Onyx Boox has consistently pushed boundaries with its Android-powered, E Ink-based devices. The Boox Palma 2 is the company’s latest effort to shrink the traditional e-reader into a smartphone-like form factor, offering portability without skimping on performance. On paper, it sounds promising: Android 13, a six-inch display, loads of customization features, and app compatibility—particularly with Kindle and other major reading platforms.
What makes this device intriguing isn’t just its specs, but the fact that it’s aiming to become the “do-everything” pocket reader. Unlike conventional e-ink tablets that stay docked on your nightstand, the Palma 2 is thin, narrow, and genuinely pocketable, designed for people who want their library in their jeans—literally.
With onboard storage rivaling smartphones, a rear camera, customizable page-turn buttons, and a level of tweaking freedom unmatched by Kindles or Kobos, the Boox Palma 2 seems to be writing its own rulebook. But does this jack-of-all-trades succeed in balancing functionality with simplicity? And more importantly—can it justify the premium price tag compared to other e-readers?
Let’s dive deep into every aspect of this mini Android e-ink reader to see if it’s worth the investment or if it’s just a gimmick in a tiny shell.
Design and Build Quality:
The Boox Palma 2 walks the fine line between smartphone and e-reader, and that’s immediately obvious when you first hold it. Its slim, tall profile is closer to a phone than a Kindle, making it uniquely portable. It fits effortlessly into most jean or jacket pockets, which is a major convenience for on-the-go readers.
The build feels solid with a matte textured rear that helps reduce fingerprints while also offering better grip. The surface is practical—not luxurious—but it suits the utilitarian, no-nonsense nature of the device. On the back, you’ll find a single camera module with flash, though it’s mostly for document scanning rather than snapping Instagram-worthy shots.
Physical buttons are located smartly along the right edge: volume up/down (which also double as page-turn buttons) and a power button. There’s also a customizable multifunction button on the left side that can be programmed for full refreshes, app-switching, or other actions—a thoughtful touch for power users.
A speaker grill and USB-C port line the bottom edge, flanked by a pair of small microphone cutouts. Everything is where it should be and feels purpose-built. While it doesn’t ooze premium like an iPhone, it definitely doesn’t feel like a budget device either.
It’s worth noting the entire shell is plastic, but it doesn’t creak or flex. The materials strike a good balance between weight and durability. If you’ve ever wished your Kindle could be half the width and more like a phone, the Palma 2 answers that call.
Display Specs And Biometrics:
The Palma 2 boasts a 6.13-inch E Ink Carta 1200 panel with a resolution of 824 × 1648 pixels (300 PPI), which is ideal for sharp text rendering. The screen is flush with the bezels and supports a front light system with both cold and warm temperature settings. This allows you to adjust lighting depending on time of day or reading environment.
The screen brightness is even for the most part, though some users may notice slightly brighter patches at the bottom edge. It’s a minor flaw, and for a front-lit display, the uniformity is more than acceptable. Reading on this screen is an absolute joy, especially in high-contrast mode, which darkens the text for better legibility.
Boox includes its BSR (Boox Super Refresh) technology, enabling smoother transitions and scrolling across the UI and within apps. This greatly reduces the ghosting effect common in E Ink panels. Refresh modes can be toggled between Balanced, Fast, and Ultrafast depending on your task—perfect for optimizing between smoothness and clarity.
As for biometrics, there’s a fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button. It’s quick and reliable, offering a secure way to unlock the device without relying on PIN codes or swipe gestures.
Text clarity is excellent, and the panel supports dark mode across compatible apps. Whether you’re using NeoReader (Boox’s native app) or third-party reading apps like Kindle, the experience is surprisingly fluid.
Software Updates And Apps:
Running Android 13, the Palma 2 gives you full access to the Google Play Store out of the box—a rarity in the e-reader world. This opens up a wide variety of apps including Kindle, Kobo, Pocket, Wikipedia, and even note-taking or productivity tools.
What sets Boox apart is the sheer depth of customization. You can fine-tune everything from refresh behavior, UI size, navigation gestures, and font rendering, to background wallpapers and standby screen modes.
There’s also an AI assistant built in, along with a kids mode and screen recorder—useful if you’re doing tutorials or sharing workflows. The onboard NeoReader app supports virtually every format you throw at it, except DRM-protected titles.
A minor downside is that Android apps aren’t always optimized for E Ink displays. Apps like Google Play Books may glitch or fail to open. Dark mode rendering may not always look great unless you use the NeoReader. But most third-party apps like Kindle and Pocket work admirably.
Background audio apps need additional tweaks in the settings to function without auto-suspending—this includes unfreezing the app and configuring power-saving modes. A bit of effort, but doable for advanced users.
