Boox Palma 2 Pro Review: Colorful Enhancements at a Premium Price
The Boox Palma 2 Pro emerges as a sophisticated evolution of its predecessor, introducing a color e-ink display and upgraded features that aim to redefine the pocket e-reader experience. However, these enhancements come with a notable increase in cost, prompting a closer examination of their value.
Design and Display
Maintaining the compact dimensions that made the original Palma a favorite among readers, the Palma 2 Pro measures 159 x 80 x 8.0mm and weighs approximately 170g. This portability ensures that users can easily carry the device in a pocket or small bag, making it an ideal companion for on-the-go reading.
The standout feature of the Palma 2 Pro is its color e-ink display. While the original Palma’s black-and-white screen was sufficient for most reading materials, the addition of color enhances the experience, especially when viewing digital magazines, comics, or educational content that benefits from color differentiation. The display offers a newspaper-like quality, providing a unique reading experience that bridges the gap between traditional print and digital media.
However, it’s important to note that while the color display adds vibrancy, it doesn’t match the vividness of traditional LCD or OLED screens found in devices like the iPad. The color implementation is subtle, aiming to enhance rather than overwhelm the reading experience.
Performance and Software
Under the hood, the Palma 2 Pro is powered by an octa-core CPU paired with 8GB of RAM, ensuring smooth operation across various applications. The device comes with 128GB of internal storage, expandable up to 2TB via microSD, accommodating extensive libraries of e-books, documents, and other media.
A significant upgrade is the transition to Android 15, moving away from the previously used Android 13. This update brings improved security features, better app compatibility, and a more refined user interface. Access to the Google Play Store allows users to install a wide range of third-party apps, including productivity tools like Gmail, Google Docs, and the Kindle app. While the Palma 2 Pro can handle various productivity applications, its compact size may make extensive productivity tasks less comfortable compared to larger devices.
Stylus Support and Note-Taking
An unexpected yet welcome addition is the support for Boox’s Inksense Stylus. This feature transforms the Palma 2 Pro into a digital pocket notebook, enabling users to jot down quick notes, annotate documents, or sketch ideas on the fly. Given the device’s size, it’s best suited for brief notes or annotations rather than extensive note-taking sessions. For users requiring more substantial note-taking capabilities, Boox offers larger devices better suited to such tasks.
Battery Life and Connectivity
Equipped with a 3,950mAh Li-ion Polymer battery, the Palma 2 Pro delivers impressive battery life, allowing for several days of use on a single charge, depending on usage patterns. Charging is facilitated through a USB-C port, which also supports connectivity with various accessories.
The device supports a wide array of file formats, including PDFs, EPUBs, DOCX, HTML, CBR/CBZ, and common image and audio formats like PNG, TIFF, and MP3. This versatility ensures that users can access a broad spectrum of content without compatibility concerns.
User Experience and Value Proposition
The Palma 2 Pro excels as an e-reader, offering a comfortable and immersive reading experience, especially for text-heavy documents, novels, and academic papers. The adjustable backlight with color temperature management allows users to customize the display to their preference, enhancing readability in various lighting conditions.
However, the introduction of the color display and additional features comes at a significant cost increase compared to the original Palma. Prospective buyers must weigh the value of these enhancements against the higher price point. For users primarily interested in reading black-and-white text, the original Palma may still suffice. Conversely, those who consume color-rich content or desire the latest software and hardware improvements may find the Palma 2 Pro a worthwhile investment.
Conclusion
The Boox Palma 2 Pro stands as a testament to Boox’s commitment to innovation in the e-reader market. By integrating a color e-ink display, upgrading to Android 15, and adding stylus support, the device offers a multifaceted reading and productivity tool in a compact form factor. While the enhancements are commendable, they come with a higher price tag, making it essential for potential users to assess their specific needs and determine if the additional features justify the investment.
