I'm Reading a 900-Page Novel on an E-Reader the Size of My Library Card, and It's Going Great
You know that feeling when you're trying to shove a paperback into a pocket that's just not big enough? Or maybe you've got a full-sized e-reader that, while slim, still feels like a mini-tablet you have to account for in your bag? I get it. I’ve always been a fan of portability, gravitating towards phone-sized e-readers like the Boox Palma 2. Last year, I even reviewed the Xteink X4, a wallet-sized e-reader that felt incredibly liberating. But then I met its even tinier sibling, the Xteink X3, and my definition of "portable" shifted entirely.
This little guy has a 3.7-inch screen, making it about the size of a credit card. When I showed it to my wife, she just rolled her eyes, convinced it was unusable. Yet, here I am, weeks later, comfortably devouring Larry McMurtry's 900-page Western epic, Lonesome Dove, on it. And honestly? It's going great. The X3 is so unobtrusive, I often forget I'm even carrying it. That slight size reduction from the X4 means it slips into any pocket effortlessly, and I haven't found the smaller screen size hinders my reading experience one bit.
Why Tiny Works (and What You Need to Know)
The Xteink X3 might seem like a novelty, but its crisp 250ppi display (even sharper than the X4's 220ppi) makes text surprisingly readable. Both devices run at 480x800 resolution, and while they're minuscule compared to a Kindle Paperwhite, I find them equally effective for reading in portrait mode. The X3 even improves on the X4's physical buttons, adding discreet up/down page-turn buttons on either side and moving the power button to a more sensible location.
However, a critical heads-up: these aren't your typical Kindle experience. You'll need DRM-free e-books or be willing to strip DRM from your existing files. This is non-negotiable for these no-frills devices.
The Essential Hack: CrossPoint Firmware
Here's the real productivity hack: the native software on both the Xteink X3 and X4 isn't great. We're talking two font choices, no images, no bold or italics. But don't let that deter you! A thriving online community has created CrossPoint firmware, and installing it is a total game-changer – and incredibly easy.
Just plug your device into your computer, visit the dedicated CrossPoint flashing site (xteink.dve.al for X4, x3.crosspointreader.com for X3), hit "Flash CrossPoint firmware," and you're done. This custom firmware unlocks a world of features:
- Custom fonts
- Adjustable margins and styling
- Custom lock screen wallpapers
- Button remapping
- Sleep timers and automated page turns
- Sync with KOreader
- Even fun "forks" that add things like a virtual Tamagotchi chicken!
CrossPoint transforms these budget e-readers into highly personalized, powerful reading machines.
Getting Your Hands On One
While the Xteink X4 is available on Amazon for around $69, the even smaller X3 typically costs a bit more at $79.03, available directly from Xteink. You can often find both on AliExpress for even less, though they might ship with Chinese firmware (which, again, you'll be flashing CrossPoint over anyway!).
If you're looking for the ultimate in portable, distraction-free reading, and you don't mind a little tinkering, the Xteink X3 (or X4) with CrossPoint is a surprisingly powerful combo. It proves that sometimes, smaller truly is better.