I've been covering Android and other mobile technology for close to ten years now, with a specific interest in phone accessories, e-readers, and what makes each individual phone different from another. I delight in looking at the phone market from as many angles as possible, and while my opinions may be odd, at times, they're always from the heart as much as the head.

I have a background in the mobile accessories world, which explains my odd enthusiasm for cases and things that clip onto smartphones.

The Boox Picco is the e-reader that set the internet ablaze when it was revealed only a few weeks ago. It's an e-reader you can fit into your pocket, and that's a concept that seems to be popular, given how many other notable examples there are.

We love it, but we thought we'd have to wait a few more months until it was available. However, Boox has gotten the drop on us once again, and has released the Picco for the tiny price of just $99.

The Boox Picco is now available for $99

However, stock levels seem to be low

Small e-readers are the device to get. We first started really noticing them with the Xteink X4, which we loved. But other people seem to have noticed them then, too, based on the X4 outselling Kindle models on their own turf.

The Boox Picco is the latest in this tiny trend, and it's a great looking device. It has a 3.97-inch e-ink display with warm and cool lights, an 800x480 resolution, and a microSD card slot that handle up to 2TB. Which is a lot of e-books. Put something more sensible in.

Quiz

8 Questions · Test Your Knowledge

Boox Picco trivia challenge How well do you know this tiny e-reader?

From screen size to software quirks — find out how much you really know

about the Boox Picco.

HardwareDisplaySoftwareDesignFeatures

01 / 8

Display

What is the screen size of the Boox Picco?

Correct! The Boox Picco features a compact 4.0-inch E Ink display,

making it one of the smallest e-readers in the Boox lineup. That tiny footprint is precisely what makes

it so pocketable and portable.

Not quite — the Boox Picco sports a 4.0-inch E Ink screen. This

unusually small size sets it apart from most e-readers on the market, which typically start at 6 inches

or larger.

02 / 8

Hardware

What type of display technology does the Boox Picco use?

That's right! The Boox Picco uses E Ink Carta technology, which is the

industry standard for e-readers. Carta panels offer improved contrast and faster refresh rates compared

to earlier E Ink generations.

The correct answer is E Ink Carta. Unlike OLED or LCD, E Ink Carta is a

reflective display technology that mimics printed paper, uses very little power, and is easy on the eyes

during extended reading sessions.

03 / 8

Software

What operating system does the Boox Picco run?

Correct! Like most modern Boox devices, the Picco runs Android. This

gives users access to the Google Play Store and a wide range of reading and productivity apps, which is

a major advantage over more closed e-reader ecosystems.

The Boox Picco actually runs Android, not a proprietary or Linux-based

system. Onyx Boox has long differentiated itself by shipping full Android on its e-ink devices, enabling

users to install apps like Kindle, Libby, and more.

04 / 8

Design

Which of the following best describes the form factor of the Boox Picco?

Spot on! The Boox Picco is designed to be ultra-compact and pocketable,

fitting comfortably in a shirt or jeans pocket. It targets readers who want the convenience of always

having a dedicated e-reader on hand without carrying a larger device.

The Boox Picco is best described as an ultra-compact pocketable

e-reader. Its entire design philosophy revolves around miniaturisation, letting readers slip it into a

pocket the way you might carry a small smartphone.

05 / 8

Hardware

What charging port does the Boox Picco use?

Correct! The Boox Picco uses a USB-C port for charging, keeping it in

line with modern device standards. USB-C allows for faster charging and greater cable compatibility

compared to older connector types.

The Boox Picco uses USB-C, not Micro-USB or any proprietary connector.

Onyx Boox has moved to USB-C across its product range, making it easier for users to charge all their

devices with a single cable type.

06 / 8

Features

Does the Boox Picco include a front light for reading in the dark?

Well done! The Boox Picco includes an adjustable front light with both

warm and cool colour temperatures. This allows readers to fine-tune the lighting to suit their

environment and reduce eye strain in low-light conditions.

The Boox Picco does include a front light, and it supports both warm and

cool colour temperature adjustment. E-readers use front lights rather than backlights — the light shines

across the screen surface rather than through it, preserving the paper-like reading experience.

07 / 8

Hardware

Approximately how much does the Boox Picco weigh?

Correct! The Boox Picco weighs around 100 grams, which is remarkably

light even for a small e-reader. This low weight contributes significantly to its pocketability and

makes it comfortable to hold with one hand for long reading sessions.

The Boox Picco weighs approximately 100 grams, which is very light. For

context, a typical 6-inch e-reader like the Kindle Paperwhite weighs around 205 grams, so the Picco is

dramatically lighter thanks to its smaller size.

08 / 8

Software

Which reading app comes pre-installed as Boox's own native reading application on

the Picco?

That's right! Boox devices ship with NeoReader as the native reading

application. NeoReader supports a wide range of file formats including EPUB, PDF, MOBI, and CBZ, and is

optimised specifically for E Ink displays to reduce ghosting and improve rendering.

The correct answer is NeoReader, which is Onyx Boox's own built-in

reading app. While KOReader and Moon+ Reader can be installed separately on Android-based Boox devices,

NeoReader is the one that ships pre-installed and is tuned for E Ink performance.

Challenge Complete

Your Score

/ 8

Thanks for playing!

There's a USB-C port for charging, and you can choose to send files to it through that port, or through Bluetooth or local WiFi.

An important note is the absence of Android here. That's no tragedy as far as I'm concerned, as it would mean the Picco needed to be much larger to incorporate the hardware needed to run Android.

It won't surprise us at all if other e-reader companies jump on this bandwagon sooner, rather than later. Boox has prior form with differently sized e-readers, but it will really show there's a serious trend here if someone like Kobo starts making tiny devices. Amazon is definitely missing out by not getting a tiny Kindle, and as far as we're concerned, the more the merrier.

The Boox Picco is currently available on Boox's website, priced at $99. As far as we can tell, however, it seems to have sold out pretty much instantly, as we couldn't find any availability on Boox's US or EU websites.

Definitely keep a close eye on your region's webstore though, as it's sure to be back soon.

Boox Picco

The Boox Picco is the latest of the tiny e-reader craze, and it's a great little device. It eschews the magnets usually common in these devices, but instead packs in an adjustable front light.