Xteink X4: Small Size, Big Headaches, Community Fixes

First Impressions: That Instant Vibe Check

Stepping into the e-reader arena, the Xteink X4 drops in with a price tag of just $69, aiming for the ultra-portable crown. Right out of the gate, The Verge noted being "pleasantly surprised at how small the X4 is in person," even calling it "satisfyingly pocketable." This thing is tinier than even the beloved 5-inch Kobo Mini and smaller than E Ink smartphones like the Boox Palma. For anyone used to lugging a tablet, this immediately feels like a breath of fresh air, making it a welcome alternative to your phone, especially if your feed is always full of bad news. Lowkey, it's giving major on-the-go main character energy.

Aesthetic Vibes: Design Evolution or Just a Facelift?

When it comes to looks, the X4 rocks a 4.3-inch E Ink screen. While only slightly smaller than the Kobo Mini's 5-inch panel, its significantly slimmer bezels make it feel much more compact. We're talking less than 6mm thick, so it slides into a sling bag with minimal fuss, protected by a basic magnetic folio-style case that's included.

One of the most hyped features, its MagSafe compatibility for iPhones, turned out to be a bit of a fumble. Xteink teased photos of it sticking to an iPhone, but the reality is a bit more awkward. The Verge's review called its magnets "oddly positioned," making it "impossible to stick the e-reader to the back of my iPhone 16 Pro in any usable way." Xteink confirmed the "magnetic alignment may not appear perfectly centered" on newer models, offering adhesive rings as a workaround. Honestly, if it extends past the bottom of your phone like it did for the reviewer, it's probably best used as a standalone device anyway.

E Ink Vision: Crystal Clear or Blurry Mess? A Deep Dive into the Display.

For a device this affordable, you expect some compromises, and the display is where a few show up. The 4.3-inch E Ink screen boasts a 220ppi resolution. If you're coming from the latest Kindle or Kobo, which typically offer 300ppi, you might notice "jagged edges on fine text if you look hard enough," as noted by the source. However, for most casual reading, it's still considered "enough resolution for a pleasant reading experience."

One major omission? There's no screen lighting. So, if your late-night reading ritual involves doom-scrolling TikTok at 2 AM before switching to a book, you'll definitely need a lamp or a flashlight. This might be a deal-breaker for those who love to read in bed without disturbing anyone.

Reading Ritual: How does it feel to actually read? Page turns, lighting, and overall comfort.

Here's where the X4's design choices really start to bite. Instead of a touchscreen, the X4 relies solely on physical buttons—unlabeled ones, no less—on its right edge and below the display. To make things even more perplexing, three of these buttons are two-sided, meaning they do different things depending on which side you press, and their functionality shifts based on where you are in the UI. The Verge describes it as "frustrating to try and remember which side of which button you need to press."

While the reviewer is "always a fan of dedicated page turn buttons," the overall reading experience is just "okay." Basic text formatting is surprisingly limited; you only get two font-size choices and three line spacing options, with no way to adjust margins. Images and illustrations? Simply not displayed. Even loading your own font files proved "finicky." Ultimately, it's an experience you might get "marginally comfortable with, but not one you’ll ever enjoy" in its default state.

Digital Library & Software: Navigating menus, buying books, and managing your literary hoard.

Out of the box, the X4's software is pretty limited and confusing. Unlike Android-based E Ink devices like the Boox Palma, which let you stream videos or play games, the X4 is "solely focused on reading," supporting only TXT and EPUB files, plus some images (JPGs, BMPs, with limited success). There's no built-in bookstore, so you're on your own to source DRM-free EPUBs, which, while easier now thanks to Amazon's expanded EPUB support, is still a hurdle.

Getting books onto the device is another headache. It doesn't mount as a storage device, and wireless uploads were a bust for the reviewer. The easiest but still inconvenient method involves a microSD card, which is notoriously difficult to insert or eject without tools like "long nails or a paper clip." However, there's a glimmer of hope: a growing community has stepped in. Installing CrossPoint Reader, an open-source alternative firmware, was a "simple process" that "immediately solved many of the pain points." CrossPoint simplifies the UI, adds button labels, and expands formatting options—a definite glow-up that the reviewer won't uninstall.

Quick Hits (pros/cons): Tiny Tech's Report Card

Let's break down the X4 with some rapid-fire takes:

Pros:

• 🔥 Ultra-Compact & Pocketable: Even smaller than the Kobo Mini, less than 6mm thick. The Verge notes it’s a “satisfyingly pocketable” alternative to your phone.
• 💰 Budget-Friendly: At $69, it's one of the "cheapest e-readers on the market."
• 📖 Dedicated Page Turn Buttons: A win for traditionalists.
• 🛠️ Thriving Community Support: The open-source CrossPoint Reader transforms the experience, fixing major UI and usability issues.
• 🛡️ Included Case: Comes with a basic magnetic folio-style case for protection.

Cons:

• 🤦‍♀️ Frustrating UI & Buttons: No touchscreen, unlabeled, multi-function buttons make navigation a nightmare out of the box.
• 💡 No Screen Lighting: Forget reading in the dark without an external light source.
• 📉 Lower Resolution Display: 220ppi compared to 300ppi on current Kindle/Kobo, leading to some "jagged edges" on fine text.
• 📦 Limited Out-of-Box Software: Supports only TXT/EPUB, no bookstore, minimal formatting options, and doesn’t display images well.
• 🚫 Cumbersome File Transfer: Doesn't mount as storage, wireless upload unreliable, microSD slot is difficult to use.
• 🧲 Flawed MagSafe: Magnets are poorly aligned on newer iPhones, making it impractical for its intended dual-screen use.

Wrap-Up Thoughts: The Final Verdict: Is it a Must-Have or a Skip-It?

The Xteink X4 is a perplexing device, genuinely "packed with frustration and potential" as The Verge aptly puts it. It's not going to replace a Kobo Libra 2 with its touchscreen, lighting, or robust ebook store for serious readers. However, if your priority is absolute pocketability and you don't mind a little tinkering—and by 'tinkering,' we mean flashing third-party firmware—then the X4 might just hit different.

For $69, it's a gamble. But with the community's work on CrossPoint Reader, it transforms from a janky mess into a surprisingly usable ultra-compact e-reader. If you're looking for a tiny, offline escape from your phone's endless bad news, and you're down to dive into some open-source magic, it's worth considering. Otherwise, stick to a device that works flawlessly out of the box.

Final Score: 6/10

The Xteink X4 earns a 6 out of 10. While its ultra-compact size and $69 price point are incredibly appealing, and it offers a welcome alternative to your phone for quick reading sessions, its default software and button-only navigation are frankly infuriating. The low-res screen and lack of lighting are understandable compromises for the price, but the MagSafe failure and difficult file transfers are genuine design flaws. The only reason it scores this high is because of the incredible open-source community, specifically the CrossPoint Reader, which single-handedly fixes many of its core issues. Without that community intervention, it would be significantly lower, as the reviewer explicitly states they don't like recommending devices that require third-party upgrades to be fixed.