Boox Palma 2 Review
The Boox Palma 2 is the weird one, and we mean that as the highest compliment. It is a phone-shaped e-ink device with no phone inside: a 6 inch black-and-white screen running full Android that slips into a jacket pocket. It has quietly built a cult following, and once you get why, it is hard to unsee. This is the device for people who want their phone's convenience for reading without their phone's endless distraction.
Specifications
| Screen | 6.13" |
|---|---|
| PPI | 300 |
| Colour | No |
| Frontlight | Yes |
| Waterproof | No |
| Stylus | No |
| Storage | 128 GB |
| Weight | 170 g |
| Price | $299 |
Verdict
The Boox Palma 2 is a niche device that absolutely nails its niche. As a pocketable, phone-shaped e-ink reader that runs any Android app, it is unlike anything else, and for people trying to swap doom-scrolling for reading it can be genuinely life-changing. It is small, mono, a bit janky and not cheap, none of which will bother the person who wants it. If a distraction-free phone-sized reader sounds like your thing, there is nothing else quite like it.
What we like
- Truly pocketable, phone-shaped e-ink reader that goes everywhere
- Open Android: Kindle, Kobo, Libby, browser, audio apps, all on one device
- Distraction-free by design, a real antidote to phone scrolling
- Speakers and Bluetooth for audiobooks and podcasts
Worth noting
- Small 6 inch, black-and-white screen, poor for PDFs and comics
- No stylus and no note-taking
- Android on e-ink can feel janky and needs tweaking
- Pricey for a mono 6 inch reader
The Form Factor Is the Whole Point
Everything clever about the Palma 2 comes from its size. It is the same shape and weight as a smartphone, so it goes everywhere a phone does, into one hand, a back pocket, a small bag. But the e-ink screen means no glare, no eye strain and no notifications clamouring for attention. People buy it as a deliberate second device: the thing you reach for instead of doom-scrolling.
The 6 inch screen is black-and-white and reasonably sharp for its size, with a frontlight for the dark. Being one-handed and pocketable is the trade for a small screen, and for its intended use, reading anywhere, that is exactly the right call.
Open Android in Your Pocket
Like other Boox devices it runs open Android, which on a pocketable body is genuinely liberating. Install Kindle, Kobo, Libby, Pocket, a browser, even podcast and audio apps, and read from any source you like. It has speakers and Bluetooth, so it doubles as a tiny audiobook and podcast player.
The usual Boox caveats apply: Android on e-ink can be a little janky, some apps need refresh tweaking, and it is fiddlier than a locked-down Kindle. On a device this size, most people accept that happily in exchange for the flexibility.
What It Is Not
It is not a note-taker; there is no stylus. It is not a big-screen reader for PDFs or comics, the screen is small and mono. And it is not a phone, despite looking like one, so do not expect a SIM or calls.
It also is not the best value if you only ever read at home on the couch, where a cheaper, larger Kindle is more comfortable. The Palma 2 earns its place through portability and versatility, not raw reading comfort.
Battery, Price and Who It Is For
Battery life is good for an Android e-ink device, comfortably days of reading, though audio playback and Wi-Fi pull it down. Charging is over USB-C.
At around 299 USD it is not cheap for a 6 inch mono reader, and you are partly paying for the novelty and the Android flexibility. Buy it if you want a pocketable, distraction-free reading and audio device to replace phone time, and you like the idea of running any app. Skip it if you want a big screen, a stylus, colour, or the simplest possible reading experience.
Frequently asked
Is the Boox Palma 2 a phone?
No. It looks like a phone and is the same size, but there is no SIM and it cannot make calls. It is a pocketable e-ink reader running Android, meant to sit alongside your phone, not replace it.
Can it run the Kindle and Libby apps?
Yes. It runs open Android, so you can install Kindle, Kobo, Libby, Pocket, a browser and audio apps, and read from any source you like.
Does it have colour?
No, the Palma 2 has a black-and-white screen. For colour comics or magazines you would want a colour e-ink device with a larger screen.
Who is the Palma 2 for?
People who want a pocketable, distraction-free device to read and listen on instead of scrolling their phone, and who like the freedom of running any Android app. If you want a big screen, colour or a stylus, look elsewhere.