The Next Boox Palma E-Reader Won’t Be a Phone After All

The Boox Palma has always been the gadget equivalent of showing up to a costume party dressed as a smartphone and
insisting you’re “just here for the vibes.” It’s phone-shaped. It runs Android. It downloads apps. It even has a
camera. And yet: for years, it has famously not been a phonebecause it couldn’t hop on cellular networks.
So when rumors (and then previews) started floating around about a “next Palma” with cellular, it felt like the
inevitable plot twist: the Palma is finally becoming the E Ink phone people keep trying to make it into.

And then came the reality check: the next wave of Palma devices may get you mobile data, but it still won’t be a
phone in the way most people mean it. No native calling. No built-in SMS app. Data-only SIM support. In other words,
it’s more like a pocketable e-paper Android mini-tablet that finally learned how to leave Wi-Fi… without turning into
a full-on handset. If you were waiting for “Kindle, but make it iPhone,” congratulationsyou’re halfway there. If you
were waiting for “iPhone, but make it Kindle,” you’re going to keep waiting.

Why the Palma Confused Everyone (and Then Became a Cult Favorite)

The original Palma didn’t become popular because it was the best e-reader in the world. It became popular because it
was the most pocketable “reading-first” device that still let you break out of the closed ecosystems
of typical e-readers. Boox marketed it as a “mobile ePaper” device, and that framing matters: it’s an e-ink screen
strapped to Android with Google Play access, designed to let you choose your reading and productivity stack instead of
being locked to one store.

Hardware-wise, the Palma leaned hard into phone-like proportions: a 6.13-inch display that you can actually carry
like a phone, but tuned for reading. The official positioning emphasized Android, Google Play, and generous storage
for books and documentswhile still being Wi-Fi dependent for connectivity. That combination made it great for
ebooks, long articles, RSS, and notes… and terrible for anything that relies on fast refresh or vibrant video.
(Which, for a “mindful device,” is kind of the point.)

TIME even framed the Palma as a “peaceful pocket device” meant to reduce distractionexplicitly pointing out that it
lacked cellular connectivity and worked over Wi-Fi. The slower refresh and e-paper nature made most entertainment apps
less appealing, nudging you toward reading and audio instead of doomscrolling. That’s not a bug; that’s the business
model (and the coping strategy).

The “Next Palma” Hype: Color, Cellular, and the Great Phone Fantasy

When Boox started teasing newer Palma-like deviceswith sightings and early looks suggesting cellular connectivity and
even color e-inkthe internet did what it always does: it took a single promising detail and sprinted directly to the
most dramatic conclusion. A color, cellular Palma? That sounds like an e-ink phone. And since the Palma already runs
Android apps, surely the “phone part” is just… one more checkbox, right?

Early coverage around IFA 2025 pointed toward a Palma-style device that looked more smartphone-like than ever, with
cellular and a color e-ink panel in the mix. The vibe was: “This might finally be the minimalist phone replacement
people want.” The key phrase there is might.

Plot Twist: Data-Only SIM Means “Connected,” Not “Phone”

Here’s the crux: the latest “next Palma” direction added cellular connectivitybut specifically via
data-only SIM support. That’s a meaningful upgrade (you can load articles, sync reading apps, stream
audio, pull maps, and message over the internet), but it’s not the same as carrier voice service and SMS being baked
into the device.

For example, coverage of the Palma 2 Pro described it as supporting up to two SIM cards but limited to
data-only SIMs. The same reporting emphasized that it’s “no longer completely dependent on Wi-Fi,”
while also stressing it’s still not a smartphone replacement. Reviews echoed the point: you may get mobile data, but
you won’t find a native phone dialer or stock texting app waiting for you like it’s a normal handset.

That sounds like a disappointment if you wanted a true E Ink phone. But it’s also a deliberate design choice. With
data-only connectivity, Boox can give you the best part of “phone-life”access to the internet anywherewithout fully
stepping into the complicated world of being a telecom device.

What You Gain

• Internet everywhere (with the right plan): newsletters, RSS feeds, web articles, and library sync on the go.
• Messaging via apps: Signal, WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discordanything that works over data.
• Mindful media consumption: you can get information without the “OLED slot machine” effect.
• Audio freedom: podcasts and audiobooks without needing to preload everything on Wi-Fi.

What You Don’t Get

• Native carrier calling and SMS: no default dialer/text workflow like a typical smartphone.
• Seamless 2FA texting: many banks and services still rely on SMS codes.
• Emergency calling expectations: a true phone replacement needs reliable voice and emergency support.

