A major breakthrough in technology, pen readers are portable devices that read the text in front of you aloud as you scan. Here are our top 8 picks.
Useful for both dyslexics and foreign language learners, reading pens and translator pens have become all the rage among various groups of people. The basic idea behind these tech gems is that you place the device over a line of text, slide it from left to right, and the device reads the words back to you in real time. It’s all possible due to current optical character recognition (OCR) and text-to-speech technology.
In addition to easing the frustrations of dyslexia, OCR technology can significantly increase your reading comprehension. Since this piece of assistive technology is so useful and popular both among people with reading difficulties and others, it’s only logical for these pens to come from various brands. In fact, there’s a whole host of companies that are putting out pen readers nowadays. Hence, we’ve decided to make a concise list of the best reading pens so that you can compare and contrast more easily.
The Top 8 Pen Readers of 2023
Of course, pen scanners are assistive gadgets for people with learning disabilities like dyslexia, impaired vision, ADHD, and others. Still, they are rather useful for others as well. From people learning a new language to those who want to swiftly brush through a document and hear it read aloud instead of reading it—these devices are perfect.
Most scanning pens double as language translators, have human-like digital voices, have compatibility with iPhones, Androids, and Windows devices alike, offer voice memos, etc. However, with so many features among them, it can get pretty hard to pick the one for you. In fact, you’ll probably lose more time while browsing them than scanning and reading 1,000 pages of text.
C-Pen Reader 2
A list about scanning pens would be seriously lacking if we didn’t mention the ReaderPen from C-Pen. Besides reading text aloud, it has a built-in dictionary, which doesn’t require a Wi-Fi connection. Moreover, it can store scanned text on your computer through a USB cable. It also has a 3.5 mm earphone jack, rechargeable battery, voice recorder for memos, and it recognizes English, Spanish, and French.
OrCam Read
Another heavy-hitter on this list, the OrCam Read, is one of the most popular scanner devices out there. The OrCam Read has a full-page capture mode that scans everything, which is unlike the rest of its competition. Next up, it also has laser guidance, a digital highlighter for reading in the dark, voice control, and it’s simple to use.
NEWYES
The NEWYES’ Scan Reader Pen comes in two models — the pro version and the classic. Still, the difference between them is minor with the price of the pro one is only $10 higher. Therefore, we’ll focus on the more premium model. What makes it a perfect fit for our list is that it has a translator that can be used with up to 112 languages. It can scan 55 languages, but it can translate up to 112. It’s fast, has a built-in dictionary, has an offline mode, works with PCs and Macs, and even has Bluetooth.
Scanmarker Air
The fourth choice on our list is Scanmarker Air. This is another great scanning pen device that works seamlessly with PCs and Macs. All you have to do is download the Scanmarker App onto your smartphone and the text you scanned will be saved there. You can also listen to the text thanks to its TTS feature, and you can translate the scanned text into over 70 different languages. Most importantly, Scanmarker Air doesn’t care about the holding angle—it will scan accurately from any position.
WorldPen Scan Go
Next up, we’ve got WorldPen Scan Go. Although the WorldPen Scan Go is not as popular of a scanning pen, we have no doubt it will gain popularity in the coming years. Why? Well, it has everything and for a reasonable price. The WorldPen Scan Go can handle text-to-speech and speech to text functions at the same time. It can also translate to over 55 languages, with full-on French, Chinese, and Spanish dictionaries, as well as works both with Wi-Fi and offline.
Rocket Pen Reader
Just like the others on this list, the Rocket Pen Reader is a fantastic tool for both you or your dyslexic child. With a playback text-to-speech feature, no text will be too hard for you to read or comprehend. It’s an upgrade from what we’ve seen before from this brand, as it’s now a translator, text scanner, and a TTS device all in one. And the best part—you can purchase it from Amazon for a reasonable price at any time.
Vormor X7
Similarly to the WorldPen Scan Go, we can’t help but wonder why this pen for dyslexia isn’t as popular as some others because it has so much to offer. From fast translation, word meanings, text to speech, and connectivity with both iOS and Android devices, the Vormor X7 is a stunning piece of assistive technology that’s practically two clicks away from you on Amazon.
Svantto Pen Scanner
Lastly, we should mention the Svantto Pen Scanner. This is a simple-to-use scanner device with an interactive display that’s pretty precise in its interpretation of printed words it scans. It’s light and can translate text that you place under its scanner. Additionally, the pen features a headphones jack and a USB connector. Just like the rest of the devices on this list, you should seriously consider it if you’re looking to purchase a pen reader for dyslexia or some other purpose.
Additional Available Support for Dyslexics
Sure enough, pen readers and scanners are great tools for those with dyslexia, ADHD, or impaired vision. However, they aren’t the only type of assistive technology out there. Text-to-speech apps and browser plug-ins are present as well and in various instances, are even better choices.
A perfect example of TTS technology is Speechify—one of the most popular text-to-speech apps out there. Utilizing artificial intelligence, machine learning, and optical character recognition, Speechify can turn any text into speech. In fact, the app can even turn printed or handwritten notes into an audio file, ensuring a seamless listening experience for those that are dyslexic or struggle with another reading difficulty.
Try Speechify for free today to see first-hand how it can transform your reading experience.
FAQs
Is there a pen that reads text dyslexia?
Yes, there are a variety of options when looking for a reading pen for visually impaired people. The C-Pen, OrCam Read, and ScanMarker Air are just a few of them.
What are the benefits of the pen that reads text dyslexia?
Reading pens can help with deciphering difficult or lengthy words more easily, increase reading speed, and even help define unfamiliar words to the reader.
