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The Boox Palma 2 Pro finally got me to stop reading on my phone

DevicesOctober 24, 20261 min read

The Boox Palma 2 Pro is a $400 smartphone-sized e-reader with a small E Ink screen that also runs Android apps. A reviewer says it helped her stop reading on her phone and reduced eye strain at night.

A pocket e-reader that runs apps

The Boox Palma 2 Pro is about the size of a smartphone. It is made for reading books, articles, and documents on an E Ink screen. E Ink is a screen type that looks like paper and is easy on the eyes. Unlike a basic e-reader, it runs Android, so you can install apps such as Kindle, Kobo, and Libby.

Key facts

Price: $400
Weight: 175 grams, lighter than the reviewer's iPhone
Battery life: about 5 to 7 days
Testing period: two months
Extras: rear camera, built-in speaker, and a hybrid SIM slot for cellular data

Why the size matters

The reviewer liked reading in bed at night, but most e-readers are big and hard to hold while lying down. She often read on her iPhone instead, even though long phone reading can strain the eyes. The Palma 2 Pro's small size and front light made reading in bed more comfortable.

Why it matters

The device shows a new option for people who want a comfortable, portable reader and do not want the distractions of a phone. The reviewer found that it replaced some of her phone scrolling with reading. However, it is not a good fit for everyone. It has some weak spots, including screen ghosting, slow app scrolling, weaker images, and shorter battery life than a Kindle.

What to watch

Ghosting, where old text stays on the screen, can be fixed with a refresh button, but some users may find this annoying
Whether more apps are optimized for E Ink, which could make scrolling smoother
How the stylus feature works, since the reviewer did not test it
Whether the battery life of 5 to 7 days is enough for everyday use

Glossary

Boox Palma 2 Pro: A smartphone-sized e-reader that runs Android apps and has an E Ink screen.
E Ink: A screen technology that looks like paper and is easy on the eyes, but refreshes more slowly than a phone screen.
Android: A mobile operating system made by Google that runs apps on phones and tablets.
Ghosting: When text from a previous page stays faintly visible on an E Ink screen.
Kindle: Amazon's e-reader device and reading app for books.

Same story, different eyes

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