Performance and Chipsets:
Powering the Boox Palma 2 is an octa-core processor coupled with 6GB of RAM. For an e-reader, that’s generous. The chipset manages background tasks, multitasking, and app switching smoothly without significant slowdowns.
Even tasks like web browsing or scrolling through Wikipedia feel much smoother than on comparable Kindles or Kobos. BSR helps here immensely—text redraw is fast, gestures are fluid, and UI animations don’t feel sluggish like traditional E Ink devices.
Storage is equally generous at 128GB internal, and there’s a MicroSD card slot for expansion. Performance-wise, it behaves more like a budget Android phone with an E Ink display, making it one of the most versatile e-readers on the market.
Battery Life And Charging Speed:
Despite its compact form, the Palma 2 holds up decently in the battery department. Thanks to E Ink’s frugality and smart software optimizations, you can expect several days of light to moderate use per charge.
Charging is handled via USB-C and supports up to 18W safe fast charging. This isn’t blazing fast by phone standards but is perfectly adequate for an e-reader.
Boox also includes several options for optimizing battery life: auto-off timers, deep sleep, and refresh interval tweaks.
Connectivity:
Connectivity options on the Palma 2 include Wi-Fi 2.4GHz/5GHz, Bluetooth 5.0, and USB-C OTG support.
There is no SIM card slot, so it can’t function as a phone, which may disappoint some hoping for a minimalist hybrid device. However, VoIP apps like Google Voice and WhatsApp work fine over Wi-Fi.
Bluetooth support ensures compatibility with wireless headphones, keyboards, and other accessories. You can also use OTG for plugging in external drives or dongles.
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Camera Specs and Performance:
The rear-facing camera is 16MP and includes an LED flash. However, picture quality is sub-par. Images appear blurry and overly gray due to the black-and-white display, making it nearly impossible to check focus or detail.
That said, its true strength lies in scanning and OCR functionality. Using Boox’s built-in Doc Scanner app, you can capture a document, convert it to text using OCR, and export it as PDF or text.
OCR performance is good enough for casual usage—most of the time, it recognizes text accurately with minimal cleanup. Though not as polished as dedicated scanners or camera phones, it’s functional.
You can also access image-based PDF exports or even share scanned documents directly from the device. It’s a niche feature but one that professionals or students might find useful.
The camera is clearly not for photography but acts as a decent tool for quick scans, annotations, and sharing educational content.
Price and Availability:
The Boox Palma 2 is priced around $280, which places it well above the standard Kindle or Kobo e-readers.
It’s available directly from Boox and select authorized resellers online, including Amazon. The price includes a generous 128GB of storage and Google Play Store access.
While the price may seem steep, it’s justified by the sheer range of features packed into such a compact, powerful device.
Boox Palma 2 Pros and Cons:
Pros
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Super portable and pocket-friendly
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Full Android 13 with Google Play Store access
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High-contrast, sharp 300 PPI E Ink display
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BSR makes scrolling and app use smooth
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Tons of customization options
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Excellent for Kindle and other third-party apps
Cons
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No SIM card support for actual phone usage
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Some Android apps may not be E Ink optimized
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Price is relatively high for an e-reader
Buy now at Amazon
Conclusion:
The Boox Palma 2 is a unique device. It’s an e-reader that behaves like a smartphone and blurs the line between casual reading and full productivity.
While it’s not cheap, the Palma 2 justifies its price with Android 13 support, high-end customization, a fluid reading experience, and excellent app compatibility. Its size makes it one of the most portable e-ink devices ever, and it excels as a Kindle companion or a pocket-sized research tool.
Not every user needs this level of complexity, especially if you’re used to the simplicity of a Kindle. But if you’re a power user, a developer, or just someone who reads on the go and wants control over every aspect of their reading device, this is one of the best tools on the market. Buy now at Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A):
Is the Boox Palma 2 compatible with Kindle books?
- Yes, it supports the Kindle app via Google Play Store and runs it very smoothly thanks to BSR.
Does the Boox Palma 2 have a SIM card slot?
- No, it does not. While it looks like a smartphone, it lacks SIM support and can’t be used as a phone.
How is the battery life of the Boox Palma 2?
- You can expect several days of use per charge with light to moderate reading, and it supports 18W fast charging.
Can I install apps on the Boox Palma 2?
- Yes. It runs Android 13 and gives full access to the Google Play Store for app installations.
How does the Boox Palma 2 compare to a Kindle Paperwhite?
- The Palma 2 is more expensive but offers app support, better customization, Android OS, and more features like OCR and document scanning. Buy now at Amazon
