Once is not the norm, but today I'm bringing you a review of an adorable, tiny but very limited, little e-reader with a 2.7-inch black-and-white E Ink screen.
Note: I bought this e-reader on AliExpress after discovering it on a Reddit forum. I thought it looked amusing, so I treated myself to one in order to test it for you. It goes by several different names, but you should be able to find it easily on Chinese e-commerce sites.
Video Review
As usual, you'll find my video test here to see this little e-reader in action. Given the quirky nature of the device, the tone is pretty laid-back:
Everything is in this video, so no pictures in the rest of the article. (yeah, I know, but that seems to be the new way to go with e-readers reviews)
Presentation and Packaging
After browsing AliExpress for a few minutes, I ordered this mini e-reader, sold under the strange name "Portable Electric Book Reader Portable Electric Book Reader 2.7-inch E-Ink Screen Portable Electric Reader MP3 Bluetooth." About eight days later, a tiny package appeared in my mailbox.
First surprise: the box is absolutely tiny, and it only says "Audio Play" on it (which didn't bode well). I knew the machine could play MP3 audio files (more on that later), but I expected the eBook reading feature to at least be mentioned on the packaging.
Inside the box, you get the device, a small manual, and a USB-C cable.
My first impression? Shock! This thing is really small. It fits in your hand or your pocket, and I have to admit, I'm charmed by its minimalist design, which strongly recalls the best MP3 players of the early 2000s, when Apple dominated the market with the famous iPod. Back then, this device probably would've been a bestseller!
On the case, you'll find a power button, two volume buttons, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a microSD card slot.
Here comes the first disappointment: the device has no built-in storage. You must use a microSD card with MP3 files and eBooks for it to work. It does power on without a card, but you won't have access to any content. Honestly, adding just 4 or 8 GB of internal storage wouldn't have raised the production costs much.
So you'll need to format a microSD card to use it. I set it up with a 16GB card containing MP3s and eBooks. This is definitely something important to keep in mind before buying this device.
2.7-inch E Ink screen that is a lot of fun
Unsurprisingly, the screen is really tiny. With only 2.7 inches diagonally, there's not much room to display information.
And yet, it works surprisingly well.
Even better: the screen is touch-sensitive, and while I expected the interface to be a nightmare on such a small display, it's actually usable. There's also front lighting, so you can read in the dark.
The software offers a simple interface with a few options:
- eBook reading
- Music player
- Calendar
- Sound settings
- Brightness adjustment (5 levels)
- File explorer
- FM radio
- Calculator
- Bluetooth pairing (speaker/headphones)
- Settings (language, time/date, sleep timer, factory reset, etc.)
All in all, you can do quite a few things, but every feature is very limited. Still, the brightness levels, though few, are enough, and the interface can be set to French.
Despite the tiny screen, the display is surprisingly legible. Still, while the interface is neat, things get much clunkier with ebooks.
A small round button below the screen always takes you back to the previous menu ; very handy.
Reading ebooks: clunky, but possible
When I first received the device, I wondered why the eBook-reading function wasn't advertised on the box.
After using it, I understood: it's a very secondary feature.
The device only supports TXT files. That's right: no EPUB support.
You'll need to use Calibre to convert EPUB files into TXT. It's not difficult if you've done it before, but it's annoying.
Once you've got your TXT file, copy it to your microSD card, insert the card, and the device will scan for files. Then you can just tap the one you want to read.
The text displays fine on the E Ink screen, with a monospaced font reminiscent of an old typewriter. You turn pages by tapping the screen edges.
And... that's it.
No font options, no text size adjustment, no dictionary. There's a menu in the center that offers bookmarks and a strange auto-scroll option, but it only works after leaving and reopening the book. Amusing, but not really useful.
Another annoying flaw: words are often split at the end of lines or pages, making reading uncomfortable. I didn't find any way to fix or disable this.
So, while technically you can read eBooks, it's really more of a gimmick. I hesitate to even call this device an "e-reader."
Playing MP3 Files
The device also supports MP3 playback. Again, files must be on your microSD card. Once inserted, the player scans them for a playlist.
You can listen through the tiny built-in speaker (barely acceptable quality) or via the headphone jack. Don't expect to blast music at a party, but for quiet listening, it works.
There's also Bluetooth support for headphones or speakers.
Conclusion: a funny but pretty useless gadget if you want to read ebooks
This is clearly more of a quirky collector's item than a serious e-reader.
At $35 (at the time of writing), it's tempting, and I admit, showing it to friends always gets a reaction. But I can't recommend it for reading eBooks:
No EPUB support makes it frustrating.
The screen is just too small.
In fact, it's probably the worst e-reader I've ever tested—yes, even worse than the Woxter (which at least costs more). If you want a proper e-reader, check out the other devices I've reviewed on my site.
That said, as a tiny travel MP3 player for times when you don't want to bring a smartphone, it could be fun.
One last note: the battery life is poor, only lasting a few hours.
Pros:
- Cute, tiny gadget
- Works as a pocket MP3 player
- Affordable (about $35)
Cons:
- Terrible eBook reader (screen too small)
- No text customization options
- No EPUB support (TXT only)
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