I’m Reading a 900-Page Novel on an E-Reader the Size of My Library Card, and It’s Going Great.
The Xteink X4 is a tiny e-reader from China that has gained popularity among internet enthusiasts thanks to its simple design and crisp 4.3-inch display. When I tested it last year , I had a few minor gripes, but “too big” certainly wasn’t one of them—which isn’t surprising, considering I was already a fan of the compact Boox Palma 2. But now that I’ve tested the Xteink X3, the X4’s even smaller sibling, I can’t help but wonder if there’s an e-reader so small that I wouldn’t prefer it.
The X3 has a 3.7-inch diagonal screen, which is about 14% smaller than the X4; accounting for the bezels, its overall dimensions are about 20% smaller. Given how small the device is, and the way my wife would roll her eyes when I showed it to her, you might think the reduction in size would make it unusable—but after several weeks of reading one of the longest novels on my To Read list (Larry McMurtry’s 900-page 1985 Western Lonesome Dove ), I not only found myself preferring the X3 for being even less bulky, but also for the fact that the reduced screen real estate didn’t affect the reading experience at all. (I’ll note here that if the thought of reading on such a cramped device makes you uneasy, consider that the device just isn’t for you, or that the people who like it are crazy , or both.)
A note about DRM-free e-books.
Before I dive into the X3’s details, an important note: to read anything on the X3 or X4, you’ll need ebooks without digital rights management (DRM) protection—software often added to media files that limits the devices they can be used on. I go into more detail about this in my X4 review ; suffice it to say, if you’re not prepared to search for DRM-free ebooks or figure out how to remove DRM yourself , this device isn’t for you.
Size differences between Xteink X3 and Xteink X4
The X4 measures 114 x 69 x 5.98 mm and weighs 74 g, while the X3 measures 98 x 64 x 4.98 mm and weighs 55 g. Both devices are certainly small and light, but the X3, at about the size of a credit card, is so tiny you might forget you’re carrying it. It’s worth noting that while early images of the X4 advertised that it could magnetically attach to the back of your phone (supposedly so you could flip the phone over to read instead of endlessly scrolling), it turned out to be too large to securely attach to my iPhone 14. The X3, on the other hand, is the perfect size, though I still don’t think I’ll ever use it in practice, as the attachment is quite flimsy, and the e-reader slides off the back of the phone when I take it out of my pocket.
Differences in readability between Xteink X3 and Xteink X4
Compared to the Kindle Paperwhite’s 6.8-inch screen, the X3 and X4 look quite small, but in my opinion, both devices are equally readable. Both offer a 480×800 resolution, but because the X3’s screen is smaller, the resolution is actually better: 250 ppi versus 220 ppi on the X4. However, unless you’re about an inch away from the screen, you probably won’t be able to notice the difference with the naked eye—text on both devices is crisp and legible.
I prefer reading in portrait mode, and both devices display enough text that I don’t have to turn pages too often. If you read in landscape mode, here’s a comparison showing how much text fits on a page (using a paperback with large print for comparison):
Differences in battery life and charging between Xteink X3 and Xteink X4.
Both devices feature the same 650 mAh battery, which should last at least two weeks of typical use on a single charge, but their charging methods differ: while the X4 uses a standard USB-C cable to save space, the X3 has contact pads on the back that require a special charging cable. I charge it rarely enough that this doesn’t bother me, but I don’t like having to constantly remember where I put another proprietary cable. (Reddit members of the Xteink forum suggest a solution — a USB-C to contact pad adapter —but that seems like just another thing I’ll lose.)
Differences in buttons between Xteink X3 and Xteink X4
While both devices have physical buttons, the X3 has an additional one: discreet up/down (or left/right?) buttons on the sides of the device, as opposed to the single dual-function rocker button on the right side of the X4. This improves usability somewhat, as I occasionally accidentally pressed the wrong side of the page-turn button on the X4 and flipped back instead of forward. (However, both devices have the same dual-function buttons on the bottom front panel, and they still take a little getting used to.) I also like that the power/sleep button has been moved to the top, where it’s less likely to be pressed accidentally.
Gyroscope and NFC support on the Xteink X3
The X3 also adds a gyroscope, which should allow you to turn pages by tilting the device, but in practice it’s not very useful, as I found the amount of movement required to turn a page inconsistent (you can switch between higher and lower motion in the settings, but neither option worked well for me). The X3 also supports near-field communication (NFC) for wirelessly connecting to your phone for file transfers, but I found it just as easy to use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, which both devices support. Both methods work with the Xteink mobile app , which can be used to convert files and send them to the device.
Memory capacity differences between Xteink X3 and Xteink X4
Neither device has built-in storage, instead using a memory card slot that supports flash cards up to 512GB, which is enough to store all your books unless you’re an avid digital media collector.
Price difference between Xteink X3 and Xteink X4
While both e-readers are fairly inexpensive, the X4, at $69, is somehow cheaper than the smaller X3, which costs $10 more (likely due to the extra technology and the inclusion of a Pogo cable).
Installation of CrossPoint firmware is required, regardless of the option you choose.
The main drawback of both of these e-readers is their rather poor firmware. Although the developers regularly update it, at the time of writing, it only offers two font options, cannot display images, and text formatting options such as bold and italics are unavailable. Fortunately, a huge online community has formed around the device, and there are numerous user-created firmware upgrades available—and the process is so simple that anyone with a USB cable can handle it.
The most well-known of these alternative operating systems is called CrossPoint , and once installed, Xteink-based devices can do almost everything a reader might need. You can change fonts, install new ones, change the lock screen wallpaper (or use the cover of the book you’re reading), customize margins, reassign buttons, set a sleep timer, automate page turns, sync with the KOreader e-reading app, and much more.
There are now many variations of CrossPoint (“forks”) that offer slightly different features, so look for the one that works for you—whether it’s CrossPet , which adds a Tamagotchi-like virtual chicken game to your device, orthis one , which offers a variety of options for tracking reading stats.
Flashing CrossPoint firmware to your Xteink device couldn’t be easier. Simply connect it to your computer and open this website ( https://xteink.dve.al/ ) for the X4 or this one ( https://x3.crosspointreader.com/ ) for the X3 in your browser. Scroll down until you see the “Flash CrossPoint firmware” button. Click it, and your device will automatically download the new operating system and reboot.
Where to buy Xteink X3
While the Xteink X4 has been on sale on Amazon for a few weeks now, if you want the X3, you’ll have to order it directly from Xteink . If you’re looking to save money, you can also purchase both devices on AliExpress , which is sort of like the Chinese equivalent of Amazon Marketplace. You’ll likely pay a little less for the device, and it will likely come with the Chinese firmware pre-installed—but that’s okay, since you’re going to flash the CrossPoint anyway, right?