7 Best Devices for Listening to Audiobooks [My Top Picks]

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While most people rely on their mobile phones for audiobooks, different devices make sense in different situations.

The best part? all major platforms like Audible sync your progress across devices, so you can switch between devices without losing your place.

In this article, I will share 7 best devices for listening to audiobooks, helping you find the perfect one for your needs.

7 Best Devices for Audiobooks

Wondering what device is best for listening to audiobooks? Here are my top recommendations.

1. Smartphone
2. MP3 Player
3. Smartwatch
4. Computer
5. Smart Speaker/ Alexa Devices
6. Kindle E-Reader
7. iPad/ Tablets

1. Smartphone

Best for: Most audiobook listeners

For most people, there is no need of a dedicated device for listening to audiobooks. I use my mobile phone as my primary audiobook device.

Here’s why smartphones are the best devices for listening to audiobooks.

• Access to Multiple Apps & Platforms: You can have different audiobook services apps like Libby, Audible, Chirp, Everand, Apple Books etc which helps you to find the best deals on audiobooks.
• No Need for an Extra Device:Your smartphone can double as an audiobook player, eliminating the need to carry, recharge, or maintain a separate device.
• Offline Listening: Unlike computer or Alexa devices that require a WiFi connection, your phone allows offline audiobook listening. This feature is handy on a planes or areas with no internet access.
• Listen in Your Car: Audible’s Car Mode simplifies playback in your car, supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Android Automotive, and Waze. Just connect via Bluetooth, USB, or an AUX cable and enjoy your audiobooks on your car’s audio system.
• More Features: Audible app offers extra features like a sleep timer, bookmarks, and badges, unavailable on other devices.
• Multitasking: Listen to audiobooks in background while playing games or browsing internet. Most audiobook apps support background playback so you can listen to audiobooks while doing other things.

For most users, smartphone is most convenient and feature-rich audiobook device.

Tip: Choose one of our recommended earbuds to make your audiobook listening experience better.

2. MP3 Player

While I recommend your mobile phone as your primary audiobook device, there are several advantages to having a dedicated MP3 Player for listening to audiobooks.

• Solve Storage Issues: On average, a 10-hour audiobook takes 300 MB of storage space. For avid listeners, your audiobook collection can quickly fill up your phone’s storage. Having a dedicated MP3 Player solves this issue.
• Distraction Free Listening: No social media notifications, calls and texts, or app notifications. This makes it easy to stay focused on audiobooks.
• Save Phone’s Battery Life: If you rely on your phone throughout the day for calls, navigation and other tasks, having a dedicated MP3 player for audiobook helps.
• Kids and Senior Friendly Option: For kids, an MP3 player is a safer alternative to a smartphone ensuring they can enjoy audiobooks without internet access. Seniors who have trouble using smartphones appreciate easy to use MP3 Players.
• Ideal for DRM-Free audiobooks and Older Files: If you have older audiobooks from a personal CD rip, an MP3 player is an ideal way to store them. Some platforms (like Libro.fm, Downpour, and LibriVox) offer DRM-Free audiobooks that you can store and play in MP3 players.

Here are 3 recommended MP3 players for audiobooks.

1. Innioasis MP3 Player

This MP3 player comes with all popular audiobook apps including Audible, Audiobooks.com, Libby, LibriVox, Spotify, and Kindle. It has 160 GB space and memory expansion slot with capacity of up to 1TB.

2. HiBy Android MP3 Player

You can download all major platform apps from Google Play Store. One device to listen to audiobooks and music from all major platforms.

It comes with 32GB internal storage which is expandable up to 2TB via micro SD card.

3. Android MP3 Player

Enjoy audiobooks from all major platforms with 80 GB storage space. You can expand external storage up to 1TB.

3. Smartwatch

Best For: Workout sessions, running, hiking and other outdoor activities.

If you love running, hiking, or working out, a smartwatch lets you enjoy audiobooks without carrying your phone.

Smartwatches are the best devices for audiobooks if you are trying to cut down on your screen time. Control audiobook playback directly from your wrist, no need to take out the phone.

