I decided to let go of my Boox Palma.
When I first bought it, I really liked it.
I even wrote a review and made a video about it.
But after using it for a while, I started to feel that it wasn’t the right device for me anymore.
So I decided to stop using it.
In this article, I want to share my honest reasons.
What Is the Boox Palma?
Before getting into the main topic, let me briefly explain what this device is.
The Boox Palma is, simply put, an e-paper Android device.
Most e-paper devices are slow.
This is because they usually run on proprietary operating systems, which makes page turns and navigation feel sluggish.
The Boox Palma solves this by running Android.
As a result, it feels much faster than typical e-readers like Kindle.
Opening books and turning pages is smooth, and overall it feels more responsive.
Since it’s an Android device, you can also use a web browser and install apps.
This combination of e-paper and smartphone-like functionality is what makes it unique.
Why I Bought It
The reason I bought it was simple: I wanted to read more.
One of the biggest factors was speed.
With my previous Kindle, I often felt frustrated by the slight delays in opening a book or turning pages.
It wasn’t a huge issue, but when I felt like reading, I couldn’t start immediately.
That small delay became a surprisingly annoying barrier.
The Boox Palma, on the other hand, felt much faster thanks to Android.
I liked the idea of being able to start reading instantly.
I was also drawn to these points:
- It’s small and easy to carry, so I could read in short moments
- It uses e-paper, which is easier on the eyes at night
Because of these advantages, my reading time actually increased for a while.
However, over time, I started to feel that something wasn’t quite right.
Why I Decided to Stop Using It
Unstable Internet Connection
One issue I noticed was the unstable internet connection.
It would disconnect frequently.
I assume this is to save battery, but it became a bit frustrating.
The bigger problem was that it sometimes disconnected while I was using it.
Having to reconnect again and again interrupted the flow, which made the experience less enjoyable.
The Screen Is Too Small
Another issue was the screen size.
When I read, I tend to scan across the page rather than focus on one line at a time.
With a small display, the amount of visible text is limited,
which makes this reading style difficult.
In terms of efficiency, I found physical books easier to read.
That said, for novels—where you read more slowly and enjoy each sentence—it actually worked quite well.
Conclusion
I think the concept of the Boox Palma is excellent.
However, in terms of usability, it didn’t quite fit my needs.
If the downsides I mentioned don’t bother you, it could still be a great device.
Also, there is now a newer model with a color display,
so some of these issues may have been improved.
If you’re interested, it might be worth checking out.
