I got an X4 (slightly larger model) less than 2 months ago and I already finished 9 books on it. It is always in my pocket and I started reaching for it instead of my phone during tiny moments of boredom. Sometimes it's just a few paragraphs when I'm waiting for a train, but it is also surprisingly good for longer reading sessions.

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yoavm 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Same experience with the X4 Pro. Can wholeheartedly recommend. It feels like reading became much more accessible to me all of a sudden.

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trymas 2 hours ago | parent [-]

It's so sad that X4 Pro does not have USB-C.

They have added backlight, but still left charging/connecting to proprietary magnetic adapter.

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embedding-shape an hour ago | parent | next [-]

> It's so sad that X4 Pro does not have USB-C.

Yeah, the connector they've made is absolutely bananas, wonder what they were thinking? Was there a 3rd-party docking ecosystem they were expecting to be spawned by this, or something? The magnetic connector by itself makes no sense, unless I severely misunderstand how it's supposed to be used in practice.

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bonsai_spool an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

> proprietary magnetic adapter

They're supposedly not proprietary but a standard size that's easily replaced.

	▲	criddell 25 minutes ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Any guesses why they went with that connector rather than USB C?
	▲	trymas 38 minutes ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Ok, though still obscure. I don’t want to looking where to order it when it’s lost or broken.

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TwoFerMaggie 30 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

The portability is such a game changer compared to the usual kindle-like devices. Compared to my kindle which I have to put in my backpack or only when I have big coat pockets in the winter, this can be put in my pocket and taken everywhere.

I wish they have a magsafe case with 1-2 card holder slots, then it would just be a perfect wallet replacement.

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fg137 18 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I have an X4 as well, but shamefully I have to admit I find myself browsing HN much more than reading on X4, despite being a reader of physical books and kindle

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hn_submit an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I bought a 6 inch model for $60 (it's now double the price) from another brand a couple months ago and I love it. A 4 inch screen is just too small IMHO.

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darreninthenet an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

I was thinking of getting one for exactly the use case you've described here but then I thought, "why don't I just get my phone out and read the ebooks directly on that?"

Can you explain to me why one of these is better for this please?

	▲	OliveMate an hour ago \| parent \| next [-]
		It's hard to explain to someone who hasn't used an e-reader, but e-paper screens just look more natural, they also don't require a backlight so they can be easier on the eyes. Combined with a matt display, you can comfortably use them in direct sunlight without having to faff about with brightness or finding shade. Also e-readers have way less distractions than a phone.
	▲	tough an hour ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		A phone is a gateway to much more than just reading books, so your brain might prefer it. Also notifications etc
	▲	embedding-shape an hour ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Personally I much prefer e-ink when I read for more than 10 minutes or so. The LED light from my phone just makes my eyes tired, while e-ink + "backlight" (guess it's really "kind of from the front light" in reality) just feels like reading normal paper. The font rendering in the official firmware isn't that great though, especially compared to even a old phone screen. I had much better text rendering with 3rd party firmware.