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Audible Launches 'Read & Listen' in the U.S., Adding Synchronized Text to Audiobooks

Use is limited to customers who hold both formats for a given title.

Overview

  • The Audible app now displays real-time, word-by-word text that stays in sync with audiobook narration, with one-tap switching between listen and read-along modes.
  • The feature is live in the United States today and is scheduled to reach the United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany on March 18, 2026.
  • Audible says hundreds of thousands of eligible titles are available across English, German, Spanish, Italian, and French at launch.
  • The app identifies matching e-books in a user's Kindle library and presents discounted audiobooks to customers who already own the e-book.
  • Audible reports users who read and listen finish nearly twice as much content monthly, and the company is testing direct physical-book purchases through Amazon.