Tiny $70 Xteink X3 e-reader (theatlantic.com)

212 pointsby samizdis2 days ago212 comments

jacek 2 days ago

I got an X4 (slightly larger model) less than 2 months ago and I already finished 9 books on it. It is always in my pocket and I started reaching for it instead of my phone during tiny moments of boredom. Sometimes it's just a few paragraphs when I'm waiting for a train, but it is also surprisingly good for longer reading sessions.

yoavm 2 days ago

Same experience with the X4 Pro. Can wholeheartedly recommend. It feels like reading became much more accessible to me all of a sudden.

trymas 2 days ago

It's so sad that X4 Pro does not have USB-C.

They have added backlight, but still left charging/connecting to proprietary magnetic adapter.

embedding-shape 2 days ago

> It's so sad that X4 Pro does not have USB-C.

Yeah, the connector they've made is absolutely bananas, wonder what they were thinking? Was there a 3rd-party docking ecosystem they were expecting to be spawned by this, or something? The magnetic connector by itself makes no sense, unless I severely misunderstand how it's supposed to be used in practice.

3eb7988a1663 2 days ago

I saw a claim that the connector was to reduce the thickness of the device.

Terrible trade-off. I do not want a marginally smaller book if it means I have to worry about losing a proprietary cable.

prollings a day ago

It isn't proprietary.

timw4mail a day ago

Standard or not, it's not the standard.

bonsai_spool 2 days ago

> proprietary magnetic adapter

They're supposedly not proprietary but a standard size that's easily replaced.

trymas 2 days ago

Ok, though still obscure.

I don’t want to looking where to order it when it’s lost or broken.

criddell 2 days ago

Any guesses why they went with that connector rather than USB C?

bonsai_spool 2 days ago

Just for improved thinnness; they're able to reduce about 2 mm from the thickness with the pins (and you can still technically use them for data transfer depending on how it's wired to the SoC).

yoavm 2 days ago

It is, though to be honest it bothers me less than I thought it will. The battery lasts so long that I rarely charge it.

hn_submit 2 days ago

I bought a 6 inch model for $60 (it's now double the price) from another brand a couple months ago and I love it. A 4 inch screen is just too small IMHO.

yoavm 2 days ago

Which model/brand?

onemoresoop 2 days ago

I got a kobo clara bw and a xteink x4 that I gave to my kid. Im quite happy with the kobo, it’s a much better experience for reading imo despite not having buttons. The touch screen is usable after all. I started dumping things into epub format, for example lyrics/chords, things that I want to read, etc. chatgpt is quite helpful with formatting epub files.

lostlogin 2 days ago

What apps are you using?

I’m on Calibre Web and Shelfmark.

jcul a day ago

I have an old kobo Clara hd.

I considered buying an X4 for the portability (and to be honest installing and tinkering with crosspoint sounds fun).

But the kobo can fit in my jeans pocket and is about the size of a normal paperback page. I feel like the X4 would be too small and might be frustrating.

yoavm a day ago

If you're looking to tinker with a Kobo Clara HD, you can install PostmarketOS on it ;) I created https://github.com/bjesus/air for this device.

hn_submit a day ago

Silvergear.

darreninthenet 2 days ago

I was thinking of getting one for exactly the use case you've described here but then I thought, "why don't I just get my phone out and read the ebooks directly on that?"

Can you explain to me why one of these is better for this please?

tough 2 days ago

A phone is a gateway to much more than just reading books, so your brain might prefer it.

Also notifications etc

embedding-shape 2 days ago

Personally I much prefer e-ink when I read for more than 10 minutes or so. The LED light from my phone just makes my eyes tired, while e-ink + "backlight" (guess it's really "kind of from the front light" in reality) just feels like reading normal paper.

The font rendering in the official firmware isn't that great though, especially compared to even a old phone screen. I had much better text rendering with 3rd party firmware.

OliveMate 2 days ago

It's hard to explain to someone who hasn't used an e-reader, but e-paper screens just look more natural, they also don't require a backlight so they can be easier on the eyes. Combined with a matt display, you can comfortably use them in direct sunlight without having to faff about with brightness or finding shade.

Also e-readers have way less distractions than a phone.

rpdillon 2 days ago

It's a mental thing. The phone is the doorway to all the things, and the reader is the doorway to reading. When I'm being intentional about my phone usage (not always, but most of the time), I defer to devices that are focused.

chrisjj 2 days ago

> The phone is the doorway to all the things, and the reader is the doorway to reading

And the phone's reader app?

embedding-shape 2 days ago

On the reader, the entire thing is one reader app. On the phone, the reader app is one of many that lives in the phone. Easier to switch apps than switch devices, so I guess it's easier for some to stay away from certain activities by having a dedicated device for certain purposes.

rpdillon 2 days ago

The phone's reader app is quite good. I use Librera FD and quite enjoy the scroll mode.

