A $400 phone-sized e-reader helped one reviewer quit reading in bed on her phone

A TechCrunch reviewer who kept reading on her iPhone at night, even though she owns a Kindle, says a phone-sized e-reader fixed the habit. The device is the Boox Palma 2 Pro, which costs $400. She tested it for two months and called it a great option for a specific kind of reader.

What it is

The Palma 2 Pro is an e-reader about the size of a smartphone. It uses an E Ink screen, the paper-like display found on Kindles. It also runs Android and supports Google Play, so it works like a cross between a Kindle and a small Android tablet. It weighs 175 grams, which the reviewer found lighter than her iPhone.

Why it worked for her

She likes to read on her side in bed. Most e-readers are squarish and awkward to hold that way, so she kept grabbing her phone. The Palma 2 Pro is easier to hold, and its screen has cool and warm lighting that can be dimmed very low. She could read in total darkness without bothering her sleeping husband or straining her eyes.

Its small size also meant she carried it everywhere, including the doctor's office and the airport. It fits in a small purse that a Kindle does not. Moments that would have been phone scrolling became reading time.

What it can do

• Install apps such as Kindle, Kobo and Libby, plus audiobook, podcast, read-it-later and email apps.
• Scan documents with a rear camera.
• Play audio through a built-in speaker.
• Use cellular data through a hybrid SIM slot.
• Work with a stylus for notes and PDF markup. The reviewer did not get a stylus, so she could not test this.

The downsides

Not every app is built for E Ink, so animations and some screens can feel sluggish. The device can show color, but images look less vibrant than on a phone. Battery life was about 5 to 7 days, well short of the weeks a Kindle can last. Turning off Wi-Fi stretches it.

The biggest complaint was ghosting. Text from the last page can linger when you turn a page or return to the home screen. A refresh button in the navigation bar clears it quickly, but repeating that may annoy some people, especially at this price.

Who it is for

The reviewer says it suits people who want a phone-sized device for comfort, portability and app access, and who are tired of eye strain or headaches from phone reading. She says someone who loves their Kindle should probably skip it. The price is steep for an e-reader, so the extra versatility has to be worth it to you.

What happens next

Boox is launching a non-Pro Palma 3 soon for $340. It has a black and white display and replaces the Palma 2. The material does not give a release date, so anyone weighing a purchase may want to compare the two once the new model arrives.