Xteink X4

What hackers pick instead

• Amazon KindleA light, distraction-free e-reader that's easy on the eyes and lasts for years, though Amazon's locked-down ecosystem and dropped support for older models draw heavy criticism.222recommend
• reMarkable 2Recommended for handwritten notes that aid retention, e-ink reading of textbooks and open root access, though critics cite slow software, update and battery failures, and cut corners.93recommend
• Kobo Aura OnePeople recommend it as a single-purpose e-reader that supports custom firmware, and owners say they found no clear upgrade among comparable devices.5recommend

Every quote

The 40 most detailed of 301 comments. Each links to the original.

1. I have this and it’s amazing for me. Being able to pocket this and whip it out during moments I would’ve doom scrolled has been great for my reading.

   Recommends · Sep 2026 · in “Tiny $70 Xteink X3 e-reader”

2. I give the credit to the X4... I'd never have finished it if reading the physical book (too large to carry around) nor if reading on my phone

   Recommends · Sep 2026 · in “Tiny $70 Xteink X3 e-reader”

3. Same experience with the X4 Pro. Can wholeheartedly recommend. It feels like reading became much more accessible to me all of a sudden.

   Recommends · Sep 2026 · in “Tiny $70 Xteink X3 e-reader”

4. The reason it's trending right now is because it's a convenient price, simple to use and making people read more because of its size.

   Mixed · May 2026 · in “Kindle loyalists scramble as Amazon turns page on old e-readers”

5. The form factor is the biggest win. It fits in a pocket and is great for the 5-10m you find when traveling or waiting somewhere.

   Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader”

6. It is so small that I can actually carry it in my pocket all the time and read a few paragraphs whenever I have a minute or two.

   Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader”

7. reviews I've seen have been very positive, with the caveat that "out of the box" includes reimaging it with open source firmware

   Recommends · Sep 2026 · in “How my e-reader lost its stripes”

8. I am not sure about the QA. Some people have been reporting that the screen can break overtime, or even arrived broken.

   Mixed · Jul 2026 · in “This eReader is more portable than a phone”

9. having it right there mostly serves as a physical token/reminder that I don't want to get sucked in to my social media

   Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader”

10. The font rendering in the official firmware isn't that great though, especially compared to even a old phone screen.

    Mixed · Sep 2026 · in “Tiny $70 Xteink X3 e-reader”

11. It's perfect: none of the distractions of a phone, battery life measured in weeks, small enough to carry everywhere

    Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “Freeink: Open Ecosystem for E-Readers”

12. I've had mine for months and I still use it far more than my kindle for the sole reason that it fits in my pocket.

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader”

13. the size is perfect - I always have it in my pocket and can read a view pages whenever I am waiting for something

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader”

14. Screenshots never show text with any hyphenation going on which makes me wonder if it even supports hyphenation.

    Mixed · Jun 2026 · in “The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader”

15. If you're looking for a much simpler and much cheaper device ($70 vs $200-$300) I would recommend the xteink x4.

    Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “Why I love my Boox Palma e-reader”

16. X4 is great - has usb-c charger and with the cover feels like an easy to pocket and bring everywhere reader.

    Mixed · Jun 2026 · in “The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader”

17. The stock firmware is virtually unusable. Extremely clunky, nothing renders right, moving books is a PITA

    Mixed · Sep 2026 · in “Tiny $70 Xteink X3 e-reader”

18. small enough to not feel fragile, and cheap enough that it wouldn't be devastating if I broke it anyway

    Recommends · May 2026 · in “Kindle loyalists scramble as Amazon turns page on old e-readers”

19. I liked it enough that I used it a ton even though it turned out to be too big to Magsafe onto my phone

    Mixed · Jun 2026 · in “The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader”

20. X3 is also great, actually fits on the back of the phone with the magsafe - magnet is a _bit_ too weak.

    Mixed · Jun 2026 · in “The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader”

21. I've been reading so much more than before, just because it's always available on the back of my phone.

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader”

22. Its small enough that it just stays in my pocket and i read when i have time instead of doom scrolling

    Recommends · Sep 2026 · in “Tiny $70 Xteink X3 e-reader”

23. This is a safer option because the xteink costs less and it makes your phone less likely to be swiped.

    Recommends · Sep 2026 · in “Tiny $70 Xteink X3 e-reader”

24. I also got the X3 on sale so I can use it the way I originally intended

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader”

25. Neat little esp32 eReader with the standard bs around the company.

    Mixed · Sep 2026 · in “Tiny $70 Xteink X3 e-reader”

26. the screenshots turn me off instantly. The font rendering or hyphenation or kerning (not sure exactly what) looked terrible.

    Criticizes · Sep 2026 · in “Tiny $70 Xteink X3 e-reader”

27. It's sneaky that they're trying to cash in on the success of the custom firmware that they had nothing to do with creating.

    Criticizes · Sep 2026 · in “Tiny $70 Xteink X3 e-reader”

28. The layout engine is limited. It does flow text quite well, but when I had mine (the screen broke a few months ago)

    Criticizes · Jun 2026 · in “The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader”

29. Why does XTINK even bother with their own firmware. Let their developer work on Crosspoint and make great hardware.

    Criticizes · Sep 2026 · in “Tiny $70 Xteink X3 e-reader”

30. marketed as having MagSafe that would work with a phone, while the magnet doesn't align with MagSafe

    Criticizes · Sep 2026 · in “Tiny $70 Xteink X3 e-reader”

31. Go for the X4. Neither supports USB file transfer, so having USB-C charging is convenient without additional things to worry about.

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader”

32. I actually really like not having backlight, forcing me to use non-directional yellow light during the night reading sessions.

    Recommends · Sep 2026 · in “Tiny $70 Xteink X3 e-reader”

33. I prefer it on my XTeink X4. It doesn't have the conveniences that Kindle and other similar divices offer but it works for me.

    Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “I'm never buying another Kindle, and neither should you”

34. It fits perfectly in one hand without stretching uncomfortably, so I can hold it for longer than any reading session I've had

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader”

35. The same reason why taking a bicycle is preferable through a nice wooded area even though you could technically drive as well

    Recommends · Sep 2026 · in “Tiny $70 Xteink X3 e-reader”

36. works pretty good even in completely dark rooms and much better than the eye-train you get from traditional screens

    Recommends · Sep 2026 · in “Tiny $70 Xteink X3 e-reader”

37. eInk devices don't (and many, like the X4 model, have front-lighting, also easier on the eyes than backlit screens.

    Recommends · Sep 2026 · in “Tiny $70 Xteink X3 e-reader”

38. Would not get it as my one and only e-reader though as you tend to miss the size and backlight of the larger ones.

    Mixed · Jun 2026 · in “The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader”

39. it's just awesome. After a couple of minutes it disappears in my hand like I forget I'm even holding a device.

    Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “Open Book Touch: open-source e-reader”

40. I received my X4 Pro from Xteink themselves about a week ago and there was no problem installing CrossPoint.

    Mixed · Sep 2026 · in “Tiny $70 Xteink X3 e-reader”