Using the Xteink X4, a minimalist e-reader

In a highly uncharacteristic move, I recently purchased a brand new device: an Xteink X4 e-reader.

The X4 is a minimalist e-reader that is the size of an old smartphone, but much thinner and lighter. Speaking of smartphones, a portable e-reader is great alternative to absentmindedly unlocking your smartphone and vanishing alarmingly large chunks of time . I feel much better about finishing reading a book than I do about finishing reading a list of misleading headlines.

Here's what the X4 looks like:

Limitations

After glimpsing such a cute and portable e-reader, and learning that it supports open firmware at a full price of $69, you might be tempted to instantly buy one, but caution: the X4 is an extremely limited device that is not for all (or even most) people!

Notably, the X4:

Does not support any kind of copy protection (DRM) whatsoever

Does not have a backlight

Does not have a clock

Does not support transferring books over USB

The lack of DRM support might be a deal-breaker for most people, since that means you can't directly read books from the library, Kobo, Amazon, etc. It's technically possible to remove Adobe DRM or just pirate e-books you thought you already "owned", but I don't condone either of those practices.

Beyond design limitations, you kind of get what you pay for:

The microSD card included with mine was "dead on arrival"

The included screen protector was impossible to place without leaving obvious bubbles (visible at the corners in the photo above)

Positive aspects

I wanted to list the cons first because I've seen uncritical praise heaped on this device elsewhere. Did I mention it can't natively read copy-protected books?

Despite the limitations and issues, there are a lot of things to like about the X4:

It's ultra-portable

It can run open source firmware (Crosspoint Reader), so it will never become "unsupported" (or be remotely disabled)

It's cheaper than most used (and still supported) e-readers I could find

Subjective, but I prefer its physical buttons over a touchscreen

Once you have obtained and loaded a suitable e-book, the reading experience is pleasant (at least on Crosspoint Reader, which I immediately flashed onto the device after receiving it). I like that it comfortably fits in my pocket. The screen is small, but I barely notice the size when reading prose.

Constraints are good?

You can even put a positive spin on the constraints the X4 imposes.

Many e-readers are based on Android, but that requires a fast processor and quite a bit of RAM, whereas the X4 is based on a cheap RISC-V microcontroller with 400 KB of RAM (ESP32-C3). This makes it cheaper and more energy efficient, to the point that I literally have yet to charge the device.

Even the lack of DRM might be helpful because it will motivate you to seek out DRM-free e-books that you're allowed to actually own (instead of being granted a limited license). As much as I like to read classic science fiction, I now find myself exploring modern DRM-free e-books from more enlightened publishers. Here are some sources:

For (mostly old) public domain works:

Standard Ebooks

Global Grey Ebooks

Project Gutenberg

For contemporary e-books without DRM:

StoryBundle

Humble Bundle (Books)

Bookshop.org and eBooks.com when filtered to DRM-free e-books (e.g. from Tor Publishing)

(Edit : not relevant for the Xteink X4 since it has no audio, but I just learned of Libro.fm for DRM-free audiobooks.)

Notably, Greg Egan has some interesting sci-fi on Bookshop.org without DRM (and for cheap). I'm happy to support authors and publishers who don't presume criminal intent on the part of their buyers.

Of course, I do wish the X4 had a clock and maybe a backlight . I can't spin those omissions as positives.

Summary

Overall, the X4 is a nice option to have available, if you both understand and can live with its limitations , namely the inability to read copy-protected e-books.

What tipped the scales for me were portability, open source firmeware, and a low enough price that it was worth giving it a chance. I don't know yet how durable it is, but I'm hoping that, thanks to its open nature, I'll be able to continue comfortably reading on it for many years.

Affiliate notice

Ha, tricked you! This site has zero tracking and, emphatically, no affiliation with any retailers or specific products. I actually wrote this post to highlight the downsides of the Xteink X4 , because I got the impression that many people thought it was a fully-fledged e-reader that could handle the entire gamut of available e-books (something that is obviously not true). Caveat emptor!