I recently came across the Xteink X4 Pro, and I honestly can’t decide whether it’s a brilliant idea or simply too small.
It’s a 4.3-inch pocket eReader that weighs only 72 grams, measures 5.95 mm thick and costs $99. It also has a touchscreen, physical page-turn buttons, an adjustable front light and a magnetic back that can attach to compatible phones and accessories.
Basically, it looks like someone shrank a regular eReader down to the size of a small smartphone.
The main Xteink X4 Pro specs
Here’s what it offers:
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4.3-inch display
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219 PPI
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72-gram weight
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111 × 69 × 5.95 mm body
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Touchscreen
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Physical page-turn buttons
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Adjustable warm and cool front light
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1,100mAh battery
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2.4GHz Wi-Fi
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Bluetooth
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16GB microSD card included
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Storage expansion up to 256GB
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Magnetic back
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USB and app-based file transfers
It supports TXT, EPUB, MOBI, PDF, JPG and PNG files.
The X4 Pro is available in Space Black and is officially priced at $99, down from $109. It is currently shown as sold out on the Xteink website.
What makes it interesting?
The main attraction is obviously portability.
Most eReaders are small enough to carry in a bag, but they are not always comfortable to keep in a pants or jacket pocket. The Xteink X4 Pro is much closer to the size of a phone, which means you could realistically carry it around all day.
I could see it being useful during commutes, work breaks, flights, appointments or any situation where pulling out a normal Kindle feels slightly inconvenient.
It could also be a nice alternative for people who currently read ebooks on their phones but get distracted by notifications, messages and social media.
The magnetic back is another unusual feature. Xteink shows the device attached to the back of a compatible smartphone, and the box includes two adhesive metal rings for other accessories or surfaces.
I’m not sure I would permanently carry it attached to my phone, but using it with a magnetic stand or keeping both devices together could be useful.
Is the screen too small?
This is probably the biggest question.
A 4.3-inch display is much smaller than the screen on a typical Kindle or Kobo. It should be fine for novels, short stories and simple text, but you will obviously see fewer words on each page.
People who use larger font sizes may also have to turn pages constantly.
The X4 Pro supports PDFs, but I would not buy it mainly for that purpose. Simple text-based PDFs may be readable, but technical documents, textbooks, charts and multi-column layouts will probably feel cramped on such a small screen.
For EPUB and MOBI books, however, the size may be less of a problem. Physical page-turn buttons should also make frequent page changes easier.
Front light and physical buttons
The X4 Pro has an adjustable front light with both warm and cool settings.
That’s an important feature because a pocket eReader should be usable anywhere, including dark rooms, public transportation and bed.
It also has both touchscreen controls and physical buttons. The touchscreen can be used for menus and settings, while the side buttons should make one-handed reading more comfortable.
Personally, I like having physical buttons on an eReader. Swiping works, but pressing a button usually feels more natural when you’re holding the device with one hand.
Storage and transferring books
The Xteink X4 Pro comes with a 16GB microSD card and supports cards up to 256GB.
Sixteen gigabytes should already be enough for thousands of regular ebooks, so the maximum capacity is probably unnecessary for most people. Still, expandable storage is nice to have, especially since many mainstream eReaders only offer fixed internal storage.
Books can be transferred in two ways:
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Through the Xteink companion app
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Directly from a computer using USB Mode
The app can also manage books, wallpapers and reading activity. Xteink promotes additional features such as weather information, market updates, reading feeds, clock displays and personalized wallpapers.
Battery and charging
The X4 Pro has a 1,100mAh battery, which is considerably larger than the 650mAh battery used in the regular X4 and X3.
Xteink does not give a fixed battery-life estimate, so actual use will depend on the front light, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and synchronization settings.
The charging system is slightly unusual.
Instead of plugging a USB-C cable directly into the reader, the X4 Pro uses an included magnetic pogo-pin adapter. The adapter connects to contacts on the back of the device.
A charging cable is not included, so you need to provide your own compatible cable.
The magnetic connection looks convenient, but losing the adapter would be more annoying than losing a regular USB-C cable. Xteink sells replacement adapters for $5.99.
Xteink X4 Pro vs the regular X4
The X4 Pro is clearly the more complete model.
Compared with the regular Xteink X4, the Pro version adds:
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Touchscreen controls
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Adjustable front lighting
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A larger 1,100mAh battery
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USB file transfers
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A slightly lighter body
Both models have a 4.3-inch display, physical buttons, expandable storage and a magnetic back.
The older X3 is even smaller at 3.7 inches and weighs only 58 grams, but I think that screen size would be difficult to use for anything beyond very short reading sessions.
What comes in the box?
The package includes:
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Xteink X4 Pro
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16GB microSD card
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Matte screen protector
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Two adhesive metal rings
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Magnetic charging adapter
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Quick Start Guide
Xteink is also advertising a free magnetic case in a random color as part of its current offer.
Quick FAQ
Which formats does the Xteink X4 Pro support?
It supports TXT, EPUB, MOBI, PDF, JPG and PNG.
Does it have a front light?
Yes. The brightness and color temperature can be adjusted between warm and cool tones.
Can you transfer books from a computer?
Yes. Books can be copied through USB Mode or transferred wirelessly through the Xteink app.
Does it support expandable storage?
Yes. A 16GB microSD card is included, and cards up to 256GB are supported.
Can it attach to a phone?
Yes. It has built-in magnets and can attach to compatible phones and magnetic accessories.
Does it charge through USB-C?
Not directly. It uses an included magnetic pogo-pin adapter, which connects to a separate charging cable.
My first impression
The Xteink X4 Pro seems less like a replacement for a Kindle and more like a secondary eReader you can keep with you all the time.
The $99 price is reasonable considering the front light, physical buttons, touchscreen, expandable storage and extremely compact design.
The real issue is the screen size.
For normal EPUB or MOBI books, I think 4.3 inches could work surprisingly well, especially during short reading sessions. For PDFs, comics or long periods of reading at home, I would still prefer a larger Kindle or Kobo.
I like the concept, though. Phones are convenient for reading, but they are also full of distractions. A device this small could offer the same portability without constantly pulling you into other apps.
Would you actually carry a 4.3-inch pocket eReader, or is anything smaller than a Kindle simply not worth it?