Xteink is a brand of ultra-thin, pocket-sized e-ink e-readers built around distraction-free, subscription-free reading. Its two current models — the X3 (3.7", 259 PPI, gyroscope shake-to-turn-page, NFC) and X4 (4.3", 219 PPI, Type-C charging) — share a 650 mAh battery rated for roughly two weeks per charge, weigh under 80 grams, and retail around $69. Both run on an ESP32C3 microcontroller and ship without a touchscreen or frontlight, trading features for thinness and price.
Xteink devices arrived without an established position in Western reading markets, gaining traction instead through hardware-tinkerer and e-reader-enthusiast communities that valued their low price and hackable ESP32C3 base over polish. That hackability produced 📝CrossPoint Reader, community-maintained 🏷️#open-source firmware that replaces the stock software with proper EPUB rendering, custom fonts, and KOReader sync — closing gaps the factory firmware left open. Reviewers position the line as a stripped-down alternative to touchscreen readers like Kindle or the larger Boox Palma: less capable, but cheaper, thinner, and open to modification.
Key Features
- Ultra-thin, pocket form factor — X3 weighs 58g, X4 77g, both slim enough to carry like a phone accessory.
- Two-week battery life — 650 mAh cell rated for about 14 days of typical reading per charge.
- No-subscription model — books load via SD card, WiFi transfer, or the companion app rather than a locked storefront.
- ESP32C3-based, hackable hardware — open enough to run community firmware like CrossPoint Reader.
- Magnetic/NFC accessories — X3 adds NFC and magnetic pogo-pin charging; both support MagSafe-style attachment.