Boox Palma 3 Debuts With Android 16, E Ink Display, Stylus Support, and a Lower Price
Onyx Boox has introduced the Boox Palma 3, the latest version of its pocket-friendly E Ink reader designed for users who want the convenience of a smartphone-sized device with the eye comfort and battery efficiency of electronic paper. The new model keeps the compact form factor that made the Palma series stand out, but adds meaningful upgrades in build quality, software, and productivity features.
The Boox Palma 3 features a 6.13-inch E Ink Carta 1200 display with a resolution of 824 x 1648 pixels. Its tall, narrow design makes it easy to hold in one hand, making it ideal for reading ebooks, articles, PDFs, notes, and web content without the glare and eye strain often associated with traditional LCD or OLED screens.
One of the biggest changes is the move from a plastic body to an anodized aluminum frame. This gives the device a more premium feel while improving durability for everyday use. The Palma 3 will be available in black and white, giving buyers a choice between a classic dark finish and a cleaner minimalist look.
Under the hood, the Boox Palma 3 is powered by an octa-core processor paired with 6GB of RAM. It also includes 128GB of internal storage, along with support for microSD cards up to 2TB. That makes it a strong option for users who want to carry large ebook collections, documents, comics, research files, or offline reading material in a compact device.
A major highlight is the software. The Palma 3 runs Android 16, allowing users to install apps from the Google Play Store. This gives it much more flexibility than a traditional e-reader. Instead of being locked into one reading ecosystem, users can access popular reading apps, note-taking tools, cloud storage services, productivity apps, and more.
The Boox Palma 3 also introduces active stylus support, making it more useful for people who like to write, highlight, sketch, or annotate documents directly on the screen. This feature turns the compact e-reader into a portable note-taking tool, although the compatible InkSense Plus stylus is sold separately for $46.
For scanning and productivity, the device includes a 16MP rear camera with an LED flash. This is designed for capturing documents, receipts, notes, and printed pages. Dual microphones are also included, supporting speech-to-text transcription for users who want to capture ideas or convert spoken words into written notes.
Battery life should also be a strong selling point. The Boox Palma 3 comes with a 3,950mAh battery, which is generous for an E Ink device of this size. Since E Ink screens consume far less power than standard smartphone displays, the Palma 3 is built for long reading sessions and extended daily use without frequent charging.
Pricing is another notable part of the launch. The Boox Palma 3 is priced at $320, making it $60 cheaper than the Palma 2 Pro. That lower price could make it more appealing to readers who want a premium compact Android e-reader without stepping into higher-cost tablet territory.
Alongside the Palma 3, Boox has also expanded its lineup with the Note Air6 C, a larger device aimed at users who need more screen space. The Note Air6 C features a 10.3-inch Kaleido 3 color E Ink display capable of showing 4,096 colors. It also runs Android 16 and is powered by a 2.9GHz processor, making it better suited for note-taking, document review, color reading, and productivity workflows.
Boox is also preparing a much smaller device called the Picco. This upcoming model takes a different approach, focusing on simplicity and portability. It features a 3.97-inch touchscreen with physical page-turn buttons and runs on a lightweight Linux-based operating system. Unlike the Palma 3 and Note Air6 C, the Picco is designed mainly for core reading tasks rather than app-based flexibility. It uses a microSD card for local storage and is expected to launch globally in November 2026.
With the Palma 3, Onyx Boox is clearly targeting readers who want more than a basic e-reader but do not necessarily want a full tablet. Its pocket-sized design, Android 16 support, E Ink display, aluminum frame, expandable storage, document-scanning camera, and optional stylus support make it one of the more versatile compact reading devices on the market.
For users who read heavily, take notes on the go, scan documents, or want a distraction-light alternative to a smartphone, the Boox Palma 3 could be a compelling option. It blends the portability of a phone, the comfort of an E Ink screen, and the flexibility of Android in a device built for reading and productivity.
