# Strobe: Speed Reading — RSVP Reader for PDF & EPUB > Fast, focused reading app for PDFs and EPUBs with customizable speed and appearance. (iPhone/iPad app by Jaafar Abdeen.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strobe-speed-reading/id6759187873 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Jaafar Abdeen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1559039483) - Category: Books - Price: Free - Rating: 4.80/5 from 5 App Store ratings · 2 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 17.0 · 13 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-02-19 - Data updated: 2026-09-30 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strobe-speed-reading/id6759187873/reviews.md ## What is Strobe? Speed read your own books and documents, one word at a time. No ads, no subscription, no account. Strobe is a speed reading app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It uses Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP): each word appears in the same spot on screen, so your eyes stay still instead of scanning across lines. Import a PDF, EPUB, plain-text, or Markdown file, or paste an article, then read at 100 to 1,000 words per minute. HOLD TO READ • Press and hold to read. Let go to pause. • Slide up or down while you read to change speed without losing your place. • Swipe sideways while paused to step word by word. • Prefer hands-free? Switch to tap to play. TIMING THAT FOLLOWS THE TEXT • Smart Timing keeps longer words on screen a little longer. • Punctuation Pauses slow down at sentence ends, commas, dashes, ellipses, and closing quotes, and you set the length of each. • Complexity Timing speeds up common words and slows down rare ones. • Acronyms and hyphenated words get extra time automatically. • Blank After Sentences adds an optional moment of empty screen between sentences. A FIXED POINT FOR YOUR EYES • Each word lines up on a red focus letter, its Optimal Recognition Point (ORP). • Show the previous and next words faintly on either side. • An open quote or parenthesis stays faintly above the word until it closes. YOUR LIBRARY • Every document gets a cover, and Continue Reading takes you back to your exact word. • EPUB tables of contents and PDF bookmarks become chapters, each with its reading time at your speed. • Open the full text with your place highlighted, search for any word or phrase, and tap a word to resume from there. • Page numbers, running headers, and footers are removed on import. • Chinese, Japanese, and Korean text is split into words, and Arabic keeps its connected letterforms. MAKE IT YOURS • Seven fonts, adjustable text size, and four text colors. • A true black background for OLED screens and reading in the dark. • Every document remembers its own speed. • Keyboard shortcuts on Mac and iPad: Space to read, arrow keys to step, ⌘N for new text, ⌘O to import. • Works with VoiceOver, Larger Text, and Reduced Motion. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your documents and reading progress stay on your device. Strobe needs no account and has no ads, analytics, or tracking. FREE AND OPEN SOURCE Strobe is free, with no subscription or in-app purchases. The source code is public on GitHub under the Apache 2.0 license. Strobe can't import DRM-protected EPUBs or password-protected PDFs. ## Key features - RSVP reading interface - PDF and EPUB import - Adjustable reading speed (100-1000 WPM) - Customizable text size and fonts - Hold-to-read interaction - Automatic progress saving - Chapter navigation ## Recent user reviews (2 of 2) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strobe-speed-reading/id6759187873/reviews.md ### 4/5 — We love OPEN SOURCE! *2026-05-06* Huge thanks for making this app! for 5 stars we need a few things: on ipad, ability to move between chapters that isn’t a slide bar as it can’t be specific enough to the right page/chapter 2) a way to read without having to hold the screen - I have trouble holding my arm out for that long while reading. Thank you! **Developer response:** (Edit) The app update with both the requested features has been approved. Enjoy! (Original) Thank you for the review! I really appreciate the feedback. You can count on seeing those changes in the next update. Have a great day! ### 5/5 — Amazing! *2026-03-03* Thank you for making this open source and free for everyone to use! Very rare for reading apps which is why this is so nice to see on a good quality RSVP reader. ty :) **Developer response:** Reading this review couldn’t have made me any happier. I’m so glad you like it! Feel free to reach out if you have any suggestions :) ## Frequently asked questions about Strobe ### What is Strobe's reading speed range? Strobe allows users to control their reading pace from 100 to 1000 Words Per Minute (WPM). This feature is designed to help users read faster while maintaining focus. ### What file formats does Strobe support? Strobe supports importing both PDF and EPUB files. This allows users to read a wide variety of documents and books within the app. ### Does Strobe offer offline reading? Yes, Strobe is a local-first reading app, meaning your content and progress stay on your device. This ensures you can read without an internet connection. ### How does Strobe help with eye fatigue? The app features a clean RSVP interface designed to keep attention locked on the text and reduce eye strain. Users can also adjust appearance settings for a more comfortable reading experience. ### What devices can I use Strobe on? Strobe is available on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. This cross-platform compatibility allows for a seamless reading experience across your Apple devices. ### How often is Strobe updated? The latest version of Strobe is 2.1, which was last updated on March 24, 2026. This indicates a recent update, suggesting ongoing development and support. ### Is Strobe suitable for all ages? Strobe has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users. The app's focus on reading comprehension and speed is beneficial for students and adults alike. ### Does Strobe have ads? No, Strobe does not contain advertisements. The app is completely free and ad-free, providing an uninterrupted reading experience. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 3.1 — 2026-09-29 What's new in 3.0: A new look for Strobe, plus a big update shaped by reader feedback: new display options, smarter timing, and cleaner text. A NEW LOOK • Your library shows every document as a cover, with New, your progress, or Finished underneath. • Continue Reading, at the top of the library, takes you straight back to your word and shows how much time is left. • Books with chapters open to a new book page where you can resume, check your progress, and see how long each chapter takes. • Settings is simpler, with a live preview of the word as you change its font, size, and color. Timing options have their own page. • Adding text is quicker, with a Paste button and a word count that shows how long it'll take to read. • Importing no longer covers the screen: the new document shows up in your library, with a Cancel button, while it's added. • The reading screen works just like before. ON MAC • A real toolbar with search, sort, and add, and no more doubled-up buttons. • New Text (⌘N) and Import File (⌘O) in the File menu. • Settings is now organized into tabs. NEW DISPLAY OPTIONS • True Black Background (Settings › Reading): pure black behind the words, great for OLED screens and reading in the dark. In Settings › While Reading (Settings › Display on Mac): • Document Title and Current Chapter: show the document's title and current chapter faintly at the top. • Previous and Next Words: see the words before and after the current one, dimmed, on either side of it. • Open Quotes and Parentheses: keeps an opening quote or parenthesis faintly above the word until it closes, so you always know you're inside one. SMARTER TIMING • Sentence Pauses is now Punctuation Pauses, in Settings › Timing. It also pauses at commas, colons, semicolons, dashes, ellipses, and closing brackets and quotes, and you can set each one's length. • Blank After Sentences: an optional moment of empty screen between sentences, with a length you can adjust. It doesn't trigger after abbreviations like Mr. or U.S. • Acronyms like FBI, NASA, and COVID-19 stay on screen a little longer, since they're read letter by letter. • Hyphenated words like well-known and long-term get a little extra time for each part. CLEANER TEXT • Chapter titles no longer play twice: after a chapter is announced, reading picks up right after its heading. This works for documents already in your library. • Words joined by a long dash, like "elements—stone", now appear one at a time. • Years and times like 2000 BCE, 44 B.C., and 10:30 PM stay together as one word. • Phrases like "pre- and post-war" now read correctly. The last three apply to documents you import after updating. IMPROVEMENTS AND FIXES • The word now appears in the same spot on screen in every document. • The highlighted focus letter lands in a better place on numbers, years, and times. ### 3.0 — 2026-09-25 A new look for Strobe, plus a big update shaped by reader feedback: new display options, smarter timing, and cleaner text. A NEW LOOK • Your library shows every document as a cover, with New, your progress, or Finished underneath. • Continue Reading, at the top of the library, takes you straight back to your word and shows how much time is left. • Books with chapters open to a new book page where you can resume, check your progress, and see how long each chapter takes. • Settings is simpler, with a live preview of the word as you change its font, size, and color. Timing options have their own page. • Adding text is quicker, with a Paste button and a word count that shows how long it'll take to read. • Importing no longer covers the screen: the new document shows up in your library, with a Cancel button, while it's added. • The reading screen works just like before. ON MAC • A real toolbar with search, sort, and add, and no more doubled-up buttons. • New Text (⌘N) and Import File (⌘O) in the File menu. • Settings is now organized into tabs. NEW DISPLAY OPTIONS • True Black Background (Settings › Reading): pure black behind the words, great for OLED screens and reading in the dark. In Settings › While Reading (Settings › Display on Mac): • Document Title and Current Chapter: show the document's title and current chapter faintly at the top. • Previous and Next Words: see the words before and after the current one, dimmed, on either side of it. • Open Quotes and Parentheses: keeps an opening quote or parenthesis faintly above the word until it closes, so you always know you're inside one. SMARTER TIMING • Sentence Pauses is now Punctuation Pauses, in Settings › Timing. It also pauses at commas, colons, semicolons, dashes, ellipses, and closing brackets and quotes, and you can set each one's length. • Blank After Sentences: an optional moment of empty screen between sentences, with a length you can adjust. It doesn't trigger after abbreviations like Mr. or U.S. • Acronyms like FBI, NASA, and COVID-19 stay on screen a little longer, since they're read letter by letter. • Hyphenated words like well-known and long-term get a little extra time for each part. CLEANER TEXT • Chapter titles no longer play twice: after a chapter is announced, reading picks up right after its heading. This works for documents already in your library. • Words joined by a long dash, like "elements—stone", now appear one at a time. • Years and times like 2000 BCE, 44 B.C., and 10:30 PM stay together as one word. • Phrases like "pre- and post-war" now read correctly. The last three apply to documents you import after updating. IMPROVEMENTS AND FIXES • The word now appears in the same spot on screen in every document. • The highlighted focus letter lands in a better place on numbers, years, and times. ### 2.12 — 2026-09-20 Easier on the eyes at night. • New Text Color setting: choose Bright, Soft, Sepia, or Night to tone down the reading word and the red focus letter. • Your tone carries through chapter titles and the passage view, so nothing flashes white in a dark room. Thank you to all the readers who make suggestions like this. ### 2.11 — 2026-09-18 Fixed a bug that stopped EPUB files from importing on iPhone and iPad. If you saw "Could not read this EPUB file," your books should now import normally. ### 2.10 — 2026-09-11 • Smoother chapter transitions: titles briefly fade in, then reading resumes automatically. • Better navigation for parts, sections, and subchapters in EPUBs and PDFs. • A quieter, book-like title design with lighter typography and more breathing room. Reimport existing books to pick up newly detected sections. ## More apps by Jaafar Abdeen - [Workouts - Workout Tracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/workouts-workout-tracker/id6747648677) - [Hush — Focus Sounds](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hush-focus-sounds/id6761935532) All apps by Jaafar Abdeen: https://appshunter.io/developer/1559039483 ## Related topics [serial reader](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/serial-reader) · [bfb medien barrierefrei bauen](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/bfb-medien-barrierefrei-bauen) · [vdf hochschulverlag](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/vdf-hochschulverlag) · [asreader finger](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/asreader-finger) · [strobe text](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/strobe-text) · [subreader aps](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/subreader-aps) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-30.*