Boox Palma: Review of an E-Ink Device That Despite Its Identity Crysis Has Plenty to Offer
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- čas přidán 8. 07. 2024
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00:00 Intro
01:39 Device Overview
04:12 Benefits and Shortcomings of E-Ink Screens
06:37 Screen Refresh Options
09:40 Device Layout
11:42 Camera
13:07 What Is It, Actually?
13:34 Palma As an E-Book Reader
15:42 Palma As a PDF Reader
17:52 Video Capabilities
21:19 Battery
24:19 My Impression
27:46 Conclusion: Cons
32:11 Conclusion: Pros
34:12 Conclusion: Summary
#mydeepguide #boox #palma
Boox has announced the official release of their experimental device, the Palma. This 6.13" E-Ink powered, little monster of a device is a bit odd, but if you give it a chance (and some internet), it will surprise you, in a good way! Let's check it out! :)
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I think it's unfair to say that it "shouldn't" look like a smart phone just because it isn't one. It's just an ereader with much more practical use because it runs on android. As a traveler, I look for every possible way to downsize everything I can as well as purchasing multiple use case items. This is a delight that I've been wanting for ages. Something that doesn't always have to be stuffed in my rucksack. I can just put it in my poclet and start reading. Love it.
SAME!
Always had issues with ereaders sizes to carry and handling, dont like to read on my phone also. So even the cons the device is genious on form factor and size, configurations, options, settings, possibilities and quality of the display. So I went for it to replace my Kobo 305. No phone, no problem, When I receive it I will test whatsapp calls with wifi. Device is selling like crazy so peoples love the concept. BTW this is a ereader from the start!
Thank you for this very honest review again, Voja. I agree with all your cons, though I could live without a SIM as it wouldn't become a smartphone replacement for me. However the biggest con for me personally would be that it doesn't have e-ink note-taking capability. Rather I would really want to use it as a quick note jotter more than anything. Give it a small S-Pen and it would be perfect for that in my eyes.
You can use it for notes via by keyboard also it can use a capacitance stylus
@@robertmiles4416 - True, but still missing the point of the real notepad.
If this was a phone I would leave my iPhone forever.
Hisense does make epaper phones, just sayin'
Same here, why don‘t they add cellular connection?
@@MrMagicFreedom it seems even a data connection could utilize google voice?
No u won't , you will miss colour
@@tahirahmed33I'm pretty sure it was a joke, but maybe not
Sometimes, one needs a cellphone for setting alarms, receiving notifications, checking calendar, reading emails, even just to use apps like Pomodoro timers, stopwatches, and so on. However, attempting these tasks with a cell phone can often lead to distractions, pulling you away to do something else and wasting valuable time. I believe this device is perfect for all these use cases, even for employing it as an 'assistant' with voice commands. When carrying out these tasks in a fixed location, be it at home, in a library, or in the kitchen, it might be advantageous not to have a SIM card, as it can serve as another source of distraction with incoming calls or text messages. Personally, I'd like to have it for all the purposes I mentioned earlier. Excellent video as always.
- I always have this reader with me and can read anywhere.
- I always scribble on pieces of paper and what I think is worth keeping is scanned and prepared for the large devices.
- I make recordings of conversations or speak minutes myself.
This saves me a lot of unnecessary Notes handling.
Can you note take on the device?
@@simonhenry7867 No, but I don't do that with the pen on the devices where it is possible.
If I use a pen, it's to annotate pdf files and a Palma is too small for that
Wow, this device is fantastic! It's reminiscent of the old PDAs, but with even more productive features. At the same time, it avoids all the distractions that modern smartphones come with, which tend to foster addiction and keep us endlessly scrolling through social media. For instance, there are times when I just want to set an alarm for the night before going to bed, and suddenly an hour has passed while I mindlessly browsed through unnecessary content on social platforms. All of this underscores the importance of studying how technology impacts our brains.
Boox should consider marketing this device not only for eye health due to its e-ink screen but also for its potential to promote "mental health" by reducing smartphone addiction. It's well-documented that smartphones trigger dopamine release and exploit the brain's reward system, which has been proven in numerous studies.
The only aspect I didn't quite like is the size of the bezels; they are quite large. Additionally, those rounded corners aren't to my liking. Why not make use of the sharp 90-degree angles? Everyone seems to be imitating Apple in that regard, whereas Boox could certainly establish its own unique identity.