But then I'm subject to the bright screen, all of the colors, all of the notifications, and everything else that the phone brings. The calm of the X4 is quite nice.

dsubburam a day ago

Interesting. I think this also explains in part why I prefer CDs to a streaming service for listening to music.

ilogik 2 days ago

How many books have you read on your phone in the last month? Or did you instead open twitter/hackernews/tiktok?

darreninthenet 2 days ago

None, I use a Kobo for ebooks and mostly buy "real" paper books. But I was thinking this sounded like a great (and cheap) use case but then I thought why not just use my phone...

I don't have any social media apps on my phone anymore except "Hack" for HN... as you imply, too much temptation to distraction. I haven't missed them at all.

overfeed 2 days ago

I "read" 6 audiobooks on my phone last month. Listening to audiobooks counts as reading, text-snobs be damned.

4ndrewl 2 days ago

It's not snobbery, reading and listening activate different parts of your brain and you'll experience them differently. Just like reading an interview transcript is different to listening to an interview.

overfeed 17 hours ago

> reading and listening activate different parts of your brain and you'll experience them differently

This doesn't matter. What matters to me is I experienced the stories conveyed by the words.

I bet reading a hardback lights up different parts of the brain compared to e-book readers, but that difference does not to me matter either.

themadturk 2 days ago

It's easier on the eyes. LEDs and related technologies give me eyestrain after a while; eInk devices don't (and many, like the X4 model, have front-lighting, also easier on the eyes than backlit screens.

carlosjobim 2 days ago

eInk displays are much easier to see outdoors than phone displays.

3eb7988a1663 2 days ago

In addition to some of the other great answers, it is cheap enough to lose. The unexpected breakage/theft of a cellphone ranges anywhere from annoyance to world ending disaster. So, I have to be a lot more deliberate in protecting my valuable phone.

The tiny ereader contains no secrets or valuables, so I feel fine pulling it out in an area where I might otherwise be reluctant to use my phone.

aaronscott 2 days ago

Something that others haven’t mentioned is that you can flash an open source OS/reader software (Crosspoint, among others) so you can change the UI and experience for your preferences. I like having an e-reader that lets me modify how it works.

dominicq 2 days ago

The same reason why taking a bicycle is preferable through a nice wooded area even though you could technically drive as well

5555624 2 days ago

I prefer the e-ink display.

I first stared reading ebooks on my Palm Vx. I went on to a Nook, Nook Color, some no names, Kobo. Five years ago, I became disabled and no longer had a free hand to carry an ereader and did not want to carry a bag just to carry an ereader/book. I started reading on my phone.

Last April, after seeing a comment on the X4, here on HN, I decided to get one. I prefer the display and I can advance a page by pressing the button, rather than swiping the screen. It's always with me, in het same pocket as my phone/

snapplebobapple a day ago

The phone has doomscrolling available which is higher immediate value and negative long term value. I just have to grab this and i am locked into long term value

TwoFerMaggie 2 days ago

The portability is such a game changer compared to the usual kindle-like devices. Compared to my kindle which I have to put in my backpack or only when I have big coat pockets in the winter, this can be put in my pocket and taken everywhere.

I wish they have a magsafe case with 1-2 card holder slots, then it would just be a perfect wallet replacement.

ndsipa_pomu 2 days ago

The problem with using it as a wallet replacement is if you want to read whilst in public queues etc. and that would be fairly easy for a thief to swipe. If you're just holding the Xteink then you're less of a target.

TwoFerMaggie 20 hours ago

That's a fair point.

Although I would argue that I already see many people using phone cases with card slots or magsafe card holders. This is a safer option because the xteink costs less and it makes your phone less likely to be swiped.

My setup now is simply my transport card duct taped on the outside of the xteink case. For payments and music and such I'd still use my phone, which is in the other pocket.

fg137 2 days ago

I have an X4 as well, but shamefully I have to admit I find myself browsing HN much more than reading on X4, despite being a reader of physical books and kindle

amunozo 2 days ago

I am planning updating my Kindle Paperwhite from 2016. I love the idea of having a smaller e-reader I can have always in my pocket, but I worry about it being too small. Do you have another e-reader or have used any before? How would you compare them?

jacek 2 days ago

Yes. I had Kindle DX (2010) and Kindle Paperwhite (~2016?). I still have and use Onyx Boox Air (2?). As X4 has no touchscreen layer and no backlight, the contrast is best. Resolution not as good as Boox, but no complaints there. The only downside is no backlight, but not a problem for me. Buying a new eink reader I would for sure avoid color screens. Their contrast is worst by far.

theshrike79 13 hours ago

Go with a Kobo. I switched to the Libra Colour and not going back. Physical buttons, sideloading without any trickery, first party support for alternative firmwares and frontends.

