Boox Palma 2 Review | Wife Approved Tech
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Hey everyone, if you've been keeping up with my channel, you might recall that about two weeks ago I posted a first impressions video about the Boox Palma 2. For those who haven't seen it, this device is a fascinating blend of a smartphone and an e-reader. It's basically an e-reader in the form of a phone – definitely unique! In that video, I promised a comprehensive review, and today, I'm delivering on that promise, albeit in a slightly different format.
I've enlisted the help of my wife, Jessi, for this review. Since she's an avid reader and prefers reading on screens, I thought she'd be the perfect person to put the Boox Palma 2 through its paces. After spending a couple of weeks with it, she's here to share her thoughts.
First Impressions
Right off the bat, Jessi was impressed with the device's premium feel and its compact size, which is comparable to her Pixel 9. She loved the fact that it came in white, which she considers to be the best-looking version. Among all the Boox devices we've had, she feels this one stands out the most.
Why Choose the Boox Palma 2 Over a Smartphone?
One of the main reasons Jessi prefers the Boox Palma 2 for reading is that it significantly reduces eye strain. She has a stigmatism and experiences eye fatigue from prolonged screen time. The e-ink screen, especially with its matte finish, is much easier on the eyes compared to the Pixel's glass screen. She likened the experience to listening to vinyl versus digital music – there's a certain smoothness and ease that comes with the analog format.
Software Hiccups
While the hardware impressed, the software had its quirks. The built-in launcher, for instance, lacked an app drawer, which meant all apps were displayed on the home screen. This led to a cluttered feel, and while creating folders helped, it wasn't ideal.
Setting a wallpaper was also more complicated than it should have been. The process involved installing a file browser and moving the image to a specific folder. It's these little things that can detract from the overall user experience.
The device's navigation gestures were another point of contention. Unlike the standard Android navigation, the Boox Palma 2 uses a variety of swipe gestures that can be confusing and unintuitive.
Battery Life
On the plus side, the battery life of the Boox Palma 2 is excellent. Jessi easily got a week's worth of use between charges, even with moderate use of the front light. She did note that charging can be a bit slow, but that's not uncommon for e-ink devices.
Final Verdict
Overall, Jessi found the Boox Palma 2 to be a great device for reading. Its compact size, comfortable e-ink screen, and long battery life make it a worthy companion for bookworms. Despite some software quirks, she would definitely continue to use it and even consider buying it with her own money.
Conclusion
I want to express my gratitude to Boox for sending us the Palma 2 for this review. It's not a perfect device, but it excels at its primary function: providing a comfortable and enjoyable reading experience. I think it's a great option for many people looking for a dedicated e-reader that offers the portability of a smartphone.
As always, thanks for watching, and if you enjoyed this review, please consider subscribing to my channel for more content like this. Until next time, stay nerdy, my friends!
This article was written as a summary of the above video by AI