Latest news with #BooxPalma2
The Verge
3 days ago
- Business
- The Verge
Verge readers can get a rare discount on the smartphone-sized Boox Palma 2 e-reader
Smartphones are convenient for reading on the go, but it's all too easy to get pulled into notifications or a quick glance at the news that spirals into full-on doomscrolling. That's what makes the Boox Palma 2 so appealing. It offers the portability of a phone in a far less distracting package, and until the end of the week, Verge readers can grab the e-reader with a free flip cover case, valued at $16, for $279.99 ($20 off) from Wellbots with code VERGEPALMA20. A minor upgrade over its predecessor, the Boox Palma 2 launched late last year while retaining everything we loved about the original. At 6.3 inches, the Android device is still as pocket-friendly as ever with an easy-to-read E Ink screen and impressive battery life. With Google Play Store built in, it maintains the flexibility that sets it apart from rivals. You can easily install popular reading apps like Amazon Kindle and Rakuten Kobo, giving you access to your entire digital library without having to sideload anything. You can also download apps for music, podcasts, note-taking, and even social media. Thankfully, though, the device runs apps like TikTok too slowly to be real distractions, while still being plenty fast for reading. The Boox Palma 2 also introduces a handful of new features missing from the first Palma. With Android 13 and an upgraded processor, it should last longer and receive a couple more years of security updates than the original's Android 11. It also features a fingerprint sensor built into the power button for convenience and a little extra peace of mind.
Forbes
13-05-2025
- Forbes
The Best Ebook Reader Definitely Isn't A Kindle
When most people decide they need a new ebook reader, they decide they need a new Kindle. Amazon dominates ebook publishing and it dominates ebook reader sales too. But there are several reasons why the best ebook reader isn't a Kindle. I've been testing the Boox Palma 2 over the past week and it's opened my eyes to the alternatives. Many people opt for a Kindle out of sheer convenience – me included – but only when you start exploring other devices do you realize just how restrictive and feature-light Kindle devices are. Here, then are the reasons to look beyond the Kindle and opt for an Android-based the next time you're in the market for an ebook reader. When you buy a Kindle, the only place you can really buy ebooks from is Amazon. You can't buy an ebook from, say, Google or the Kobo store and read it on your device. At least, not without tiresome workarounds. With an Android-based device such as the Boox Palma 2, you can play the field. When you're buying a book, you can shop around the various stores and go with the one that's cheapest. You don't have to rely on one supplier. Amazon, of course, is fiercely price competitive, but you can still buy from there too. The Kindle app is on the Play Store and there are few significant trade-offs from using the app instead of reading natively on a Kindle device. Which brings us to… My big fear of switching to a non-Kindle device was the reading experience would suffer. The Kindle, for all its limitations, delivers a pretty great experience. However, the Kindle app for Android has almost all of the key features. You can hold down on a word and look it up in a dictionary; you can quickly highlight passages by selecting lines of text; you can still take advantage of features such as X-Ray on supported titles. Even advanced features, such as the option to play the audiobook of the title you're reading and follow along on the page are available. The app still highlights the line being read and turns the page automatically. The only slight downside is that you can't buy books directly from the Kindle app because Amazon doesn't want to hand a slice of book revenue to Google. You have to order from the web browser instead. This may be more of a U.K./Europe thing than in the U.S., but having a non-Amazon ebook reader means you can now "borrow" ebooks from libraries. Here in West Sussex in the U.K., my local library offers support for the Libby app. This allows me to loan up to 10 ebooks from the library for up to 21 days, without any fees. Oddly, the ebooks work in a similar way to physical copies. The library only has so many copies of each available for loan, and if someone else has that title out, you have to wait your turn. But you can put your name down for a book and have it delivered when it's been returned by people in front of you in the queue. If you're not bothered about reading the latest bestsellers, it's a great way to read for free. Reading long articles on a phone/tablet/laptop's LCD screen is tiring. It's far preferable to read anything of length on an E Ink/epaper display that