My opinion is that it's a PDA similar to old school Palm and I would love it if it had a stylus! I'm better organized without all the distractions and would not want it to be a "phone". My iPhone can take care of calls.
I would definitely buy because of its portability. This could fit more pockets than other e readers. I wonder how it renders PDFs compared to the lightest and most compact kindle.
Pdf would be a disaster on such a small device. The text would be far too tiny cause pdf does not reflow to match your screen size like most ebooks do
do u need to use wifi to eread? im just here to eread on books that i want and possibily comic books.
It would be less of a disaster if it had the navigation feature that most other boox tablets have. @@enadegheeghaghe6369
I've seen some reviews that discuss that.
Been waiting since I heard about this device for your review, thank you!
Very thorough! Thank you for sharing!
I have Hisense A5 Pro, not because it's the best, but because it's one of few really usable eink smartphones. If Palma had dual Sim option, I would be buy it with no hesitation
Early adopter with non pro version myself. Great for reading and music, but voice calls over WhatsApp have been strange, like other side can barely hear me...
Excellent and very comprehensive and thoughtful review! Well done.
Thank you for the channel! Just one question: Does the Play Store see the device as a tablet, or as a phone? There are some apps which don't work with tablets (eg. Jodel).
Thank you so much for the PDF demonstration!!!
I got one of these as a companion to my remarkable 2. I like the idea of having a device solely for reading and writing that allow you to download apps from the Play store! With ADHD I get distracted from other apps like social media on my phone so hoping to get less distracted on this device when I need to sit down and wind-down from that. Super excited to get my white one in the mail! Thank you, again, Voja! Another amazing review. You are such an underrated ereader reviewer and my go to for everything I'm interested in getting.
I too was thinking of having it a a remarkable 2 companion
@@robertmiles4416 highly recommend! I already love mine! I'm also going to use it as a Rabbit R1 companion since I am unsure if I want to connect it to my phone just yet.
If this had stylus support I’d consider paying double. A truly pocket-able e ink notepad with the quality of Oynx devices, sign me up!
Same opinion, stylus support will be great and 4G/5G so we can sync on mobile network our data.
Wait till 2026
Thank you for the review! I have Hisense A5 Pro CC and the hardware looks strikingly similar, but the software looks much better here. I just wish that Boox releases with kaleido 3 with their screen fresh GPU and mobile SIM connection. I am tired of dealing with the iffy software on hisense and no access to google play.
Been wanting a portable mobile eReader. Would you recommend? I’ve seen other devices for 3 to 4 hundred. What should I do?
I think it has a very niche target audience and I happen to be in that group. I want an eReader that can do cell phone things when I need it to. I'll mostly be using this at work where I have WiFi. I'd like to be able to read books, articles, or manga through an app or website or instead have a CZcams stream playing in the background (screen off) and then slip this in my pocket when I go for a walk while listening to an audiobook or some music. These are things I can't do with my Kindle because it's too big to fit in my pocket and it's locked to the Kindle store. I'd rather just use the Kindle for long reading sessions at home.
when i first saw this device, i didn't see a smart phone, i saw an e-reader and notepad. I mean a notepad like the tiny ones that you keep in your pocket. It would be nice to be able to take quick notes with a pen. However, it doesn't seem to work with a pen and is it the case that there is no notes app on it?
That is correct, Palma is only touch capable, there is no Wacom layer here and no support for EMR pens.
@@MyDeepGuide thanks but can we save some tasklist With a virtual keyboard?
Hi, i have pretty high eye sight negative power and i am a IT Professional and i like animation i am looking for tab which can has good external moniter support and i sould able to scrible in it i don't need any other big feature just a tab or moniter for my computer in which i can cloud be able scrible and doodle thats it pls give me suggestion thanks for your support for e ink people like me really need it, we cant escape screen so we need this harmless screen
I basically have oyxn boox max lumi, tab x in mind any other suggestion are welcome
I would LOVE the Palma as a phone.
You know, I'm glad this exists, but without being an actual phone, I don't have a practical use for something like this when I already have a phone, and if I want something to read with, I have ereaders already that can give me more comfortable screen size.
But you can't always have devices with an acceptable screen size - whatever that means - with you
@@wernerarts Yeah, but I also don't need more things weighing down my pockets, and having "two phones" on me would quickly become very annoying, so... if I'm really caught out, I'll just have to use my cell phone. Also, I don't trust any eink device to stay safe in my pockets anymore.
"Decent size" to me means 7.8", which is about the size of a standard paperback.
