Spotify is testing a new feature called Page Match that could allow listeners to sync audiobooks with physical books, making it easier to switch between reading on paper and listening without losing their place.
According to Android Authority, Page Match is designed to sync progress across paper books, ebooks, and audiobooks. If you are reading a physical book and want to switch to audio, you could scan the page you are on using your phone’s camera.
The feature uses optical character recognition (OCR) to identify the text and jump the audiobookto the corresponding section. What’s impressive is that Spotify’s code suggests that the feature would also work in reverse, showing the page number that matches your current audiobook position.
How Spotify could change audiobook listening
Page Match would require users to own both the audiobook on Spotify and either a paper or an ebook version of the same title. With this feature, you won’t have to search through audiobooks to find the right chapter or paragraph.
However, differences between book editions could complicate things, and it is not yet clear how Spotify would tackle it. Spotify will also prompt users to scan a nearby page if it cannot confidently identify the text, suggesting the OCR system is still being refined.
Amazon already offers a similar feature called Whispersync for Voice, but it is limited to syncing Audible audiobooks with Kindle ebooks. It does not support physical books or ebooks from other platforms.
That is where Spotify’s approach could stand out, especially for readers who like switching between formats while commuting, cooking, or doing chores. However, Page Match has not been officially announced, and there is no guarantee when or if it would be rolled out publicly.
If Page Match launches, it could quietly solve one of the biggest annoyances in audiobook listening by letting people move naturally between reading and listening without breaking their flow.
While Spotify has recently increased the price of its Premium subscription, it has also been rolling out new features, including tools that make your listening activity more visible to friends and Prompted Playlists that let you tell the app exactly what kind of music you want to hear.