I tested this e-reader for 3 months — can it replace my Kindle?

The beauty of reading, for me, has always been the physical act — turning a page, folding a dog ear to mark my spot or slipping off a hardcover's dust jacket. But while I love physical books, I can't deny the convenience of an e-reader.
I've owned several versions of the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite over the last five or six years. It's a great device, but I always dreamed of something more flexible — something not so tethered to the Amazon ecosystem. That's what drew me to the Onyx Boox Palma 2.
I tested the Boox Palma 2 for over three months, using it to read books, flip through manga, listen to podcasts and even scan documents. Picture an e-ink display packed into a smartphone-sized body — that's the Palma 2. Here's everything you should know before switching to this e-reader.
What is the Boox Palma 2?
Onyx Boox Palma 2
The Boox Palma 2 is far more than a traditional e-reader. It can browse the web, play music and podcasts, and download any app available in the Google Play Store — making it less of a dedicated e-reader and more of a distraction-free smart device. It's also roughly the size of an iPhone 16 Pro Max, compact enough to fit in the palm of your hand.
The Palma 2 is versatile and easy to use. I could read through multiple books and comics because of how comfortable it felt in my hand. My Kindle, while lightweight, could often feel cumbersome to hold for longer reading sessions; the Palma 2 alleviated that issue — it weighs only six ounces. The battery life was also excellent. I could get anywhere from one to two weeks between charges during my testing. You can also pair the Boox Palma to a keyboard and type up notes.
If you want a device that can pull double duty as a semi-smart phone without distracting notifications or constant alerts, you will see the beauty of the Palma 2 design.
How I tried the Boox Palma 2
Boox sent me the Palma 2 to test, and I used it extensively for three months. I read multiple books, streamed music and podcasts and explored its full app functionality. I used it alongside my Kindle Paperwhite to compare refresh rates, UI smoothness and battery performance.
My experience with the Boox Palma 2
What I like
Display and reading experience
The Palma 2's e-ink screen is crisp and clear — especially noticeable when reading visually rich content like comics or manga. I loved being able to switch between Libby, the Kindle app and even uploaded PDF and EPUB files. The device is format-agnostic, which means you're not locked into one ecosystem — a huge plus over most e-readers.
Portability and design
What sets the Palma 2 apart is its portability. It's about the size of a phone, weighs just six ounces, and easily fits into your back pocket or jacket. While the Kindle is also lightweight, the Palma's slim form factor and added functionality make it feel more practical for daily use.
The Palma 2 also includes a fingerprint sensor and customizable side buttons. I programmed mine to quickly launch my notes app or open a web browser — features you won't find on a Kindle or Kobo.
Audio and connectivity
The Palma 2 has built-in Bluetooth, so connecting headphones was a breeze. I listened to Spotify, Audible, and podcasts without any issues. I also connected a Bluetooth keyboard for note-taking — the pairing process was seamless.
Battery life
I was consistently impressed by the battery. I could go one to two weeks without needing a charge, even while streaming music and reading daily. Compared to my Kindle, it held its own — and it even helped conserve my phone's battery since I used it instead of doom-scrolling.
Apps and Android flexibility
Because the Palma 2 runs on Android, you can download any app from the Play Store — including Gmail, TikTok (yes, I tried it), Google Docs and more. After I had a device filled with my favorite productivity and reading apps, it essentially helped me replace my smartphone — it was basically a distraction-free phone.
Potential drawbacks to keep in mind
The Palma 2's $280 price tag is steep and arguably its biggest downside. While it's packed with features, it's more expensive than a standard Kindle or Kobo. If you value flexibility and portability, then it's worth it.
The device's plastic body also feels flimsy compared to the Kindle Paperwhite, which has a more premium, sturdy build. That said, this didn't significantly affect my overall experience — the trade-off is its featherlight design.
Who is the Boox Palma 2 for?
If the idea of a smaller smartphone-sized e-reader that does more than just display books interests you, the Boox Palma 2 will immediately become appealing to you. The Boox Palma 2 can't replace my love for paperback books, but I must admit this is one of the most enjoyable e-readers on the market.
Why trust NBC Select?
I am an editor at NBC Select who writes and edits stories on various topics including tech, fitness, home and more. I have covered major shopping holidays and other events for over five years. For this article, I tested the Boox Palma 2 for months alongside the Amazon Kinlde Paperwhite.

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NBC News

11-06-2025

• NBC News

Deal of the Day: Amazon Kindle Scribe is at its lowest price ever

Unsurprisingly, Amazon makes some of our favorite e-readers — many NBC Select staffers swear by their Kindle Paperwhite. But if you want that pen-and-paper feel, your best bet is the latest Amazon Kindle Scribe, which is at its lowest price ever right now ahead of Father's Day. Amazon Kindle Scribe deal 4.2-star average rating from 785 reviews on Amazon The Amazon Kindle Scribe is a larger, 10.2-inch ereader and digital notebook. It has a stylus to write or draw in books, notes and documents. You can also use it as a journal, and convert handwritten notes to text and send them to your email address if needed. Like other Kindle devices, the Kindle Scribe has a matte, almost glare-free screen that you can adjust to your liking, including adapting to warm tones for more comfortable nighttime reading. It can sync with your Amazon Kindle and Audible accounts to download your favorite ebooks and audiobooks. Like other Kindle models, the Kindle Scribe gets up to 12 weeks of battery life, but unlike other models, it is not waterproof. You can learn about our experience using the previous 2022 model in our Amazon Kindle Scribe review. Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter. Why trust NBC Select? I'm a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including recent stories on smartwatches, headphones, cameras and more. For this piece, I checked Amazon Kindle Scribe prices across multiple retailers to find the best deal. Catch up on NBC Select's in-depth coverage of tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.

