Top 10: Small e-Ink e-Readers

2024. Super-compact ereader Onyx Boox P6 e-Reader gets AI button



Chinese producer Onyx has launched a new compact e-reader, Onyx Boox P6 Little White Horse. P6 has a rounded design, although the display size remains at 6.13 inches. It features 128 GB of storage, expandable to 1 TB via microSD cards. This should provide sufficient space to store all your e-books, audiobooks, or other material in one location. It operates on Android 13 and supports the installation of third-party apps. The device’s power source is the 3,950 mAh battery, which the company states is sufficient to last 30 days with 2 hours of daily use. It measures 160 × 80 × 8 mm in size, exactly the same as the Palma. One of the key features of the new P6 is the integration of an AI Smart Key on the left spine. Pressing the AI button will activate the AI assistant, which can assist with various tasks, answer your questions and allow you to share content easily.


2024. Moan Pantone 6 e-Reader With Kaleido 3 Display Launched



In the vast and sprawling cosmos of entry-level e-readers, where innovation often resembles a particularly lethargic game of leapfrog, Moan’s Pantone 6 arrives like an improbably sleek spaceship armed with a Kaleido 3 color e-paper display. This wizardry is bolstered by a layer of high-aluminosilicate glass and an electroplated AG film process, which cunningly banishes glare and presumably any meddlesome Vogon poetry for good measure, e-Reader Pro reported. Weighing in at a delightfully imperceptible 152 grams and a thickness of 7.25 mm (surely designed to vanish neatly into a pocket or perhaps another dimension), it hums along on Android 11 with a 1800 mAh battery promising a rather heroic 30 days of standby time. All this can be acquired for the thoroughly terrestrial sum of 999 yuan (roughly 138 USD), from the Moan JD store, where one might imagine it nestles smugly alongside other improbably efficient pieces of technology.

2024. Kobo has introduced the Kobo Clara BW E-reader



Picture this, if you will: the Kobo Clara BW, a marvelous black-and-white e-reader engineered with the sort of understated brilliance that would leave even hyperintelligent pan-dimensional beings quietly impressed. Featuring a gloriously compact 6-inch glare-free E Ink Carta 1300 HD screen (which seems to smugly whisper, “Rain? Splashes? Mere trifles!” thanks to its waterproof bravado), it transforms the act of reading into an effortless glide through Kobo’s vast library of audiobooks and ebooks. With the understated oomph of a MediaTek MT8113L processor, paired with Bluetooth 5.0 to beam your favorite words into your choice of earbuds, headphones, or speakers, this device practically hums contentment at every turn. A USB-C port promises charging and content transfer with the smug simplicity of an evolved species, while a modest 1,500 mAh battery and a frame so portable (112 x 160 x 9.2 mm, weighing just 174 g) might make you suspect it’s hiding a tiny improbability drive. At a price of $129.99 (USD), the Kobo Clara BW might just be the hitchhiker's guide to your next literary adventure—don’t panic, just read.


2024. Onyx Boox released new Poke 5 with Carta 1300 E Ink display



In a universe where e-readers strive to stand out like improbability drives at a tea party, the Onyx Boox Poke 5 arrives as the sleekly evolved cousin of the Poke 5S, now equipped with the E Ink Carta 1300 display—light-years ahead of its predecessor's Carta 1100 screen. Encased in a microcrystal etched tempered glass cover (the kind of thing Zaphod Beeblebrox might mistake for a cocktail coaster), it offers sharper visuals than a Vogon's poetry critique, with a resolution upgrade to 300 PPI from the mere mortal 212 PPI of the Poke 5S. The 6-inch display remains loyal to its dimensions, and with Android 11 under the hood, you can load it up with third-party apps galore—probably including one to remind you not to panic. At a price of $143, it’s an intergalactic bargain for those craving the thrill of digital page-turning on a whole new level.


