Boox Palma 2 Pro Review: Pocket E Ink Beats Phone Reading
Boox Palma 2 Pro pairs a pocket-sized color E Ink screen with Android apps, but its $400 price, ghosting and 5 to 7 day battery limit its broad appeal.
Summary
Published October 24, 2026, the $400 Boox Palma 2 Pro is a smartphone-sized Android e-reader for books, articles and documents. During two months of testing, its 175-gram body proved lighter than an iPhone, comfortable for one-handed reading and small enough for an everyday purse. Its front-lit color E Ink screen offers cool and warm settings, plus exceptionally low brightness for nighttime reading with less eye strain and without disturbing a sleeping partner.
Google Play opens the device to Kindle, Kobo, Libby, audiobook, podcast, read-it-later and email apps instead of restricting readers to Boox software. That flexibility supports reading, research and productivity without typical smartphone distractions. A rear camera scans documents, a built-in speaker plays audio, a hybrid SIM slot provides cellular data, and stylus compatibility enables notes and PDF markup, although the review unit lacked a stylus.
Compromises include sluggish animations in apps not optimized for E Ink, muted color images and frequent ghosting that requires the navigation bar's refresh button. Battery life reached about 5 to 7 days, extendable by disabling Wi-Fi, but Kindles can last weeks. The Palma 2 Pro best suits readers prioritizing portability, eye comfort and apps, while satisfied Kindle owners may reject its price and tradeoffs. Boox is launching the $340 Palma 3 soon, replacing the Palma 2 with a black-and-white display.
Positives
- 175 grams and a smartphone-sized body make the Palma 2 Pro lighter than an iPhone and easier to carry than a Kindle.
- Cool and warm front lighting can dim exceptionally low for comfortable reading in complete darkness.
- Google Play supports Kindle, Kobo, Libby, audiobook, podcast, read-it-later and email apps.
- A rear camera, built-in speaker and hybrid SIM slot add document scanning, audio playback and cellular data.
- Pocket-sized portability encouraged reading during spare moments that might otherwise be spent scrolling on a phone.
Risks & concerns
- $400 is steep for an e-reader, especially with the $340 black-and-white Palma 3 launching soon.
- Battery life of about 5 to 7 days falls well short of the weeks available from some Kindles.
- Persistent ghosting leaves previous text visible until users activate the navigation bar's refresh button.
- Apps not optimized for E Ink can feel sluggish, while color images appear less vibrant than on smartphones.
- Stylus performance remains untested because Boox did not include one with the review unit.
