The Boox Palma 2 Pro turns the idea of a pocket e-reader into a smarter, more capable daily carry without losing the minimalist charm that made the original so good.
In 2023, I reviewed the Boox Palma, a pint-sized, pocket-friendly e-ink device. I praised it for its portability and ability to offer distraction-free reading pretty much anywhere you go.
Now, Boox has just released the Palma 2 Pro. It has a few new tricks up its sleeve, but I wanted to see how it stacks up to its predecessor — especially with its new, higher price tag.
Boox Palma 2 Pro review - pocket weapon
As always, the Palma's strength is its size. It excels in tight pockets and crowded bags.
Handheld reading feels confident and precise, not fiddly or cheap. The weight and balance make single-hand use easy on long commutes.
I find that this is the Boox product I continuously reach for when I know I'll have downtime. Unlike many of my compatriots here at AppleInsider, I don't love to take my iPad with me wherever I go.
Mostly because I never know when I'll have the downtime to use it. That's not really an issue with the Palma; I've found myself reading more and doomscrolling less, simply because it doesn't require any extra effort to take along.
If you're going to head to the DMV or the doctor's office, this thing is a serious lifesaver.
My only issue with the Palma, size-wise, at least, is that its small size does come with a few tradeoffs. But this isn't surprising in the slightest.
It all comes down to use case. For me, a person who almost exclusively grabs Boox devices to read books, the small screen is great.
Pretty much, if it's an action you're comfortable doing on a smartphone, you should be able to do that here. Reading, checking emails, and flipping through or lightly annotating documents are all perfectly serviceable here.
Boox Palma 2 Pro review - it's reading time
When I reviewed the original Boox Palma, I was pretty happy with its black-and-white only screen. I wouldn't have assumed that adding color would have been that big of a deal.
And, to be honest, I waffle back and forth on whether or not it's that big of an upgrade. It's nice, but I don't think that it's an upgrade that has blown my metaphorical socks off.
The color has its place. And I'm willing to admit that it makes browsing certain types of media, especially digital copies of magazines, a significantly improved experience.
It's not going to look as pretty as anything you see on an iPad. But when color helps comprehension, it's hard to deny its value.
I like the colors, for the record. I think the newspaper-like experience it offers is nice — I'm just not sure if it's an extra $120 nice.
Boox Palma 2 Pro review: black and white text and illustrations are crisp
Black-and-white text still stays razor sharp, which is crucial for text-heavy documents, novels, and academic papers. The contrast keeps long sessions comfortable and readable.
Like the other devices in the Boox lineup, the Palma has a really nice backlight. Not only does it make reading in dark environments better, but the ability to fine-tune it between cool and warm colors is greatly appreciated.
Boox Palma 2 Pro review - Android 15, finally
It finally happened. Boox has left Android 13 behind in favor of jumping to Android 15.
Sure, it's still technically one cycle behind the current. However, Android 13 made its debut in 2022 — take the victories where you can get them.
As always, you can snag third-party apps from Google Play. You can slap Gmail, Google Docs, or the Kindle App on here, and they all run pretty well.
Theoretically, you could run almost any productivity app on the Palma, too. However, considering it's a device that is roughly the size of your smartphone, I'm willing to bet most folks would just rather do the brunt of their productivity work on the smartphone.
But the jump to Android 15 makes me feel better about recommending these devices. Knowing that Android 15 will be supported for at least three more years makes this a solid grab.
Boox Palma 2 Pro review - the digital pocket notebook
I'm the type of person to keep a Field Notes notebook and a pen on me at all times. I'm not sure where I picked this trait up from, but I am a big fan of writing things down as soon as I think of them.
Boox must be a fan of that idea as well, because the Palma 2 Pro supports Boox' Inksense Stylus. This was actually a bit surprising to me.
Boox Palma 2 Pro review: Stylus compatibility is a nice idea, but in practice its a bit impractical
That being said, I think it's a welcome addition. You will, however, need to temper your expectations.
While you can take notes with this, it's best served to take small, bite-sized notes. For example, you could jot down a grocery list or make small markups to documents.
Beyond that, you're probably going to be at least a bit frustrated. Again, the small size is the limiting factor here.
