The Boox Palma series has carved out a niche among e‑book enthusiasts who desire more control than the mainstream Kindle offers. With a phone‑like design and a price comparable to an Android tablet, the device runs a full Android operating system and allows users to install any app from the Google Play Store.
Unlike most e‑readers that rely solely on touch, the Palma retains physical volume buttons. These buttons can be configured to turn pages, a feature that is not automatically enabled in all reading apps.
In the Kindle app, users must enable page turning by navigating to the display settings, disabling continuous scrolling, and turning on the volume‑control option. This step ensures a seamless reading experience without touching the screen.
For other apps, a system‑level setting can be accessed by long‑pressing the app icon, selecting “Optimize,” and then customizing the volume buttons to perform page turns or continuous scrolling.
To prevent accidental page turns when the device is in a pocket or held loosely, a third‑party application can disable the touchscreen. Installing such an app requires downloading it from an alternative store, granting it display‑over‑other‑apps permission, and configuring a shake gesture to toggle the touchscreen on or off.
Ghosting, a common issue with e‑ink displays, can be mitigated by a one‑touch manual refresh. Users can assign this function to the device’s Smart Button or to a screen gesture through the system navigation settings.
Listening to audio on the Palma can be challenging if the device sleeps when its cover is closed. Enabling background play for audio apps and preventing the device from freezing these apps allows continuous playback even when the screen is off.
To maintain Bluetooth connectivity during sleep, the power settings can be adjusted to keep Bluetooth active and to automatically enable it at startup, though this may impact battery life.
Location services must be turned on for the device to be locatable if lost. Enabling system‑level location access and configuring app permissions ensures that the Palma can be tracked while remaining on or connected to the internet.
Overall, the Boox Palma offers advanced customization at the cost of a steeper learning curve. Users who value flexibility can tailor the device to their reading habits, while those preferring simplicity may find the Kindle’s streamlined interface more suitable.
