A new category of pocket-sized e-ink readers has emerged in 2026, led by Xteink's X3 and X4 models, competing not with traditional e-readers but with smartphones by offering distraction-free reading during brief moments like checkout lines. These devices use magnetic phone-case attachment and stripped-down designs to optimize for quick reading sessions rather than hours of use, though some manufacturers like Xteink have begun restricting custom firmware despite community expectations for openness.
Boox has announced the Picco, a 3.97-inch microreader with USB-C, touchscreen, 16GB expandable storage, and a custom lightweight OS running on ESP32. Priced at $99 USD and €109.99 with a category-leading 2-year EU warranty, it competes directly with the XTEINK X4 Pro but lacks an app store and third-party app support.