BOOX 6.1" 6.13" Palma 2 E-Ink 2024 Review

The BOOX Palma 2 is a $270 Android e-ink tablet that's trying to be your pocket-sized reading and note-taking sidekick. It's packing a Qualcomm octa-core CPU, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage, which puts its core specs right around the middle of the pack for tablets. But the real story here is that 6.13" E-Ink Carta 1200 screen, which is a massive departure from the LCDs and OLEDs on every other device in its competitive set. It's a niche play, and the overall score of 31.2/100 tells you it's not trying to compete with mainstream slates.

Performance is a mixed bag, and it all depends on what you're comparing it to. Against other tablets, its CPU and GPU percentiles are low, sitting at 34th and 36th respectively. That means for typical Android apps and multitasking, it'll feel slower than most. But that's not really the point. The e-ink screen is the performance feature here, offering a paper-like reading experience that's easy on the eyes and great in direct sunlight. The 6GB of RAM is a decent amount for an e-reader-plus device, landing in the 52nd percentile, so you can keep a few apps and books open without constant reloading.

At $270, the Palma 2's value is entirely dependent on how much you want that e-ink screen in a pocketable Android device. You're paying a premium for the specialized display tech. For the same price or less, you could get a more powerful used standard Android tablet, but it wouldn't have the reading comfort. It's not a value leader in raw specs, but it might be if you're specifically trying to avoid LCD screens.

This isn't a direct competitor to an iPad Pro or Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. Those devices are in a different league for performance and media. The real comparison is against other e-ink devices like reMarkable or larger BOOX tablets. Compared to a basic Kindle, the Palma 2 offers full Android and more flexibility, but at a much higher price. Next to something like the Lenovo Legion Go, it's a completely different tool—one's for gaming and media, the other is for focused reading and text-based tasks. You choose the Palma 2 specifically to avoid the screens those other devices have.

The BOOX Palma 2 is a hard recommend for most people. Its overall score of 31.2/100 reflects that it's a specialist device. But if you're a voracious reader who wants to carry a library, check email, and use basic Android apps without the glare and eye strain of a normal tablet, this is one of the few pocket-sized options. Just know you're sacrificing speed, screen sharpness, and media capability for that e-ink comfort.