When I believe again on all of the years I used a Kindle, I’m amazed it took so lengthy for a thriving various to pop up. Kindles are nice, do not get me incorrect, however they’re very a lot entrenched in Amazon’s walled backyard, and it takes numerous work to get out of that.Enter Onyx, an organization that makes one of the best e-ink tablets which are all powered by Android. The Boox Palma is without doubt one of the latest “tablets” by the corporate, but it surely would not match that description notably effectively as a result of it is the dimensions of a telephone, not a pill. And this dimension is simply one of many many issues that makes the Palma the proper e-reader.Unlike a Kindle, you will get your books, apps, or no matter you need from anyplace you need. It’s obtained the Google Play Store preinstalled, however any Android app will be put in right here, opening up the variety of studying sources by a number of magnitudes. The show is even adequate to look at movies or play video games on, and the processor delivers not solely spectacular energy but in addition higher battery life.In a nutshell, you will not discover a higher e-reader anyplace except you need one thing bigger, in fact.Today’s finest Boox Palma dealsWhere can you purchase the Onyx Boox Palma?(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)The Onyx Boox Palma launched in mid-September at a worth of $279.99. The Palma is available in white and black colorways and is offered at retailers like B&H Photo in addition to the official Boox web site.In the field, you may the the Palma unit, a USB-A to USB-C cable, a software to eject the MicroSD card tray, and a small handbook. At the time of this writing, Onyx ships every Palma with a free TPU case, though that would change sooner or later.Swipe to scroll horizontallyOnyx Boox Palma specsDisplay6.13-inch, E Ink Carta 1200, 824 x 1648 decision (300 ppi), variable refresh rateCPUQualcomm Octacore processor (4 cores @ 1.8GHz, 4 cores @ 2.02GHz)RAM6GB LPDDR4xStorage128GB UFS 2.1ConnectivityWi-Fi 5 (2.4/5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0BacklightFront gentle with shade temperature adjustmentAuto rotationYesCamera16MP rear digital camera, LED flashOSAndroid 11Battery3,950mAh, USB-C chargingMicroSD card supportYesDimensions6.3 x 3.1 x 0.31 inches / 159 x 80 x 8mmWeight170gComfort on the forefront(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)The Onyx Boox Palma feels extremely good to carry in hand for a very long time. It’s way more snug than any guide I’ve ever held, and it is 20-30% lighter than well-liked e-readers just like the Kindle Paperwhite.Onyx even decked out the again with a tough paper-like texture, which might add some minor extra grip. I nonetheless want a soft-touch or leather-like materials, however there is no case that gives this simply but.It’s a phone-sized e-reader that is not less than 20% lighter than a Kindle. What’s to not like?Onyx has its personal TPU case that ships at no cost with any Palma, however I’m not an enormous fan of those sorts of rubbery, flimsy circumstances. Hopefully, somebody may have a good case for the factor on Amazon quickly.Since it is the dimensions of a telephone, it is simple to convey with you anyplace you wish to go, and the all-plastic construct — sure, even over the show — means it is not going you may break it even when you drop it.Image 1 of 3(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)It’s obtained a USB-C port on the underside, a single bottom-firing speaker, an influence button and quantity rocker on the proper facet, and a microSD tray subsequent to a customizable facet key on the left facet. There’s even a digital camera across the again with an LED flash that can be utilized for something, though Onyx intends it primarily for doc scanning.The sides are properly contoured and constructed with a plastic that is grippier than the laborious, slippery plastic that some cheaper telephones are constructed with. That’s nice for holding within the hand for lengthy durations of time.The solely factor actually lacking from the {hardware} is a haptic suggestions engine, which suggests you will not really feel rumble suggestions when typing on the digital keyboard or taking part in video games.(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)The actual star of the present is Onyx’s E Ink Carta 1200 show which shines under the matte masking on prime. This show is not simply fantastically pixel-dense and crisp, its ultrafast refresh price means you possibly can even watch movies or play video games on this e-ink machine.This is essentially the most unimaginable e-ink show I’ve ever seen, with an ultrafast refresh price and a PWM-free, shade temperature-adjustable backlight.Not all video games and movies will work as effectively, although, as E Ink nonetheless struggles with high-contrast or darkish imagery, so your mileage could fluctuate right here. Still, I used to be impressed with the breadth of potentialities on what I initially solely considered a flowery e-reader.You’ll be capable of select from 5 totally different refresh price sorts by swiping up on the bottom-right nook of the show, every of which is constructed for various kinds of apps. Each choice sports activities an easy-to-understand description under, serving to make your determination clearer. When unsure, the