Boox and Xteink compete in the micro e-reader market

The market for compact, pocketable e-readers is expanding as manufacturers compete with the success of ultra-small devices. Boox has released the Picco, a 3.97-inch e-reader, to compete with the viral popularity of Xteink devices like the X4 series.

These micro-readers share similar technical specifications due to industry standards. Most utilize E-Ink screens with resolutions around 480x800 and rely on ESP32 processors. To maintain their small form factors, these devices often swap onboard storage for microSD card slots.

While the Xteink X4 has gained a following for its ability to attach magnetically to smartphones, it requires DRM-free EPUB files, distinguishing it from the more integrated Amazon Kindle ecosystem.