Moaan InkPalm Plus is weird, cheap, small, and my kind of e-reader
Tiny, phone-sized e‑ink readers like the Moaan InkPalm Plus are reshaping how some people read, trading traditional 6–7" tablets for ultra-pocketable devices that can live alongside a smartphone. Commenters weigh the appeal of one‑hand use, physical page‑turn buttons, long battery life, reduced eye strain, and distraction‑free reading against drawbacks such as cramped line lengths, weaker typography, odd aspect ratios, and inconsistent software quality. The thread also branches into larger e‑ink tablets for PDFs and note‑taking, Android‑based e‑ink phones, and whether dedicated readers are still worth carrying now that phone screens and reading apps have improved.
Physical buttons vs. touchscreens
- Many commenters strongly prefer physical page-turn buttons for one‑handed use, reliability, and avoiding accidental turns and smudged screens.
- Others find touch-only devices (Paperwhite, Scribe, etc.) “good enough” and don’t miss buttons.
- Some hybrid devices allow both, but not always with a way to fully disable touch.
- Bluetooth “camera clicker” remotes and volume buttons on Android e‑ink devices are popular hacks to regain “buttons.”
Battery life and lighting
- Oasis and some modern readers are criticized for weaker battery life versus older Kindles; a week vs. a month is a common contrast.
- Airplane mode is repeatedly cited as a major battery saver, but some still find life disappointing.
- Front/back lights with very low brightness and adjustable color temperature are viewed as essential; inability to turn light fully off is seen as a design flaw on some devices.
Form factors: phone-shaped vs. traditional e-readers
- Phone-sized e‑ink devices (InkPalm, Boox Palma, Hisense A9, etc.) are praised for pocketability and for replacing doomscrolling with reading.
- Critics dislike the tall, narrow aspect ratio: too few words per line, awkward justification, and “phone-shaped” redundancy given phones already exist.
- Supporters argue narrow columns can aid eye tracking and that e‑ink is noticeably easier on the eyes and more focused than phones.
Typography and readability
- Short lines and poor justification/hyphenation are frequent complaints; some blame manufacturer software and prefer KOReader for finer control.
- Others disable justification/hyphenation entirely due to bad markup in many ebooks.
Use cases and reading habits
- Transit commuters and backpackers like very small devices they can always carry.
- Some report reading almost exclusively on phones/tablets for simplicity; others reserve e‑ink for focused, long-form reading and outdoor use.
- Motion sickness while reading in vehicles leads some to prefer audiobooks.
Large-format e-ink for PDFs and technical books
- Several recommend 10–13" e‑ink tablets (Boox Max, Kindle Scribe, reMarkable, Sony DPT) for letter-sized or technical PDFs.
- Trade‑offs include weight, lack of backlight on some models, and limited formats/transfer options.
Software, openness, and Android
- Android-based e‑ink devices are valued for running KOReader, Instapaper, Kindle/Kobo apps, and even terminals/browsers optimized for e‑ink.
- There is interest in open, up-to-date, privacy-respecting e‑ink devices (LineageOS on Hisense, desire for Samsung/Google/Apple entries), but current offerings are seen as fragmented and often locked down.