2023. Onyx Boox introduces new Livingstone 3 e-reader with E Ink Carta 1300 display



Onyx Boox has released a new model of 6-inch Boox Livingstone 3 which the rebranded version of the company’s Poke e-reader. Boasting a new Carta 1300 display, Onyx Boox asserts a 20 percent higher contrast and 25 percent faster response time. Notably, the display's distinct whiteness enhances the readability of black text, promising a highly enjoyable reading experience with minimal ghosting during page refreshes. The device features a built-in browser for web surfing in monochrome mode and its 3000 mAh battery, according to Boox, can last a month on a single full charge. Weighing a convenient 165 grams (265 grams with the included cover), the Boox Livingstone 3 comes with a price tag of $200.


2023. 6-inch iReader Light 3 e-reader with AI announced



iReader has unveiled the Light 3 e-reader, targeting a younger audience, as previously speculated. The new Light 3 e-reader sports a 6-inch E Ink Carta 1200 screen and features animated page-turning. Remarkably lightweight at just 149 grams, it stands as one of the lightest options available. iReader has incorporated AI dynamic refresh technology and an independent display chip into the Light 3. Furthermore, this e-reader boasts a next-generation display IC, resulting in a 20 percent faster response time and a 15 percent improvement in contrast, according to iReader. With a 1700mAh battery, it can endure up to 40 days on a single charge and it offers a Type-C port for swift recharging and data transfer. Additional features of the Light 3 include built-in speakers and microphones, with iReader noting support for AI recitation.


2023. Xiaomi released the InkPalm Mini 5 Pro Edition



Xiaomi, not one to miss an opportunity to dazzle and befuddle, has unveiled the InkPalm 5 Mini Pro—an exuberantly upgraded sibling to the long-remembered InkPalm Mini 5 of yore. Now sporting a sharper brain in the form of an upgraded processor, a rather generous 64GB of internal storage, and fluently multilingual English support, this pint-sized marvel means business. It flaunts a 5.2-inch E INK Carta HD display, resolutely sticking to a 1280×720 resolution that whispers, “sharp enough, thank you very much.” Powered by the nostalgia-inducing Google Android 8.1, it’s the sort of device that positively revels in letting you slap on third-party apps via the friendly USB-C port or its stock browser. For those with a taste for the esoteric, alternative app stores like Amazon’s or Samsung’s are but a click away. The whole contraption runs for a week straight on its plucky 1,300 mAh battery, making one wonder if it secretly munches on dark matter. Draped in sleek black bezels and silver accents, it achieves a pocketable elegance, a true rarity in the e-reader world. All this wonderment, this fusion of whimsy and tech, comes for the princely sum of $210.


2023. Bigme Read - 6-inch ebook reader with Google Play



Bigme has finally introduced an e-reader without of note-taking capabilities. The new Bigme Read is dedicated for reading books and downloading applications from Google. This 6-inch e-reader aimed at competing with the likes of Kobo Nia, Nook Glowlight 4e and even the basic Kindle model. The Read boasts several advantages not found in other e-readers: complete access to the Google Play Store, built-in speakers and microphone, along with expandable storage. You can easily transfer your audiobooks or ebooks to the device via USB-C and it supports various formats, including TXT, EPUB, PDF, FB2, ZIP, PRC, MOBI, RTF, OEB, Mp3 and more. The device is powered by a 1,300 mAh battery and measures 122x90x5mm, weighing 170g. The price is $149.99.


