BOOX BOOX 6.13" Palma 2 Pro ePaper Tablet (White) Review
The BOOX Palma 2 Pro packs Android into a pocket-sized e-ink screen, but its high price and mediocre performance make it a tough sell for anyone but the most dedicated e-reader fans.
Overview
So you're looking at the BOOX Palma 2 Pro, a 6.13-inch ePaper tablet that's basically trying to be a pocket-sized Kindle on Android steroids. It's got a Qualcomm chip, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage, which is a solid spec sheet for a device in this niche. At around $400, it's priced like a premium e-reader but promises to do a lot more, letting you run Android apps on that easy-on-the-eyes e-ink screen. If you've been searching for a 'small e-ink Android tablet' or a 'pocket e-reader for apps,' this is exactly the kind of device you'd be looking at.
Performance
Performance-wise, the Qualcomm chip and 8GB of RAM put it in a decent spot. The CPU lands in the 34th percentile compared to other tablets, which tells you it's not built for heavy lifting. It'll handle reading apps, note-taking, and basic web browsing just fine, but don't expect to smoothly edit videos or play demanding games. The GPU is even lower at the 36th percentile, so graphics performance is a clear weak point. In practice, this means the Palma 2 Pro is fast enough for its intended job as a focused reading and writing device, but it'll stutter if you push it outside that lane.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The 6.13-inch color e-ink screen is perfect for pocketable reading and reduces eye strain. 72th
- 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage (with expandable storage) is generous for an e-ink device. 71th
- Running full Android 15 means access to your usual app store, not just a walled garden.
- The compact, 200g design makes it incredibly portable.
- Battery life is right in the middle of the pack (50th percentile), which should be fine for an e-ink device.
Cons
- The screen resolution, at 1648x824 for black and white, is in the bottom 9th percentile. Text won't be as sharp as on top-tier e-readers. 16th
- Performance specs (CPU 34th, GPU 36th) mean it struggles with anything beyond basic tasks.
- It scored very low (25.2/100) for art and design work, so don't buy this for drawing.
- Connectivity is just okay (62nd percentile), and the Bluetooth version is unspecified.
- At $400, it's a premium price for a device with a relatively low-resolution screen.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Qualcomm |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB |
| Expandable | Yes |
Display
| Size | 6.13" |
| Resolution | 1648 |
| Panel | LCD |
Connectivity
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Cellular | No |
Physical
| Weight | 0.2 kg / 0.4 lbs |
| OS | Android 15 |
Value & Pricing
At $400, the Palma 2 Pro asks a lot. You're paying a premium for the portability and the Android-on-e-ink flexibility. For pure reading, a basic Kindle or Kobo is hundreds less. For a full tablet experience, you could find a standard LCD Android tablet with better specs for similar money. The value is really for a specific user: someone who desperately wants a pocket-sized, app-friendly e-ink screen and is willing to pay for that unique combo.
vs Competition
Let's name names. Compared to an Apple iPad Pro or Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, the Palma 2 Pro isn't even in the same universe for performance or screen quality. Those are full multimedia powerhouses. The better question is against other e-ink devices. Compared to a standard Kindle, the Palma wins on versatility with Android apps but loses on screen sharpness and pure reading simplicity. Against a larger BOOX tablet like the Note Air, you're trading screen size for pocketability. And if you're considering the Lenovo Legion Go for gaming, stop—this isn't for that at all. The Palma carves its niche by being the smallest device that runs full Android on e-ink.
| Spec | BOOX BOOX 6.13" Palma 2 Pro ePaper Tablet (White) | Apple iPad Pro Apple - 13-inch iPad Pro M5 chip Wi-Fi 256GB with | Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Samsung - Galaxy Tab S10+ - 12.4" 256GB - Wi-Fi - | Microsoft Surface Pro Microsoft - Surface Pro - Copilot+ PC - 13” OLED | Lenovo Lenovo - Idea Tab Pro - 12.7" 3K Tablet - 8GB RAM | HP GPD Win MAX 2 2025 Handheld Gaming PC with AMD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Qualcomm | Apple M5 | Mediatek MT6989 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 | MediaTek Dimensity | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 |
| RAM (GB) | 8 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 8 | 32 |
| Storage (GB) | 128 | 256 | 256 | 1000 | 256 | 2048 |
| Screen | 6.1" 1648x824 | 13" 2752x2064 | 12.4" 2800x1752 | 13" 2880x1920 | 12.7" 2944x1840 | 10.1" 1920x1200 |
| OS | Android 15 | iPadOS | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home |
| Stylus | false | true | true | false | true | false |
| Cellular | false | false | false | false | false | false |
Verdict
Should you buy the BOOX Palma 2 Pro? Only if you're sure about what it is. This isn't your next general-purpose tablet. It's a specialized tool for reading, light note-taking, and browsing in a super portable, eye-friendly format. If your main question is 'is there a tiny e-ink device that can run my Kindle app, Libby, and Google Keep?' then yes, this is a good, if expensive, answer. But if you need performance, a great screen for media, or a device for creative work, look at the iPad Pro, a Surface, or even a standard Android tablet instead. The Palma 2 Pro does one specific thing very well, and you have to really want that thing.