Xteink X4 Pro Review: Tiny E-Reader Offers Fun but Limited Experience
Xteink has released the X4 Pro, an upgraded version of its micro e-reader designed to attach to the back of a smartphone. The device features a 4.3-inch touchscreen, a home button, a dual-tone front light, and improved magnets and battery capacity compared to the base X4. Weighing only 72 grams and measuring 5.95 millimeters wide, it is extremely portable. However, the lack of a built-in bookstore and DRM support means users must source their own DRM-free EPUB files, which may deter casual readers. The device is compatible with TXT, EPUB, MOBI, PDF, JPG, and PNG files, and allows for expandable storage up to 256 GB via microSD. It also supports URL syncing through the Xteink app, which reformats web articles for reading. The review highlights its suitability for reading fan fiction from Archive of Our Own (AO3) and long online essays, but notes that for most users, a Kindle or Kobo offers a more convenient experience. The X4 Pro is priced at an undisclosed amount and is available now.
Key facts
- Xteink X4 Pro is a micro e-reader that attaches to the back of a smartphone.
- It has a 4.3-inch touchscreen, a home button, and a dual-tone front light.
- The device weighs 72 grams and is 5.95 millimeters wide.
- It has 16 GB of built-in storage, expandable to 256 GB via microSD.
- Battery capacity is 1100 mAh, up from 650 mAh in the base X4.
- There is no built-in bookstore; users must upload DRM-free EPUB files.
- It is compatible with TXT, EPUB, MOBI, PDF, JPG, and PNG files.
- The X4 Pro can sync URLs from the Xteink app for reading web articles.
- It is particularly suited for reading fan fiction from AO3.
- The device is unlocked, allowing installation of third-party software.
Entities
Institutions
- Xteink
- Boox
- Amazon Kindle
- Kobo
- Libby
- Standard Ebooks
- eBooks.com
- Archive of Our Own
- Calibre
- WIRED