Also not owned by a man who can RENT VENICE for his wedding.

I also have an Xteink X3 and it's always with me. With a screen protector and/or case, I can just shove it into any pocket or put it on the back of my phone with the Qi2 magnets.

jilles 2 days ago

I did the exact same. Installed CrossPoint on it and when I want to grab my phone, I read a page in my X4 Pro. It's quite nice.

rpdillon 2 days ago

Same, got it about 6 months ago, flashed crosspoint, and have since sold my entire family on the X4. The innovation of getting respectable book formatting running on ESP32 is remarkable. Impressive work.

crossroadsguy 2 days ago

That's what I was wondering - how does one even read a book on that tiny X3. X4 looks like the perfect size though, proper pocketbook size.

peri-cl 2 days ago

There are 10+ comments here praising a third-party firmware, so I think it deserves mention that this might (?) no longer be possible for new devices,

https://www.theverge.com/tech/921552/xteink-x3-x4-e-reader-t...

> "But now buyers report Xteink is blocking [CrossPoint Reader], which might depend on where you live and where you purchase its devices. [...] Instead of being offered a replacement, they received a statement they shared to Reddit explaining that recently shipped devices from Xteink now come with firmware flashing disabled."

pyreko 2 days ago

IIRC this is mainly ones sold by third-party vendors in China? Like if you buy from AliExpress.

EDIT: if you look at the Reddit post the article references it even says:

> !!!!!THIS ONLY APPLIES TO LATEST CHINESE STOCK AND NOT THOSE THAT ARE BOUGHT FROM XTEINK.COM!!!!!

Also note that CrossPoint has a way to bypass said flash block if you look at their repo or website:

- https://crosspointreader.com/unlock

- https://github.com/crosspoint-reader/crosspoint-reader#usb-l...

pyreko 2 days ago

I can also anecdotally say that the x3 I bought from Amazon in like June (seller was xteink official store) was flashable without any bypass needed.

mendelmaleh 2 days ago

Same for mine bought a week ago.

mikestew 2 days ago

Thanks for the confirmation, you two. Amazon's dropping one off today with the rest of our order.

I've been using a 2012 Kindle Paperwhite that is long past its expiration date, and I've little interest in continuing with Kindles, so this is a toe in the water of alternatives.

snapplebobapple a day ago

Its pretty good if you can get an opds server going or are ok with dropping bools directly on the sd card. Its small enough that it just stays in my pocket and i read when i have time instead of doom scrolling

wolvoleo 2 days ago

Yeah but everyone buys from ali because it's much cheaper and you get more protection.

The ones from Xteink are more expensive. It's sneaky that they're trying to cash in on the success of the custom firmware that they had nothing to do with creating.

dnel 2 days ago

I bought my X4 from Ali and usb flashing is disabled so I flashed crosspoint using the SD card method which wasn't difficult. It's not like I'm going to patch it often, it's just mildly less convenient when I do.

nosrepa 2 days ago

But yet, xteink is a partner at https://freeink.org/

trueno 2 days ago

yes for sure crosspoint made this thing the best bang for your buck purchase in the milky way

burnte 2 days ago

Agreed. The stock firmware is virtually unusable. Extremely clunky, nothing renders right, moving books is a PITA, etc. Crosspoint makes it worth the $70. Without crosspoint, just don't buy it.

eli 2 days ago

Nah it’s fine. They committed to international devices being unlocked, and the firmware lock is trivial to bypass anyway.

ndsipa_pomu 2 days ago

I received my X4 Pro from Xteink themselves about a week ago and there was no problem installing CrossPoint. They do say that they have unlocked firmware, but I think the issue is if you buy them from AliExpress or similar as they seem to have locked firmwares. I think it's not too difficult to unlock the locked ones but haven't needed to try.

TabTwo 2 days ago

Why does XTINK even bother with their own firmware. Let their developer work on Crosspoint and make great hardware.

konaraddi 2 days ago

There’s an unlocked developer edition.

Crosspoint links to it at https://crosspointreader.com/devices

beej71 2 days ago

I have an X4. I've read about 15 books on it so far, and I carry it everywhere.

I used to read books on my phone (Moon Reader), but it wasn't as compelling. I think it was a combination of the screen and the fact that I'm used to using the phone for other things. But I can't really pin it down more than that.

