These Credit Card-Sized Ebooks Are up to 21% Off During the October Prime Day Sale.
Prime Day is usually a great time to score a Kindle deal, but before Amazon’s “Prime Big Deal Days” promotion , which kicks off today and runs through Wednesday evening, let me turn your attention to a completely different category of e-readers. Tiny e-ink devices—I’m talking credit card-sized, with screens around four inches—are all the rage in 2026. If you, too, see the appeal of carrying all your books on a device so small you’ll forget you even have it in your pocket, now’s the time to get started: two of the best options on the market, the recently released Xteink X4 Classic and the even more compact X3 , are up to 21% off as part of October’s Prime Day.
Xteink is a Chinese startup that made a splash in the e-reader world last year with the release of the X4 , a device with a minimal set of features that compensated for its lack of functionality and usability with a low price (under $70). Since then, a huge online community of fans has formed around the device, sharing tips on Reddit and even teaming up to create an alternative operating system that fixes many of the early issues . Shortly after the X4, Xteink released a number of other devices, including the X3 and the X4 Pro , which gained a backlight and a touchscreen (at the cost of reduced image clarity and the addition of two physical buttons).
Earlier this year, the X3 was released, improving on the original X4 with improvements like a larger battery, relocated page-turn buttons, a real-time clock, and tilt-based page-turning. The X4 Classic, released in September, incorporates these changes and is also 6g lighter and a millimeter thinner than the X4, though there’s a tradeoff: both the X3 and X4 Classic ditch USB-C charging ports in favor of magnetic charging ports, which require a separate cable or adapter.
These upgrades also increased the cost: the X3 launched at $69, while the X4 Classic retailed for $89, making it $20 more expensive than the discontinued X4 and just $10 cheaper than the X4 Pro . But right now on Amazon, the X3 is down 15% to $58.65, while the X4 Classic is down to $69.99, or a 21% discount. Both are good options for those who value crisp, easy-to-read text over the convenience of a built-in backlight or a touchscreen, as the latter adds extra layers between the inner screen and the outer glass. And as long as you understand what you’re getting into: these devices only support ebooks without copy protection (DRM) , meaning you won’t be able to use them to read your existing Kindle book library.
Amazon Prime Day October Sale FAQs
When is Prime Day in October?
The October Prime Day sale (actually called “Prime Big Deal Days”) begins on October 6th and runs through October 7th. It’s one of Amazon’s three biggest sales of the year, and it takes place every October.
How do Prime Day deals work in October?
During Prime Day, including Prime Big Deal Days, Prime members can shop online and score thousands of items at significant discounts. The sale lasts only two days, so make sure you get all the details before it starts.
What’s on sale during October’s Prime Day?
With Prime Big Deal Days taking place this fall, you’ll likely see more deals on gaming equipment and home gym equipment. Amazon has already announced some of the 35 categories of products that will be discounted, including beauty, tech, kitchenware, fashion, and home goods. Brands already featured include Shark, Princess Polly, Soundcore by Anker, UGG, Nest New York, Sony, Tarte, Adidas, and Barefoot Dreams.