I thought phone-sized e-readers were a gimmick — the Boox Palma 2 Pro proved me wrong
I have a never-ending pile of books to read, and I try to take at least an hour a day to read. That usually involves sitting on the couch with the Kobo Libra Colour, and while I enjoy using the 7-inch e-reader (a lot), it isn't what I'd call portable; I mostly use it while at home or on a flight.
This is the biggest advantage with the Boox Palma 2 Pro solves. As it has roughly the same dimensions as a phone, it is seamless to take anywhere, and I just throw it in my EDC bag. While I was initially hesitant to use the device because of the smaller size, I now see it as a huge advantage, and I ended up using the Palma 2 Pro much more than I imagined in the last six months. Starting at $399, it isn't an impulse purchase by any measure, and it costs more than most high-end e-readers; I like the DuRoBo Krono as well, and that retails for $279 as of writing.
That said, the unique size and feature-set of the Palma 2 Pro make it a great choice to use just about anywhere, and I'm outlining three areas where it's made a real difference.
The Palma 2 Pro allowed me to read everywhere
When I take out the Kobo, it is intentional. I plan my reading sessions and try to minimize distractions. That hasn't been easy in recent years because of a busy schedule and a toddler, and there are weeks where I don't get any reading done.
This isn't an issue with the Palma 2 Pro; I have it with me while going out, so if I'm just waiting around, I just use it instead of reaching for my phone. While I prefer reading in hour-long sessions, it's just easier to take out 10 minutes to read something interesting rather than get distracted by my phone, and the Palma 2 Pro made a big difference in that area.
Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central
Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central
Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android CentralThe 6.13-inch E Ink Kaleido 3 panel is a delight to use, and it has the standard 300ppi pixel density with monochrome content. It has colors as well, and the 150ppi density is decent enough when reading comics on the go. What I like better is that it has adjustable light with warm tones, and it definitely comes in handy.
I didn't use my phone as much
I'd like to think I do a good job with phone usage. I have DND enabled throughout the day, and I try to be cognizant about how much I use my phone. That said, there have been enough times when I went down a Reddit rabbit hole and didn't realize hours had passed (r/watches is addictive).
This is where having a dedicated device like the Palma 2 Pro is so handy. The e-reader runs Android 15 out of the box and gives you full access to the Play Store, and it has a SIM slot that lets you use a data plan as well. But because it has an E Ink panel, you're limited in what you can do with the device. This is a good thing overall, and I found the size to be ideal to hold in-hand and read on the go.
I don't have to charge it daily
Look, I don't like charging devices daily; that's why I used the Find X9 Ultra as my daily driver, and why I'm liking the Pixel Watch 5. Thankfully, the Palma 2 Pro does a great job in this area, and the 3,950mAh battery easily lasts a week between charges.
This is a big part of what makes e-readers great in general. The battery on my Kobo Libra Colour lasts closer to two weeks before having to plug in it, and not having to worry about whether I've charged a device - particularly while on the go - is a big relief.
Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central
Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central
Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central
Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central
Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central
Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central
Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android CentralHonestly, I didn't think I'd use the Palma 2 Pro anywhere as much as I did when I got started with the e-reader. The smaller size is just so convenient, and while it doesn't have the same screen real estate as a 7-inch reader, the portability is unmatched. If you don't want to shell out quite as much cash, the Krono is a decent enough alternative, but you get a lot of additional software features with the Palma 2 Pro.
The Boox Palma 2 Pro is the ideal phone-sized e-reader to take just about anywhere you go.