Things I like:

Flashable firmware. If they disable this capability, I wouldn't buy it. I'm using Crosspoint Reader ATM.

Lightweight.

Good battery life. You can get through a novel on a charge.

USB-C. They sell models with a proprietary connector, best avoided. If they drop USB-C, I wouldn't buy it. I'm not carrying another stupid proprietary charger on trips where I could lose it and render my device useless, and one that's certainly not cheap and trivial to replace.

uSD slot. Plenty of room.

Crosspoint integration with Calibre. Crosspoint lots of features. They just added offline dictionary support but I haven't tried it.

Narrow screen. It's like a newspaper column. Somehow I enjoy this more than a wide screen.

Lanyard attachment point. I don't use this, but it's a neat detail they added to the case.

Magnetic phone attachment. Sticks to the back of my pixel 9 case, or whatever metal you have handy.

Things I'm neutral about:

My model doesn't have a backlight. I make up for it with a front light. :) Sometimes I miss it, but other times I feel like books were meant to be read without a backlight.

Low resolution screen. It's visibly lower than my other e-readers, for sure. Get it under a loupe and... wow. But I don't mind it.

No keyboard. There is a software keyboard, but lack of touch makes it clunky to use. Luckily my needs are rare.

Only DRM-free EPUB support (and TXT). This is HackerNews; you know what you're doing.

Things I don't like:

There's a weird quirk where a screen that's exposed to direct sunlight won't render correctly after a page turn. It fades. I have to turn the screen into shadow before turning the page.

The case is weak. I don't want a cover for it because I stick it to my phone, but dropping the device will result in divots on the case edges.

It generally feels plastic. The buttons (which haven't failed me) don't have a solid feel to their action.

Xteink folks, if you're listening:

Allow firmware flashing, or I won't recommend it.

Keep USB-C, or I won't recommend it.

These are two of your killer features for a device that is a little bit overpriced.

trueno 2 days ago

i have the 3 and the 4 and i just want to say small devices own iphone 13 mini for life xteink for life

this is an ode to me in second grade thinking calculator watches were the pinnacle of human achievement.

I LIKE SMOL AND FUNCTIONAL THINGS!

prollings a day ago

The pogo connector isn't proprietary.

beej71 a day ago

Good to know. Still wish it wasn't another connector, though.

timw4mail a day ago

With the original X4 discontinued, none of the XTEink products now have USB-C, they all have the pogo pins.

beej71 12 minutes ago

Great. Time to relive the glory days of mini USB, micro USB, and carrying a pile of different cables around to charge your stuff.

BSOhealth 2 days ago

it's hard to complain about this device, but here are my random ones:

1. yes, it is small and wonderful to one-handed read with, but _everyone_ around you notices you have a unique, small ereader in your palm. granted, maybe just reflects my self-consciousness. but until these are more ubiquitous, you'll be getting looks on the train/plane.

2. the whole "stick it on the back of your phone" idea is super silly and a bit of a gimmick at least:

2a. I don't want to make my expensive phone larger by volume and weight

2b. I do struggle to not fool around with my phone, and simply using "the back of the phone" is about the equivalent of being given a cigarette upside down as if that will stop me from smoking it.

3. after 14 years of Kindles, it's obvious how much better the eink tech is in premium devices (not a game changer at all, at most a nitpick)

yeah it's a super great device. I got it when prices were a bit lower a few months ago and it was a no-brainer. if you're really into reading and being thrifty/resourceful to get your ebooks, I'd check it out.

embedding-shape 2 days ago

> 1. yes, it is small and wonderful to one-handed read with, but _everyone_ around you notices you have a unique, small ereader in your palm. granted, maybe just reflects my self-consciousness. but until these are more ubiquitous, you'll be getting looks on the train/plane.

This is a new complaint I haven't heard, might I ask where in the world this is? I use my X4 Pro out in cafes, beaches and general public in Spain, and I don't think a single person have glanced in my direction because of it. But I also see plenty of other people with their e-readers too, some larger and some smaller, but no one is giving them any looks or side-eyes, it's relatively common here at least.

BSOhealth 2 days ago

I travel a lot for work and life. NYC, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, Vancouver, Toronto, etc.

to be clear, these are not "side eyes" in a negative sense. it's more just peoples' curiosity, which can be a bit uncomfortable if you notice that type of thing while you're trying to read.

I think speaks to the fact that we all expect some normalization around iphones/pixels/kindles/switches in terms of the "expected" devices people might have in-hand.

danscan 2 days ago

The X3 stands out a bit more than the X4. The difference is small but mighty. I was at a restaurant in my small (not the forefront of tech) town, and had two people ask about it!

criddell 2 days ago

I use a Kindle Oasis and love it.