I feel like large phone manufacturers are missing a trick by not exploring eink options :/
Eink is still a small market. I don't think large phone manufacturers are bothered with it
Great review. I was vaguely thinking about one of these as I have some texty-appy stuff that would be great on a screen that doesn't sear my eyeballs first thing in the morning, but I think given the various cons etc I would be deeply overpaying for some minor convenience at best, and the cons are quite extensive.
I have this device now for 5 weeks and I love reading on it. Fairly irritating however: It is the first boox reader where you can not define the library as your home page.
Sounds like a ye olde Palm Pilot device. At the time it was a very powerful device. Those of you who don't know or remember, those were really powerful* Personal Digital Assistants (pre smartphone).
*powerful for that time 😁
I still have my HP with the color display 😊 only, I have to find a new battery for it. Apparently 20 years in the drawer is a killer. 😅
@@bokusimondesu I've got a b&w Handspring device that still works brilliantly thanks to running on AAA batteries. (That realization is what has caused me to largely seek out devices that take standard batteries rather than bespoke rechargables that will render the device useless within about a decade.)
Fond memories of standing in bright sunlight with my very first smartphone, a Palm treo. Easily setting my schedule, texting, looking up info. Unable to replicate that very same behavior ever since then.
What type of usb-c does it support?
There is no way I can install external dictionary on this device. Dictionary app does not recognize files transferred to the dicts folder. On my Boox Note it works fine and installed dictionaries are seen in the app.
I am debating in whether I should get the boox palma or the hisense A9. It is a lot harder to find a reputable reseller for the hisense where I am from. Due to new laws in my country too the phone won't be able to use local sim card anyway so I don't think it matters. Boox have expandable micro sd which I am thankful for. This wont replace my main phone. I am just wondering which of the 2 e ink device have a smoother screens when scrolling and or watching video.
The Palma has Super Refresh Technology
Hi, do you still have the Palma and still use it? I've been reading of folks having issues with it.
I was looking at the ink palm but the extra effort to get it in english and even then it's a kludge was an issue. I just want a device to read books. Can you turn off the gpu?
Unfortunately no.
Is it scratch resistant? Have you got any scratches on it?
Thank you, nice review! I think towards the end you hit on my initial struggle with this device, how would I use this? I did end up ordering one, and for one main reason, portability. I can take this very easily wherever I go. It easily fits in pockets, so it is perfect for people who are constantly on the go like me. I read for fun, and I read news articles such as from the NY Times and WSJ apps. This device will be perfect for that. What I DONT need, is an E-Ink phone and here's why. The screen is not optimized for many every day tasks such as video or navigation. To compete it would have to be something more like a thousand dollar phone, which doesn't make sense for a device with an E-Ink screen. I think they got it right by just making this a very capable and very portable reader that can run most android apps.
I love this form factor. I've had the Inkpalm5 for a year and it's my favorite e-ink device. It would be nice if the Palma's GPU could be completely disabled for times that you don't need any of the extra nice FPS.
Agreed.
Where can I buy it in Canada with return policy?
Anyone know of a cover that Can make it stand on with a tilt on the horisontal orientation? Yes I read lying down 😂
It's not a smartphone replacement. It's a pocket size e-reader. I have Tab Ultra which doesn't fit into any kind of a waist bag, so I never take it with me when I go outside without a backpack. Sometimes I don't even take the waistbag. But I don't like reading on my phone, so a device like this would be for my 2nd pocket :)
So! Would it be worth it to upgrade for them Poke 3 to the Palma?
I love the photos
Can this make for a good daily organizer?
Will there be Android updates? You can convert PDFs to other formats.
Does is work with the hoopla and Libby apps?
Yes!
If it had a pen so I could take quick notes with it, I'd buy one.
Have you experienced any difficulties pairing Bluetooth devices (like earbuds) with the Palma?
Ni, but I haven't done extensive testing. I tried my earbuds, a speaker and a keyboard, and all 3 worked fine, and the device remembered them after pairing. But that was just in the span of couple of weeks, and only 3 devices.
I was happily thinking they had made a palm-sized notebook, really sad it doesn't take handwriting with a pen. 😕
I'd be happy with this as a reader, but with two screens like a Surface Duo, and at half the price. That would be great. The Amazon Kindle Fold perhaps?!
In 2025 expect folding eink devices
Am I the only one who thinks this device would be better as a slightly wider device, like the older Samsung Note phones like Note 4? Still pocketable, but nice to hold and shows a more page-like aspect ratio display.
