*What do you think? Am I being too harsh about the Boox Palma missing cellular connectivity and its value for money? Or do you feel the price is fair, considering there aren't many alternatives out there?*
I would jump on it if it was a phone and in color. The TCL 40 NxtPaper with a matte screen might be the way to go. I'd prefer an eink color phone for the great battery life but hey, we can't have it all.
Boox, if you are reading this comment, just add GSM 2 sim + NFC, shut up and take my money. In the meantime, I'll hold off on buying the current Palma.
For those who don’t understand why people want cellular function for this: there is a growing anti-smartphone ‘digital detox’ movement - i believe a cellular boox palma would be a fantastic and unique alternative to the hyper stimulating/distracting phone options we have currently. This would be the perfect middle ground between complete dumbphone and dopamine frying smartphone. Yes there’s the Hisense A9 but it’s full of Chinese bloatware and compatibility issues.
It was the first thing I thought when I first saw the Palma : this would be perfect for the Digital Detox crew. (Wondering though if it’s in the plan - why else have the sim tray?)
Adding the phone effectively makes it a Hisense A7 or A9. Far better to up the audio playback quality paired with Bluetooth 5.3 high end codecs and you have something for listening to music at the same time as reading and allowing for that digital detox.
I am so confused why they made it like a smartphone but without a sim. This could have been the only device you'd ever need, but now you need two devices with a huge functionality overlap. I know people who would switch to this in a heartbeat, if you could actually make phone calls with this 'smartphone'.
I have it, and use a lot. It's for reading sites, using learning apps, which is not possible in Kindle. There's is no meaning for SIM card for me. It is always in home and it's enough
I like the idea that it's not a smartphone. I'm looking for a day when I don't need a phone. But I'm still afraid that android 11 is not good enough for whatsapp, qrcodes and banking apps. Those three are the only reasons I still have a f#ck&ng phone in my pocket!
For a woman who wants her e-reader to fit in a small purse to carrying around, it's too high a price. Make a real phone or the price should be much lower for a mini-e-reader. The content is great👍
Chalid, it seems that Onyx has struck gold with the Boox Palma. Getting a review on the MKBHD channel is certainly a highpoint of Onyx's history although Marques was (like you) skeptical about the device. I'm hoping the (premature?) conversation about a "cult of Palma" turns true because I'm rooting for the company :-)
Yeah, the MKBHD video definitely put the spotlight on it ... and E-Ink as well. I noticed a spike in video views after Marques posted his video. I would be surprised if Onyx didn't develop a phone at this point (they actually released a phone many years ago, but that didn't go so well). There's definitely a vacuum since Hisense stopped and they usually try to fill every E-Ink niche.. Let's see :D
As usual, I found your analysis to be thoughtful and balanced. I don't think that this product would be helpful for me personally, but I can see that it could fill a particular consumer niche. Thank you as always for your research and presentation! 😊
I wouldn't be surprised, because the timing of the Boox Go 10.3 and Go Color 7 launches was a bit unusual, which leads me to believe they have something else lined up for the second half of the year. And since Bigme is also in the process of releasing E-Ink phone, Boox is most likely also working on one.
Thanks Chalid for this review, and for your honest personal opinion at the end of the video. Just like you, I think the device price is a little high for what it is, especially considering PDFs can't really be used (too small to read and quite unpractical), the lack of a SIM Card slot, and compared with other ereaders, just as you correctly pointed out.
No, sorry haven't tried it yet, but it shouldn't be an issue, since you can use both the Kindle and the Audible app on the Palma. You might just need to adapt contrast levels and tinker with the E-Ink settings a bit for the word-highlights for reading along to be sufficiently obvious.
2:47 this is unique for the price point and anywhere close to that price point. I spend many relaxing hours, in direct sunlight, wearing sunglasses, reading books and catching up on the news - one-handed! - with my Boox Palma.
If this device were properly water resistant (not just "repellent", with no rating), I would absolutely buy it right now. I love the idea of a truly pocketable e-reader, but I very often read in the hot tub, and so I need real protection against splashes or accidental drops into the water. Also would be cool to see this form factor with a color screen...
Nice video man! Just received mine today! I see a mini small black dot on the screen. Would that be normal due to the ink technology? It's not annoying at all.
It depends - how large is it? Is it one dead pixel - that can happen. If it's larger than one pixel, I'd say it's not normal. If I'm not mistaken, the notification area also shows a dot if there are more notifications available. I actually thought it looked weird, when I first saw it.