Can you still make calls anyway? Sort ofthrough third-party services. If you have data, you can use VoIP calling via
apps like Google Voice, Signal, or WhatsApp. Some reviewers explicitly noted this workaround: no native phone or
messaging app, but third-party services can cover calls and texts over data. It’s functional. It’s also not the
“pop in a SIM and forget your phone exists” simplicity many people hoped for.

Why Boox Might Be Avoiding “Phone” Status on Purpose

If you’re wondering why Boox doesn’t just flip the “make it a phone” switch, the answer is: because there isn’t one.
Adding telephony isn’t just software; it’s a rabbit hole full of carrier certification, regional band compatibility,
regulatory compliance, emergency calling requirements, and support nightmares. A device can support mobile data and
still avoid being treated like a full phone by carriers and regulatorsespecially if it’s positioned more like a
connected media device than a handset.

There’s also brand intent. The Palma’s appeal is partly psychological: it gives you “enough phone” to function
(newsletters, music, reading, messaging) without giving you the high-octane dopamine buffet of a normal smartphone.
A true phone comes with expectation creep: constant availability, always-on communication, and a stronger pull toward
“just checking one thing” for the next hour. Boox seems to be threading a needle: connected, but not chaotic.

The Specs Story: What the Next Palma Direction Actually Looks Like

The Palma line evolved in a very “Boox” way: mix-and-match hardware and software features to hit a niche.
The Palma 2 kept the smartphone-like size while updating internalslike a faster processor and a fingerprint sensor
integrated into the power buttonwhile continuing the “open Android” idea and the pocket format.

The newer Pro direction went further: a 6.13-inch Kaleido 3 color e-ink display, Android 15, more RAM, stylus support,
and a SIM slotagain, for data-only service. Coverage also highlighted expandable storage via microSD (often sharing
the same tray design as the SIM slot), plus a rear camera intended more for scanning documents than capturing
artistic memories.

One important nuance: color e-ink often comes with tradeoffs. Kaleido 3 panels can look dimmer and less sharp than
monochrome e-ink, because the color layer is effectively a filter over the underlying black-and-white display. Review
coverage noted that color resolution is lower than monochrome (and the display can feel darker), which matters a lot
on a device designed primarily for reading. If your main goal is crisp text and long sessions, monochrome still tends
to win. If you want highlights, diagrams, and occasional visual content, color starts making sensejust with
realistic expectations.

Real-World Scenarios: Who Benefits from “Not a Phone”

1) The “I Want Less Screen Time, Not Less Capability” Crowd

If you’re trying to cut down on doomscrolling without turning into a digital hermit, a Palma-style device is almost
hilariously effective. You can still read news, check your reading apps, skim newsletters, and message friendsbut
the experience is slower and less stimulating. That friction becomes a feature: it helps you use the internet
intentionally instead of compulsively.

2) Commuters, Travelers, and Waiting-Room Athletes

A phone-sized e-reader shines in those “dead time” moments: train rides, airport gates, dentist waiting rooms.
With data-only cellular, you don’t have to pre-download everything at home. You can pull up an article, sync your
library book, or queue a podcast on the spot.

3) People Who Live in Reading Apps (Plural)

The Palma’s open Android approach matters if you bounce between Kindle, Kobo, Libby, Pocket, Instapaper, and PDFs.
Several mainstream reviews highlighted that flexibility as a major advantage over locked-down e-readers: you can
build your own reading ecosystem and carry it in your pocket.

4) People Who Actually Need a Phone to Be a Phone

If your life depends on standard SMS for two-factor codes, carrier calling for work, or just being reachable with
minimum fuss, a data-only Palma won’t fully replace your phone. You can patch together a solution with VoIP and
messaging apps, but “patching together” is the opposite of what most people want from something they carry every day.

But WaitWhat If You Truly Want an E Ink Phone?

If your checklist includes actual phone calling, full SMS, and features like NFC, you’re looking at
a different category: e-ink smartphones. Devices like the Bigme HiBreak Pro have been positioned as real phone-like
alternatives, including modern cellular support and smartphone staples, while using an e-ink display to reduce eye
strain and distraction. Coverage has pointed out that these devices can offer dual-SIM 5G and other “real phone”
featuresbut they also come with higher prices and the reality that e-ink will never feel like an OLED phone for fast
visuals.

