The e-reader world has been buzzing with speculation about a “BOOX Palma 3” for months, with leaks and teasers hinting at Onyx’s next move in the pocket-sized reading device market. The race to make e-readers more portable, colorful, and connected continues to heat up, with manufacturers pushing the boundaries of what these devices can do while maintaining the battery life and readability that make E Ink special.
The recently shown BOOX P6 Pro in China appears to be Onyx’s answer to this challenge, though the name is likely a placeholder for the Chinese market rather than its eventual international branding. This phone-sized e-reader combines color E Ink technology with 5G data connectivity, creating a device that feels more like a connected tablet than a traditional e-reader while maintaining the portability that makes pocket reading so appealing.
Designer: BOOX (Weibo)
The 6-inch E Ink Kaleido 3 display immediately sets the P6 Pro apart from its monochrome siblings. You get 300 PPI for crisp text and 150 PPI for color content, making it suitable for everything from novels to comics to digital magazines. The frontlight system with adjustable color temperature ensures comfortable reading in any lighting condition, day or night.
The hardware specs reflect serious ambitions for such a compact device. The quad-core processor and around 8GB RAM should handle multitasking and note-taking apps smoothly, while 128GB storage with microSD expansion provides plenty of space for a substantial library. Android OS opens up access to various reading and productivity apps beyond the standard e-reader experience.
The 5G connectivity deserves special attention as a genuine differentiator. Unlike Wi-Fi-only devices, the P6 Pro can download books, sync notes, or access cloud libraries anywhere with cellular coverage. However, this isn’t a phone replacement, since the SIM support is data-only, like a tablet, so you can’t make calls or send SMS messages despite the phone-like form factor.
Of course, understanding where the P6 Pro fits among its competitors helps clarify its appeal. The BOOX Palma 2 offers the same RAM and storage plus waterproofing, but sticks to black-and-white E Ink and 4G connectivity. The Bigme HiBreak Pro Color matches the P6 Pro’s color capabilities and stylus support, plus voice features, but lacks 5G and feels less pocketable.
That said, the BOOX P6 Pro’s combination of color, compactness, and 5G creates a unique position in the market. You get the only pocket-sized color e-reader with next-generation cellular connectivity, making it ideal for commuters, travelers, or anyone who wants their reading device to stay connected without hunting for Wi-Fi networks.
The physical page-turn buttons and slim profile suggest this device is designed for one-handed reading, whether you’re standing on a train or lounging in a coffee shop. The color support makes it particularly appealing for comic readers, students with textbooks, or anyone who wants magazines and newspapers to look more like their print counterparts.
The BOOX P6 Pro represents what happens when e-reader makers stop treating connectivity as an afterthought. You can see how 5G might transform the reading experience, enabling instant access to new releases, real-time news, or cloud-based libraries that make your device feel limitless rather than constrained by local storage.
The post BOOX P6 Pro Brings Color E Ink and 5G Data to Pocket-Sized Reading first appeared on Yanko Design.