Excuse me but what's the point of this? First I thought that it's a phone and I was really into it, but then I realizes it's just a phone shaped e-reader so what gives? What's wrong with the traditional e-readers that have the aspect ratio of a ... book?
If I wanted to read books on a phone shaped e-reader I'd just use my phone without carrying an identically shaped device for the same purpose, and if I wanted a separate device just for reading e-books then I want that to have the aspect ration optimized for e-books, not to mention the lower price tag that regular e-readers come with not something expansive just to read books.
Same reason that phones are shaped like that - it fits in your pocket, which is convenient. Kobo used to make a Kobo Mini for the same reason, although it has been discontinued for a long time.
Anyways, it is also not just an e-reader, so books aren't the only content you can use it for. A lot of websites look and work best when used with a phone-sized device.
There are also more people who prefer the smartphone size every year, just because it is now the default media consumption device.
It's also a great stepping stone if the company wants to enter the mobile phone market.
I’m a little puzzled as well. It’s a phone form factor, it runs Android, it supports 3rd party apps… so it’s practically a smartphone, but then it’s not actually a phone and only has wifi for connectivity.
If they sold a version that was actually a smartphone I’d be very interested.
Why small eink android tablet cannot be quite useful? This is a reader device. Do you really need every shoe and slipper to be your primary comms device?
E.g. there are small android handheld gaming consoles, you cannot use them as a phone too, but that does not, I mean, why would even
Some people have small hands and small pockets, and would be well-served by this device compared to larger readers. I personally wouldn't use this device, but I know some people who would get a lot out of it.
"If I wanted to read books on a phone shaped e-reader I'd just use my phone"
The phone is full of notifications, games, work reminders, and other distractions. E-readers aren't going to be peoples' default device for those purposes, so they enable greater concentration when reading. And you won't have to worry about your phone's battery life after a long reading session either.
It's a eink device, just a bit smaller, as simple as that. You'll be surprised by how many people want to read stuff in the bed holding the device with one hand, and this is smaller than a kindle. It is heavier than Kindle but lighter than Kindle Paperwhite. Don't forget it has Android -- it is rare and some people view it as a plus.
You might as well ask why anyone would buy a Kindle instead of an iPad mini, and I don't think I need to answer that question.
If you look at BOOX website, they have a number products that may not make sense to you, but there is a market for those products.
Comments
Excuse me but what's the point of this? First I thought that it's a phone and I was really into it, but then I realizes it's just a phone shaped e-reader so what gives? What's wrong with the traditional e-readers that have the aspect ratio of a ... book?
If I wanted to read books on a phone shaped e-reader I'd just use my phone without carrying an identically shaped device for the same purpose, and if I wanted a separate device just for reading e-books then I want that to have the aspect ration optimized for e-books, not to mention the lower price tag that regular e-readers come with not something expansive just to read books.
It just feels pointless on so many levels.
Same reason that phones are shaped like that - it fits in your pocket, which is convenient. Kobo used to make a Kobo Mini for the same reason, although it has been discontinued for a long time.
Anyways, it is also not just an e-reader, so books aren't the only content you can use it for. A lot of websites look and work best when used with a phone-sized device.
There are also more people who prefer the smartphone size every year, just because it is now the default media consumption device.
It's also a great stepping stone if the company wants to enter the mobile phone market.
>Same reason that phones are shaped like that - it fits in your pocket,
Most mainstream e-book readers also fit in most pockets.
I’m a little puzzled as well. It’s a phone form factor, it runs Android, it supports 3rd party apps… so it’s practically a smartphone, but then it’s not actually a phone and only has wifi for connectivity.
If they sold a version that was actually a smartphone I’d be very interested.
Hisense makes those.
Why small eink android tablet cannot be quite useful? This is a reader device. Do you really need every shoe and slipper to be your primary comms device? E.g. there are small android handheld gaming consoles, you cannot use them as a phone too, but that does not, I mean, why would even
Well, there is a whole category of Android devices called tablets that (mostly) only have WiFi connectivity.
And would you be surprised if I tell you Sony makes Android based Walkmans that mostly look like a phone except you cannot put a SIM card in them?
https://electronics.sony.com/audio/walkman-digital-recorders...
Some people have small hands and small pockets, and would be well-served by this device compared to larger readers. I personally wouldn't use this device, but I know some people who would get a lot out of it.
"If I wanted to read books on a phone shaped e-reader I'd just use my phone"
The phone is full of notifications, games, work reminders, and other distractions. E-readers aren't going to be peoples' default device for those purposes, so they enable greater concentration when reading. And you won't have to worry about your phone's battery life after a long reading session either.
It's a eink device, just a bit smaller, as simple as that. You'll be surprised by how many people want to read stuff in the bed holding the device with one hand, and this is smaller than a kindle. It is heavier than Kindle but lighter than Kindle Paperwhite. Don't forget it has Android -- it is rare and some people view it as a plus.
You might as well ask why anyone would buy a Kindle instead of an iPad mini, and I don't think I need to answer that question.
If you look at BOOX website, they have a number products that may not make sense to you, but there is a market for those products.
>You'll be surprised by how many people want to read stuff in the bed holding the device with one hand
Every entry-level sub $100 e-reader is small and light enough to let you read in bed with one hand.
Case in point the Tolino Shine 3 which, at 166g is even lighter than the BOOX Palma's 170g.
> Don't forget it has Android
The Tolino I mentioned also runs Android underneath.