Page to playback: Spotify reinvents how we switch between books and audio

Spotify is preparing to blur the lines between traditional reading and audio listening with a new feature designed to seamlessly connect physical books and audiobooks. Called Page Match, the tool will allow users to move between reading a printed book and listening to its audiobook version without losing their place.

The feature works by letting users take a photo of a page from a physical book. Spotify then analyzes the image and matches it to the exact corresponding point in the audiobook, enabling listeners to resume playback precisely where they stopped reading. The syncing also works in reverse – users listening to an audiobook can check which page they are on in the physical copy, making it easy to switch formats at any time.

Page Match was discovered hidden within the code of Spotify’s latest app update, indicating that the feature is still under active development and not yet live for users. Once launched, it will require users to own or have access to the audiobook on Spotify and will only be available in regions where Spotify’s audiobook service is supported.

While Amazon already offers a similar syncing option, its feature is limited to audiobooks and ebooks within its own ecosystem. Spotify’s approach stands out by focusing specifically on physical books, potentially appealing to readers who prefer print but want the flexibility of audio. Although Spotify has not announced an official release date, Page Match is expected to roll out in a future app update.