• 2 min read
Xteink’s X4 Pro packs a lot into a tiny ereader
The 72-gram Xteink X4 Pro is a credit-card-sized ereader with page buttons, front light, 16GB of storage and DRM-free ebook support for $99.
Image: Engadget
If ultra-portable gadgets are your thing, the Xteink X4 Pro pushes the ereader format further than most. It’s smaller than devices like the Boox Palma 2 Pro, measuring just 5.95mm thick and weighing 72 grams, with built-in magnets so it can attach to the back of a phone.
Despite its size, the X4 Pro includes features usually found on larger readers: page-turn buttons, a circular home button reminiscent of older iPhones, a touchscreen, and an adjustable front light for reading at night. Its 4.3-inch display makes it a poor fit for comics or graphic novels, but the idea is simple: pull it out on the subway and read a chapter without being pulled into apps like X or Meta.
There’s a major limitation, though. The device only supports DRM-free ebooks, imported either wirelessly through the Xteink app or over USB. That rules out a Kindle library and most books borrowed through Libby, but it does support epub and mobi files. The companion app can also manage the library, download wallpapers and import custom fonts, while USB can handle those tasks too.
The 1,100mAh battery is larger than in some earlier Xteink models, but the thin design means there’s no built-in USB-C port. Charging instead requires an included magnetic adapter. Storage starts at 16GB and can be expanded to 256GB via microSD.
At $99, it lands close to the price of a basic Kindle — especially when Amazon discounts it — but the X4 Pro is selling a different idea: an ereader small enough to actually live in your pocket.
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Computing Editor
Tomas lives in the terminal. He covers chips, laptops, and operating systems with a focus on performance and efficiency. He reads kernel changelogs the way other people read fiction, and he's always on the hunt for the perfect mechanical keyboard switch. If it processes data, Tomas has an opinion on it.
via Engadget