doesn't induce eye strain. The Kindle does have a web browser, but it's tucked away, unloved and underpowered. With an Android-based ebook reader, you can load on your favorite web browser, have access to all your bookmarks, and pick up where you left off on screen. My preferred browser, Vivaldi, has a built-in feature called Reading List where I can save long articles I want to read later. The desktop browser is synced with the mobile version on the Boox Palma 2, so when I have time to sit and read that article later, I can just pick it up from the ebook reader. The Pocket app is another good solution for this if you don't use Vivaldi. The Kindle did experiment with newspapers and magazines for a while, before abandoning the idea. However, with an Android-based reader, there are several ways to tuck into a newspaper. Titles such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and The Financial Times will have dedicated apps, as will magazines such as The Economist and Forbes. There are also reading apps such as PressReader and Readly, which offer Spotify-like all-you-can-eat access to hundreds of different magazines and newspapers, which you can enjoy at leisure on your ebook reader. These apps have reader modes, so that you don't have to scan across pages, but can just read the text of articles. If your ebook reader is an Android device, it's almost certainly going to be a lot more versatile than a Kindle. If you like to listen to music while you read, you can install Spotify or your streaming service of choice and play that in the background. If you want to listen to the radio, there's an app (or 700) for that. The Boox Palma 2 has a camera, which isn't great at taking photos, but is reasonably handy for scanning documents – a built-in app uses optical character recognition to turn that into editable text. You'd have to be something of a sadist to play anything but the most basic, Wordle-type games on an epaper screen, and although the Boox Palma 2 does let you watch videos, I wouldn't recommend it, even at the highest screen refresh rate. The Kindles are (by and large) great devices and I've used them almost daily for well over a decade. But now I can't see myself going back. The Android-based devices – which are available from several manufacturers, including Onyx Boox, Bigme and Meebook – offer so much more for your money, that my days of automatically recommending a Kindle as the best ebook reader are over.
NBC News
24-04-2025
- NBC News
I tested this e-reader for 3 months — can it replace my Kindle?
The beauty of reading, for me, has always been the physical act — turning a page, folding a dog ear to mark my spot or slipping off a hardcover's dust jacket. But while I love physical books, I can't deny the convenience of an e-reader. I've owned several versions of the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite over the last five or six years. It's a great device, but I always dreamed of something more flexible — something not so tethered to the Amazon ecosystem. That's what drew me to the Onyx Boox Palma 2. I tested the Boox Palma 2 for over three months, using it to read books, flip through manga, listen to podcasts and even scan documents. Picture an e-ink display packed into a smartphone-sized body — that's the Palma 2. Here's everything you should know before switching to this e-reader. What is the Boox Palma 2? Onyx Boox Palma 2 The Boox Palma 2 is far more than a traditional e-reader. It can browse the web, play music and podcasts, and download any app available in the Google Play Store — making it less of a dedicated e-reader and more of a distraction-free smart device. It's also roughly the size of an iPhone 16 Pro Max, compact enough to fit in the palm of your hand. The Palma 2 is versatile and easy to use. I could read through multiple books and comics because of how comfortable it felt in my hand. My Kindle, while lightweight, could often feel cumbersome to hold for longer reading sessions; the Palma 2 alleviated that issue — it weighs only six ounces. The battery life was also excellent. I could get anywhere from one to two weeks between charges during my testing. You can also pair the Boox Palma to a keyboard and type up notes. If you want a device that can pull double duty as a semi-smart phone without distracting notifications or constant alerts, you will see the beauty of the Palma 2 design. How I tried the Boox Palma 2 Boox sent me the Palma 2 to test, and I used it extensively for three months. I read multiple books, streamed music and podcasts and explored its full app functionality. I used it alongside my Kindle Paperwhite to compare refresh rates, UI smoothness and battery performance. My experience with the Boox Palma 2 What I like Display and reading experience The Palma 2's e-ink screen is crisp and clear — especially noticeable when reading visually