Always read on the go? You need to know about the pocket-sized Boox Palma that I used to work with my TBR list

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TOTAL: 89/100

Quote Penelope Featheringtonwhen it comes to mine reading Habits: “I love to read, maybe even too much.” (If you haven’t watched Bridgerton season three but what are you waiting for?!) That’s why when I started watching Device Books Palma existence called TikTok as a more compact e-reader than Kindle (meaning I could wear it *everywhere*), I was immediately intrigued.

Android based Bux Palma The e-reader ($280) has a 6.13-inch tall screen, about the size of a regular smartphone, and an eye-pleasing E-Ink display (similar to Kindle Paperwhite), as well as many functions such as web browsing and downloading applications over Wi-Fi. But at $280, it’s not cheap. So, as one of PureWow’s trade editors (and resident bookworm), I tested it myself to let you know if this little gadget is worth all the hype—and all that money.

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What is Books Palma?

Amazon

What exactly is different about this e-book? The Boox Palma is an Android mobile device with an E-Ink display, which means you won’t see that glare you see when trying to read on your phone. And unlike other e-readers, this one can be loaded with almost any application, so you have access to Kindle, Libby, LibroFM, Fable, Sound, Goodreads and much more all in the same place. It’s also highly customizable (more on that in a minute) and has 128GB of internal storage, so you won’t have to worry about running out of space for your favorite books.

What I like about Boox Palma

PureWow/Natalie LaBarbera

When I first saw the Palma, what struck me most was its incredibly compact size, and it did not disappoint. Not only is the Palma slightly larger than my iPhone (12Pro, which, yes, is in desperate need of an upgrade), but it’s also very lightweight and fits easily into any purse or travel bag. Plus, I love how customizable this device is. You can set your own screensaver and wallpaper, and configure the left side button to have three different functions (short press, double press, and long press) to control functions such as putting the device to sleep, clearing cache, refreshing, taking a snapshot screen and much more. You can also customize device navigation using buttons at the bottom or gestures such as swiping up or down.

Another huge advantage of Palma, as I mentioned above, is the ability to download many different applications. I kept mine as one of my most used reading apps to avoid distractions and security concerns (more on that below), but you can also use the pre-installed Google Play Store to download anything you want from Instagram to Amazon. It’s worth noting that the E-Ink display is only black and white, so keep that in mind when deciding which apps to download.

When it comes to reading, however, the display is perfect for avoiding eye strain, and I found the audio to be clear whether I was using Libby, LibroFM, or Audible for audiobooks.

Battery life is also quite good. I do notice that it drains a little faster if I do anything other than read on the device, but after a full hour spent in reading mode only, my battery level dropped from 100 percent to 97 percent (for comparison though). , after an hour on my Kindle Paperwhite, which I’ve been using since 2022, the battery dropped from 100 percent to 99 percent). Overall, there is a lot to appreciate about Palma, but there are also a few things worth noting.

Some things to consider

Natalie LaBarbera

Before you splurge on Palma, here are a few issues to be aware of. Firstly, while doing my own research on the device, I learned that it runs on Android 11 software, which, since it is an outdated version of the software, exposes it to security risks and may not be supported for all apps in the future. This hasn’t bothered me too much with apps like Libby, but I’m definitely hesitant to log into anything like my email or Amazon account.

Also, since you’re using the Kindle app (not the store installed on Kindle devices), you won’t be able to buy new e-books from Palma unless you go to your web browser and sign in to Amazon. This is the same if you have the Kindle app downloaded on your phone, iPad, or anywhere else, but it’s still something to keep in mind if you’re like me and tend to binge read series and want to jump from one book to the next in an instant . next.

The device can also be a little laggy, as some other reviewers have noted, but I’ve found that this is a bit of a hit-or-miss situation – sometimes it works perfectly, and other times I have to wait for the screen to change or the previous page to be slightly grayed out (like in the photo above), but usually It’s not enough to bother me too much. I also had to do a bit of googling to figure out how to turn off the auto-light setting, which I found very distracting (swipe down from the top right corner and press the brightness “A” button), but once I did, the display was much better .

As for listening to audiobooks, be sure to turn off the sleep feature otherwise the audiobook will stop playing, which also means you can’t leave it just on the screensaver like you can on the iPhone. Lastly, one thing I was really hoping for was compatibility with hypebut this library app is not supported by Boox, so you won’t be able to listen to audiobooks or read ebooks from there.

Case options for Boox Palma

PureWow/Natalie LaBarbera

Like many other readers, I love a good accessory that protects my ereader and looks cute, so I was pleased to find quite a few options in terms of Palma affairs. The first thing I received was Boox foldable case (currently out of stock), smooth faux leather outer and microfiber lining. In this case, my device felt very protected, and I liked that it also protected the front screen. But due to the folding design with a protrusion in the middle of the back, it is impossible to attach the bag. Popsocket to this (and required if you ask any digital bookworm). Also, I wanted to be able to customize the case a little, so I replaced it with Of course Bozhuorui ($10) so I could place stickers on the bottom (pro tip: make it this way so you can rearrange them as often as you like!) and add a Popsocket to make it easier to hold.

Bottom line

That was *a lot* of information, but the bottom line is that I think this device is worth checking out if you’re someone who likes to always have reading on hand without lugging around a large Kindle or paper book. While the Boox Palma won’t completely replace my beloved Kindle, it’s definitely a nice and convenient reading option that allows you to customize it to your book-loving tastes. And as the holidays approach, you can be sure that any reader on your list will be excited to see this device under the tree.

$280 on Amazon

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