As a brand with a rich history spanning two decades, ONYX BOOX‘s journey began with a simple question that pushed them to innovate: “How can we help people study and work productively without experiencing eyestrain?” In their many years of existence, they have helped lots of people. The selling points were many among the different products, from being the first e-reader with access to Google Play to the true commitment to e-ink displays. The company has always shown a tendency to innovate, and its latest product, BOOX Palma, makes no exception.
Electronic ink
At the heart of BOOX e-readers, and Palma as a consequence, is the electronic ink concept. Unlike conventional LCD or LED displays found in most smart devices, e-ink uses electrophoretic technology to mimic the appearance of ink on paper. This is not just a stylistic choice or one dictated by its low consumption. Rather, this is a response to the question ONYX BOOX posed when they first began. This display significantly reduces the chances of eyestrain due to naturally not emitting blue light, empowering people to study and work more productively.
All our products are powered by eye-friendly ePaper from @EInk. Harvard found that ePaper is three times better for your eyes., meaning you can have longer screen time without eye strain on BOOX. You can read more about the findings at https://t.co/ecm2BFZx5h pic.twitter.com/YZTUvQsnlK
— ONYX BOOX (@OnyxBoox) July 29, 2023
Palma
Now, with the BOOX Palma, the company continues its legacy of innovation. This time blurring the line between e-ink e-readers and smartphones. The device is powered by the Carta 1200 display, the latest e-ink rendition that guarantees a great increase in responsiveness and refresh time compared to previous models. Unlike previous e-readers, the display is gonna be spread along only 824 x 1648 pixels, which is around the size of a typical smartphone. The aim is to provide an eye-strain-free experience not only to avid readers but also to average phone users.
With 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and additional features like RSS feeds, the BOOX Palma has nothing to be jealous of compared to other smartphones. However, SIM cards won’t be supported, meaning a Wi-Fi hotspot is needed to access all features. The concept of the hybrid is also nested in the “distraction-free” life which perfectly aligns with the company’s mission to boost productivity and focus. The company’s philosophy promises a “detach, rather than disconnect”. Users can choose to seamlessly pass from a life uninterrupted by notifications, phone calls, or text messages back to the normal one.
With a crystal-clear HD ePaper display and complemented by the cutting-edge BOOX Super Refresh technology, #BOOX#Palma redefines your mobile reading and browsing experience.
No more eyestrain and less distraction! Be among the first to experience this groundbreaking device with… pic.twitter.com/TduKNQcjGY
— ONYX BOOX (@OnyxBoox) July 11, 2023
Conclusion
Unsurprisingly, the BOOX Palma Early Adopter edition completely sold out shortly after its launch. Although there’s no exact date for the product to be available again, ONYX BOOX will surely be more motivated to restock the device.
In a world where smartphones are present in almost every moment of our daily routines, e-ink might be a saving grace for many who, knowing the risks or not, strain their eyes every day on traditional displays. The BOOX Palma is a big step forward, but the lack of SIM card support may drive the average user away. Personally, I’m watching the device with great interest as full-on adoption of e-ink displays may affect the landscape of reading on a digital device.
Photo credit: The feature image is symbolic and has been taken by Kamran Aydinov. BOOX added their product on the image as photo manipulation.
