- The Xteink X4 ereader has gone viral for its compact size
- It is 4.3 inches, weighs less than 80 grams and can be connected to Qi2-compatible smartphones
- It is the first non-Amazon reader to make the top 10 list
Amazon has been the reigning champion of the best readers, and its range of Kindle devices continues to dominate the market – but this viral mini-reader has taken social media and bookworms by storm.
Xteink X4 is the latest gadget that online users can’t get enough of and it’s all because of its compact size. Coming in at 4.3 inches and weighing 2.72 ounces (which is just under 78 grams), the Xteink X4 is small enough to fit comfortably in your pocket and can even be attached to Qi2-compatible smartphones such as newer iPhone models and Google Pixel phones.
Besides offering the features of a regular-sized ereader but in a compact form factor, its reasonable $70 price tag is another big selling point—a decent budget option compared to newer Kindle models, which can be an investment. But after its rise in popularity thanks to its online hype, it has become a new rival for Amazon’s own ereader brand, and that could ring alarm bells for the retailer.
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In a rare instance, the Xteink X4 has made its way into Amazon’s top 10 best-selling ereaders, making it the first non-Amazon device to make the list. It currently sits at number six, surpassing the Kindle Colorsoft and Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, the former of which 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 of a mixed bag, as Trusted Reviews puts it, with some owners highlighting that its software offerings can be quite basic. But even then, this isn’t a massive setback that will push potential owners away, and it still offers a suitably casual reading experience, which could be even more of a threat to Kindle devices – especially given Amazon’s recent Kindle forays.
Just a few weeks ago, Amazon announced that it would be pulling the plug on older devices despite their continued use, which frustrated users believe is a way for the company to get you to unnecessarily upgrade to a new, 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 to your device, but you will still have access to read content that has already been downloaded.
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