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Although I’ve spent years promoting the Boox Palma 2, a phone-sized Chinese e-reader with an open Android operating system, my allegiances have changed in recent months. I’m now crazy about the small, slightly janky, minimalist devices offered by Xteink, another Chinese tech company. And I’m far from the only one – the Xtink subreddit is a busy place.
$69 Their own crowdsourced alternative. $79 X3 (which is currently only available in the US Direct from Xteink) is largely the same device, but even smaller – about the size of a credit card. Either of these are a great option for portability, but they come with several trade-offs, including only being able to load books without digital rights management software (DRM), which means your existing library of Kindle books is gone.
But Xteink’s next device is on the horizon – it’s called the S4, and it looks like it can do everything I could ask from a micro-sized e-reader.
What are the specifications of Xteink S4?
Although we don’t have all the details yet, Xteink releases a preorder announcement for the S4 Some key signs this week include:
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1400mAh battery
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6.98 mm thick
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95 grams weight
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Android 11 OS
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2 GB RAM
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32GB storage
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adjustable front light
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Physical buttons on the top and sides of the device
What’s currently unknown: the specific processor, how much storage it will potentially have (discussions suggest support for SD cards has been removed), and whether it will be able to access the Google Play store. However—and again, I’m largely working off rumors here—we can reasonably expect it to be able to load e-reading apps like Kobo and Kindle, meaning you’ll be able to use it to access your existing e-book collection as well as sideload your own DRM-free files.
What will the Xteink S4 cost in the US?
Xteink ने अभी तक S4 को चीन के बाहर रिलीज़ करने की अपनी योजना का खुलासा नहीं किया है, जिसका अर्थ है कि हम अभी तक नहीं जानते हैं कि यह अमेरिका में कब उपलब्ध होगा – या इसकी कीमत क्या होगी। However, we do have some hints: The pre-order announcement in China included promotional pricing: RMB299 (about $43) for customers who previously purchased an X3 or Rumors on Reddit suggest A regular price “in the RMB400s,” Which will be around $60.
But there is speculation as to what the price of the devices will be in China. What does this tell us about US pricing? Well, we’re certainly not getting the S4 anywhere close to $43 — as mentioned, on Amazon, a comparatively bare-bones X4 costs around $70, and it’s hard to imagine a device that adds Android, a front light, and a touch screen wouldn’t be that expensive. Plus, it can’t be too expensive or it will stack up against the price of the entry-level Kindle ($109), which has a larger screen, is part of the trusted Amazon ecosystem, and undoubtedly offers a better out-of-the-box user experience.
What do you think so far?
If we compare the current Chinese prices of existing Xteink devices, we can get an idea of the growth we can see. The Chinese price of the X4 is RMB295. It’s about $43, but the X4 is priced at $69 on Amazon, which is 60% more. The X3 is RMB319, or about $46; That device sells for $79 from Xteink’s US store, which is a 72% premium. Assuming the reciprocal price increases, this means that if the regular Chinese price for the S4 is RMB400, the US price could be between $96 and $103. If I had to bet, I’d guess the S4 will cost $89 — still less than the Kindle’s $109 starting price. But of course, this is all speculation until Xteink officially announces a US release.
When will the Xteink S4 be available?
It’s currently unclear when the S4 will actually be available in China or the US, all we know is that Chinese pre-orders will open next week, April 27th.
What is the Xteink S4 for?
Assuming the rumors are true, the S4 will be a pocket-sized Android reader that can access reading apps and that offers all the most sought-after e-reader features – namely, both a touch screen and physical buttons for navigation, and a temperature-adjustable front light. If it could do all this for less than $100, it would immediately replace the Boox Palma 2 as my recommendation for anyone who wants a small e-reader that isn’t tied to a particular shopping ecosystem — and the Palma 2 costs closer to $250 in the US (it’s currently unavailable, which means you’ll need to spend $400 on the Boox Palma 2 Pro, which is a Much closer to a full-featured smartphone than an e-reader.)
In short, while imported e-readers will always be a niche product, the S4 could be a true game-changer for those who prioritize portability and don’t want to buy all their books from Amazon. And considering how many times I’ve been stopped in public and asked questions about my Xteink X3, it may be more people than you think.
