A Month Using the Boox Palma2

My girlfriend surprised me with a Boox Palma2 last month. If you haven’t seen one, it’s a phone-sized Android device with an e-ink screen. No phone calls, but full Google Play Store access. There’s a small cult following around these things, and now I get it.

The killer feature is running real apps. I’ve been using Libby and Kindle for my book library, Plexamp for music, and Pocket Casts for podcasts. The native e-book reader is solid too, with decent AI features for summaries and search. Reading on e-ink is genuinely easier on the eyes than any blue light filter or dark mode on a regular phone.

Some things don’t work well, but that’s by design. Video apps technically run but the refresh rate makes them painful. Spotify struggles with gradient-heavy interfaces. The built-in browser is limited, so I swapped it for Vivaldi. I haven’t installed any social media or messaging apps. That would defeat the purpose.

The Palma2 isn’t cheap. You’re paying mid-range smartphone prices for what is essentially a single-purpose device. A Kindle Paperwhite or Kobo Clara would be cheaper, but they don’t have the Play Store.

Here’s where I’ve landed after a month: the device has changed how I consume content. When I pick it up, I default to reading instead of scrolling. Having something that makes reading pleasant and distractions unpleasant has been worth it for me. The simple act of switching devices creates a mental shift. My brain knows it’s reading time, not endless-scroll time.

The Palma2 isn’t for everyone. But if you struggle with digital distractions or appreciate purpose-built tools, there’s something special here. Sometimes the best technology isn’t the one that does everything well. It’s the one that does one thing exceptionally while making other things harder.