Sol Reader First Edition
Discontinued · United States ·
Sol Reader is an e-reader worn like glasses: two 1.3 inch E Ink screens, one per eye, and 104 g. Sindarin claims 25 hours per charge, and discontinued it in September 2026.
Specifications
| Field | Value | How we know |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | OFFICIALSindarin (Sol Reader) | How we know: Sindarin, Inc. |
| Category | OFFICIALOther | How we know: Sindarin, Inc. |
| Form factor | OFFICIALGlasses frame | How we know: Sindarin, Inc. |
| Status | OFFICIALDiscontinued | How we know: Sindarin, Inc. |
| Maker country | OFFICIALUnited States | How we know: Sindarin, Inc. |
| Release | We have not checked | How we know: OPEN QUESTION |
| Announcement | OFFICIALJun 08, 2023 | How we know: Sindarin, Inc. |
| Display type | OFFICIALDual 1.3 inch side-lit E Ink pancake-optic displays | How we know: Sindarin, Inc.[1] |
| Display color | OFFICIALA single color, not green | How we know: Sindarin, Inc. |
| Resolution | We have not checked | How we know: OPEN QUESTION |
| Field of view | We have not checked | How we know: OPEN QUESTION |
| Brightness | We have not checked | How we know: OPEN QUESTION |
| Image in both eyes | OFFICIALYes | How we know: Sindarin, Inc. |
| Camera | We have not checked | How we know: OPEN QUESTION |
| Video | We have not checked | How we know: OPEN QUESTION |
| Microphones | We have not checked | How we know: OPEN QUESTION |
| Speakers | We have not checked | How we know: OPEN QUESTION |
| Wi-Fi | We have not checked | How we know: OPEN QUESTION |
| Bluetooth | OFFICIALBluetooth (exact version not published by Sindarin) | How we know: Sindarin, Inc.[2] |
| Chip | OFFICIAL240MHz, 2-core processor | How we know: Sindarin, Inc.[3] |
| Memory | OFFICIAL8 MB | How we know: Sindarin, Inc. |
| Storage | OFFICIAL0 GB | How we know: Sindarin, Inc. |
| System | OFFICIALProprietary firmware (not Android or another named OS) | How we know: Sindarin, Inc.[4] |
| Developer access | OFFICIALClosed to third parties | How we know: Sindarin, Inc. |
| Prescription lenses | OFFICIALYes | How we know: Sindarin, Inc. |
| Battery | OFFICIAL470 mAh | How we know: Sindarin, Inc. |
| Claimed battery life | OFFICIAL25 h | How we know: Sindarin, Inc. |
| Weight | OFFICIAL104 g | How we know: Sindarin, Inc. |
| Water protection | We have not checked | How we know: OPEN QUESTION |
| Price | We have not checked | How we know: OPEN QUESTION |
Notes
- 1.Display type. Dual 1.3 inch side-lit E Ink pancake-optic displays, one per eye, with circular polarizers and transflective film; adjustable focus 0 to -5.75 diopter per eye, IPD adjustment 58-72mm, ambient light sensor for automatic brightness [OFFICIAL, solreader.com and solreader.com/technical-specs, fetched 2026-09-06]. Described independently as a VR-goggle-style headset worn over the eyes, resembling a pair of sunglasses with side-lit E Ink lenses [New Atlas, 2024-01-06; TechCrunch, 2023-06-09].
- 2.Bluetooth. Bluetooth (exact version not published by Sindarin); pairs to the Sol iOS/Android companion app for book sync and to a handheld Bluetooth remote for page navigation [OFFICIAL, solreader.com; TechCrunch, 2023-06-09]. Also described as having Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity in an early spec extract, but no WiFi radio or chipset is named anywhere in the official technical-specs page, so wifi is left null here.
- 3.Chip. 240MHz, 2-core processor [OFFICIAL, solreader.com/technical-specs, fetched 2026-09-06]
- 4.System. Proprietary firmware (not Android or another named OS); supports ~100 Sol-processed books simultaneously in its 64MB of storage [OFFICIAL, solreader.com/technical-specs, fetched 2026-09-06]
US$350 at the preorder in June 2023, per TechCrunch. Later reviews cite US$399.99 at Good e-Reader in 2024 and US$399 at Previewer in 2025. The store now marks it discontinued, with no price.