Balanced mode is often finest.Better but, the backlight behind the show is totally PWM-free, making it the proper alternative for people who’re PWM-sensitive. It even has a shade temperature adjustment choice proper within the notification shade, letting you effortlessly regulate the brightness and shade temperature with a flick, it doesn’t matter what app you are utilizing.Android does all of it(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Because that is powered by Android 11 and comes with the Google Play Store preinstalled, you are able to do fairly actually something you need on this pocket-sized e-reader. I promptly put in the library app Libby, in addition to Google Play Books, the Kindle app, and the Bible, and I’ve often used all of those apps for the previous few months since I began the assessment course of.Sure, you possibly can hyperlink your Kindle or Kobo to the Libby app and have it sync with what you select in your telephone, however is not it simply nicer to do all of it from one app on one machine? Not to say all of the books I often purchase on Google Play Books due to the common gross sales Google holds.You can set up any app you need due to Google Play integration.I may even learn my legacy Kindle library on it, though Amazon makes it notoriously tough to purchase books from the Kindle app as of late. Still, when you’re already well-entrenched in Amazon’s Kindle retailer and do not wish to surrender the library, this machine is the proper alternative since you will not should.Image 1 of two(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)When utilizing the Palma primarily for studying books or gentle internet looking, you may discover the battery lasts for months at a time. After the primary 64 days of use, the Palma nonetheless had 24% battery left.On my second cost, I put in a bunch of extra apps, watched a number of movies for testing, and performed a number of video games. After 9 days of use, it is nonetheless at 67%, with the machine estimating I’ll get one other 21 days of use earlier than needing to cost it once more. I largely used it with the backlight off, however the Palma will nonetheless final you many days on a single cost when you select to make use of the backlight on a regular basis.In different phrases, you may by no means fear about battery life. And because it’s USB-C, discovering a charger will not be an issue, both.You can play video games like Minecraft or Vampire Survivors on it, however with out shade or a excessive body price, you most likely will not wish to.Despite this epic battery life, the octa-core processor inside was highly effective sufficient to run video games like Warcraft Rumble and Vampire Survivors, though I most likely would not advocate the latter very a lot for the reason that lack of shade makes it tough to determine issues within the sport when it will get hectic.And do not get me incorrect, this factor is not blazing quick. It’s not going to exchange your telephone except you are very affected person, and though you possibly can play one thing like Minecraft on it, you most likely will not wish to. Still, it is spectacular that each the processor and show are succesful sufficient to run issues like this, even when they’re solely primarily good for demonstration functions.A word on safety(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Over the years, numerous accusations have been flung in the direction of Onyx for good purpose. The firm’s privateness coverage was a joke for a very long time, though they’ve considerably improved it since.One Reddit submit from 3 years in the past famous that the privateness coverage allowed Onyx to make use of your data for something they see match. These days, you may discover no such point out within the privateness coverage. Instead, most of it’s fairly customary fare, together with a word that Onyx doesn’t share information with third events.Videos as latest as final 12 months present the Ksync course of “phones home” at common intervals however would not transmit any information past a ping. Using the identical NetGuard software, I used to be capable of confirm that Ksync doesn’t ping QQ servers or Ali Express on the Palma.From what I can inform, it is a far safer and personal machine than Onyx Boox units of previous.The finest small e-reader right now(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)If you are shopping for the Palma as an e-reader to exchange an previous Kindle or are simply trying into getting one thing slightly extra eye-friendly than your telephone for studying or looking, the Onyx Boox Palma will blow you away.When I began in search of e-readers with extra performance earlier this 12 months, I did not think about one thing just like the Boox Palma would present up so quickly. If nothing, the worst a part of the Palma is discovering the place to purchase one. The product has been notoriously out of inventory since its launch.But if you could find one, I assure you may be impressed. This is one of the best e-reader I’ve ever used.
Smartphone-sized e-reader
The Onyx Boox Palma could appear to be a smartphone, but it surely’s right here to place the facility of an e-ink e-reader within the palm of your hand. However, with Android and the Play Store, you possibly can nonetheless do issues like play video games, watch movies, browse the online, and extra!