The Boox Picco could be a tiny rival to the Xteink X4 Pro ereader, but it lacks one of that product's best features

Date:
Mon, 07 Sep 2026 11:57:19 +0000

Description:
The upcoming Boox Picco has a 3.97-inch screen and a USB-C port, but it lacks the magnets you'll find in rival Xteink devices.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The Boox Picco has been shown off at IFA 2026 It doesn't run Android or have magnets However, it does at least have a USB-C port Boox is perhaps the most well-known alternative to Kindle and Kobo, and notably, its Android-powered ereaders dont lock you into a specific ecosystem. Now, Boox looks set to rival Xteink too, with a new ereader thats truly tiny.

Were talking about the Boox Picco, an ereader first teased around six weeks ago that has now been shown off at IFA 2026 , complete with far more details than had previously been revealed. The Boox Picco has a 3.97-inch e-paper touchscreen, physical page-turn buttons (which can be customized to do something else if you prefer), a front light, a microSD card slot, and a
USB-C port. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

What it doesnt have, though, is Android, as unlike Booxs larger ereaders,
this device runs a Linux-based operating system , meaning you presumably wont have access to major apps like the Kindle and Kobo apps. (Image credit: Android Police) That means as with rival devices like the Xteink X4 Pro youll likely have to sideload books and may struggle to get some books
running on the device if they have DRM. You may like Boox Picco teased as an even smaller alternative to the Xteink X4 Pro The Xteink X4 Pro ereader adds
a touchscreen and front light to its phone-attachable design I love the
Xteink X4 Pro, but Id hesitate to recommend it to most people

Still, Android Police went hands-on with the device and claims the software
is promising, complete with a reading stats page, a Pomodoro timer, and a handful of other built-in apps. It also provides several ways to get books onto the Picco, including via a microSD card, USB-C, the cloud, or a local
LAN network.

And there are upsides to the Boox Picco skipping Android its software will
be simpler in some ways, and the device could have better battery life than Android-powered alternatives. Still, Ive really been hoping for a tiny
ereader with Android included, so while the lack of Android still leaves this device in line with its main competition, its a disappointment to me. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. 'No' to magnets but 'yes' to USB-C The Boox Picco also lacks something that the Xteink line has magnets. This wont matter to everyone, but if youre hoping for an ereader you can magnetically attach to the back of your phone, this isnt it.

But the inclusion of a USB-C port is appreciated, considering the Xteink X4 Pro uses a proprietary charging port.

So this could give the Xteink line a run for its money at least among people who dont care about magnets. But a lot will come down to price, which remains unclear. Good Ereader reports that the Picco will cost around $100 (roughly
75 / AU$140), but various sites that went hands-on with the device say the price hasnt been revealed yet, and instead, some speculate that it will hopefully be priced at around that, so Good Ereader may just have misread their reporting.

The Xteink X4 Pro itself is priced at around that level though, so it would certainly make sense for Boox to aim for something similar. We should find
out by November at the latest, as thats when the Boox Picco is set to begin shipping. Today's best ereader deals Kobo Libra Colour 239.99 209.99 View See all prices deal Kobo Clara BW 149.99 129.99 View See all prices Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 12th Gen 2024 159.99 View See all prices Amazon Kindle Colorsoft 289.99 199 View See all prices Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024) 429.99 View See
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/tablets/ereaders/the-boox-picco-could-be-a-tiny-riva l-to-the-xteink-x4-pro-ereader-but-it-lacks-one-of-that-products-best-features


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