In other words: if you want a true E Ink phone, buy an E Ink phone. If you want a pocketable e-reader that’s finally
free from Wi-Fi captivity, the next Palma direction is a smarter fit.

So… Should You Be Mad That It Won’t Be a Phone?

It depends on why you wanted it to be one. If you wanted a single device that does everything your phone does but
feels calmer, then yesdata-only is a frustrating half-measure. If you wanted a device that helps you read more,
scroll less, and still stay connected to the basics, then data-only is actually the sweet spot.

The Palma’s magic has always been that it looks like a phone but behaves like a book-first tool. The “next Palma”
evolution doesn’t erase that identityit upgrades it. You get the internet when you’re out and about, without
transforming the device into the always-on communication portal that most of us are trying to escape in the first
place. Think of it as a compromise, but one that’s weirdly aligned with the Palma’s whole philosophy:
connected enough to live, limited enough to breathe.

500+ Words of “Experience”: A Day With a Palma-Style Device That’s Not a Phone

Imagine you leave the house with two rectangles in your pocket. One is your smartphone. The other looks like your
smartphone’s quieter cousin who does yoga and drinks water on purpose. The Palma-style device doesn’t buzz every
90 seconds. It doesn’t flash a colorful carousel of “breaking news” designed to spike your cortisol. It just…
exists. Patiently. Like a paperback that learned how to download apps.

On a commute, you pull it out and open an article you actually meant to read yesterday. The e-paper screen feels
closer to print than glow, and that alone changes your postureyour brain stops bracing for chaos. You scroll more
slowly, not because you’re trying to be virtuous, but because the device is gently encouraging you to behave like a
human being and not a hummingbird. If the device has data-only cellular, you don’t need to pre-plan your content at
home; the article loads anywhere your plan works. It’s the difference between “I’ll read later” and “I’m reading now.”

At a coffee shop, you realize this is the first time in a while you’re waiting for a drink without automatically
opening social media. Instead, you tap into a reading appmaybe Kindle, maybe Libby, maybe an RSS reader. The text is
crisp. The vibe is calm. And the best part is psychological: you’re holding something that looks like a phone, so you
don’t feel socially weird… but it doesn’t behave like a phone, so you don’t lose 20 minutes to a trance.

Later, you want to message someone. On a data-only Palma, you can open Signal or WhatsApp and send a quick note. It
works because it’s internet-based. But you also notice the line in the sand: if someone calls your number the
old-fashioned way, this device won’t save you. No native dialer. No default SMS. You can use VoIP services, sure, but
that requires setup and sometimes compromises (and the occasional “Wait, why didn’t that code arrive?” moment when a
bank insists on SMS). That friction is annoying… and also revealing. It forces you to decide what you truly need
versus what you’ve normalized.

In the afternoon, you use it as a pocket notebook. On models that support a stylus, you jot a grocery list or a few
meeting notes. The screen is small, so you’re not drafting a novel, but quick capture feels satisfyinglike writing
on a sticky note that can be searched later. You highlight a passage in an e-book. You mark up a PDF. It’s not a full
tablet workflow; it’s a “keep your life moving” workflow.

At night, the Palma-style device becomes the antidote to bedtime phone habits. You can read with front light, switch
apps if you want, and even play audio through Bluetooth. But the device doesn’t seduce you into video. It doesn’t
reward endless scrolling with bright candy colors. It doesn’t feel like a casino. It feels like a tool. And that’s
the core experience of a “not-a-phone” Palma: you still have modern convenience, but fewer triggers to waste your own
time.

By the end of the day, you understand the whole point: the next Palma not being a phone isn’t a failure.
It’s a philosophy. It’s Boox saying, “We’ll give you the internet, but we’re not going to hand you the full bundle
of smartphone obligations.” For some people, that’s a deal-breaker. For others, it’s exactly the relief they’ve been
shopping for.

Conclusion

The next Boox Palma direction is a classic “be careful what you wish for” gadget story. It gets closer to phone-like
convenience with mobile data, but it stops short of becoming a true phoneand that’s not an accident. If you want a
pocket e-reader that can roam free without Wi-Fi, this is a meaningful leap forward. If you want a single device to
replace your phone entirely, it’s still a half-step.

Either way, the Palma’s identity remains intact: it’s the phone-shaped device that’s trying to rescue your attention
span, one grayscale page at a time. And honestly? In 2026, that might be the most rebellious “feature” of all.

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