I’ve seen the Xteink devices mentioned here and am intrigued, but the screenshots turn me off instantly. The font rendering or hyphenation or kerning (not sure exactly what) looked terrible.

Fortunately, since these run open source software, this will likely eventually be fixed. The Kindles weren’t great at the start either, so I have a lot of hope for future versions of the Xteink devices.

BSOhealth 2 days ago

100%, the fonts are barely acceptable. if anyone has one, would love a github library to help with this…

exhilaration 2 days ago

The comment below yours has a custom fonts section: https://github.com/crosspoint-reader/crosspoint-reader#custo...

crtasm 2 days ago

Easy to flash Crosspoint and then you can add any font you like (there's also a selection you can download directly on the device) https://crosspointreader.com/fonts

Kerning and hyphenation is also better than the stock firmware

OkCompute64 2 days ago

I got an X3 the other week when it was on sale for €50. Been enjoying it for "read anywhere" as I can always carry it on me unlike my Kobo Clara BW.

I sideloaded the Amazon Kindle fonts (Bookerly and Ember) and a few others using the builder at https://crosspointreader.com/fonts obviously you need to be running CrossPoint to load the fonts so have that flashed on first.

You can download the Kindle fonts from https://developer.amazon.com/en-US/alexa/branding/echo-guide... if you don't already have them.

That said the Clara BW is still my preferred e-reader as I find the larger screen better for longer reading sessions however you really can't beat having a tiny 3.7" e-reader with you everywhere. All those "micro waits" at places and I can read a few pages or even a chapter of a book rather than using my phone for nonsense stuff.

Another tweak I do is use the ePub optimiser at https://inky.crossink.dev to give me more "friendly" ePub files for the X3. I didn't have any issue with my regular ePubs but this optimised ones open faster and do look a bit nicer overall so it is worth the few minutes it takes to optimise all your books IMHO.

leecming 2 days ago

font styling is one thing but the xteink devices use very low resolution displays (220PPI for the X4) versus the 300PPI on any modern Kindle/Kobo ereader so you're not going to get around text looking worse on them

chrisjj 2 days ago

> you'll be getting looks on the train/plane.

Ordering now.

beej71 2 days ago

I actually like the magnet and use it to stick the reader to my phone. :) I don't consider it a thing that keeps me from using my phone; it's just a way to carry it in my pocket.

jcul a day ago

On point 1, I was imagining that people would just think I was starting intently at a small phone.

Which is a little embarrassing to be so absorbed in a device.

croon 2 days ago

Much to my wife's chagrin I never have anything on my wishlist since I'm not a huge fan of (receiving) gifts in general, but I did put the X4 on my list a couple of months ago, since my decade+ old Kobo is getting long in the tooth, and I don't enjoy the manual syncing.

I wanted it mostly due to this: https://github.com/crosspoint-reader/crosspoint-reader

Has anyone tried it out?

stigi 2 days ago

Crosspoint is the way to go, imho. Together with the CrossX app (https://github.com/jtvargas/crosspoint-app) it's so nice! Nicely supports sending web articles as epubs onto the X3/X4 device (I use X3).

neal_jones 2 days ago

Yea, that’s what I use. My only complaint about the reader is no backlight. Everything else is great.

danscan 2 days ago

I use [Crossink](https://crossink.dev) and I absolutely love it. Have it both the X4 Pro and the X3, and surprisingly (to me) I prefer the x3 for everything but reading in the dark

embedding-shape 2 days ago

> both the X4 Pro and the X3, and surprisingly (to me) I prefer the x3 for everything but reading in the dark

Interesting, as a new owner (CrossPoint user though) who loves my X4 Pro so far, it makes me wonder what the X3 is better at for you?

barnabee a day ago

Agreed. The X3 just feels kind of magically small, and well proportioned in a way the X4 Pro doesn’t. Both have their merits though and I’ll be keeping both, because in some situations a backlight is near-essential for me.

hollandheese 2 days ago

Your decade old Kobo is going to be a better reader than this. Kobo Nickle or Koreader will render epub a ton better and faster. Do this if you want the smaller size. It's not an upgrade in anyway.

croon a day ago

That's good to know. I am very happy with the screen on my current one (kobo clara hd). It's just that the usability and lack of sync is annoying enough that I'm tempted to switch. Perhaps a bit of itchy tinkerfinger too.

I guess it does feel like more of a real book in that regard, though.

larme 2 days ago

I have an X4 and use it as a writer deck with microslate firmware[0]

I heavily customized the source code with llm so I can use emacs style keybindings and search.

