It looks like Onyx is preparing to launch another new Boox Palma soon, possibly a Palma Color, one that might actually function as a phone instead of just looking like one.
There’s an article over on The Verge with literally zero details about the possible new device other than what can be gleaned from the picture above. Apparently Onyx showed one of their reporters the new Palma at their IFA 2025 booth, but they weren’t willing to give any details about it yet, and it wasn’t on public display.
The picture does reveal a few key details that could be of relevance. First off, the device in the picture looks exactly like the current Boox Palma 2 that was released in November of 2024, so they’re probably reusing the same general design.
Second, the Boox Plama 3 (or Palma Color or whatever they’re going to call it) clearly has a color E Ink screen. The 1st and 2nd gen Palmas were only available with black and white E Ink screens.
Lastly, the top status bar in the picture shows the mystery device has a wireless signal, so 5G LTE wireless is likely in the cards for the new Palma. The original and 2nd gen Palma both look like E Ink phones, but they don’t have SIM card slots. At one point years ago there was a rumor about Onyx working on an E Ink phone, but that never materialized. Until possibly now (or soon).
It’ll be interesting to see if Onyx releases multiple new Palma models or if it’ll just be the one new model with a color E Ink screen. Since the Boox Palma 2 is coming up on a year old, my guess is they’ll refresh it with a new black and white version alongside this new Palma Color.
Either way, it looks like a Boox Palma refresh is coming soon. The fact that the Boox Palma 2 is currently on sale on Onyx’s website would seem to confirm this since they usually put their devices on sale when they’re getting replaced by a newer model.
Color isn’t something I care about, except that it will certainly not improve the Palma’s biggest problem for me: the price.
Well, if they quickly commoditized color, hopefully that’ll incentivize the push for more improvements, like higher density on Kaleida 3 or make a greater push for Gallery 3 and get it out there.
So long as they keep a mono option, perhaps making that the new premium tier, with higher density displays.
Color = hard pass for me unfortunately.
Color for me is a must as for GPS, occasional videos, quick icon app identification on home screen, and overall color role in contemporary technology uses…
I’ve been using Bigme’s Hibreak color smartphone for eight months and though I’m fed up with the Android 11 OS, constant bugs and sub-par customer service (a broken/fractured screen will not be replaced), I believe I’m set on an e-ink cellular device and this will be my only smartphone use for the foreseeable future.
This is awesome and I can’t wait! Let’s get a programed release date!
Have you ever considered something like the TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER phone instead on an E Ink phone? I love E Ink for reading, but I just don’t ever see the experience being very good in phone form with all the outdated and hacked up Android versions and glitchy software. Plus Android totally kills the battery life and E Ink is so fragile I’d be afraid to carry a phone in my pocket all the time. I just got one of those NXTPAPER phones yesterday and the screen is surprisingly nice. The E Ink mode is a bit of a gimmick but I do like it for some things. I’ll post a review and some comparisons with E Ink later this month, but so far it’s killed any interest in a Palma phone for me, especially since Onyx is likely to charge a small fortune for it.
I don’t care about colour much. But if it has a (micro) SIM slot (and not just eSIM), then I’ll probably buy it.
I’m currently using the Palma 1 and really like it. Mobile data is the thing I’m most missing. Would be nice to swap SIM instead of bringing both phones and creating a hotspot.
I know there’s the HiBreak, but I’m comfortable with the Palma ecosystem.