So, I’ve been carrying this thing around for a few weeks now. Honestly, it’s one of the strangest pieces of tech I’ve touched in a long time. People look at it and think it's just another smartphone. Then they see the screen and get really confused. It’s the Boox Palma 2 Pro, and it sits in this weird, lovely middle ground between a Kindle and a Google Pixel.
Is it a phone? Well, kinda. But also, definitely not.
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If you’re someone who feels like their brain is literally melting from too much screen time—social media doom-scrolling, blue light at 2 AM, the whole bit—this device is basically a tactical retreat for your dopamine receptors. It’s a 6.13-inch e-ink device that runs Android 15. It fits in your pocket. It has 5G. But it doesn't want you to watch TikTok. In fact, it'll almost go out of its way to make TikTok look terrible. And that’s the point.
What Actually Is the Boox Palma 2 Pro?
Basically, Onyx (the company behind Boox) took the original Palma and decided to "Pro" it.
The biggest change is the screen. Instead of the crisp black-and-white of the standard Palma 2, you get a Kaleido 3 color e-paper display. It can show 4,096 colors. Now, don't get excited. We aren't talking iPad Pro levels of saturation here. Think "yesterday's Sunday newspaper comics." The colors are soft, muted, and a little bit grainy.
The resolution is where it gets tricky. When you're just reading text, you're getting 300 PPI (pixels per inch), which is super sharp. But once the color kicks in, that drops to 150 PPI. It’s a trade-off.
You’ve also got a 16MP camera on the back with a flash. I know, a camera on an e-reader sounds like a joke. It’s actually meant for document scanning, but you can take "real" photos with it. Just know they look like vintage Polaroids from the 90s once they hit that e-ink screen.
The Specs Nobody Mentions
- RAM/Storage: 8GB RAM paired with 128GB of internal storage.
- The CPU: An octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G with "BSR" (Boox Super Refresh).
- Expansion: There is a hybrid SIM slot. You can use two SIMs, or one SIM and a microSD card up to 2TB.
- Battery: 3,950mAh. Because e-ink doesn't sip power like an OLED, this thing can last for weeks if you aren't being a maniac with the 5G.
The 5G Elephant in the Room
Here is the thing that confuses everyone: the Boox Palma 2 Pro has a SIM slot and 5G support, but it is not a phone.
You cannot make a standard cellular call. You cannot send a "green bubble" or "blue bubble" SMS text message over a carrier network. It’s a data-only connection. Think of it like an iPad with cellular.
However, because it runs a full version of Android 15 with the Google Play Store, you can just download WhatsApp, Telegram, or Discord. I’ve used it to make Wi-Fi calls via WhatsApp and it works perfectly fine. The dual microphones are actually pretty decent. It’s just... weird. You’re holding an e-reader to your ear.
The Stylus Situation (InkSense Plus)
For the first time in the Palma line, we have stylus support.
Boox launched the InkSense Plus stylus alongside this. It’s a USI-style pen, not the EMR tech you find on the bigger Note Air tablets. This matters because it needs to be charged (via USB-C).
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Writing on a 6-inch screen is... tight. It feels like writing in a tiny Moleskine notebook. If you have big hands, you’re going to hate it. But for quick checklists or "don't forget the milk" notes, it’s actually a game-changer. The screen is flush glass, so it’s smooth. Some people hate that "ice-skating" feeling when writing, so you might want to slap a matte screen protector on there to get some grit.
Why the Color Screen is a Double-Edged Sword
I’ve seen a lot of people on Reddit complaining that the screen on the Boox Palma 2 Pro is "too dark."
They aren't lying.
Because of the way Kaleido 3 color technology works, there is a color filter layer on top of the ink. This layer blocks some of the light reflecting off the white background. Compared to the monochrome Palma 2, the Pro looks "grayer" or muddier when the front light is off.
In bright sunlight? It’s gorgeous. It’s the best way to read a graphic novel or look at a map while hiking. Indoors? You’re going to be using the front light (which has adjustable warm and cold tones) a lot more than you would on a Kindle.
The "Dumbphone" Paradox
People are buying this as a "distraction-free" phone. But here is the paradox: it has the full Play Store.
You can install Instagram. You can install Reddit. You can even try to play Genshin Impact if you want to watch a slideshow of pain.
The magic is that the screen's refresh rate makes these apps fundamentally less addictive. Scrolling through a feed on e-ink isn't "smooth." It’s a bit jerky. It ghosts. You have to manually refresh the screen sometimes to clear out the remnants of the last image.
This friction is a feature, not a bug. It makes you want to put the device down and go back to your book. It’s the only device I own where I actually want to read my Kindle app for two hours instead of checking my notifications.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Battery
"It's e-ink, so the battery lasts forever, right?"
Not exactly.
The Boox Palma 2 Pro is running a powerful-ish Snapdragon chip and Android 15. If you leave 5G on and use it to stream Spotify to Bluetooth headphones while scrolling Chrome in "Ultrafast" mode, you will kill the battery in a day.
But if you treat it like an e-reader—Airplane mode on, light at 30%, reading offline EPUBs—it’ll last you through a two-week vacation without a charger. It’s all about how you manage the "Super Refresh" settings.
Is It Worth the Extra $130?
The standard Boox Palma 2 is about $250-270. The Pro is $380-400.
That is a huge jump. You’re essentially paying that premium for three things:
- The 5G data connectivity.
- The color screen.
- Stylus support.
If you just want to read novels in bed, honestly, save your money and get the monochrome Palma 2. The text is actually crisper on the cheaper model.
But if you’re a "digital nomad" type who wants to leave their $1,200 iPhone at home, go for a hike, and still be able to check Google Maps or respond to a Slack message without getting sucked into the Instagram vortex? Then the Pro is the one.
Actionable Takeaways for Potential Buyers
- Check your carrier: Make sure they support data-only SIMs or "tablet plans" before you expect that 5G to work.
- Lower your color expectations: View the color as a "functional" addition for icons and maps, not a replacement for an OLED screen.
- Get a case with a loop: The official magnetic case is nice, but it doesn't hold the stylus. If you buy the pen, you'll lose it in five minutes without a dedicated holder.
- Tweak the "EinkWise" settings: Every app needs a different refresh mode. Set your Kindle app to "Regal" for the best text and your Browser to "Fast" for scrolling.
The Boox Palma 2 Pro isn't trying to be a better phone. It’s trying to be a better way to live with a screen. It’s niche, it’s expensive, and for a very specific type of person, it’s the best thing they’ll buy all year.