- The Xteink X4 ereader has gone viral for its compact size
- It measures 4.3 inches, weighs less than 80 grams and can connect to Qi2 compatible smartphones
- It’s the first non-Amazon e-reader to make the top 10 list.
Amazon has been the reigning champion of the best e-readers and its range of Kindle devices continues to dominate the market, but this viral mini e-reader has taken social media and bookworms by storm.
The Xteink X4 is the latest device that online users can’t get enough of, and it’s all down to its compact size. Measuring 4.3 inches in size and weighing 2.72 ounces (just under 78 grams), the Xteink X4 is small enough to fit comfortably in your pocket and can even connect to Qi2-compatible smartphones, such as newer iPhone models and Google Pixel phones.
In addition to offering the features of a full-sized e-reader but in a compact format, its reasonable price of $70 is another big selling point – a decent budget option compared to newer Kindle models, which can be a big investment. But following its rise in popularity thanks to its online advertising, it has become a new rival to Amazon’s own brand of e-readers, and could set off alarm bells for the retail giant.
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In a rare turn of events, the Xteink X4 has made its way into Amazon’s top 10 best-selling e-readers, making it the first non-Amazon device to make the list. It currently sits at number six, surpassing the Kindle Colorsoft and the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, the former that still occupies one of the top spots on our list of the best Kindles.
Despite the positives, reviews of its software have been a bit mixed, as Trusted Reviews says, with some owners noting that its software offerings can be quite basic. But even then, this isn’t a major setback that’s turning away potential owners, and it still offers a suitable casual reading experience, which could be an even bigger threat to Kindle devices, especially given Amazon’s latest crackdown on the Kindle.
Just a few weeks ago, Amazon announced that it would be pulling the plug on older devices even though they are still in use, which frustrated users believe is a way for the company to get you to unnecessarily upgrade to a newer, and therefore more expensive, Kindle. The decision affects Kindle devices released in 2012 and earlier, meaning that starting May 20 you will no longer be able to purchase or download new books on your device, but you will still have access to read content that is already downloaded.
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