeping only one audiobook in your device at a time.
2. AGPTEK A02 Music Player
With just 5 operation buttons, it’s got a minimalistic aesthetic look while also having an easy functionality that works for it.
With an 8 GB internal memory, and an option to insert an SD card by which you can extend the memory up to 128 GB.
It offers HiFi audio quality that provides lossless sound for any track. It also offers 70 hours of listening after just one charging session.
It is very lightweight, making it perfect for use while jogging or performing some other workout routine.
It’s also compatible with all sorts of audio file extensions so that you don’t have to worry about converting one file to another. With a shock-absorbent surface, it is also resistant to most damage.
3. Sony NW-A50 Walkman
With some top-notch sound quality and the brand assurance of Sony, this product is a great option for a device to listen to audiobooks. Despite it not having any Wifi connectivity, it’s still a great option to play any local files.
As there aren’t any apps to use and other functionalities to navigate through, it’s extremely simple to use and uncluttered.
It also has an ambient sound option that allows the listener to be aware of their surroundings while listening to something.
The NFC One-Touch feature offers quick and secure Bluetooth connectivity, and the battery lasts for up to 45 hours of continuous playback time after one session of charging.
It also provides 16 GB of internal memory that can be further expanded with a memory chip.
4. Smart Gadgets
From Google Home to Amazon Echo to Apple HomeKit, smart devices and speakers and other products have taken over the world by storm in the past few years.
So why not use these devices for listening to audiobooks?
It’s easy to connect your Audible account to your Amazon smart speakers and applications, and you can use them to listen to different audiobooks and even e-books in your Kindle library (without having to download their audiobooks).
One of the setbacks of these devices can be their portability, but many smart gadgets are easily portable too, after connecting to a Bluetooth headset.
They’re convenient, can be used for multiple other purposes, and offer a smart way to listen to your audiobooks.
They’re easy to operate and offer complete hands-free control so that you can easily navigate while doing some other task.
5. iPod Touch
Incredibly portable because of its small size and less weight, iPod Touch can be used to listen to audiobooks while performing an array of activities.
With the premium quality of Apple products, it’s certain to last long and offers an easy and interactive interface, perfect for all kinds of users, be it a beginner or an expert.
It doesn’t include too many features and options, thus making sure it does best what it’s supposed to do: play music and/or audiobooks in a quality manner.
Despite its small size, it has a considerable storage capacity of up to 256 GB, which lets you store as many audiobooks as you’d like to.
The App Store has some of the most unique apps in the digital ecosystem that allows you to perform a whole bunch of other things on the device.
The touch screen is responsive and easy to use, and the battery capacity provides long hours of listening time without any interruptions whatsoever.
6. Soulcker D16 16GB Lossless MP3 Player
Offering compatibility to various file extensions including .txt that allows you to read any text file, this Soulcker device is perfect for listening to audio files with its lossless technology.
Outside of being an mp3 player, it also has an FM radio, a voice recorder, a file manager, and a gallery using which you can look at pictures and videos in your collection as well.
With premium sound quality and a 55 hours long playback time, it’s an optimal device for listening to audiobooks. With a seamless performance and easy operations, it’s handy for a lot of purposes.
The only issue might be the presence of buttons for performing any functions, which might not be preferable to some. But other than that, it’s a great device, perfect for listening to long hours of audiobooks.
Conclusion
I hope that, by now, you’ve found something that appeals to your sensibilities and meets your criteria. Make sure to look out for different features that you’d like for your audiobook device to have, and select accordingly.
It’s crucial that you give more weightage to features such as storage, battery, and audio quality over the display and looks of the device, as the primary reason remains listening to audiobooks, and not using it as a phone.
And if nothing else, you can always use your smartphones, download an audiobook app, and get going!
