The Boox Palma 2 Pro: When Your E-Reader Wants to Be a Smartphone (But Not Really)

What's the Big Deal?

The original Palma already had a cult following among people who wanted something pocketable that wasn't constantly trying to steal their attention with notifications and doom-scrolling opportunities. Think of it as the "dumb phone" movement, but for people who still want to read their Kindle library on the subway.

The Palma 2 Pro takes that concept and cranks it up several notches. Here's what's new and interesting:

Finally, Color E Ink

This is the headline feature. Boox swapped out the standard black-and-white Carta E Ink panel for a Kaleido 3 color screen. Yes, the same technology Amazon just put in the Kindle Colorsoft. Is it as vibrant as your iPhone? Absolutely not. But for reading comics, magazines, or just having book covers look more appealing, it's a welcome addition.

There's a catch, though (isn't there always?). When you switch to color mode, the resolution takes a serious hit—dropping from a crisp 300ppi down to 150ppi. That's less than 480p territory. The good news? If you stick to grayscale reading, you still get that full, sharp resolution. So you're not locked into the lower quality; it's just there when you want a splash of color.

Wait, Did You Say 5G?

Yeah, this is where things get weird—in a good way. The Palma 2 Pro now has a SIM card slot that supports 5G connectivity. Before you get too excited, it's data-only. No phone calls, no traditional texting. But if you're someone who uses WhatsApp, Signal, or other VoIP services for communication, you're basically 90% of the way to having a full smartphone experience.

The SIM slot is actually hybrid, which means you can either use it for cellular data OR pop in a microSD card to expand the 128GB of built-in storage up to a whopping 2TB. You can even use dual SIMs if you're willing to sacrifice that expandable storage. Choices, choices.

It's Got GPS Too

Here's something I didn't expect: the Palma 2 Pro includes GPS with full turn-by-turn navigation support. Can you imagine using this as a GPS device with its E Ink screen? I'm genuinely curious to see how that works in practice. It won't be smooth like Google Maps on your phone, but for hiking or situations where battery life matters more than fancy animations, this could actually be pretty useful.

More Power Under the Hood

Boox bumped the RAM up to 8GB (from 6GB in the standard Palma 2), which should help with multitasking and keeping apps running in the background. And here's something that genuinely impressed me: it ships with Android 15 out of the box. That's more current than some actual Android phones you can buy right now.

While there's no official Google Play Store support (because Boox doesn't have that certification), the company has a workaround that lets you install it anyway. It's a bit of a gray area, but it works, and it means you can install pretty much any Android app you want—Kindle, Kobo, Libby, whatever.

Note-Taking Comes to Palma

For the first time in the Palma line, you can use a stylus. Boox's InkSense Plus stylus offers 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt support, potentially turning this pocket-sized device into a digital notebook or even a tiny sketchbook.

The stylus costs an extra $42-46 depending on where you're looking, and it's not included in the box. You'll also have to carry it separately since there's no built-in storage for it. A bit annoying, but at this size, I'm not sure where they'd put it anyway.

What Hasn't Changed?

Some things remain the same from previous Palma models:

1. 6.13-inch display with those chunky bezels that would be unforgivable on a smartphone but are totally fine (even helpful) on an e-reader
2. 128GB of storage (before you add a microSD card)
3. 16MP rear camera with LED flash—mainly useful for scanning documents, not taking vacation photos
4. 3,950mAh battery—should last for days or even weeks depending on usage
5. Bluetooth connectivity for wireless headphones

The device weighs just 5 grams more than the original Palma 2, so it's still incredibly pocketable.

The Price Tag

At $400, the Palma 2 Pro costs $100 more than the regular Palma 2 (which is currently discounted, making the gap even larger at $130). You do get a magnetic case bundled with your purchase, which softens the blow a bit.

Is that price reasonable? Well, that depends entirely on what you're looking for. Compared to a basic Kindle, it's expensive. Compared to a smartphone with similar specs, it's actually pretty competitive. The question is whether you want a device that sits awkwardly between those two categories.

Who Is This Thing Actually For?

This is the real question, isn't it? The Palma 2 Pro is for a very specific type of person:

You might love this if you:

1. Want to reduce smartphone screen time but aren't ready to go full flip phone
2. Read a lot and want something more pocketable than a standard e-reader
3. Like the idea of having apps and connectivity without the dopamine-hijacking design of modern smartphones
4. Take notes or sketch and want to do it on an E Ink screen
5. Already have a phone but want a secondary device for focused reading and light tasks

This probably isn't for you if you:

1. Need vibrant colors for what you're viewing
2. Watch a lot of videos (E Ink refresh rates make this painful)
3. Expect true smartphone performance
4. Want something officially supported by Google
5. Are happy with your current Kindle or phone setup

The Bigger Picture

What I find most interesting about the Palma 2 Pro isn't the specs—it's what it represents. We've spent the last decade making our phones do everything, to the point where they're actively harmful to our attention spans and mental health. Devices like this are part of a counter-movement: gadgets that do just enough to be useful without trying to monopolize every moment of your day.

Is E Ink the future? Probably not for most people. But for those of us who feel overwhelmed by the constant barrage of notifications and the infinite scroll, a device that's intentionally limited might be exactly what we need.

The fact that Boox is adding features like 5G and GPS shows they're listening to what users actually want. You can have a connected device without it being a distraction machine. You can have apps without having TikTok screaming for your attention. You can navigate to a coffee shop without seeing a dozen Instagram ads along the way.

Availability

The Palma 2 Pro is available in black and white color options (the device itself, not just what's on the screen). Pre-orders are open now at $400, with shipping from US warehouses starting mid-November. If you order from the Hong Kong warehouse, you might get it sooner, but watch out for potential tariffs that could end up making it more expensive.

Final Thoughts

The Boox Palma 2 Pro won't be for everyone, and that's okay. It's not trying to be. This is a device for people who know exactly why they want it—and for those people, it might just be perfect.

Is it a phone? Not quite. An e-reader? Yes, but also more. A productivity tool? Kind of. A way to stay connected without being constantly distracted? Now we're talking.

At $400, it's a premium price for what's essentially a very focused device. But if you've been looking for a way to reclaim some focus in your digital life while still having access to the tools and information you need, the Palma 2 Pro might just be worth a look.

Just don't ask me to watch YouTube on it.