For years I’ve been saying ereader companies like Amazon and Kobo should release smaller ebook readers that you can easily fit into a pocket to take with you everywhere, but instead it seems like most dedicated reading devices keep getting larger and heavier with each new generation.
Onyx is one company that’s willing to try new things and put out a bunch of different types of products, and it looks like their new phone-sized Boox Palma is turning into a big success.
I was looking at some best seller lists and the Palma ranks high wherever it’s being sold in relation to similar devices, and considering it’s been out of stock a good share of the time since it was released it could rank even higher if Onyx could keep it in stock.
On Onyx’s own website the Palma currently sits at #2 on their best selling list for all products. On Amazon, it’s also currently the #2 best selling Boox product. At B&H, it’s #3 behind the Poke5 and Page, both of which have been available for a lot longer than the Palma.
This morning it was listed at the top spot at Best Buy in the ereader section, ranking ahead of all Kindles, but now later in the day it’s down to #6. Best Buy’s best seller rankings must be updated hourly so it’s hard to get any bearing on that.
Either way you look at it, the Palma is clearly selling well enough to be a successful product. Despite its high price, enough people are interested in buying it that Boox is having a hard time keeping it in stock, and when it is available it ranks pretty high with comparable E Ink products.
The Boox Palma is more like a phone than an ereader when it comes to its shape and size. It has a 6.13″ E Ink screen, but because of the narrower screen ratio it’s quite a bit smaller than a typical 6″ ereader. For example, the Kobo Clara 2E measures 159.02 x 112.05 x 8.66mm, and the Palma’s measurements are 159 x 80 x 8.0mm, so it’s noticeably narrower and easier to slip into a pocket.
I wish more companies would get on the small ereader bandwagon instead of just churning out the same thing over and over again and calling it “new”. There used to be smaller ereaders 10+ years ago like the 5″ Sony PRS-350 and Kobo Mini, so hopefully more options will come out eventually with the Palma showing there is in fact a market for smaller portable ereaders.
I have 2 ereaders (Meebook P78 Pro and Boox Tab Ultra C) and compared to the TCL 40 Nxtpaper, which is an actual phone, I really don’t like the screens of the ereaders. They are still reflecting some light, the Tab Ultra C especially. Besides, the ghosting is a turn off. I really prefer something like the Nxtpaper since I have the TCL 40. It has no ghosting, the colors do look like as they are supposed to, it’s faster when scrolling and it’s readable without any problems even when a light in my room shines directly onto the screen, which isn’t really the case with my ereaders.
With KOReader or Librera you can use the button of the loudspeaker for page flipping. Plus I can use the stylus to take some basic notes.
I really don’t see why I should use a crippled Palma that’s more expensive and can’t even take basic notes and uses an older Android version.
I would buy a Palma in a heartbeat if the price point was a bit more reasonable. Until then, I’ll lug my Paperwhite around like the boat anchor it is. (jk) 😂📖
Not interested in anything under 7”.
Bigger than a phone but shirt pocket size, and no more than $99 absolutely. No more than $129 probably. Over $129 probably not.
I bought one right away so I could read outside in bright sunlight during spring, summer, and early fall. I like it just fine.
The price did not bother me. I am 80 years old and comfortably well off, and, as they say, you cannot take it with you. Better I spend some of my savings on myself rather than bequeath it to my heirs and assigns, some of whom I already know have never learned the importance of thrift.
Good for you, George. I also like to read outside, but at 65 years old, I find it uncomfortable to read on something about the size of my phone. The presbyopia is annoying, and if I am increasing font size to compensate for that, I prefer to have a bigger screen for it. So in the name of thrift, I’ll hang onto the Paperwhite.
From your lips to Kobo’s ears.
I got a Pocketbook Verse because I wanted something small. $129, 6″, buttons, SDcard slot.
It fits in my pocket.
That’s why I’ve never seen the need for a phone sizes reader. The Kindle Basic, any 6″ Pocketbook, Boox Poke series are already pocket sized.
While not black and white, if I’m in need of an eReader, I have my phone. I am not going to read for a long time on a device that small. I read a Lot, and very quickly. I also usually have a purse. Many women’s clothing doesn’t have pockets =or large enough for a phone AND another e-device. I will continue using my kindle signature edition – it fits into my small purse with my phone, wallet, and a few other things.
Gosh, yeah. Pockets in women’s pants are often virtually non-existent, certainly not large enough for phones and devices for the most part. I can barely fit a phone in my pants pocket, and not without some fear that it could fall out.
My Kobo Sage or Forma can fit in my bag, and I’m good. I need the larger size screens to read comfortably. If I’m going to read in an UNcomfortable manner, then I might as well use my phone. I wouldn’t want to read long on either a small device or my phone.
I really wish Kobo would update the Mini. I have the Clara 2e and like it but even without a cover it does not fit in sweater pockets – at least any of my sweaters. The Mini was perfect for any pocket. I don’t like reading on my phone. Every Survey I get from Kobo I always mention the “Mini wish”. I hope one day they will listen.
I’d love it if the next iteration of Palma or other dedicated small e readers had page up/down buttons on both sides. Or on the bottom like on a Pocketbook.