The loss of the front buttons is a bummer too, I use those all the time on my X4. The side buttons are not always as convenient, depending on how I hold the device.
My ideal device would double down on the physical buttons and add an orientation sensor instead of the touch screen. There is a lot of room for innovation and differentiation with more thoughtfully designed and placed page turn buttons. My all time favorite were the ones on the Kindle Keyboard 15 years ago.
Not a touch sensor, but if you find yourself switching orientations often, CrossPoint lets you bind a short press of the power button to switch orientation.
While it doesn't have a USB-C port, the provided port is pretty simple. It reminds me alot of the connectors on Pebble smartwatches and adapters are easily obtainable via Amazon. I think it's a common adapter used for smartwatches and similar devices?
I like my X4 original, and I really wish it had a front-light, but I don't need/want the touchscreen, and it would be such a pain in the tail not to have usb-c.
With the pro (and cross point) I have the touch page turns turned off and the reader menu is long press with the home button which has gotten rid of accidental touches.
Can even hold the screen like my X3.
That said touch is a minor improvement. Backlight is what made it my new primary device.
Oh cool that’s exactly the info I needed, thank you. I want a touch screen for everything other than turning pages and I’m glad to hear that’s possible.
Since the reviewer is here -- hi @subset! -- I'd like to know more about the X4 Pro's screen. I own a lesser known OBOOK5 mini (which I like well enough) and I've yet to accidentally flip pages? It doesn't feel slippery to me, and it requires a light amount of downward pressure before swiping.
I think the touchscreen is excellent, it feels responsive and I don’t experience any accidental page turns. I also personally prefer the page turn buttons on the sides, so that you can easily grip it in your palm. I suspect that this depends on user-specific ergonomics, though.
Some people have reported a bit of a “ghosting” effect due to the increased distance between the display/frontlight and touchscreen, but I haven’t found that to be distracting. I think my only gripe is that the resolution could be a bit crisper.
I picked up an X3 after reading a review of it that was posted on this here website. I dare say it has reignited my willingness to read fiction for fun.
I finished one book in the last month. Probably the first fiction book I've read front to back in the last 15 years, after a childhood of being a voracious reader.
That's exactly my use case so it's nice to see that it's supported! The only thing keeping me from buying it is that I need support for highlighting and saving highlights, and as far as I know, it's not supported
I just gave into my desire to stop trying to stuff my full size Kindle into my pocket and ordered one of these this morning!
For folks that have one of these small ereaders, do you use it as your only reading device? One of my hesitations is that I won’t want to use this when the larger device is available (e.g., at home), but setting up reliable progress syncing sounds like a bit of a pain.
I use my X4 as my only reader, but I don't have another ereader for it to compete with and I only use it for novels so I'm not hankering for a larger one.
I find that as I’ve started reading more again, I’m more inclined to open the Books app on my iPhone and read if I don’t have the e-reader on-hand. I haven’t setup any syncing system, I don’t mind manually navigating to the page when needed.
op | 17 hours ago
the lack of a usb-c port is such a deal breaker. on the other hand, you'd barely ever need to charge the device though.
donio | 15 hours ago
The loss of the front buttons is a bummer too, I use those all the time on my X4. The side buttons are not always as convenient, depending on how I hold the device.
My ideal device would double down on the physical buttons and add an orientation sensor instead of the touch screen. There is a lot of room for innovation and differentiation with more thoughtfully designed and placed page turn buttons. My all time favorite were the ones on the Kindle Keyboard 15 years ago.
gcupc | 15 hours ago
Not a touch sensor, but if you find yourself switching orientations often, CrossPoint lets you bind a short press of the power button to switch orientation.
[OP] abnercoimbre | 17 hours ago
It’s also pretty cool that they include an adapter to make up for it.
Helithumper | 5 hours ago
While it doesn't have a USB-C port, the provided port is pretty simple. It reminds me alot of the connectors on Pebble smartwatches and adapters are easily obtainable via Amazon. I think it's a common adapter used for smartwatches and similar devices?