rich content like comics or manga. I loved being able to switch between Libby, the Kindle app and even uploaded PDF and EPUB files. The device is format-agnostic, which means you're not locked into one ecosystem — a huge plus over most e-readers. Portability and design What sets the Palma 2 apart is its portability. It's about the size of a phone, weighs just six ounces, and easily fits into your back pocket or jacket. While the Kindle is also lightweight, the Palma's slim form factor and added functionality make it feel more practical for daily use. The Palma 2 also includes a fingerprint sensor and customizable side buttons. I programmed mine to quickly launch my notes app or open a web browser — features you won't find on a Kindle or Kobo. Audio and connectivity The Palma 2 has built-in Bluetooth, so connecting headphones was a breeze. I listened to Spotify, Audible, and podcasts without any issues. I also connected a Bluetooth keyboard for note-taking — the pairing process was seamless. Battery life I was consistently impressed by the battery. I could go one to two weeks without needing a charge, even while streaming music and reading daily. Compared to my Kindle, it held its own — and it even helped conserve my phone's battery since I used it instead of doom-scrolling. Apps and Android flexibility Because the Palma 2 runs on Android, you can download any app from the Play Store — including Gmail, TikTok (yes, I tried it), Google Docs and more. After I had a device filled with my favorite productivity and reading apps, it essentially helped me replace my smartphone — it was basically a distraction-free phone. Potential drawbacks to keep in mind The Palma 2's $280 price tag is steep and arguably its biggest downside. While it's packed with features, it's more expensive than a standard Kindle or Kobo. If you value flexibility and portability, then it's worth it. The device's plastic body also feels flimsy compared to the Kindle Paperwhite, which has a more premium, sturdy build. That said, this didn't significantly affect my overall experience — the trade-off is its featherlight design. Who is the Boox Palma 2 for? If the idea of a smaller smartphone-sized e-reader that does more than just display books interests you, the Boox Palma 2 will immediately become appealing to you. The Boox Palma 2 can't replace my love for paperback books, but I must admit this is one of the most enjoyable e-readers on the market. Why trust NBC Select? I am an editor at NBC Select who writes and edits stories on various topics including tech, fitness, home and more. I have covered major shopping holidays and other events for over five years. For this article, I tested the Boox Palma 2 for months alongside the Amazon Kinlde Paperwhite.
NBC News
07-03-2025
- Business
- NBC News
The 6 best Amazon Kindle alternatives, tested by our editors
The Amazon Kindle is one of our favorite e-readers, but it's not everyone's favorite. Maybe you want to branch out from the Kindle store and try out other ebook distributors. Maybe you don't own many Amazon products, so the whole 'Amazon ecosystem' thing isn't that useful to you. Whatever the reason, there are plenty of excellent alternatives to the Amazon Kindle. We've tested a few, and share our recommended picks below. How we picked the best Amazon Kindle alternatives To pick the best Amazon Kindle alternatives, we tried models from brands like Kobo and Boox, and kept the following criteria in mind when using them: Compatibility: One of the main reasons to get a non-Kindle device is access to non-Kindle storefronts. Our top picks can purchase and read content from multiple storefronts, in multiple file formats. Screen: Different kinds of screens are better suited to different tasks — a tiny black and white screen isn't very comfortable for reading comic books, for example. We made sure to include e-readers with different screens suited to different tasks. Battery life: Nobody wants another device to remember to charge. Most of our top picks have days or weeks of battery life, enough for vacations and weekend getaways. The best Amazon Kindle alternatives in 2025 Many of our top picks came from Rakuten Kobo, an Amazon Kindle competitor, with other options coming from brands like Boox and Apple. Below each recommendation we share specifications we think you should know when shopping. Best overall: Rakuten Kobo Clara BW If you are looking for a low-cost e-reader this is the one to get. It's Kobo's lowest-priced e-reader and is very similar to a kindle, with a glare-free black and white screen design that's perfect for reading text. You can purchase books directly from the Rakuten Kobo store, rent books from your local library with the built-in Libby / Overdrive app or read ebooks you've purchased from other stores. The device is compact and lightweight, and is IPX8 waterproof — well-suited