[0]: https://github.com/Josh-writes/microslate-firmware

armenarmen 2 days ago

I ws considering something like this, do you have any video of it in action?

larme 2 days ago

I don't have video on my hand but a photo is here: https://files.catbox.moe/z8suof.jpg

There are some cons:

- some users report text gets blurred out if used under direct sunlight for a long time. I don't use it outside so I'm not affected

- sometimes the BLE connection is sketchy. I'm not sure if it's hardware or software problem

- the editor features are very barebone so you may want to customize your own version

- beware there are unflashable edition of this device

larme 2 days ago

Also I think there's a youtuber who shoot some videos about using microslate.

schaefer 2 days ago

I hadn't heard about microslate. Thank you.

larme 2 days ago

I list some cons in a sibling comment. You may want to check if you plan to buy one

schaefer 2 days ago

I already own one - I've been reading with crosspoint.

vinniepukh 2 days ago

incredible that the repo fails to include a single screenshot/photo of what the firmware looks like

Melatonic 2 days ago

Does the official repo not or you mean this version where the guy sounds like he did some customisations on the navigation buttons ?

larme 2 days ago

What I linked is the official repo. My customization is private because I replace the original fonts with a commercial font (which I own a license) so I feel it's better not to make the repo public.

NoboruWataya 2 days ago

I had only heard about these things on HN, and thought they were primarily popular as a toy for people to hack on. I didn't realise they are so popular amongst "normies".

I have no current need for one as I am happy with my cheap second hand Kobo but it's great that they exist, especially with the open source alternative firmware. Hopefully they don't clamp down on that in future.

frantathefranta 2 days ago

TikTok (ironically) has a bunch of anti-brainrot content, I think the Xteinks got popular that way. Super easy to use and even flash to 3rd party firmware.

nkurz 2 days ago

https://archive.is/Lb2Bf

ranger207 2 days ago

Where are people getting DRM free epubs for theirs? I have a bunch that I've gotten through various Humble Bundles that I'm working through now, but I'm wondering where I should go if I want to look for something specific

ane 2 days ago

If you want to buy them legitimately, there aren't a lot of options

Illegitimately, there are tons of options

themadturk 2 days ago

What many people do is buy them from places like Kobo.com, download them, and remove the DRM (usually via plugins to the Calibre library management software).

Kindle books have become impossible to download, but other online bookstores aren't as restrictive.

financetechbro 2 days ago

Anna’s archive

dublinben 2 days ago

https://standardebooks.org/

akman 2 days ago

https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/index.html

Gareth321 2 days ago

Shelfmark (+ Grimmory/Calibre) is magic.

stevesimmons 2 days ago

I got the X4 just before my summer holiday and put "War and Peace" from Project Gutenberg on it as my only ebook.

Five weeks later, I'd finished it, all 360 chapters, 1400 pages.

Apart from finding War and Peace a totally engrossing read, one of my favourite books of all time, I give the credit to the X4... I'd never have finished it if reading the physical book (too large to carry around) nor if reading on my phone (too many distractions).

So thank you xteink!

maxglute 2 days ago

I guess more sensible than Yotaphone. Still annoyed we got 3rd screen on foldables before eink.

E: also waiting for this formfactor to get optimaxxed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL05zoHBGwA

Little eink dogtag that flips through one sentence at time.

_0xdd 2 days ago

I really didn't think I would, but I really enjoy using my X4. The only thing I wish it had was a backlight. It seems Xteink is hellbent on including pogo connectors on all their other models, and that the original X4 with USB-C was an unfortunate outlier in this regard.

alturp 2 days ago

I actually really like not having backlight, forcing me to use non-directional yellow light during the night reading sessions. I wish all electronic screen were like that.

embedding-shape 2 days ago

The backlight of the X4 Pro have configurable "warmth" of the backlight, works pretty good even in completely dark rooms and much better than the eye-train you get from traditional screens.

jauntywundrkind 2 days ago

I generally disbelieve in anti-features. You can just... not use the backlight! It's frustrating when people insist on a lack of features. There's no practical downside to backlights being an option.

joshkojoras 2 days ago

I recently got an X3 (on a sale £58 with shipping) after deciding between X4 and X3 for a long time and I think I made the right decision. I fits perfectly in my wallet and I don't think about it.

Carrying my regular 6" ereader around feels like I'm taking something with me, it feels like extra weight. I have to either carry it in my hand which is inconvenient or take a rucksack with me when I go for a walk. X3 is so small that it doesn't feel like I'm carrying anything, but it's always there. So when I go for a long walk and decide to take a short break I take it out and read for 10-20min. Same on my commute, I replaced reading the news on my phone with reading for 25-30min on the train.