2023. HyRead launches Gaze Mini e-book reader


Somewhere on the bustling tech-savvy shores of Taiwan, a little company called HyRead decided to give the world a reason to pay attention, and they did so with something charmingly unassuming: the HyRead Gaze Mini. It’s a 6-inch e-reader, complete with physical buttons—yes, actual buttons, for those who enjoy the tactile triumph of pushing something. It effortlessly flips through books in a smorgasbord of formats, mostly Chinese (no surprise there), but with a thoughtful nod to international readers by including an English option. Unlike its flat-screened ancestors, the Gaze Mini sports a concave screen—presumably because e-readers needed their own dramatic flair. Throw in a double row of buttons, a built-in gyroscope, and a touchscreen, and you’ve got a device that bends to your will whether you're a lefty, righty, or just chaotically ambidextrous. These buttons aren't just for show—they moonlight as shortcuts to the main menu, screenshots, screen refreshes, and even a front light for late-night reading escapades. Powered by a 2200mAh battery that just might outlive your enthusiasm for that book you’re struggling through, it runs on Android 11, so you can accessorize with apps to your heart’s content. All of this wonderment comes wrapped up at a not-quite-pocket-change $214.


2023. PocketBook released new 6″ Basic Lux 4 eReader



PocketBook has introduced the latest addition to its lineup, known as the PocketBook Basic Lux 4, priced at $109. Featuring a 6-inch E Ink screen with 212 ppi, the device includes a frontlight; however, the color temperature is not adjustable. With 8GB of internal storage, users have the option to expand it further using a microSD card slot. Connectivity options include a USB-C port and WiFi. Typical of most PocketBook models, the Basic Lux 4 retains physical page-turn buttons positioned below the screen. It offers extensive support for various ebook formats, including those with Adobe DRM and enables wireless file transfer through Dropbox. The device weighs a mere 155 grams. At a glance, it may not appear significantly different from its predecessors, apart from the transition from a microUSB to a USB-C port. The middle button seems slightly altered, although the exact changes are difficult to discern from the available pictures.


2023. Onyx Boox Palma - e-reader that looks like a smartphone



Onyx Boox has introduced a dedicated e-reader that resembles a candy bar-shaped smartphone, but it is solely designed for reading purposes. This device allows you to make phone calls and communicate through Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp, or WeChat using its dual microphones. However, it does not support SIM cards or eSim, meaning it relies on a Wi-Fi connection for functionality. The most notable advantage of the Onyx Boox Palma is its portability, as it can be carried in your pocket—a feature lacking in the majority of e-readers available in the market. The Palma is currently available for pre-order at a price of $249. It boasts a 6.13-inch E-INK screen, two speakers, two microphones, a volume rocker that can also serve as page-turn buttons and an ambient light sensor to automatically adjust the front-lit and color temperature based on the surrounding environment. Although it lacks a front-facing camera, it does feature a 16 MP rear camera with an LED light. Additionally, it can be charged and data can be transferred through a USB-C port.


2023. Onyx Boox launches compact e-reader Onyx Boox Page running Android



The Onyx Boox Page is, to put it mildly, an absurdly delightful e-reader that comes with all the conveniences one might need for conquering the wilds of digital reading. It’s got manual page-turn buttons, which are astonishingly satisfying in their simplicity, and boasts the shiny new E INK Carta 1200 e-paper technology, presumably for the sort of person who can distinguish between the subtleties of pixels with great emotional investment. Measuring a tidy 7 inches, this device runs on Google Android 11, offering full access to the Google Play Store — which, let’s face it, is as close to a near-infinite library as you’re likely to get without a Babel fish. Yours for $249.99, and it even comes with a case so fetching it practically begs to be shown off. Beneath the surface lurks a Qualcomm 2.0GHz Octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM, and a 32GB storage capacity for hoarding all manner of media, from tomes to tunes. And yes, there’s a speaker (for the talkers and the tuners), Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless escapades, and a WiFi (802.11b/g/n/ac) 2.4G + 5G chip to make it suitably internet-savvy. A USB-C port handles charging and data transfers with a certain effortless aplomb, while a microphone and g-sensor prove it’s more socially versatile than one might expect from a slab of tech, flipping between portrait* and landscape views as if it had a mind of its own. Powering it all is a 2300mAh battery, tucked neatly into a design that is 156 X 137 X 6.0mm and a feathery 195g, making it lightweight enough to hold but substantial enough to make you feel rather tech-savvy and futuristic, as any good e-reader should.


