Discovered via this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwTub7_we0w
Other reviews:
- https://www.theverge.com/24184777/boox-palma-e-ink-smartphone-reader
- https://www.androidpolice.com/boox-palma-review/
Okay, so I'll preface this by saying I am absolutely fascinated by e-ink technology, and I believe there is a lane for it. I am typing this on a Bigme Hibreak, a smartphone with an E-ink screen, and I have owned two Boox devices thus far. If you manage your expectations and you have the patience to tinker and dial it in, some of these devices can be perfect. The Boox Palma looks like a very practical device, although I haven't used it myself. It seems to be very lightweight, and I can say from experience that the Boox software is pretty user-friendly (although not necessarily beginner-friendly; some settings tweaks are needed to optimize the experience). The Boox software is generally pretty stable, and the generic reader app is one of the best I've ever used. As another user pointed out, their software is not open source, so you may want to take that into account, but I haven't encountered an E-reader company that does publish open source software (or hardware, for that matter). For what it's worth, I had a Boox Nova Pro and replaced it with a Boox Nova Air C, and I have very few complaints. Just don't order through GoodEreader. They are a bunch of assholes.
Seems an interesting way to be able to carry an e-reader in your pocket.
I have a Kobo, but it's a bit too large to bring all the time with me.
Not sure hore good this is, but some years ago I bought my wife an Android ebook reader. It was so slow and cumbersome that I got her a Kindle and swore to myself never to touch an Android reader.
They have become considerably better in recent years, but I understand the hesitation. Once bitten, twice shy, and all that. I will say that my experience with Boox devices has been pretty good, though. As long as you don't expect it to behave like a full-fledged Android tablet. But above all, don't trust strangers on the internet.
Bro just use your phone. If it's android, use AIReader. Free, incredibly configurable, can read every type of book file. Dark mode, adjustable brightness for reading before bed. It gets so dark that I can't even read the minimum setting in a pitch black room. Best e-reader app I've ever found and I've been using it for probably 10 years now.
I have a different Boox product, the low-end Poke Lite (I think version 4?).
Pros:
- E-paper display is easy on the eyes
- Customizable backlight temperature and brightness
- Runs arbitrary Android apps
- Battery for days
- Can install open-source reading apps like Librera
- Still receiving software updates after a few years
Cons:
- Only runs Android 11
- Installing Google Play requires jumping through some weird hoops, because it's not Google certified. I recommend using F-Droid instead, or using a throwaway google account to avoid this security liability.
- Built-in apps kind of suck in general
- Home screen strongly pushes their own ecosystem, shoving regular Android apps into a different section
- Most apps look like ass on a B&W display
- Most apps look like ass on a 4:3 display (not applicable to the Palma)
- The various display refresh modes are unintuitive
The newer models, from what I understand, use faster-refreshing display tech, and some even support color.
I have the Palma. I use it mostly just to read, and I prefer it to when I had a kindle purely for portability.
I've got a Palma. Love it.
Like others here, I keep wifi off while I'm reading and only turn it on to update my Omnivore articles or update my saved position in a book (using Kindle or Kobo apps).
I have no idea how the battery holds up for the people who are trying to use it as a phone (ie using it a lot for browsing or chatting and other battery-heavy apps).
I just wanted a phone sized eReader that could let me install apps other than just a bookstorr. The Palma fits that bill wonderfully.