The $400 Boox Palma 2 Pro is a compact e‑reader that fits in the palm of your hand, yet it runs Android and gives access to Google Play, turning it into a hybrid of a Kindle and a small Android tablet. I was drawn to the device because of its dimensions. When I’m not holding a physical book, I usually lie on my side and read before falling asleep. Most e‑readers are square and feel awkward to hold without accessories such as a PopSocket, making them cumbersome for bedtime reading. As a result, even though I own a Kindle, I often end up scrolling on my iPhone simply because it feels more natural in my hand, but long sessions on a phone can cause eye strain.
During the two months I spent with the Palma 2 Pro, the device solved that problem. Its front‑lit screen lets you choose between cool and warm tones, and it can be dimmed to a level far lower than any smartphone. This proved useful for reading in a dark bedroom without waking my husband. The screen remained clear even in total darkness, and the device felt noticeably lighter than my iPhone, weighing only 175 grams, which made holding it for extended periods comfortable.
Because the device is pocket‑sized, I began taking it everywhere—from the doctor’s office to the airport—since it slips into my everyday purse that is too small for a Kindle. Whenever I would normally scroll through social media, I instead opened a book or article.
The Palma 2 Pro is not a locked‑down e‑reader; you can install Kindle, Kobo, Libby, audiobook apps, podcast players, read‑it‑later services, and email clients. This flexibility lets you use your preferred reading app rather than the preinstalled one, turning the small E‑Ink screen into a versatile tool for reading, research, and light productivity. Some apps feel sluggish on the E‑Ink display because they are not optimized for it, and color images appear less vivid than on a phone, but the trade‑off is a distraction‑free reading experience.
Additional features include a rear camera for scanning documents, a built‑in speaker for audio playback without headphones, and a hybrid SIM slot that supports cellular data on the go. The device also accepts a stylus for note‑taking and PDF annotation, although I did not test that capability because my review unit arrived without a stylus.
Battery life ranged from five to seven days, which was sufficient for my usage but falls short of the weeks‑long endurance typical of Kindles. Turning off Wi‑Fi extends the runtime further. One drawback at this price point is noticeable ghosting: remnants of text from the previous page can linger after a page turn or when returning to the home screen. A refresh button in the navigation bar clears the ghosting quickly, but having to press it repeatedly may irritate some users.
The Palma 2 Pro is best suited for readers who want a smartphone‑sized, portable device with app access and are willing to pay a premium for those capabilities. If you are a Kindle purist, this may not be the right choice. However, for anyone fed up with phone‑induced eye strain and headaches, the Palma 2 Pro offers a compelling alternative.
Boox has announced a non‑Pro Palma 3 that will launch soon for $340, featuring a black‑and‑white display and slated to replace the Palma 2.
Aisha Malik is a consumer news reporter at TechCrunch. She joined the publication in 2021 after working as a telecom reporter at MobileSyrup. Malik holds an honours bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto and a master’s in journalism from Western University. She can be contacted at the email address provided in the original article or via encrypted message on Signal.