Boox’s tiny Picco e-reader should land in November
Boox has revealed further details of its Picco e-reader at IFA, a compact device positioned as a rival to the popular Xteink X4, though pricing remains unannounced. The device is notable for departing from Boox's usual Android-based approach in favour of a stripped-down Linux OS, and for lacking onboard storage, relying instead on a microSD card, USB-C or Wi-Fi for adding books, which sets it apart from the Xteink line it's competing with.
The Picco features a 3.97-inch e-paper touchscreen display, an upgrade over the non-touch X4 Pro, along with customisable physical page-turn buttons for short and long presses. Unlike Xteink devices, it won't have rear magnets for phone attachment, and its firmware is unlikely to be as open or hackable. Boox is bundling extra apps including a timer, to-do list and reading stats tracker, though details on battery life, Bluetooth and audiobook support remain unconfirmed ahead of the device's expected November launch.
In short
- Boox's tiny Picco e-reader gets more details revealed at IFA
- Features touchscreen, microSD/USB-C/Wi-Fi book transfer, Linux-based OS
- Price, battery life and launch specifics still unconfirmed; due November
Explained simply
Boox is a maker of e-readers, which use low-power screens designed to look more like printed paper than a phone or tablet display. Its Picco is a small model with a 3.97-inch touchscreen and physical buttons for turning pages. It is expected to go on sale in November, but its price has not been announced.
The Picco is aimed at readers looking for a pocket-sized device, including people considering the Xteink X4. It differs from many Boox readers by using a simpler Linux system instead of Android, and it has no built-in book storage: readers will need to add a microSD card or transfer books by USB-C or Wi-Fi. This affects how books are stored and added, while details such as battery life and audiobook support are still unclear.