I don't really understand who it is for... It seems a bit small to have an enjoyable book reading experience, far too small to be a note pad, it's not a phone so.. why does it exist??
@@endersquid1132 to play games and watch movies on, which you wouldn't want to do on this device. What do you see yourself using this device for? (not to mention the iPhone killed those types of devices)
Ereaders should not be tied to Android and instead just be an ereader. Having to bring another device with you is the price for comfortable undisturbed reading.
"The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don't define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them." -Denis Waitley
*What do you think? Am I being too harsh about the Boox Palma missing cellular connectivity and its value for money? Or do you feel the price is fair, considering there aren't many alternatives out there?*
Totally agree about the price being too high. I don't see anything in the specs to justify the cost.
I think it's valuable cause it brought me very nice experience, also in BOOX other devices Mira and Mira pro
I would jump on it if it was a phone and in color. The TCL 40 NxtPaper with a matte screen might be the way to go. I'd prefer an eink color phone for the great battery life but hey, we can't have it all.
try hisense A7C, color Eink cell phone@@chorton53
Price is fair, but they really do need to make a full phone version
if this were a phone i'd buy it right this second.
Boox, if you are reading this comment, just add GSM 2 sim + NFC, shut up and take my money. In the meantime, I'll hold off on buying the current Palma.
Same..
Same but its tempting
Same
Same
same
For those who don’t understand why people want cellular function for this: there is a growing anti-smartphone ‘digital detox’ movement - i believe a cellular boox palma would be a fantastic and unique alternative to the hyper stimulating/distracting phone options we have currently. This would be the perfect middle ground between complete dumbphone and dopamine frying smartphone. Yes there’s the Hisense A9 but it’s full of Chinese bloatware and compatibility issues.
so true, is funny that manufacturers haven't figure this out, while people are literally begging them to build a simple e-ink android phone.
It was the first thing I thought when I first saw the Palma : this would be perfect for the Digital Detox crew.
(Wondering though if it’s in the plan - why else have the sim tray?)
Adding the phone effectively makes it a Hisense A7 or A9. Far better to up the audio playback quality paired with Bluetooth 5.3 high end codecs and you have something for listening to music at the same time as reading and allowing for that digital detox.
100%
@@brandonbowerstx ya, but that phone doesnt work with any carriers in the US.
I am so confused why they made it like a smartphone but without a sim. This could have been the only device you'd ever need, but now you need two devices with a huge functionality overlap.
I know people who would switch to this in a heartbeat, if you could actually make phone calls with this 'smartphone'.
I hope they release a phone soon ! I would have bought it without thinking twice if it was a phone
I would 100% buy this if it had cellular, everything else looks perfect about it for me.
BOOX if you see this please make the phone I'm epileptic I need this phone!
Just what I was looking for except it's not a phone. X_X
What a wasted opportunituy.
Frustrating that they made so much effort yet neglected sim card capability.
Very stupid.
I have it, and use a lot. It's for reading sites, using learning apps, which is not possible in Kindle. There's is no meaning for SIM card for me. It is always in home and it's enough
It's like a ebook but you can't use like a phone. I need it to use like a phone but with e-link! 😂
Valuable detailed and practical review. Thank you!
Please make this a phone! PLEASE. You do this, and you earn a customer immediately. Everything i want in a phone replacement right here.
Imagine this device, with voice input and driven by chatGPT40, 5 claude 3.5 or any other similar LLM-mopdel. How powerful wouldn't it be?
With internet connectivity and a real 5000mAh battery this would sell like peanuts.
I like the idea that it's not a smartphone. I'm looking for a day when I don't need a phone. But I'm still afraid that android 11 is not good enough for whatsapp, qrcodes and banking apps. Those three are the only reasons I still have a f#ck&ng phone in my pocket!
For a woman who wants her e-reader to fit in a small purse to carrying around, it's too high a price. Make a real phone or the price should be much lower for a mini-e-reader.
The content is great👍
Chalid, it seems that Onyx has struck gold with the Boox Palma. Getting a review on the MKBHD channel is certainly a highpoint of Onyx's history although Marques was (like you) skeptical about the device. I'm hoping the (premature?) conversation about a "cult of Palma" turns true because I'm rooting for the company :-)
Yeah, the MKBHD video definitely put the spotlight on it ... and E-Ink as well. I noticed a spike in video views after Marques posted his video.