You can download audiobooks for offline listening, smartwatches with cellular connectivity also allow you to stream audiobooks without needing a phone.

Here are some of popular Audible-compatible smartwatches.

Samsung Galaxy Watches

You can listen to Audible books on Galaxy Watches Series 4,5,6, and 7

Install the Audible app from Google Play Store on your Galaxy Watch and sign in with your Amazon/ Audible account and start listening.

Apple Watches

You can listen to Audible books on Apple Watches series 4 and above.

Install the Audible app from App Store and sign in to your account and start listening.

There are several other Audible-compatible watches including the Google Pixel Watch.

• How to listen to Audible on Apple Watch
• Listen to Audible books with Wear OS

4. Computer

Best for: Public places like libraries or student computer labs

If you’re working on a computer with an internet connection and your task doesn’t require full concentration, you can listen to audiobooks in the background.

Most audiobook platforms, including Audible, support playback on computers.

To listen to your Audible books on a PC or Mac:

1. Visit Audible’s website and sign in to your account.
2. Click on Library, then select Listen Now next to the audiobook you want to play.

The book will start playing in Audible’s Cloud Player.

If you’re using a public or shared computer, remember to sign out of your Audible account after listening to audiobooks.

5. Smart Speakers/ Alexa Devices

Best For: Listening while cooking, doing household chores, or for kids, seniors, and visually impaired individuals.

If you’re like me, you prefer not to wear headphones or earbuds while working in the kitchen or doing house chores.

Smart speakers offer hands-free controls—perfect when your hands are messy in the kitchen. Just use voice commands to play, pause, or skip audiobooks.

Alexa devices (and other smart speakers) make perfect audiobook listening devices for seniors and individuals with visual impairment.

Here are 3 of my favorite Alexa devices.

Echo Pop [Most Affordable Option]: Ideal for bedroom, kitchen and small places. Listen to your favorite audiobooks, podcasts, and music on one device. 

Echo Dot Kids [Best for Children]: Comes with easy-to-use parental controls. Set daily time limits and review activities. Alexa automatically gives kid-friendly responses. Listen to audiobooks, bedtime stories, and more

Echo Show 8 [Best for Seniors]: Perfect Alexa device for audiobooks and other audio content because of room-filling Spatial Audio. An 8” HD touch screen and an auto-framing 13 MP camera make it perfect gadget for video calling for older adults.

6. Kindle E-Reader [Audible Compatible]

Best For: Immersion reading—perfect if you enjoy both eBooks and audiobooks.

Kindle is one of the favorite devices for book lover, thanks to its lightweight design, paper-like display, long battery life and access to millions of eBooks.

With Kindle, you can not only listen to Audible books but can also use Whispersync for Voice feature to switch between reading and listening.

When you purchase a Kindle eBook on Amazon, you often get the offer to add Audible narration at discounted price.

In some cases, you can get both eBook and audiobook for less than the audiobook’s price.

Two of my favorite Kindle models are Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Scrible.

Both of the above models are Audible compatible and have many other useful features.

Tip: Kindle Unlimited offers 6,000 free Audible books, discounts on thousands more, and unlimited access to 4 million eBooks

7. iPad/ Tablets

Best for: Multitasking and an easy-to-use device for seniors.

If you love listening to audiobooks while browsing the web, using other apps, or checking emails, an iPad (or other tablets) is a perfect choice.

All major audiobook platforms have dedicated apps for iPads and Android tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab.

I have shared a detailed tutorial on how to listen to Audible books on an iPad that you can check out.

iPad’s large screen makes it perfect audiobook listening device for seniors. They can easily navigate their audiobook libraries and controls the playback.

Here are two of my favorite tablets.

Beyond audiobooks, these tablets are perfect for watching videos, browsing the internet, and playing games or solving puzzles.

I hope you have a clear idea of what device is best for listening to audiobooks in your situation. Also, checkout my recommendations for 15 gift ideas for audiobook lovers.