The Boox Palma 3 fits in a pocket like a smartphone, runs Android 16, and costs $339.99, making it more capable and more expensive than any Palma before it. Boox just announced the device, a phone-sized monochrome E Ink reader that ships with the optional InkSense Plus stylus for handwriting and annotations.
What Changed From Palma 2
Three meaningful upgrades separate the Palma 3 from its predecessor: a current Android build, a premium new chassis, and stylus support.
The OS jump is the headline upgrade. As The Verge notes, “The original Palma and the Palma 2 came with Android 11 and Android 13, respectively, but the new Palma 3 ships with Android 16, which is just one generation behind the latest version of the OS.”
The plastic casing is gone. Boox replaced it with an anodized aluminum frame and a textured fiberglass backplate that reportedly feels paper-like in hand.
Stylus support arrives via the InkSense Plus, which offers 4,096 pressure levels and tilt recognition. The stylus is sold separately at $46.
Palma 3 Specs At a Glance
Here is what the hardware delivers.
- 6.13-inch E Ink Carta display, approximately 300 ppi, warm and cool front light
- Qualcomm Q-6690 octa-core SoC, 6 GB RAM, 128 GB storage, microSD expansion
- 3,950 mAh battery; USB-C; Wi-Fi 6; Bluetooth 6.0
- 16 MP rear camera (document scanning), fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button
- Dimensions: approximately 159 x 78 x 7.8 mm; weight: approximately 195 g
The Price Question
The $60 jump from Palma 2 is straightforward until you add the stylus.
Palma 3 costs $60 more than the Palma 2, which launched at $279.99 in 2024. Add the stylus and the total reaches roughly $386, which is reMarkable Paper Pro territory on a 6.13-inch screen.
That screen size matters. Boox and early reviewers both acknowledge that the writing area suits marginalia and quick notes, not sustained handwriting sessions.
Full Google Play Store access means you can run Kindle, Kobo, Libby, Pocket, and any other reading app you already use, without committing to a single ecosystem.
Boox lists the Palma 3 as “coming soon” with no confirmed ship date. It targets readers willing to pay a premium for portability, Android flexibility, and a build quality that finally matches the asking price.