First think I did was flash Crosspoint on it, because it's lightweight and preserves the battery much like original OS. Battery feels great, I love that it's not touchscreen. Buttons take getting used to, but overall I'm impressed!

NDlurker 2 days ago

New version of the X4 if you don't care about the light. It does have the pogo pins most people seem to hate.

https://www.xteink.com/products/xteink-x4-classic-pocket-ere...

fluidcruft 2 days ago

I like the idea of a small light ereader but credit card sized is just... way too small. I really don't get it. Like people miss the old small phones because it did discouraged reading and phones became the size they are now because this size seems to balance portability and reading.

NDlurker 2 days ago

It's fine reading on the X3. I just use the large font size. The text on HN on my phone is WAY smaller

BeetleB 2 days ago

As someone who actually started reading more with bigger screen sizes[1], this article is really not jiving with me and is light on details. I still don't understand why I'd prefer this to a Kobo. Other than the size, what is the benefit?

[1] I read more with a 7" than a 6" and even more with an 8".

embedding-shape 2 days ago

The size is pretty much the selling point compared to other e-readers. The screen quality isn't great, it doesn't have more features than the rest or anything else, but it's tiny and I can lie down on my back holding my arm up in the air for longer than with my phone, so reading at the beach is comfortable for example. If you like bigger devices, you won't like any of the Xteink devices I think.

x1ph0z 2 days ago

Then the device is not for you. I have this and it’s amazing for me. Being able to pocket this and whip it out during moments I would’ve doom scrolled has been great for my reading.

BeetleB 2 days ago

I think for ebooks this isn't for me. I like to focus when reading ebooks so quickly whipping it out when I have only a few minutes (the way I do with my phone) isn't for me.

I'm wondering what other uses this could have other than reading books.

As an example, it would be great if I'm reading an article that I could just send a screen reader version of the article to this. Not sure how easy it is.

mikestew 20 hours ago

I’ve not used it, but the HN commenter seems to like it for sending articles:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49598789

jauntywundrkind 2 days ago

I do want a bigger phone at some point than the 6" I have now. But, I will say, when I read, it definitely is me using the same top of the screen all the time. I'll literally open notes in split screen even if I don't intend to write, just to reduce the reading area. To an area considerably smaller than this tablet. I don't want to have to move my eyes so far up and down. Having two or four or ten times more words on screen doesn't feel like it helps me to actually read.

(There is some benefit to having having a "shape" of the page, in terms of remembering where you were at a given point in the story sometimes, but that fades fast.)

swdunlop 2 days ago

For me, it is:

1. Yes, the size. I don't spend a lot of time thinking about "do I really want to bother with this in my pocket, I'm just going to the store."

2. The ecosystem. There's a lot of different firmware forks, people tinker and optimize. Which is important, because that helps with..

3. The UI. There's only a few buttons, no touch screen, so the power on experience sends you straight into the last page you were reading, and there's not a lot of farkles trying to drive engagement.

4. No touch screen. The buttons aren't very soft, and there's no touch screen, so you can just toss it back in your pocket, without turning it off, and pick it back up.

5. It's cheap, and it is not linked to my accounts. I'm not terribly worried about theft or someone accidentally knocking it out of my hand.

All that comes down to just.. no ceremony. No unlock the screen, push past the notifications, find the app, wait for Kindle to pass some advertising back and forth with Amazon. Nothing. Pick up the book, read the next page while you are waiting for coffee to steep.

That said, there's some suck to be had:

6. No frontlight. You can't read in the dark without a separate light.

7. No, the font rendering is not perfect, the DPI is pretty low. This is not the most beautiful screen. But it's pretty readable. I got over it.

8. It's a pretty small screen. If you have awful eyesight, you're going to go through a lot of page turns. But if you are prone to skipping ahead and scanning, you might actually read more of the book this way.

9. It is not fast. The firmwares I have used all do some indexing at the start of each chapter, and it can take a few seconds.

10. The vendor either doesn't quite understand its customers (it seems like xteink got lucky sometimes) or is scrabbling through parts bins and unable to communicate with its customers. The X4 Pro really confused its fans.

I think it really just comes down to "this thing is too simple to become more fucking adtech pretending to be useful."

haunter 2 days ago

$70 in the US, 90€ ($105) in Europe :3 https://www.xteink.com/products/xteink-x3

I guess West Coast shipping from China is much cheaper

embedding-shape 2 days ago

Hmm, at the end of July I bought a X4 Pro from them for 88.95 EUR (shipping to Spain included), seems they've raised prices since then? Lucky me I suppose.

myrmidon 2 days ago

There is no way shipping alone explains the difference.

