2022 Strategies Unveiled for Audio-Book and E-Reader Brands: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Onyx, and Remarkable Preparing for the Future
## E-Reader and Audiobook Landscape in 2022
In the world of e-readers and audiobooks, 2022 saw a mix of incremental updates and groundbreaking innovations. Amazon made a significant splash with the launch of the Kindle Scribe, the company's first e-Ink device with a pen for note-taking and annotation. The device boasted a large 10.2-inch display, high resolution, and robust annotation tools, enabling users to write in the margins of e-books and Word documents, as well as create separate notebooks[3].
While Amazon's Kindle Scribe was a standout, other brands took a more conservative approach. Kobo, for instance, continued to refine its OverDrive library integration and Pocket support on the Libra 2, a notable release in late 2021 with early 2022 availability. However, there were no major hardware refreshes for Kobo devices in 2022[2].
Barnes & Noble, on the other hand, focused on maintaining its existing lineup, with no significant new devices or features released that year. The lack of audiobook ecosystems on Nook e-readers was a notable absence in 2022.
Tolino, a German e-reader brand, and Bigme, a brand known for color e-Ink devices, also did not announce any globally significant new Tolino devices or English-language-market-specific releases in 2022.
Onyx Boox continued to update its Note Air series with minor hardware revisions and software enhancements, but there were no native audiobook features or significant partnerships announced in 2022.
Remarkable, Supernote, and Bookeen did not release any new hardware devices in 2022, focusing instead on software updates for note-taking and cloud sync. Audiobook support was not a focus for these brands.
Pocketbook entered the scene with the release of the Pocketbook Era, featuring a modern design, USB-C, and improved frontlight. While the device did not introduce major new audiobook features, it did support audiobook playback via the built-in music player.
In terms of trends, color e-Ink remained a technology on the horizon, with no mainstream color e-readers released by major brands in 2022. Audiobook features remained stagnant, mostly limited to proprietary ecosystems and with no major innovations. Note-taking, however, emerged as a growing focus, with Amazon’s Kindle Scribe pushing e-Ink devices further into this territory[3].
Here's a summary table of the 2022 e-reader landscape:
| Brand | Major 2022 Release(s) | Audiobook Features in 2022 | Notes/Highlights | |---------------|-----------------------------|--------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------| | Amazon | Kindle Scribe | Audible, no new features | Pen input, large screen, note-taking | | Kobo | None (Libra 2 in late 2021) | Kobo Store/Kobo Plus only | OverDrive, Pocket integration | | Barnes & Noble| None | None highlighted | Maintained existing lineup | | Tolino | None | Tolino ecosystem only | No global releases | | Bigme | None (global) | Not a focus | Color e-Ink focus | | Onyx Boox | Minor updates | Via Android apps, no native features | Note-taking, app support | | Remarkable | None | None | Digital paper, note-taking | | Supernote | None | None | Handwriting recognition | | Bookeen | None | None | No major updates | | Pocketbook | Pocketbook Era (late 2022) | Music player (no new features) | USB-C, improved frontlight |
[1] Kobo Libra Colour (2025) [2] Kobo Store and Kobo Plus (2022) [3] Kindle Scribe (2022)
- In the realm of smart-home-devices and gadgets, the focus of technology trends in 2022 leaned towards note-taking and cloud sync, with Amazon's Kindle Scribe setting a remarkable example by pushing e-Ink devices further into this territory.
- Meanwhile, market leaders like Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Tolino, Bigme, Onyx Boox, Remarkable, Supernote, Bookeen, and Pocketbook have shown an inclination towards maintaining existing products, focusing on minor hardware revisions, software enhancements, and proprietary audiobook ecosystems, while color e-Ink technology continues to remain on the horizon.
