This Tiny E-Reader Is the Single Best Piece of Technology in Years
No matter how you read it, The Power Broker is a serious undertaking. The paperback weighs as much as a brick; to avoid lugging around all 1,344 pages, people have cut it apart at the spine and chunked it into sections. Others have organized in-person Power Broker marathon readings that run continuously for three full days. I decided to try something else.
TL;DR
- The Xteink X3 is a credit-card-sized e-reader that magnetically attaches to a smartphone.
- Its small size allows for reading in short bursts during commutes, waiting in lines, or during ads.
- The device has led to increased reading volume and a decrease in overall phone screen time for the user.
- It fosters an addictive reading habit, described as the 'TikTokification of reading,' offering a healthier alternative to social media.
- The X3 is a basic device lacking a touchscreen, color display, or backlight, with 'horrific' preloaded software.
- Despite its flaws, it has become a viral hit, with users customizing it and developing open-source firmware like Crosspoint.
- The Xteink X3 is seen as a desirable gadget in a market often filled with predictable, expensive, and less innovative technology.
- Products like the Xteink, often from China, are filling a gap in the market left by Silicon Valley, offering cheap, simple, and customizable options.