Xteink e-reader review: I think book lovers should skip it

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As Mashable’s go-to BookTok, Kindle, and e-reader expert, it’s my job to vet new products and know what’s a gimmick and what’s actually worth your money. The Xteink X4 e-reader is a mini e-reader that supposedly fits on the back of your phone. It’s a solid idea: a mini Kindle you can slap on like a PopSocket and keep in your pocket. I’ve seen lots of people online excited about using the device as a companion to their Kindle.

But the Xteink X4 is not going to be my new Kindle companion. It may be trendy, but after trying the company’s e-readers for myself, I was left with one question: “What am I missing?”

I tested the Xteink X4 e-reader, read all the rave reviews about it, and downloaded firmware to make the user interface smoother, but I just don’t think the Xteink X4 e-reader is worth your money. It’s not because of its design or performance, both of which I think are solid. The device’s limited file support is what holds it back.

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I read on a Kindle Paperwhite, and the books I consume are either borrowed from Libby, purchased in the Kindle Store, or advanced copies downloaded from NetGalley. None of those file types works on the Xteink X4 e-reader. To enjoy the Xteink X4 e-reader to its fullest potential, you need to be someone who exclusively reads DRM-free EPUB files.

Since I don’t think that’s most people, the Xteink X4 e-reader isn’t going to work for most people. But I don’t blame Xteink for its impracticality; instead, it’s a symptom of the current state of e-books.

The issue of DRM-protected files

You’ll be primarily reading the classics on the Xteink X4.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The main issue with the Xteink X4 e-reader is its file support. All Xteink e-readers support EPUB files, but only DRM-free ones. DRM-free EPUB files are hard to come by, as virtually all e-books are sold as DRM-protected files. That means books you purchase in the Kindle or Kobo stores will not be compatible with the Xteink X4. Even books borrowed through Libby are DRM-protected.

This greatly limits the books you can read on the Xteink X4, but I don’t totally find the Xteink at fault here. E-reader users are faced with the dilemma that any book they purchase is limited to the device on which they buy it. No longer do you have the freedom to buy an e-book and read it on any device you’d like.

Amazon used to allow users to download the books in their library to a computer, which savvy users would then decrypt of their DRM (although this is considered piracy). However, Amazon took away that feature in February 2025. There is some hope, as Amazon now provides the option for DRM-free files, but publishers must opt in.

So if you want to read on the Xteink X4 e-reader, you’ll have to seek out DRM-free EPUB files, which are pretty limited and mostly include classics in the public domain.

What could Xteink do to improve its device? Make it an Android.

For a simplified user interface, I downloaded the CrossPoint firmware to the Xteink X4 e-reader.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Beyond the issue of what you can read on the Xteink X4 e-reader, I do like the idea of it. It’s much slower and has a lower resolution than most e-readers, but I do think the device is well-designed overall. It doesn’t quite fit on the back of all iPhones (the smaller X3 will), but it is the smallest e-reader I’ve tested that comfortably fits in my pocket. It also has incredible battery life, as I barely needed to charge it while using it.

So, how could the Xteink X4 actually be a practical e-reader for most people? Since I don’t think DRM-protected files are going anywhere, the best solution is for Xteink e-readers to run on Android, like Boox e-readers. This would provide Google Play Store support, so you could access Kindle and Libby on the device.

It doesn’t seem as if that will be happening soon, even as demand for a tiny e-reader increases. Boox has teased its Picco e-reader, but even that won’t be an Android device, instead operating on a Linux system.

If you want a pocket-sized e-reader to read all the books you have on your Kindle, for now, that’s just going to be your smartphone. Maybe the new iPhone Duo will be a viable option for you? Too bad it costs $1,999.