7 Insights in 7 Days -- The Boox Palma 2

7 Insights in 7 Days -- The Boox Palma 2

After cracking the inside screen of my ZFlip6, I needed an Android device to get me through a couple of months without a fully-functioning phone.

With my recent entrance into a PhD program, I’ve had the desire to fragment my tech capabilities to be more focused. This means assigning specific use cases to different devices so I can carry only what I need.

The device I decided to test for this tech ideal is the Boox Palma 2. To understand why this device might be the solution for my PhD workflow, you have to take a look at the niche market the Boox Palma 2 operates in.

Exploring the Android Handheld E-Ink Marketplace

The Boox Palma 2 is part of a unique ecosystem of handheld e-ink devices. They feel like a smartphone in the hand, but operate more like an e-reader. The screen is more responsive and quick when compared to most e-ink devices, but still maintains some of the quirks of e-ink like ghosting. I have an action button on the side mapped to refresh the screen when I need it.

The Boox Palma 2 is currently only offered with a black and white e-ink screen, and the screen isn’t as pixel-rich as a normal smartphone. The result is an experience that pushes me to prefer text-based activities over visual activities. Web pages, e-books, and google docs look incredible.

Here is a brief look at all the devices on the market today that fall into the same category as the Boox Palma 2:

Links to the 4 options:

1. Bigme Hibreak Pro: https://amzn.to/4ho1fWa

2. Boox Palma 2: https://amzn.to/3Ja0YJM

3. Hisense A9: https://www.ebay.com/shop/hisense-a9-phone?_nkw=hisense+a9+phone

4. Moann Inkpalm: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804198239130.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt

^^ It looks like the Inkpalm might have been discontinued since I started writing this article! There may be more cheap Chinese options to explore on Aliexpress.

If you want a more detailed look at all these options, I recommend checking out the following Reddit post by R0W3Y. He seems to be the go-to reddit source for detailed information about this genre of device.

https://www.reddit.com/r/hisenseA9/comments/1dcvwuw/pocket_reader_roundup/

My 7 Days with the Palma 2: Key Insights and Fixes

After a week of testing, here are seven key insights on whether this device can help me spend less time distracted, and more time reading/writing:

Workflow & Usability Wins

1. Outdoor excellence: This thing is excellent at working outdoors. It's better than my laptop screen because it handles all the glare. It just works great for taking places.

2. Connectivity: If you are routinely around places with a lot of wifi access, this device feels significantly more powerful than its price point. While not as accessible as a true smartphone, it can be used when in a pinch on hotspot. 

3. Game-changer setting: The Smart Lock feature was the biggest game changer to discover. This allowed me to keep the device unlocked at specific locations that I set, eliminating the need to constantly use the fingerprint reader.

Size and Feel

4. Bigger than expected: This device is bigger than I expected it to be. I quickly noticed that I would take it out of my pocket every time I sat down. The jury is out whether this is a con or not.

5. The right size for intentional Use: It feels like it's a good size to tell your brain that it's not something you're pulling out all the time. The flip case that shipped with my used Palma 2 adds to that intentionality.

Reading and Camera

6. Reading performance: The Boox Palma 2 is great for websites and ebooks. However, PDFs on the other hand were smaller than I was comfortable with. (Especially articles with two columns)

7. Photo capabilities: The refresh rate is fine, and the camera takes plenty fast, but the reliability of the focusing (and the QR code reader) was a bit of a pain.

Boox Palma 1 vs. Palma 2: What You Need to Know

A lot of you are likely curious about a comparison between the original Palma and the newer Boox Palma 2 that I am testing. There is a lot of spec peeking that you can do, but I think the graphic that follows should simplify the decision for most people.

TLDR: Boox Palma 1 if you only need an e-reader. Boox Palma 2 if you need more android capabilities.

Final Verdict (So Far): Will I Keep It?

When used in conjunction with a stripped-down phone, this device gives me access to all the Android utilities that I need, albeit with a few quirks.

I think I'm going to hold on to this device for a little bit longer. I need to reflect on the usability of slower e-ink devices as well as the size of the Palma. In general my experience has been positive so far, but there are certainly some hiccups that come with older Android versions and app compatibility that I will report on later. This was week one, I will work to create a long-term review of the Boox Palma 2!