Most people don't think of Bluetooth when powering up a Kindle e-reader for the first time. After all, most of what a Kindle does is grab new books via Wi-Fi or wired connection. However, Kindles released in 2016 or later include Bluetooth connectivity. This feature lets you connect the ereader to wireless headphones or speakers to listen to audiobooks, or have text read aloud since newer e-readers lack built-in speakers or headphone jacks. Bluetooth also acts as a great accessibility feature alongside Kindle's Voice View, which reads on-screen interface text to help vision-impaired users navigate menus.

Pairing a Bluetooth audio device is straightforward. From the Home screen, tap Library then Downloaded, select an audiobook, and press Play to prompt pairing. Activate your device's pairing mode, tap its name on the Kindle, and the audiobook will play. You can adjust speed, skip chapters, and control volume via the Quick Actions panel. If pairing fails, try rebooting or updating the software.

Kindles don't grant page-turning functionality via Bluetooth. Third-party page turners use radio frequency (RF) technology with a screen clip and wireless remote. You also cannot use Bluetooth to connect a keyboard or transfer files. Despite these limits, Bluetooth remains handy for Audible audiobooks and the Assistive Reader text-to-speech feature for Kindle store books.