Onyx has released a new phone-sized E Ink device called the Palma. They did a test run a while back but it was only available for less than one day before it sold out, and now the official version has been released.
So far the Boox Palma is only available to order directly from Onyx’s website, and it’s selling for $279.99. There’s a white version and a black version.
The Palma looks like a phone and it has a lot of phone-type features but it’s not a phone—it doesn’t have a SIM card slot.
Initially with the pre-release version they were advertising it as a distraction-free reading experience in a phone-sized format, but now they’ve changed their tune and are boasting about how many different things it can do and how it combines “cutting-edge performance” with an E Ink display.
It has a 6.13″ E Ink Carta 1200 screen, but it has a narrow ratio than typical E Ink ereaders so it’s smaller and easier to hold one-handed like a phone. The screen has a resolution of 1648 x 824, with 300 ppi. There’s also a frontlight with adjustable color temperature.
The Palma has an octa-core CPU and it supports Boox’s Super Refresh technology. It has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage space, and there’s a microSD card slot for expansion.
The Palma has Wi-Fi (2.4GHz + 5GHz) and Bluetooth (5.0), an auto-rotation sensor, a light sensor, and it has a 16MP rear camera with LED flash. There’s a built-in speaker and a microphone. It has volume/page-turn buttons, a USB-C port, and the battery is listed at 3950mAh. The weight is 170 grams and the device measures 159 x 80 x 8.0mm.
Like Boox’s other devices, the software is based on Android 11 and it has Google Play onboard to install apps.
There seems to be a growing interest in smaller pocketable ereaders lately. What do you think of the Boox Palma?
It’s very interesting and very expensive.
Yeah, you said it really well. Interesting but ultra expensive.
Probably never happen but would rather see a 4″ or 5″ e-reader that is just an e-reader in the $50 or $60 range – a tiny spare that I would just always keep in my backpack. 🙂
Very interested in the pocket-ability, but really the only functionality I need is running & syncing with Moon+ Reader/Calibre-web. The price is overkill for that.
Way too expensive and way too busy/fussy for a reader. I’ll stick with the Kindle app in my phone and just wish it was the good eink screen like my Scribe when forced to use it unless something similar to this at a much more reasonable price comes along.
I would rather have it be a phone too.
You can. Just ben Hisense.
I think most of the people who want a mini-sized e-reader probably don’t wish a large e-reader price tag.
Let’s face it, the primary reason many cite for a small reader is pocket portability. Yet, e-ink substrates remain fragile and a pocket is not a good place for them. One might risk it with a sub-$100 device if one really has to have a small reader, but a $250+ device, perhaps more of a risk than most would want….
Very niche. Much expensive.
Suppose it does cater to those seeking pocketability. But a reader at that price? No, thanks.
At that price it would have made more sense as a phone, imo.
For about $10, you can buy a BBOS Blackberry phone, load it with kindle app or ypub e-reader, and have a good ereader that is legible in full sunlight, lasts a long time on a charge, and is quick to charge, too. Plus, the phone is small, durable, and light, with removable battery!
Reminds me of when my coworker showed off his newly purchased Palm Pilot 1000. Cost about the same but of course would be double that. It was 1996 or 7 money. This is a lot more impressive and functional. But practical in today’s world? I don’t think so.
I’m retired so it would work for me. But a working person? They need the phone function as well. Better they drop the price and just have it be a small ereader rather than a PDA that isn’t really useful in today’s world.
This device is very tempting! I take my Kindle Paperwhite with me nearly everyday, and the Palma would be more convenient. Although the price is relatively high, I think it is to be expected given the Palma it is a lot more than an ereader.
The Palma looks a lot like the Hisense A9 4G E ink Android 11 smartphone. I wish that Apple (admittedly, highly unlikely) or Samsung would produce a smartphone with an E ink display, as I really dislike looking at LCD and OLED screens.
I would love this with fewer features and a lower price tag. I’m a little appalled at the idea of a camera on my dedicated e-reader. However, I (somewhat counterintuitively) love the idea another commenter had about putting books on a BBOS Blackberry! I never had a Blackberry during the craze, and I think that could be a really fun, cheap pocket reader. Not e-ink, but can’t have everything. I started e-reading on a Nintendo DS, so can’t complain.