This eReader Puts Distraction-Free Reading and Productivity In a Palm-Sized Package

The Onyx Boox Palma 2 solves the smartphone distraction problem by offering a monochrome e-ink device that works like a phone without an e-sim or SIM card. This limits distraction from apps like TikTok and Netflix, allowing you to keep your focus—just don’t expect it to replace your phone.

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Boox Palma2

The Onyx Boox Palma 2 is a small eReader about the size of a phone. But despite its size, its features and capabilities make it so useful that you could use it as a distraction-free substitute for your smartphone while you’re working.
 

Pros

• Extremely long battery life
• Compatible with popular productivity apps
• Could work as a secondary distraction-free device

Cons

• Inaccurate fingerprint reader

Price and Availability

This pocketable ePaper device is readily available on Amazon and the Onyx Boox website at $279.99. However, you get a free matte transparent case if you purchase directly from the Boox shop, and you could get a flip-fold protective case with the Palma 2 for an extra $6 if you choose the bundle option.

Fits in Your Pocket, Works Like a Phone

The best thing about the Palma 2 is that it’s just about the size of an iPhone or Samsung phone in your hand while weighing about a third less. Furthermore, the power and volume buttons located on its right side are quite easy to reach, and its Android-based operating system makes its user interface instinctive to operate.

It also has a 16MP rear camera with an LED flash, a front light with a light sensor, and a g-sensor for autorotation. The power button has an integrated fingerprint sensor, but unfortunately, it’s not as precise as I’d like it to be. It frequently fails to recognize my fingerprint, especially if I place my finger at a different angle.

The display backlight with light sensor allows you to use the Palma 2 even in complete darkness. You could manually set its brightness level, but the light sensor also automatically adjusts the eReader’s brightness, so you don’t have to fumble in the dark just to see your device’s screen. You can even change the color temperature of the screen, making it easier on the eyes to use, especially if you’re nearing bedtime.

The Palma 2 sports two microphones and two speakers, allowing you to listen to music and even make audio and video calls. However, since it only has a rear camera that prefers landscape orientation, you might have trouble taking a video of yourself while looking at the person you’re talking to. Furthermore, the Palma 2’s microphones captured all the environmental sound alongside my voice.

My wife said that the microphone does not pick up any sound when I’m not speaking, but when I started talking, the Palma 2 captured my voice plus the environmental noise around me. She said (and I confirmed later after we swapped devices) that she could hear the blowing HVAC unit and the car passing outside my window.

And when I typed on my mechanical keyboard while talking to her on the Palma 2, she heard the racket that my keys made. She could still understand what I was saying, but the background noise was much more distracting than usual compared to when I talked to her using my Samsung phone.

One more thing that surprised me with the Palma 2 was the inclusion of a 16MP rear camera. It’s nothing to write home about, but it should be more than enough for scanning documents. And, if you’re in a bind and you need better lighting for your camera (or you simply need a flashlight), the built-in flash will help you see the text legibly.

Runs the Apps You Need

What makes the Palma 2 such a great distraction-free device is that it has just enough power to run the apps you need. Given that it’s primarily an eBook reader, it works well if you love reading on the go, as you can simply pull out the device from your pocket when you have some downtime, instead of needing to lug a large tablet in your bag. It also has a store that lets you download books for free, although its selection is somewhat limited.

Nevertheless, it has a BOOXDrop app that lets you send files (including eBook and PDF documents) wirelessly to the Palma 2 as long as it’s connected to the same network as the source device. You could even use the same feature to download files and photos from the eBook reader to your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

I also installed the Kindle app on the device, allowing me to access my library and read the eBooks I purchased from Amazon.

Aside from that, the Palma 2’s Android OS lets you download and install productivity apps, making it more than just an eBook reader. For example, I installed Messenger, Slack, and Gmail on the device, making it easier for me to communicate without risking getting distracted by other apps. I also downloaded Google Keep and OneNote on the device to easily write and reference my notes while working.

I love listening to music while working, so I also loaded Spotify on the device. Its audio quality isn’t really that great, but it’s good enough for a device costing less than $300. Because it has Bluetooth connectivity, I just connect it to my speaker or headphones, and I’m off to the races, enjoying my tunes.

Don’t Expect Gaming Performance

Because the Onyx Boox Palma 2 runs Android, you might be tempted to download some simple games. I would not recommend this, as it defeats the purpose of a “distraction-free device,” plus its performance will not win any awards. Even though you can add your apps to it, it’s still primarily a black-and-white eBook reader, and it will struggle to run more advanced apps.

I even downloaded my usual benchmark apps to see how they would perform, and I wasn’t surprised with the results. Geekbench 6 outright cannot run, with the benchmarking app stuck at 0% for the first test. I did get a result with the 3Dmark Wild Life Extreme test. The Palma 2 hit an overall score of 252, with an average frame rate of 1.51 fps. By comparison, my iPhone 14 Pro Max hit 2457 points, while my newer Samsung S24 Ultra received 4267 points.

Nevertheless, I also ran the PCMark for Android benchmark on the Reader, and I received more than decent results. It was able to hit an overall Work 3.0 performance score of 8380—a good number considering my S24 Ultra hit 18955 points in this test.

Unbeatable Battery Life

Of course, one of the reasons for getting an eBook reader is its extended battery life, and the Onyx Boox Palma 2 does not disappoint. If you use the handset simply as an eReader, with all background processes turned off when you put the device to sleep, it could last weeks on a single charge.

However, turning on its other features will greatly reduce battery power. For example, I dug into the settings and prevented the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Audio from disconnecting when the device is put to sleep. Then, I used a digital clock that refreshed the screen every minute, and I saw the battery drop from 70% to 50% overnight. Before I turned on this setting, it took me about two weeks to hit 70% from full.

Nevertheless, this is still so much longer than your average smartphone. OLED devices with always-on displays that show a lot less information would last less than 18 hours unless you top them up during the day. And while you get a similar feature when you charge your iPhone via MagSafe, the Palma 2 shows this information every time it goes to sleep if you set it.

Should You Get the Onyx Boox Palma 2?

If you’re a voracious reader or a bookworm, you’ll love the Onyx Boox Palma 2. With this device, you can keep your entire library in your pocket and conveniently bring it with you anywhere all the time. As a side bonus, its features, like the Android OS, rear camera, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, and front light, make it a great choice if you need a distraction-free device for note-taking, messaging, and other light tasks. This great device will hit two birds with one stone for less than $300.

However, if you plan to use this eReader for productivity, don’t expect stellar performance like your iPhone, Pixel, or Samsung phone. It’s still usable, but it’s much slower, so you must be a bit more patient. But if that is the price you have to pay to avoid distractions and get more things done, then it’s not a bad trade-off, after all.

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Onyx Boox Palma 2

The Onyx Boox Palma 2 is a small eReader about the size of a phone. But despite its size, its features and capabilities make it so useful that you could use it as a distraction-free substitute for your smartphone while you’re working.