BookCon 2026: All the book tech and gear we saw on the floor and in the hands of attendees.

Content

BookCon 2026 is back for the first time in six years, and fans are coming back in droves, selling out the event quickly. We were at the event, covering panels and chatting with BookTok authors and creators. But as attendees, we also come to the showroom to check out all the gadgets on display. With the popularity of e-readers, we expected to see a ton of devices on the ground, but there was a surprising lack of them, and the enthusiasm was focused on physical books.

But we took a look at what BookCon attendees had, too, including the technology they used to capture the event and the essentials for navigating the chaos of BookCon. Here’s all the book tech and products we saw at BookCon 2026.

Rakuten Kobo

On the show floor, while Kindle cases were a popular item to score, Kindle devices were noticeably absent. Instead, Rakuten Kobo is the only e-reader that makes an appearance. We’ve tested both models at Mashable and we love Kobo’s colorful e-readers, including the Kobo Clara and Kobo Libra, both of which were on display at BookCon. Also, the Kobo Remote was on display at Rakuten’s booth, as the brand is the first to launch its own e-reader remote.

The author’s watch

Define time with literary quotes with Author’s Clock.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Also on the floor at BookCon was the Writer’s Clock, a digital device that shows time with a literary twist. Every minute, the clock displays a quote from the text that shows the time. Perfect for book lovers – whether it’s yourself or a friend. The brand recently launched a new weather forecasting device, too. Forecast Writer connects to WiFi to get your local weather forecast and displays it in text on the device.

DJI Osmo Pocket 3 and Mic Mini

While not on display, DJI products were in the hands of show attendees. We’ve seen the DJI Osmo camera everywhere, similar to what we experienced at VidCon. Fans have been using it to film the event, so we expect to see more BookCon vlogs on BookTok soon. Also, we also saw attendees using the DJI Mic Mini, which can be easily clipped to the event.

Handheld fans

At this point, personal followers are a staple in circles. By 9 am on Saturday, when the VIPs and the media entered the exhibition area, things were already tense, and people had already broken into their fans. While we didn’t see Shark’s new ChillPill or Dyson’s new HushJet at BookCon, the cheap handheld fans you can find on Amazon are still a popular choice.

It was clear that BookCon fans came prepared. I saw dozens of attendees with colorful discs strapped to their crossbodies throughout the event, and when I asked one person what it was, my jaw dropped as they revealed a folding stool – a clever way to have a seat with you while waiting in long lines.

Macopro folding stroller

The name of the game at BookCon was free books. Publishers and authors were giving out free copies of books. Attendees came prepared to take home all the freebies and used foldable strollers. By far, the MacoPro folding cart was the most popular option. And, with its flat top, it’s a portable chair, too.