If you do heavy note-taking or longform outlining, Boox makes a whole slew of devices that are better suited. But for on-the-go annotations, this is more than adequate.
Boox Palma 2 Pro review: What to expect
This isn't an iPhone. I'm hoping you already knew that.
The octa-core CPU and 8GB of RAM smooth out app switching and large documents. The internal storage sits at a respectable 128 gigs, but if you find yourself needing more, you can expand that up to 2 terabytes via microSD.
As I've said before, it supports a ton of different formats — and it should. You'll be able to open PDFs, EPUBs, DOCX, HTML, CBR/CBZ, and more — plus common image and audio formats like PNG, TIFF, and MP3.
Boox Palma 2 Pro review: USB-C, for all your universal charging needs
It uses USB-C to charge and connect to accessories. The battery life, unsurprisingly, is fantastic — I got several days out of it before I even thought about charging.
Because I use my Boox devices as e-readers, I never really feel limited by their internals. If you're planning to fill one with productivity apps on this and use it as an iPhone replacement, you probably won't find it as useful.
Boox Palma 2 Pro - not your mobile recording studio or digital camera
As I've said in the past, I don't understand why Boox includes speakers and microphones in these devices. I assure you, the money could be better spent elsewhere.
What I'm saying is: if you insist on listening to audio on the Palma 2 Pro, just save yourself the hassle and use Bluetooth headphones.
The microphone, for whatever reason, though, is slightly better. I still wouldn't use this to record audio over something like an iPhone.
The Palma 2 Pro has a 16MP camera. I assume this is for capturing documents, but the e-ink display makes framing and composition a bit of a nightmare.
Boox Palma 2 Pro review: Like the old Palma, this one also has a camera
If you already carry an iPhone — and most of you do — you'll probably reach for that instead. The Palma camera isn't a selling point of the device.
Essentially, the speakers, microphones, and cameras all feel tacked on. I assume Boox does this to keep itself competitive with other tablets and smartphone-shaped devices, but I still boggle at the choice.
Boox Palma 2 Pro - brilliant for daily carry
Pocketability makes the Palma 2 Pro a true daily driver for readers and light workers. It's the gadget you actually use between meetings and on trains.
Storage and battery life mean you can carry entire libraries and still leave the charger at home for days. This is the biggest benefit for on-the-go bookworms.
If you want distraction-free focus, this device enforces it — in a way that doesn't feel aggressive or limiting. While I'm not saying that it topples the Boox Go Color 7 as my favorite, I will say that it gives it a run for its money.
Boox Palma 2 Pro review - who should buy it
Sometimes I'll run across a Boox product that falls into a weird niche that makes it hard to recommend. That isn't the case for the Palma 2 Pro. It's ideal for commuters, students, and bookworms, and it's doubly ideal for anyone who is trying to get back into distraction-free reading.
It's an easy pass if you're someone who watches a lot of video, does heavy design work, or needs a superior stylus canvas. This is why you already own an iPhone or an iPad — again, this is supplementary, not an alternative.
If you already own the first Palma, or if you've got the Boox Palma, there's no need to upgrade. Unless, of course, you're a Boox completionist — by all means, feel free to pick one up.
For everyone else, the Palma 2 Pro is a tidy compromise between utility and size. It keeps the "pocket library" dream alive.
It's an easy recommendation for readers who want more than just a Kindle. You get color, stylus, and Play Store support, all in a palm-sized frame.
Boox Palma 2 Pro review: Pros
- Small size is pocket friendly
- Significantly less distracting than an iPhone
- Android 15, up from the previous model's Android 13
- Includes magnetic cover to keep device scratch-free
- Feels substanial, not cheaply made
Boox Palma 2 Pro review: Cons
- Incompatible with iOS apps — but you already knew that
- Slower than non-e-ink devices
- Not great for video
- Speakers and camera feel like strange additions
Boox Palma 2 Pro rating: 4 out of 5
Where to buy Boox Palma 2 Pro
You can snag your own Boox Palma 2 Pro from the Boox website for $399.99. If you want the InkSense stylus, it'll jump the price to $429.99 — which may not be worth it on a screen this small.
It's also available from Amazon, priced at $399.99.