I would be surprised if Onyx didn't develop a phone at this point (they actually released a phone many years ago, but that didn't go so well). There's definitely a vacuum since Hisense stopped and they usually try to fill every E-Ink niche.. Let's see :D
Please make into a phone for US citizens I will buy asap! Please!
Hear me out: this but foldable and with a SIM card
As usual, I found your analysis to be thoughtful and balanced. I don't think that this product would be helpful for me personally, but I can see that it could fill a particular consumer niche. Thank you as always for your research and presentation! 😊
@chalidRaqami hey, do you think Boox will release a phone this year?
I wouldn't be surprised, because the timing of the Boox Go 10.3 and Go Color 7 launches was a bit unusual, which leads me to believe they have something else lined up for the second half of the year. And since Bigme is also in the process of releasing E-Ink phone, Boox is most likely also working on one.
Thanks Chalid for this review, and for your honest personal opinion at the end of the video. Just like you, I think the device price is a little high for what it is, especially considering PDFs can't really be used (too small to read and quite unpractical), the lack of a SIM Card slot, and compared with other ereaders, just as you correctly pointed out.
PDFs can be converted to epub
Anybody been trying to get a 4g/5g cellular dongle or mini modem connected? If it’s small enough it might be feasible to integrate it to a case…
Does it has sound and accept blutthe and can I use government apps properly
Yes, it does have sound and bluetooth, but I can't say anything about government apps unfortunately.
Did you try it with Immersion Reading in the Kindle app?
No, sorry haven't tried it yet, but it shouldn't be an issue, since you can use both the Kindle and the Audible app on the Palma. You might just need to adapt contrast levels and tinker with the E-Ink settings a bit for the word-highlights for reading along to be sufficiently obvious.
2:47 this is unique for the price point and anywhere close to that price point. I spend many relaxing hours, in direct sunlight, wearing sunglasses, reading books and catching up on the news - one-handed! - with my Boox Palma.
From the moment I saw it, all I wanted was for it to be a an unlocked phone. even at the near $400 price, I'd be ready for it.
Not a phone
E-sim + nfc would have been amazing especially with google play support
If this device were properly water resistant (not just "repellent", with no rating), I would absolutely buy it right now. I love the idea of a truly pocketable e-reader, but I very often read in the hot tub, and so I need real protection against splashes or accidental drops into the water. Also would be cool to see this form factor with a color screen...
I just got one 😊 i put a 1tb in it 😂 i been going crazy on mine i don't regret buying i strongly would Suggest anybody thinking about getting one yes
Great review! Thank you!!!👍
Connecting to Chinese servers? It's a pass for me.
Hello, do you happen to know if the Hisense A9 can be bought in Austria?
Everytime I hear your voice I am confident that the device you review will be available in Germany. Excuse me, in the DACH-Region
Yeah, that's usually the case ;)
Nice video man! Just received mine today! I see a mini small black dot on the screen. Would that be normal due to the ink technology?
It's not annoying at all.
It depends - how large is it? Is it one dead pixel - that can happen. If it's larger than one pixel, I'd say it's not normal.
If I'm not mistaken, the notification area also shows a dot if there are more notifications available. I actually thought it looked weird, when I first saw it.
is that the California class?
It is :D
Love It@@ChalidRaqami
Does anyone know if you can can the homescreen? Have watched many reviews but never have seen or heard anyone talk about that!?
Yes, you can change to another launcher, for example Simple Ink Launcher works perfectly fine.
I'd better read from my smartphone rather than having a separate device like that.
whyyyyyy is this not a phone???? arghhhhhh
I don’t get it,why would anyone want a device like my phone but not as good as
I don't really understand who it is for... It seems a bit small to have an enjoyable book reading experience, far too small to be a note pad, it's not a phone so.. why does it exist??
dude it has android on it, it does fucking everthing except for calls
@@jesuslopez6873 give me an example of something you want want to run on it vs a cheaper android phone with an OLED display and better battery?
I mean people bought ipod touches for years and they were literally phones without data so like there's definitely a market
@@endersquid1132 to play games and watch movies on, which you wouldn't want to do on this device. What do you see yourself using this device for? (not to mention the iPhone killed those types of devices)
I want one because it fits in my sling bag or pocket easier than most tablets but also android so I can put any app on it
Does it supports e-sim card?
No, it doesn't have any cellular connectivity unfortunately. So no physical sim and no e-sim.
Ereaders should not be tied to Android and instead just be an ereader. Having to bring another device with you is the price for comfortable undisturbed reading.
For me boox having a full android support is a standout feature.
"The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don't define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them." -Denis Waitley