Onyx already offers an e-reader in smartphone format that comes with Android, namely the Boox Palma 2. Now, the manufacturer is unveiling a new model with an integrated modem, allowing the device to be used as a smartphone.
The Onyx Boox Palma 2 is already one of the most popular pocket-sized e-readers. The Verge recently got a glimpse of a new Boox Palma model that features two significant upgrades: a color display and an integrated LTE modem. The opening above the display could house a speaker, allowing the e-reader to function as a full-fledged smartphone.
The manufacturer is yet to confirm any details on the features, price or launch date of the next-generation Boox Palma. The device appears similar in size to the Boox Palma 2, which features a 6.13-inch display, making the e-reader smaller than many smartphones. Android enables the installation of third-party apps on the Palma 2, while a fingerprint sensor in the lock button allows for quick and convenient unlocking. The E Ink display promises perfect readability in direct sunlight, and a front light allows the screen to be used at night.
Modern E Ink displays can’t display nearly as many colors as an LCD or OLED panel, and animations and videos can only be displayed with limited fluidity. This could make the new Boox Palma smartphone perfect for users who prefer less distraction from social media apps. However, the device apparently forgoes a selfie camera, and it remains to be seen whether features such as an NFC chip for contactless payment are included.
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Editor of the original article: Hannes Brecher – Senior Tech Writer – 18648 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2018
Since 2009 I have written for different publications with a focus on consumer electronics. I joined the Notebookcheck news team in 2018 and have combined my many years of experience with laptops and smartphones with my lifelong passion for technology to create informative content for our readers about new developments in this sphere. In addition, my design background as an art director at an ad agency has allowed me to have deeper insights into the peculiarities of this industry.
Translator: Jacob Fisher – Translator – 2175 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2022
Growing up in regional Australia, I first became acquainted with computers in my early teens after a broken leg from a football (soccer) match temporarily condemned me to a predominately indoor lifestyle. Soon afterwards I was building my own systems. Now I live in Germany, having moved here in 2014, where I study philosophy and anthropology. I am particularly fascinated by how computer technology has fundamentally and dramatically reshaped human culture, and how it continues to do so.
Hannes Brecher, 2025-09- 8 (Update: 2025-09- 8)
