“By now, you have seen me post about the XTEink 4. Apparently, it’s the rage on social media as far as eReaders go. I wanted to provide a few details and a quick review, having used it for several months. I won’t bother listing the specs. I’ll just paste part of their site for the specifics. Instead, I’ll focus on what I think and how I use it.

First, the thing is tiny. I carry mine in my Traveller’s Journal case via a magnetic ring (supplied). One thing XTEink advertised is that it can attach to the back of an iPhone. It does, as long as it’s not an iPhone Pro with the massive camera ledge. It’s a a little too big for that.

The unit comes with so-so software. It’s functional, but that’s pretty much it. The good news is there is open source and free firmware upgrades that put it on par with Kindle or Kobo. The UI is cleaner, there is more functionality and legibility is vastly better. I’m using the Crosspoint firmware.

Speaking of the UI, I should point out that there is no back light. This is fine unless you prefer reading in the dark. It is not a touch screen, and everything is controlled via multiple rocker switches. It takes a little while getting used to them, but only a little while. The Crosspoint firmware labels the buttons (I think the latest out-of-the-box firmware does too. I haven’t tried it.)

The XTEink 4 has USB-C for charging and transferring (all books are stored on a MicroSD card). It also has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. There is no Kindle or Kobo or any other bookstore, so you’re not locked in to a platform. You provide your own books (DRM-free in most formats, including PDF). Transfer occurs via Wi-Fi or the SD card. ON Wifi, you can use a built-in web server, or Calibre which has a nice plugin for the device.. It also syncs with KoReader, but I don’t use that.

The battery lasts a long time (several weeks of normal use), and the device is easy on the eyes and to use once you’ve figured out the controls. It’s very pocketable (get a case) and I find I pull it out and read while waiting for stuff. It’s easier to do than pulling out a Kindle or Kobo, or some other reader.

In my pocket journal, it’s always with me, pretty much. At around $70US, as of today, it’s very cheap compared to other eReaders, and would make a great gift for readers.

There are a lot of accessories and even an XTEink 3 which is even smaller, but I don’t have that or tried it. https://www.xteink.com/products/xteink-x4

Here is a size comparison between the XTEink 4 and an Apple AirPods case.

The XTEink 4 installed, via magnetic loop, in my Traveler Pocket Notebook.

Example of image quality (black and white version of my book cover.)

Example of the text quality with the CrossPoint firmware.

The opinions are not sponsored and my own.