Barnes and Noble to Launch New NOOK E-Readers in the Year 2026
Barnes & Noble Unveils Plans for New NOOK E-Readers in 2026
Barnes & Noble, the iconic bookstore chain, has announced plans to release new NOOK e-readers in 2026, with a focus on enhancing accessibility and expanding beyond just e-books.
The new NOOK devices are anticipated to support audiobooks, a feature currently available only on the NOOK Glowlight 4 Plus. This expansion aligns with Barnes & Noble's priority of making reading more accessible to everyone.
In terms of display technology, the new NOOK e-readers are expected to feature a combination of black-and-white e-ink displays and color e-ink screens. The inclusion of color E Ink technology, such as Kaleido or Gallery, would be a significant advancement, making NOOK a strong competitor to devices like Kobo Elipsa or Kindle Scribe.
The new devices may also feature markup capabilities, allowing readers to annotate or make notes directly on their books. This could potentially position NOOK as a competitor to devices that support stylus input and note-taking features.
The new NOOK e-readers are expected to come with upgraded processors for faster performance, extended battery life, higher resolution and better contrast displays, warm light adjustment for night reading comfort, and faster refresh rates for smoother usability and page turns.
Barnes & Noble is expected to release at least two models: a black-and-white e-reader, possibly the NOOK Glowlight 5 Plus or Nook Glowlight Color, and a color e-reader, both potentially supporting audiobooks and markup features.
Jennifer Perry, the new head of NOOK e-readers and digital services at Barnes & Noble, discussed the new NOOK at the 43-minute mark in a recent video. Michael Kozlowski, who has been writing about audiobooks, e-books, and e-readers for the past eighteen years, has also been covering the development of the new NOOK devices.
Michael Kozlowski resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
With these new features and advancements, Barnes & Noble seems to be preparing its answer to the Kindle Scribe or Kobo Elipsa with the new NOOK e-readers. Stay tuned for more updates as we approach 2026.
The new NOOK e-readers, among Barnes & Noble's upcoming gadgets, are projected to challenge popular devices like Kindle Scribe or Kobo Elipsa due to their anticipated features such as audiobook support, color E Ink technology, and markup capabilities. Smartphone users might consider switching to these new NOOK devices as they aim to deliver improved accessibility, enhanced display technology, and faster performance.