I would suspect the majority comes from higher (VAT) tax level; possibly also some indirect overhead because Europe is a more segmented market, and needs a bunch of localization at the very least.

ac29 2 days ago

US prices dont include taxes, EU prices do

graemep 2 days ago

£70 ($94) in the UK so is US prices exclude sales taxes $14 is VAT, what about the other $10?

GP says its $105 in the EU. I do not think VAT is high enough to explain that anywhere in the EU?

lrae 2 days ago

> GP says its $105 in the EU

It's not? Maybe there is some dynamic pricing going on, but it's 79 Euro (~91.75 USD). Which would be close to the US price with Hungary's VAT (27%, which is I think the highest). Then add stuff like copying levy onto it and you'll land on roughly the same price, even with a lower average VAT. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_copying_levy

Maybe they compared the model with the base to the one without? The one with base is more expensive in the US too though.

VariousPrograms 2 days ago

If you don't need an ebook gadget right now, Boox is about to release the Boox Picco as a direct competitor to this. It's in between the X3 and X4 in size, but has a front-lit and potentially higher resolution screen.

I have an X4 Pro (219 ppi) and I use 14pt font because letter widths are pretty uneven at 12pt and on a screen this small I wish I could use my preferred tiny font size. Other than that, it's great.

pronik a day ago

Every time people talk about e-readers I have to wonder whether I'm an outlier. I've been e-reading for over 20 years now. I've been reading on my Nokia 6230 by using an ebook to J2ME converter. I've been reading with AlReader on my HTC Tytn. I'm still reading on my Android phone now. Sure, e-ink is superior, but it's a bit like with cameras: the best one is the one you have on you, not the one you left at home -- and I personally won't be hauling two devices if I can avoid it. If you want to read on the go, you'll find a way that fits you.

ololobus 2 days ago

I got X3 because it was on the ads all over my internet. My idea was that I can stick it to my phone when I go out or commute and don’t want to bring my standard Kobo reader, so I can read more instead of doomscrolling

So far, my impression:

- it’s a fun piece of tech, but it’s also a super simple one. Idk the price of a eink screen like that, but it’s basically a screen + esp32 + battery, so $70 might be a bit too much, and just includes all the ads budget, which is clearly huge

- CrossPoint firmware is neat and OSS, so you can for and DIY whatever you can imagine

- it’s still so much more convenient to read on a bit bigger reader. Even my Kobo Clara BW with Koreader, which is still quite portable, has way better UX. And it’s just about x2 more expensive

- magnet is not strong enough to sit firmly on my phone

- I got a epub rendering issue with one of my books

- I don’t read a lot on it and still prefer my Kobo, so it failed the main objective for me personally

- it’s still fun how much esp32 in such a tiny enclosure can do :)

HexDecOctBin 2 days ago

Mine's screen cracked in a month. Didn't drop it or mishandled it. Be aware that is it much more fragile that a Kindle.

palache 2 days ago

Mine cracked the other day as well in my pocket! Fairly surprised and sad as now I have to finish those books on my smartphone

embedding-shape 2 days ago

Maybe that's why they include some sort of screen protector with the device? At least they did with the X4 Pro, did you get that with the X3 as well, and were you using it while it cracked if so?

I've been having mine in a beach bag I'm not too careful with, for about two months, which goes out with me when I swim in the sea, without using the included screen protector, and still no scratches or cracks in mine.

HexDecOctBin 2 days ago

Yeah, I had the protector. It cracked from inside, so I guess maybe the force came from the other side.

toddgruben 2 days ago

For $50, I like this one even better. https://www.seeedstudio.com/reTerminal-Sticky-p-6861.html. Seems to scratch a similar itch

steve-atx-7600 2 days ago

I want an e-reader that can handle narration. Actually immersive reading - https://storyteller-platform.dev - without paying Amazon. This is possible on a kindle running KOReader, but it's very slow loading for large books (have the last generation Oasis). I ordered a Boox 7 because it should have a lot more raw power (CPU, ram). Plus it has physical buttons. Why would you want to put oil from your hands on the screen you read on? If you're into small screens, you probably have a phone in your pocket that you could run an e-reader app on.

amelius 2 days ago

This could never have been invented in SV. You cannot show large bright colored advertisements on it!

55555 2 days ago

I have one and am very happy with it. I vibe coded a bilingual ebook reader, which is what I bought it for. However a Kindle is a way better deal and is much better as far as screen quality etc. But I like how small my XTEINK X4 Pro is.

addandsubtract 2 days ago

I would be interested in a bilingual ebook reader. Do you have a repo for the project?

fooker 2 days ago

I got one and it is a neat fun device.

And it's pretty hackable, with an open firmware, bunch of community involvement in developing third party alternatives for the default software.

I have even vibecoded random software to run on it.