BOOX Palma 2 Review: A Pocket-Sized Android E-Reader

The BOOX Palma 2 takes the shape of a large smartphone but is designed primarily as an e-reader. Its 6.13-inch E Ink screen has a tall 2:1 aspect ratio, making it comfortable to hold in one hand and easy to slip into a coat pocket. The screen uses monochrome E Ink Carta technology, with a resolution of 824 × 1648 pixels and a density of 300 pixels per inch. That gives ordinary text a crisp appearance while keeping the device small enough for reading on public transport or during short breaks.

The most important difference between the Palma 2 and a Kindle or Kobo reader is its software. It runs Android 13 and supports third-party applications through Google Play, allowing users to choose from different reading apps, news services and document tools. That flexibility is useful if your library is spread across several platforms or if you prefer a particular reader such as KOReader. It also means you have more settings to manage. Not every Android application is optimised for E Ink, and apps built around animation, video or frequent scrolling may feel slow or look less natural on this screen.

BOOX includes refresh controls intended to make the display more usable with different kinds of content. Reading modes prioritise clean text, while faster modes allow more frequent updates for browsing or other dynamic tasks. These settings can improve the experience, but they do not turn E Ink into an LCD. Ghosting can occur when content changes, and a mode that refreshes quickly may produce a less clean image than one designed for static text. It is worth learning how the refresh settings work if you plan to use the Palma 2 for more than reading books.

The tall screen is particularly good for novels, articles, messaging and many web pages. It is less suitable for PDFs designed for A4 or letter-sized pages, spreadsheets and documents with wide diagrams. You can zoom and pan, but that is less convenient than reading the same document on a larger tablet. The device's compact shape also makes it more practical for short reading sessions than for handwriting or extensive annotation. There is no stylus support intended to turn it into a digital notebook.

The Palma 2 includes a front light with adjustable colour temperature, so you can read in different lighting conditions. It has a speaker and microphone, USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a fingerprint reader integrated into the power button. BOOX lists 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage, with a microSD card slot for additional capacity. These specifications give it more flexibility than a basic e-reader, although the storage available to the user will be lower than the advertised capacity because the operating system and preinstalled software occupy space.

A key distinction is that the Palma 2 is not a mobile phone, despite its shape. It does not replace the cellular connection, emergency calling capability or carrier support of a conventional smartphone. If you want a phone with an E Ink display, you need to look at a different category of device and carefully verify network compatibility. The Palma 2 is better understood as a pocket reader that can run Android apps, not as a phone that happens to be good for books.

Battery life depends on how you use it. E Ink is efficient when displaying a static page, but Android applications, wireless connections, audio playback, background syncing and higher front-light brightness all use power. A device with the flexibility of Android may need more frequent charging than a simple reader if it is constantly connected and running several apps. The battery capacity is 3,950 mAh according to BOOX's specifications, but real-world runtime varies with workload and settings.

The Android approach also raises questions about software support. BOOX provides firmware updates, but buyers should not assume the device will receive the same update schedule as a current mainstream phone. Some apps may require newer Android versions over time, while others may change their interface in ways that are not ideal for E Ink. Check the current firmware information and the compatibility of the apps you rely on before buying.

The Palma 2 is a compelling option for readers who want the portability of a small device without being locked into a single ebook store. Its high-density monochrome screen, front light, Android app support and expandable storage are meaningful advantages. Its limitations are the small display for PDFs, the need to manage refresh settings, uncertain long-term app compatibility and the fact that it is not a phone. If you want one compact device for several reading services, it deserves consideration; if you want a simple, inexpensive reader, a conventional Kindle or Kobo may be easier to live with.