Hellion | 4 hours ago
this is a serious dealbreaker. lose a proprietary cable (or simply go on an extended trip and forget/lose it), and this is a paperweight
usbc or qi2 charging really is a requirement for me, just from an e-waste perspective. I like to buy things to last
gcupc | 17 hours ago
I like my X4 original, and I really wish it had a front-light, but I don't need/want the touchscreen, and it would be such a pain in the tail not to have usb-c.
soulcutter | 11 hours ago
Yeah - I have an X4 original and agree completely. I prefer having no touch screen because I have 99% less accidental page flippings.
Backlight would be nice, but dang this device’s battery lasts forever, which I appreciate.
mhanberg | 10 hours ago
With the pro (and cross point) I have the touch page turns turned off and the reader menu is long press with the home button which has gotten rid of accidental touches.
Can even hold the screen like my X3.
That said touch is a minor improvement. Backlight is what made it my new primary device.
altano | 6 hours ago
Oh cool that’s exactly the info I needed, thank you. I want a touch screen for everything other than turning pages and I’m glad to hear that’s possible.
I’ve ordered mine and it’s on the way!
[OP] abnercoimbre | 10 hours ago
Since the reviewer is here -- hi @subset! -- I'd like to know more about the X4 Pro's screen. I own a lesser known OBOOK5 mini (which I like well enough) and I've yet to accidentally flip pages? It doesn't feel slippery to me, and it requires a light amount of downward pressure before swiping.
subset | 8 hours ago
I think the touchscreen is excellent, it feels responsive and I don’t experience any accidental page turns. I also personally prefer the page turn buttons on the sides, so that you can easily grip it in your palm. I suspect that this depends on user-specific ergonomics, though.
Some people have reported a bit of a “ghosting” effect due to the increased distance between the display/frontlight and touchscreen, but I haven’t found that to be distracting. I think my only gripe is that the resolution could be a bit crisper.
mhanberg | 15 hours ago
I have the X4 Pro and love it. Came from an X3.
Not having USB C is a non issue.
I do wish it had the front page then buttons tho.
arcade | 12 hours ago
I love my X3, it has first class support for OPDS and KoSync, which I use with bookhive
colindean | 8 hours ago
I picked up an X3 after reading a review of it that was posted on this here website. I dare say it has reignited my willingness to read fiction for fun.
I finished one book in the last month. Probably the first fiction book I've read front to back in the last 15 years, after a childhood of being a voracious reader.
dvicente | 30 minutes ago
That's exactly my use case so it's nice to see that it's supported! The only thing keeping me from buying it is that I need support for highlighting and saving highlights, and as far as I know, it's not supported
subset | 12 hours ago
Author here (thanks @abnercoimbre for the kind invite), happy to answer any questions!
prattmic | 10 hours ago
I just gave into my desire to stop trying to stuff my full size Kindle into my pocket and ordered one of these this morning!
For folks that have one of these small ereaders, do you use it as your only reading device? One of my hesitations is that I won’t want to use this when the larger device is available (e.g., at home), but setting up reliable progress syncing sounds like a bit of a pain.
travis-bradbury | 8 hours ago
I use my X4 as my only reader, but I don't have another ereader for it to compete with and I only use it for novels so I'm not hankering for a larger one.
subset | 8 hours ago
I find that as I’ve started reading more again, I’m more inclined to open the Books app on my iPhone and read if I don’t have the e-reader on-hand. I haven’t setup any syncing system, I don’t mind manually navigating to the page when needed.
krhc | 4 hours ago
I have the non-pro and it's already quite a nice device. The USB c is quite nice for charging and frankly I don't want a touch screen.
The biggest thing I've wanted was bit banged USB mass storage for transfers but I'm aware that's a slightly annoying thing to do on an esp32.
This doesn't seem like an upgrade to be subjectively, but I appreciate the candid review, terse as it is.
jaredkrinke | 17 hours ago