I want one because, my old kindle doesn’t do inversion. And using kindle, kudos, epubs on my android I don’t like the led screen to read. And use a dugfferent audio book reader I can’t load on kindle.
299 euro is a bit steep, so for now I'll stick with my Boox Leaf. But it's a very interesting device. Maybe when there's a sale for it for 250 euro, I might consider it.
Is the front glass or plastic? Was very shiny in the video.
I wonder, can you use it for wiring with a stylus? Can it be a budget eInk tablet?
No. There is no Wacom layer. It does not respond to stylus input. A missed opportunity.
You can search CZcams
i love mine but i cant find a case for it
Agree with you about android 11...
Im considering getting this as an audio player (just use a usb c dongle dac / bluetooth), pair that with the battery life of an eink screen... seems pretty perfect for that use case.
If that is your use case, then save your money and just use your cellphone. The battery life is about the same.
@@slydog7131 ok ty!!
Is it possible to drm-authorize this device?
This device is a MUST HAVE - get it - very cool device !!
I think that palma is awesome, good on you Boox
I have it and I like it. But it would be nice to have a sim card for syncing data and reading online articles. And good water resistance for beach, pool, bath tube, and cleaning.
I might get it but I would be less on the fence if it had GPU on/off, wacom layer & sim slot
how is the typing experience?
It's ok-ish, I would give it a C.
There is a typo in the video's title: crisis. Thank you for uploading.
It's not a typo, it's me doing a call back to a game called Crysis that I loved to play back in the day :)
@@MyDeepGuide Oh! My bad! Thank you for correcting me.
Great review and cons listing. Thank you!
For me, the form factor (indeed maybe without the inner rounded bezels) is a plus in portability and page scrolling.
I love that I can have combined use of a one-hand-held Kindle and Kobo e-reader.
At home, I could largely use it as a smartphone substitute as long as I do not need to actually call someone. Similarly on trips and where it saves my actual phone battery life (of course the downside here is that the device itself consumes way more than an e-reader would).
Reasons for me not to buy it:
- lack of 3.5mm audio jack
- Android 11 ; longevity uncertainty
- overheating
- 2 days of battery life (reading, some listening over cable headphones, standby) I would expect from an e-ink device. Super refresh on the other hand is not needed for anything not video or browsing.
I really like the device! On the go, I could get used to reading vertically, just like I do with a mobile phone.
Is there good handwriting recognition with a stylus or finger, or is that not really possible?
Not possible.
Wuhoo! Been waiting for your review of this. Even if I'm not buying the Palma, I just like watching your reviews to relax lol
Are you going to do a review of the Tab Mini C still or just the unboxing video posted a while back?
Will do a review as well, but probably this kind of non-suoer-in-depth, because there is a backlog of devices to get through.
@@MyDeepGuide Great! Looking forward to it. You unboxing was actually pretty in-depth already but I’m just curious about the other specifics :)
So sad that it's not a phone. It will be a useful second phone for example to use it with google maps in the wild.
This would have made a terrible google maps device because it’s eink
Maps with no colors? Nope
How weird, that I just see this on FB and thought hmm I should look at mdg for a review, and I check my notifications and there is a video by mdg in notifications
Well not that weird, as the embargo date on the review was at the same time the official release information went. So, you got the relevant information delivered to you :)
I have a boox Poke 5 and a Kindle Signature edition (redundant, but i leave the poke in my bag because it's small and use the kindle at home)
is the screen on the palma more like the poke or more like the kindle? the warm backlight is much more uniform and text is sharper on the kindle. if this is the same quality i would buy it
I hope this is a test version of a future phone
This will be perfect for reading on the beach. Sunlight and sunglasses make phone screens unreadable.
Boox needs to make a smartphone and a small Windows laptop.
Was hoping I could use as a notebook with handy notes I can write anywhere… :(
Although you can't use a stylus with it, you can install a note app and use keyboard or voice-to-text input. Not quite as fluid as with a stylus, but still useful.
If it was a phone, then I'd have had regrets about just getting the Zenfone 10.
For what it is, I prefer my nova air.
Is Boox Palma against water even if it is completely drowned in water?
That need a Sim slot for sure.
I use A9 daily. so palma looks promising in the GPU/Display part only.
The A9 has been rooted. No need for the Boox anymore.
Maybe Boox is waiting to see if there is a large enough group that purchases this device before it goes through all the different legalities it would have to go through in order to get a phone approved in different countries. For instance there are a few brands that are not allowed to be sold in the US due to “spying” concerns.