2023. Xiaomi released new Moaan Air e-reader



In a move that could only be described as what would happen if Arthur Dent designed an e-reader while stuck on a Vogon ship, Xiaomi and their cohort company Moaan have launched the Air—a 6-inch E Ink e-reader that’s as slim and slick as a hyperspace byway. Sporting the cutting-edge Carta 1200 e-paper display with a crisp 300 PPI resolution (perfect for seeing the meaning of life clearly, in text), the Air makes a special nod to the North American market with full English support. Yours for $149.99—a sum you might willingly part with once you consider its impossibly thin 7.25 mm profile and feather-light 163 grams. Powering this pocket-sized marvel is an 1800 mAh battery, promising weeks of use for even the most obsessive readers. It charges and transfers data via a nifty Type-C port and comes armed with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.1, so you can seamlessly pair it with headphones and escape into audiobooks or music (and maybe forget about Vogon poetry entirely). Running Google Android 12—a surprisingly modern OS for a bookish device—the Moaan Air allows for sideloading apps or raiding other app markets, including Amazon’s. In short, it’s an e-reader that’s more technologically prepared than most galactic hitchhikers.


2023. Onyx Boox released Poke 5 e-reader



The Onyx Boox Poke 5 is a recently released e-reader that is specifically designed for reading ebooks, manga and other materials that are suitable for a 6-inch display. It has both warm and cool lighting, which makes it perfect for reading during the day or at night. It comes with Google Android 11 operating system and is bundled with Google Play Services and the Play Store. With a 1500 mAh battery, it can run for a long time. It is lightweight and has dimensions of 148x108x6.8 and a weight of 160 g. The device comes equipped with the Neoreader ebook app, which allows you to easily transfer your collection of ebooks from the cloud or your PC. It supports a wide range of file formats, including pdf, djvu, azw, azw3, doc, docx, epub, fb2, fbz, html, mobi, odt, prc, rtf, sxw, trc, txt, chm and ppt. The Onyx Boox Poke 5 has a retail price of $179.99.


2022. New basic Kindle offers premium Paperwhite features for under $100



Amazon has introduced a new 6-inch Kindle, touting it as its "lightest and most compact" e-reader to date. Although this device is the latest addition to Amazon's standard Kindle lineup, its features are more comparable to the $139.99 Paperwhite model. It incorporates several attributes from the premium range, including a 300ppi high-resolution display for "crystal-clear text and images" (up from 167ppi), a dark mode and USB-C charging. Additional enhancements include a battery life of up to six weeks per charge and 16GB of storage, which is twice the capacity of its 2019 predecessor. The adjustable front light has also been reinstated. Notably, this new Kindle is priced at $99.99 — just a $10 increase from the previous generation, making it an attractive option for anyone looking to upgrade from an older model that lost the capability to browse, borrow, or purchase books directly from the Kindle Store last month.


2022. Kobo's new waterproof Clara 2E e-reader takes on Kindle



Kobo is introducing a new waterproof e-reader - the Kobo Clara 2E, which could challenge Amazon's Kindle e-readers. The device features an exterior crafted from over 85 percent recycled plastic, with 10 percent of it reportedly sourced from ocean-bound materials. The Kobo Clara 2E includes Bluetooth technology for audiobooks, offers 60 minutes of water resistance in up to two meters of water and provides more storage for your eBooks than earlier Kobo models (16GB). It boasts a six-inch HD E Ink Carta 1200 glare-free display with dark mode and blue light reduction and promises weeks-long battery life. Priced at $150, it is less expensive than the company's previous Forma model but costlier than the Nia model. Additionally, Kobo's SleepCovers for the device are made from recycled polyester with an inner microfibre lining created from 40 percent recycled plastic water bottles — available in colors like Black, Deep Ocean Blue, Coral Reef Orange and Sea Glass Green.


