This color e-reader wants to be a phone, but it’s still just for notes and reading

When Boox first launched its thin, Palma e-reader in 2023, everyone said it looked like a phone—including me. Two years later, the Boox Palma 2 Pro still isn’t a phone, but just barely. It now has a color E Ink display and a SIM card slot for 5G cellular data connectivity.

Although it’s not able to make calls, those changes, along with more RAM and stylus support, mean that it’s now a true mobile companion. Download new books anywhere. Take notes and sync them at any time. Use Android apps freely.

If the Palma 2 Pro won’t be your next phone, is it still worth considering? After spending some time with the hand-held reader, I found it compelling for a few reasons, despite the paper-like screen causing plenty of hindrances for regular app use. Here are some things to know about the Palma 2 Pro.

The color is a bit harsh

Color on an e-paper device is tricky. By the standards of LCD or LED, it doesn't look nearly as good. I don’t think that means it’s useless, though. I’ve appreciated the color for my book library to see color cover art, highlight text, and use it to differentiate handwritten notes.

The Palma 2 Pro’s Kaleido 3 screen is fine in this regard. It gets the job done. It adds easy glanceability around the interface. There’s more distinction in certain things than just different shades of grey. However, the Palma 2 Pro’s color appearance looks less smooth, noisier, and harsher compared to the Kindle Colorsoft.

I tested both devices at all brightness levels, each with 0% warmth. There wasn’t much of a difference in the look of the color between those different settings. One just looks smoother and easier on the eyes—softer.

It’s hard to fault the Palma 2 Pro too critically, simply because neither device is ideal. You can pick any device like this apart. But between these two specific ones, I prefer looking at the Colorsoft.

Taking notes with the InkSense Plus stylus works well

Reading on a phone-sized e-reader is okay. Your mileage may vary with the narrow width. I prefer something more book-sized. For jotting down notes, however, I like the Palma 2 Pro’s thinner, more compact size. It’s easier to keep in a pocket or jacket. In terms of actually taking notes, writing is much smoother than I expected. There’s a little delay, but not enough to hinder writing.

The InkSense Plus stylus feels solid and firm. The single button defaults to being an eraser. The button never got in my way or was difficult to press. All around, the pen has been a good input device for me. It’s not overly fancy, and $45 might be an over-pay, but it works well.

It needs a better pen attachment

The only problem I had with the InkSense Plus stylus was keeping it close by. The Palma 2 Pro might support the stylus, but they weren’t designed together. The stylus is basically the same height as the Palma 2 Pro and doesn’t attach to the device anywhere.

If you get the $22 Magnetic 2-in-1 Protective Case, then you can magnetically attach the stylus to the front cover. That’s okay, but not ideal, as it will still come loose in a bag or pocket.

The speed feels fine for general use

When I used the Kindle app, ChatGPT, and a few other Android apps, none of them felt slow. In fact, minus the refresh delays while scrolling and switching screens, the Palma 2 Pro seemed snappy under my thumb. That might be due to the 8GB of RAM, instead of 6GB on the Palma 2. The Palma 2 Pro also uses the Android 15 OS, versus 13 on the other model.

Is it possible to use the device for TikTok and YouTube? Technically. This is where the device’s hardware speed doesn’t really have a bearing on its use. It’s more about uncovering the limits of frustration for devices with e-paper displays.

Is the Boox Palma 2 Pro worth spending money on?

For the Boox Palma 2 Pro to be a proper digital notebook and e-reader, you’re looking at $400 for the device and about $70 in accessories. Is it worth the nearly $500 price? No, probably not. If you want to use it anywhere, you’ll also need to splurge for a data SIM. It's not a cheap device.

However, for anyone unconstrained by budget, the device is a clear evolution and the best version yet. It’s a legitimate cellular note-taker or book reader. This type of product isn’t for everyone, but if you know it’s for you, then it's a worthy choice.