As far as missing the color for one I spent the first 25 years of my life with only a land line then another 15 with only a black and white cell phone. My first television at 15 was a black and white and it was great. So even though color is nice it isn’t a priority four me. For me it would be a wonderful option as I suffer from a neurological condition per my neurologist I am not to read or spend much time scrolling on my phone. And I can tell the difference when I read a book on my kindle verses on my phone. The fact that I can have kindle plus kobo on the same device is a plus as well. Thanks for your wonderful reviews.
It’s meant as a ebook reader. Think of it as a kindle w/ Google play & more features and great expandable memory
It’s funny this kinda device existed for years on Ali express I forget the name
But the one I have has a much nicer form factor
Software should be able to get the reading time up. That GPU doesn't sound like it's going to sleep really
For Asia with mobile it’s a compelling device. People buy those phone over here and not use the mobile component.
The Boox Palma seems to be more of an e-ink iPod Touch replacement than a smartphone replacement.
Agreed it's more of a smartphone companion since it's about the size and weight of one at the end of the day it's just a super compact and customisable android tablet with an e-ink screen I'm not sure why that is so difficult for people to grasp, it does that job well and it far better than a kindle paper white for portability, power form factor and software at the cost of battery life
The battery is still going to last a week or 2 of moderate use without the WiFi or Bluetooth which for most average readers who like to work on a book out on errands or travelling is MORE THAN ENOUGH
If they made it a cell phone and removed the camera (eInk + camera makes zero sense) I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
Camera makes sense if you want to scan ducuments or articles feom paper. I use it to do so.
Man, that battery life is disappointing. I was expecting a week or more for e-ink.
I don't know what they do now, but Amazon used to advertise Kindle battery life based on 1/2 hour of reading a day. By that measure, the Palma will last about 3 weeks or so per charge. If you start using it like a cell phone (watching videos, browsing the web, etc.) and using it continuously, then it's about like a smartphone.
Plus load kudo & epub, plus kindle.
I want it so bad. Nevemind I checked the price.
Apple, if you're listening, please make an iPad Mini with an e-Ink screen!
I wonder how many hours of use you get if you're using listening to audiobooks through Audible or music transferred to device or spotify?
Also wondering how text looks while using Google Drive files like sheets/docs?
The battery is a shame! Such a cool device.
Hi Voja, with your privileged contact with Boox, could you ask them to make a smartphone with kaleido 3? I think it would be an instant by for many people
Would want a sand/water resistant "beach" model as bright sun is perfect for eink reading. Don't want to be bothered at beach, so no sim is fine. Let it sync reading page location with my larger boox devices, give it a camera upgrade for beach/fishing photos and it would be a very good "disconnect from the world, take the kids to the beach and read the same book I am reading on larger devices at home" device.
How do you want to sync without sim card on the beach? You don't have to use it like a phone but sync or reading articles without wifi would be nice.
Plus a camera
I would buy it, if I could write on it...
Hm.....now this is interesting
The missing internet connection through no sim would be not an issue. But i need the possibility to call people - and this i can't do with the device.
Ans in the end: android 11 is a deal-breaker for me.
What advantage would Android 13 offer? It's not a phone
@@enadegheeghaghe6369 but it is a device, which you will use for quite some time in the future, hopefully.
It is mostly about security updates, general support, new features of android.
And it is absolutely clear, that boox will not update the os in the future. And they are even selling android 12 devices. Which is still pretty old.
Android 9 still works great, don't always need latest and buggiest...
@@NotJustme-dh4bn android 9 is not supported for about 2 years. It is a huge security issue. It can easily be a thread for you local network.
And no - new android versions are not more buggy than android 9. Boox has quite buggy software, yes. But it is their fault, not an issue of actual android versions.
It looks like they are testing the ground for an actual e-ink phone.
Who would use it horizontally?? lol. It is designed that way so u can fit it into ur hands and is amazing for speadreading because the columns will be narrow. Specially with the buttons
What a lost opportunity not to include SIM on this. I really hope we see more phones with e-ink screens in the near future. I will jump on it without turning back
I absolutely do NOT want it as a smart phone replacement. I don't want my reader to provide the interruption and distraction a phone has. The pocket size makes it portable. Why would I want a smart device replacement when what I want is an easy travel reader. This is awesome. If it was a smart device replacement I wouldn't even consider it. I think saying it is supposed to be a smart phone replacement is incorrect. Not everyone even wants that