With the Storytel Reader you can read and listen to books from Storytel. You can read in our Storytel Reader review whether that offers an advantage compared to the app.
Storytel Reader review
Storytel has become one of the best-known names in the Netherlands when it comes to audiobooks, but with the subscription service you can also read ebooks. To make reading these books a bit more pleasant, the Storytel Reader is now for sale. An e-reader especially for your Storytel subscription.
The Storytel Reader is actually not new. The device was already released in 2018, but only now available in the Netherlands. That’s not a big problem. Unlike smartphones, e-readers don’t need an annual design update with better hardware. More speed is hardly helpful if you’re staring at a page of letters 95 percent of the time.
The Storytel Reader is a cheerful looking device. This is mainly due to the striking orange button on the front, which is also reflected in the logo on the back. A strange choice is that you do not wake up the e-reader via this button, but via the small, hidden button at the top.
Read
You can of course read books on the screen of your iPhone or iPad via the Storytel app, but an e-reader offers several advantages. For example, reading on an e-reader is much more pleasant for your eyes. It’s like looking at a physical book instead of a bright display. The screen is also matte, so you can read outdoors without any problems and see everything clearly.
In addition, the big advantage is that you are not distracted. Taking the time to dive into a book is hard, but when the book on your phone has to compete with all kinds of notifications, apps and messages, it’s almost impossible to keep your concentration. The fact that the battery also lasts much longer is of course a bonus.
Pages can be turned with Storytel Reader by tapping the screen or using the side buttons. The e-reader has built-in light, so you can read well even without ideal lighting conditions.
Listen
While most e-readers end there, the Storytel Reader takes it one step further. Storytel is primarily a service for audiobooks and that is why you can also listen to them via the e-reader. There is no speaker in the device, but you can connect headphones via bluetooth or a 3.5mm jack (they still exist).
While listening, you have all the functions that you will also find in the app. You can adjust the speed of the book, enable a sleep timer, adjust the volume and much more. With these menus you quickly run into the limitations of an e-reader: everything is a bit slow.
While listening, the Stortytel Reader also clearly does not offer the benefits that you experience while reading. It works fine and you can listen well with your headphones on, but you can do that much better via the app. You can take your smartphone with you wherever you go, so you can continue to listen to your books on the go. The Storytel Reader does not just fit in your pocket and is simply not that handy.
Find
The Storytel Reader is therefore especially interesting to read, but on Storytel a surprising number of books are only available as audiobooks. You can upload epub files yourself via the Storytel website to add your own books, but you can only do that if you have a Storytel subscription.
Unfortunately, the e-reader is not very good at making it clear what Storytel’s offer is. Via the search function you can browse through top lists and categories or view new books. But that is per six books, with poorly visible covers. So it’s better to grab the app if you’re looking for a new book.
Conclusion Storytel Reader review
Reading on the Storytel Reader is much nicer than reading on your iPhone or iPad. With a good combination of touchscreen, physical buttons and nice light, you can comfortably and without distraction read your favorite books everywhere.
If you would like to browse through the words yourself and if Storytel’s offer appeals to you, then you definitely won’t go wrong with this. Do you mainly listen to your books? Then the Storytel app remains a much more convenient and cheaper solution.
Cost
To use the Storytel Reader, you need a Storytel subscription. For 12.99 per month you can listen and read unlimited. The Storytel Reader is for sale via Coolblue for 129 euros. A protective cover is available separately for 19.99 euros.