This tiny, magnetic e-reader might cease you from doomscrolling

It was love at first sight. It felt like scouring the mall, dipping out and in of sprawling department shops seeking a particular, elusive merchandise, solely to lastly discover what you’re on the lookout for. Solely, I didn’t even know I used to be looking for one thing just like the Xteink X3as a result of I by no means dared dream of one thing so pleasant: a tiny, MagSafe-compatible e-ink reader that might connect to my iPhone like a Pop Socket.

This was it. My life would change endlessly. I might get my palms on the Xteink X3, and I might cease doomscrolling endlessly. I might learn extra books than ever earlier than… which is saying one thing, since – brag – I learn a minimum of 50 books a yr. However – not a brag – I most likely spend much more time on social media than I do studying. I do know that I really feel usually much less anxious after I restrict my social media time, however alas, the siren tune of TikTok beckons me. What if as an alternative of opening social media, I might simply flip my cellphone over and skim on a tiny, Kindle-like e-ink display? May this $80 gadget repair me?

I’ve tried studying books (… or downloads from AO3) on my cellphone, immersing myself in a fictional world, slightly than posts from the president by which he threatens to obliterate an entire country. However one thing about taking a look at my cellphone, the place I’m continually tempted to open Instagram to see no matter Reel somebody despatched me, doesn’t fairly soothe me the way in which {that a} e-book or an e-ink machine like a Kindle does.

I used to be so excited for my X3 to reach that I continually refreshed the monitoring hyperlink till lastly, it was delivered. Although I had meticulously in contrast the size of the X3 to my iPhone 16, or my Pop Socket pockets, I nonetheless frightened it may not match – the earlier mannequin, the Xteink X4 (principally the identical machine however slightly larger) solely match on bigger telephones just like the iPhone Professional Max line. However positive sufficient, the X3 magnetically connected to the again of my cellphone prefer it was custom-made to suit.

My X3 got here within the mail about two hours earlier than I needed to depart to go to a Phillies sport, so I rushed to load books onto it, as a result of I believed it will be actually humorous to take photographs by which I learn “The Energy Dealer” in a crowded baseball stadium. Behold, my handiwork:

For the primary a number of days that I had the X3, I carried it with me on the again of my cellphone. This made me a bit nervous, although, since I’m used to having a Pop Socket pockets, which suggests I’ve gotten within the behavior of leaving residence with out my precise pockets. However I discovered that I used the X3 simply as a lot after I carried it in my purse or pocket, slightly than attaching it to my cellphone. I’m nonetheless unsure if I’ll maintain this setup, or if I’ll begin really utilizing an actual pockets in order that I can connect the ereader, however for now, that’s what has felt most pure. Plus, my X3 shipped with a really compact, cute, magnetic case, which completely protects the machine and its display and makes it slightly simpler to carry. At simply $9 for the case, I’d advocate getting one. The case may also magnetize to your cellphone, although it feels a bit much less safe than attaching your X3 alone.

Over my two weeks of testing, I did discover that the X3 helped me learn extra. For those who’re in line at a espresso store, or ready for the bus, you’ll be able to simply pull out the ereader as an alternative of opening Instagram. I didn’t discover the small display troublesome to learn on, both. However simply shopping for the machine received’t change your habits – you need to bear in mind that you’ve got a 3.7 inch display in your pocket that may match a whole bunch of books.

The Xteink X3 is fairly near being the machine of my desires, nevertheless it’s not fairly there but. The firmware that the machine comes with is fairly clunky – not unusable, however not precisely intuitive. I anticipated this, because the Xteink Reddit neighborhood was buzzing about CrossPointa community-made, free, open supply firmware. The method of downloading CrossPoint was a bit intimidating as somebody who writes phrases, slightly than code – however with the directions on CrossPoint’s web site (and some movies), it was simple sufficient. I encountered some difficulties at first, however then I spotted it was as a result of I used to be attempting to obtain the X4 firmware onto my X3, so… my unhealthy. You most likely received’t even want the YouTube movies!

Once you begin loading books and open supply firmware onto your X3, you’ll discover one other divisive facet of the machine: it doesn’t have a USB-C port, in contrast to the X4. As a substitute, it makes use of a magnetic charger. Sure, it’s annoying to have yet one more charging cable particularly for this one machine, however I don’t care that a lot. After two weeks of constant use, my X3 has dropped from a 100% cost to a 96% cost, so I can’t think about I’ll be utilizing that magnetic charger too typically. You don’t even want the twine so as to add new books to your ereader – you’ll be able to switch recordsdata over Wi-Fi out of your cellphone or laptop (I wouldn’t name the method user-friendly, however I used to be capable of determine it out with out Googling something).

Talking of loading books, that’s one other disadvantage. The vast majority of what I learn on my Kindle comes from Libby, which is my favourite app (#notsponsored). The Libby app permits you to simply borrow ebooks or audiobooks out of your library and ship them to your Kindle. However you’ll be able to’t get these ebooks (legally) onto an Xteink ereader, since libraries use protected variations of .epub recordsdata that deter customers from copying them (you can also’t learn books you purchase from Amazon’s e book retailer on non-Amazon units, as a result of capitalism). This lack of compatibility is a disadvantage, nevertheless it additionally makes the machine really feel distinctive – it’s a “dumb” machine that has no apps and no contact display, which feels startlingly refreshing in an period of AI-enabled fridges.

It’s not arduous to seek out fascinating .epub recordsdata to load onto the X3, even if you happen to can’t entry your Kindle library or Libby. A variety of nice books are within the public area, which implies that they’re not topic to copyright and will be downloaded at no cost (I’ve weirdly by no means learn “Satisfaction and Prejudice,” so the time is now). A number of months in the past, I purchased your complete .epub catalogs of sci-fi writers Charlie Jane Anders and Annalee Newitz as a part of a charity fundraiser, which ought to maintain me busy for fairly a bit. For those who needed to, you could possibly even flip on-line articles or blogs into .epubs utilizing a free program like Calibre.

So, did the Xteink X3 repair me? Am I now a newly reformed lady who has a wholesome relationship with social media and has learn a bunch of traditional novels that I by no means learn as an English main, since I principally took courses with ridiculous titles like “Aestheticus Extremus: The Politics of Precarious Invention in North American Poetry and Poetics”? It’s not that straightforward. However if you happen to meet the X3 midway and make a concerted effort to make use of it, then perhaps you’ll spare your self from a bit extra brainrot.