What we measured in the lab
We did not measure this device in the lab.
Our review
For
- Sindarin says each eyepiece adjusts from 0 to minus 5.75 diopters, built into the frame.
- Previewer says the E Ink screens read closer to paper, with less eye strain than a tablet.
- Sindarin claims 25 hours of reading per charge, which Previewer says covers several sessions.
- Good e-Reader praises the built-in bookstore and DRM-free EPUB sideloading in the app.
- Sindarin says it will keep its servers and the desktop upload app running through 2026.
Against
- Sindarin never opened a third-party app SDK: this is a closed, single-purpose reader.
- Good e-Reader found poor battery life on both the headset and its Bluetooth remote.
- Good e-Reader reports noticeable eye strain from the close-up screens and a bulky case.
- Reading needs a paired phone and a Bluetooth remote for page turns, per Good e-Reader.
- Sindarin discontinued the First Edition in September 2026 after canceling a funded V2.
Sol Reader is a pair of e-reader glasses from Sindarin, Inc. of San Francisco: two 1.3 inch E Ink displays, one per eye, with diopter adjustment from 0 to minus 5.75 and an IPD range of 58 to 72mm. At 104 grams, Sindarin rates the built-in 470mAh battery at up to 25 hours of reading.
Previewer said the dual E Ink panels give paper-like text with minimal eye strain and called the headset a hands-free break from arm and neck fatigue. Good e-Reader agreed the concept works, praising the built-in bookstore and DRM-free EPUB sideloading, but called the device silly and over the top, and loved it anyway.
For the question this site exists to answer, the reply is no: Sindarin never opened a third-party SDK, and Sol Reader runs only through its companion app and a handheld Bluetooth remote for page turns. Good e-Reader found that remote, and the headset itself, ran down faster than the 25-hour claim suggests, and flagged eye strain up close and a bulky case.
Sol Reader launched at $350 for preorder in June 2023; later reviews put the price at $399 to $399.99 through 2024 and 2025. In September 2026 Sindarin discontinued the First Edition after failing to fund a planned V2, though it says servers and the desktop upload app will run through 2026, with the code eventually open sourced; no repository was live yet.
Verdict
Sol Reader is a closed, single-purpose e-reader: Sindarin never opened a third-party SDK, and it discontinued the First Edition in September 2026 after canceling a funded V2. Good e-Reader and Previewer liked the E Ink screens, but both flagged battery life, eye strain, and the required phone and remote.
Images
Sindarin, Inc. · cdn.sanity.io
Sindarin, Inc. · cdn.sanity.io
Sources
- Sol Reader - The World's First Wearable E-Reader · Sindarin, Inc. · retrieved on Sep 05, 2026
- Sol Reader Technical Specifications · Sindarin, Inc. · retrieved on Sep 05, 2026
- 2026 Sol Reader Update · Sindarin, Inc. · retrieved on Sep 05, 2026
- Sol Reader (product page) · Sindarin, Inc. · retrieved on Sep 05, 2026
- Sol Reader Limited Edition (product page) · Sindarin, Inc. · retrieved on Sep 05, 2026
- Replacement Carry Case (product page) · Sindarin, Inc. · retrieved on Sep 05, 2026
- Sol Reader raises $5M to build ebook glasses · TechCrunch · retrieved on Sep 05, 2026
- Sol Reader ebook goggles hands-on · New Atlas · retrieved on Sep 05, 2026
- Sol Reader is Available for Pre-order for $350 · Good e-Reader · retrieved on Sep 05, 2026
- Sol Reader - Your Own Private Reading Aid: A Review · Good e-Reader · retrieved on Sep 05, 2026
- Sol Reader review · Previewer · retrieved on Sep 05, 2026
- FCC ID 2BAHC-READER1 (Sindarin, Inc.) · FCC (Federal Communications Commission) · retrieved on Sep 05, 2026