2022. Onyx Boox Poke Lite - the best e-reader for the money



Onyx has just unveiled the Poke 4 Lite, which might be the best e-reader for the price. It retails for $149.99 and comes in black or white. The Onyx Boox Poke 4 Lite boasts a 6-inch E INK Carta HD touchscreen with a resolution of 1024×786 and 212 PPI. The screen is not flush with the bezel and lacks a glass layer. This design choice is quite intriguing, as it prevents reflections from overhead lighting in your home or office and reduces glare from the sun. E-paper absorbs light, whereas most e-readers have glass screens that reflect light. The only workaround is to use a matte screen protector, which is often difficult to find and not typically offered by OEMs for specific screen sizes. The device features a blue body with a black strip around the bezel.


2021. Kindle can now display book covers on the lock screen



Amazon released a new firmware update that enables the Paperwhite, Oasis and entry-level Kindle to show ebook cover art on the lock screen while the e-reader is in sleep mode. This is a feature that users have been requesting for over a decade and one of the primary reasons many people resort to jailbreaking their Kindle. Which covers will it display? According to initial reports, it will show the ebook you are currently reading. It functions with content bought from Amazon, as well as sideloaded ebooks.


2021. Xiaomi launches mini e-reader InkPalm 5



Xiaomi’s eco-chain venture InkPalm Technology has introduced a new compact e-paper device called the InkPalm 5. The product is currently available in China for 599 yuan (~$91). The InkPalm 5 e-Reader features a 5.2-inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels and a pixel density of 284 ppi. The device weighs only 115 grams and is as slim as 6.9mm, making it very portable and easily pocket-sized. Additionally, the mini e-reader includes a high-transmitting glass cover that significantly enhances touch sensitivity. The brand logo at the bottom of the screen acts as a touch button supporting customizable functions. It also offers 24-level dual-color temperature reading light adjustment, a feature typically found on premium e-paper devices. The back cover is touch-responsive and comes in two color choices – gray and green.


2020. Onyx Boox Poke 2 e-Reader is available now



Onyx Boox has introduced the new Poke 2 e-reader. It is primarily a dedicated ebook reader and not a digital note-taking device or e-note. You can use it to read novels, view PDF files and read manga or magazines. The Poke 2 features a six-inch E INK Carta HD Display with a resolution of 1072×1448 and 300 PPI. Unlike the Poke Pro, this device has a flush screen and bezel design. It also includes a front-lit display and an adjustable color temperature system for a candlelight effect. It is available now for $189.99.


2018. New Kobo Clara HD is an affordable Kindle competitor



After months of speculation, Canadian e-book reader manufacturer Kobo has unveiled its latest device, the Kobo Clara HD. This reader is the first budget-friendly model released by the company in nearly three years. Despite being one of Kobo’s more economical options, it boasts some quite notable features. The Kobo Clara HD features a 6-inch Cara E Ink screen with a 300ppi resolution. It includes a substantial 8GB of storage, which can hold approximately 6,000 e-books. Unless you're a heavy user, the battery is expected to last for several weeks. One of the most exciting additions to the Kobo Clara HD is ComfortLight Pro. Instead of using traditional technology to illuminate most E Ink screens, ComfortLight Pro employs orange and red LEDs for lighting, reducing your exposure to blue light. While the Clara HD is not the first Kobo e-reader to feature this technology, it is the most affordable one available.


2012. Txtr Beagle - e-Reader for $13


If you thought that the non-profit Kindle Paperwhite is a great bargain at $119, check out the Txtr Beagle e-reader, which sells for just $13. Of course, it lacks a touchscreen, 3G, Wi-Fi and a backlight and it's powered by two AAA batteries. However, it offers everything needed for reading: a 5-inch, 4.5-ounce E Ink screen and 4GB of storage. Additionally, it's very thick (5mm) and compact. But how can it be priced as low as a single eBook on Amazon’s store? Here’s the catch. You can add books to the Txtr Beagle only via Bluetooth from the Txtr app on Android or iPhone. Moreover, you can only add books to the app by purchasing them from the Txtr bookstore.