Boox Picco Is a Tiny 3.97-Inch E-Reader That Doubles as a Productivity Gadget

Bigger smartphones may be reaching their limit, but e-readers are getting smaller. Boox, known for the popular compact Boox Palma, is adding an even smaller model to its lineup: the Boox Picco.

Boox has announced the Picco, and pre-orders are available starting today. Its monochrome screen measures 3.97 inches—about the size of a playing card. That makes it smaller than the 4.3-inch Xteink X4 Pro we tested earlier this year, but slightly larger than the 3.7-inch Xteink X3.

The Picco is also considerably smaller than the upcoming Boox Palma 3, which has a 6.19-inch display. Although the Xteink’s compact size felt comfortable in hand, navigating its interface and accessing books was difficult. The Picco could offer a more accessible small e-reader option, although it will not be as convenient as a Kindle or Kobo with a built-in e-book store.

The Boox Picco costs $100 and is expected to ship in November. Here are the key details about Boox’s new compact e-reader.

Boox Picco Features a Small E-Ink Display and Physical Page-Turn Buttons

The Boox Picco has a monochrome display with a resolution of 235 pixels per inch. Its adjustable front light supports both warm and cool lighting. A microSD card slot supports up to 2 TB of flash memory storage, and a 16-GB card is included.

Readers can turn pages using the touchscreen or physical buttons on the side of the device. The case also features a magnetic ring that lets you attach the Picco to the back of a smartphone. However, previous testing with the Xteink showed that phone fit and magnet strength can affect how well this setup works, so the Picco’s attachment system will need to be tested.

Provided by Boox

A Reading-Focused Operating System With Productivity Tools

Boox says the Picco will use a streamlined operating system focused on reading and digital utility tools. It is also the first device in the company’s Tile lineup, which provides the way users access e-books on the device.

E-books can be transferred to the Picco through the web or USB-C. The device also includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. Built-in Pomodoro, Todo, and Countdown apps let the Picco function as both an e-reader and a productivity gadget.

The compact design and smartphone attachment could make the Picco convenient to carry and keep visible, even when you are not reading.

Boox Picco vs. Boox Palma 3

The Picco is an intriguing addition to Boox’s e-reader lineup. It could become more popular than the Palma 3, but both devices will need to be available before readers can determine which one is the better buy. A full review will follow when both models are released.

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