to travel. You can also get it in a colour version, the Kobo Clara Colour, but that version is a little pricier. NBC Select contributing writer Maria Cassano tested this color e-reader for a few weeks after the brand sent her one to try out — she recommends it to any avid reader. It's easy to read books from the Kobo store and the public library, plus you can read online articles by syncing the device with the Pocket app. But the color touchscreen, page-turning buttons and note-taking stylus (sold separately) are what really solidified this e-reader as one of Cassano's favorites. You can read more in her Kobo Libra Colour review. NBC Select commerce editor Jordan Bowman has been testing the Boox Palma 2 for over three weeks — it's now his go-to device for reading any and everything. I say everything because, unlike our recommendations from Kobo, the Boox Palma 2 is not strictly an e-reader — it's actually a stripped-down Android phone with an e-reader-style black and white display. That means you can do anything you would normally do on your phone (TikTok included), but the slow screen lends itself most to reading. It is compact and pocketable, much more than our other recommendations. Bowman uses it to read articles online and on apps like Libby, Shonen Jump and more. 'The written word is your oyster when it comes to the Palma 2,' says Bowman. I've mentioned Libby multiple times already: it's a free public library app that makes it easy to rent ebooks (and audiobooks) from your local library's catalog. I've used it for over five years to read books on my phone, tablet or e-reader — it's available on every device we recommend here. All you have to do is sign in with your library card, then you can search your library's collection, place holds, checkout titles and send them to your device(s). It's my favorite way to discover new books and audiobooks. Best for note taking: Rakuten Kobo Elipsa 2E This is Kobo's best e-reader for note-taking. It comes with the Kobo Stylus 2, which has a convenient built-in highlighter button and eraser cap. You can use the stylus to write and annotate any ebook or document you have on the device. It's also easy to import and export files to your Dropbox or Google Drive account. Plus, the larger 10-inch screen is much more comfortable to write on than the brand's smaller devices. Outside of note-taking, the Elipsa 2E works similarly to the other Kobo e-readers on this list — you can read all kinds of ebooks and also listen to audiobooks by pairing any wireless earbuds. I use an iPad and the Libby app anytime I want to read a graphic novel or comic book. I linked the lowest-priced iPad, the iPad 10th generation, above, but really any iPad can handle comics and graphic novels — I personally use an older iPad Air (4th Generation) for this kind of reading. While e-readers like the Kobo Libra Colour have color displays, none can match the vivid, colorful screen of an iPad. And for graphic novels and comics, where half the fun is enjoying the artistry and detail in each illustration, a high-resolution screen is a must, in my experience. The downside is battery life: this iPad 10th generation has up to 10 hours of battery life — that's nothing compared to the days or even weeks of our other picks. How to shop for Kindle alternatives Regardless of the type of e-reader you are shopping for, there are a few things to keep in mind as you shop. Where (and what) you can read E-readers from brands like Amazon and Kobo are mostly restricted to a single bookstore: the Kindle store or the Kobo store respectively. While both brands also support alternatives like the Libby app, these traditional e-readers are more limited than devices like the Boox Palma or Apple iPad. If you are looking to read any and everything: news articles, library books, comic books or internet PDFs, a device that runs Android or Apple software may be more flexible than a traditional ereader. But if you are an ebook purist, traditional e-readers have the simplest interface and longest battery life. Screen size and resolution A big, colorful screen is best, right? Not always. How sharp and crisp text and imagery appears on your screen depends on a few things: screen size, brightness, resolution and pixels-per-inch (PPI) to name a few. If you are just reading ebooks, a simple e-reader like the Rakuten Kobo Clara BW is more than enough. But if you really want colorful comic book pages to pop, something like a tablet will render each page with more detail and resolution than a color e-reader display. Why trust NBC Select? I am a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including recent stories on TVs, running shoes, streaming devices and more. For this piece, I leveraged my and other NBC Select staff experience using e-readers outside of Amazon Kindle. I also researched top-rated options on the market.