Telegraph

10-06-2025

• Telegraph

When is Amazon Prime Day 2025 and what will the best deals be?

The Amazon Prime Day sale is nearly here. In previous years, it has taken place on a Tuesday and Wednesday in the middle of July, which would suggest that Prime Day 2025 will be on July 8-9, July 15-16 or possibly July 22-23. We will know very soon. This could be a good time to make your next big purchase. The best Amazon Prime Day deals are invariably on Amazon's own products such as Echo Dot speakers, Kindle e-Readers, Fire TVs and Ring video doorbells. But past years have also seen considerable discounts on electric toothbrushes, clothes steamers and some of the most sought-after headphones, including Apple Airpods. Below, you can read our predictions for the best deals to expect on Amazon Prime Day this year, based on previous sales events. Many of our top-rated products are discounted in these events. First though, here are the answers to some common questions. When is Amazon Prime Day 2025 in the UK? It will be in the middle of July, starting at midnight on a Tuesday and lasting for 48 hours. We expect Amazon to reveal the exact date very soon. Do I need to be an Amazon Prime member to get Prime Day deals in the UK? Yes, only subscribers to Amazon Prime will get the Prime Day discounts. Happily, that includes free trial members, who can benefit from 30 days' Prime membership before having to pay the standard £8.99 a month or £95 a year. Prime for students is half the price and free for the first six months. You have to prove you are enrolled on a course. With an Amazon Prime subscription you get unlimited premium delivery and access to Prime Video, Prime Music, Prime Reading and other benefits including lightning deals. Read our Amazon Prime review to find out more. Is Amazon Prime Day only once a year? No, there are two Prime Day sale events. The first is in mid-July and the second, sometimes called Prime Big Deals Day, is in mid-October. How can I find the best deals? The best way is to bookmark this page, which is constantly updated with the best genuine deals. If you know what you want to buy, you could make a wish list on Amazon or at a site such as Pricerunner which can alert you when prices drop. Read my guide to finding the best deals for more tips. Are Prime Day deals genuinely good value? Prices are inflated beforehand in many cases, so it's important to check using a pricetracker such as CamelCamelCamel or Keepa. These will show you the price history of any product on Amazon. We only recommend deals if they are genuinely at their lowest price. Claimed discounts of 50 per cent or more are usually not what they seem: the actual discount is often less than five per cent. Anything over 10 per cent off the real average price is genuinely good value. Can I return items I buy on Amazon Prime Day? Yes, items bought on Prime Day have the same returns policy as on any other day of the year. Amazon allows returns within 30 days of receipt if the goods are in an unused and undamaged condition, with a few exceptions. Some people think they can buy a discounted item on Prime Day and return it for a refund after the price has gone back up, making a profit. This doesn't work. You will only be refunded what you paid. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Amazon never sees Telegraph Recommended articles before publication and we don't accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews, nor do we allow Amazon to pay for placement in our articles. We do extensive research and use price-tracking tools to find the best deals, which are all reviewed by our in-house team of consumer journalists before publication. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. What will go on sale this Prime Day? This is never known ahead of time, but we can make reasonable predictions based on past Amazon sale events. Here's a selection of Telegraph Recommended-approved products which saw genuine discounts in Amazon's Spring Deal Days in March. 1. Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet Current price: £69.99 Average price over last six months: £80 Price in the March 2025 Amazon Spring Sale: £54.99 Best budget tablet The Fire HD 8 launched last year as a lower-cost option in Amazon's own tablet range. In March's sale it dropped to £55, which is £25 less than usual. The Fire HD 8 doesn't have the most high-end spec, but this tablet was still good enough to score 7/10 in our recent review. It's lightweight, has decent battery life, and helps keep you connected with your chosen streaming, social media and communication apps, and was named the best budget tablet in our best tablets roundup. 2. Amazon Fire TV Stick HD (newest gen) Current price: £39.99 Average price over last six months: £37 Price in the March Amazon Spring Sale: £24.99 Amazon's latest basic streamer This is the newest version of Amazon's streaming stick for non-4K TVs, and has key services such as Netflix, Prime Video, BBC iPlayer and Disney Plus streaming in an aesthetically updated package. In our review of the Fire Stick HD, the device's exceptional voice commands, setup process and streaming services contributed to an impressive overall score of 8/10. Usually, one of these smart little sticks would set you back about £37 but you could pick one up for £25 in the Spring Deals sale. We expect to see similar discounts for Prime Day. 3. Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) Current price: £469 Average price over last six months: £448 Price in the March 2025 Amazon Spring Sale: £429 Best compact tablet Apple's devices don't often see discounts so when one appears, even just a small one, it's worth considering. The iPad mini (A17 Pro) is the latest compact tablet from Apple, usually sold for about £450. It dropped to £430 in Amazon's last sale event. We picked it as the best tablet for everyday use in our guide to the best tablets. In her iPad mini (A17 Pro) review, Britta O'Boyle said: 'There's a lovely, lightweight design, a bright and vibrant display and swish performance. The iPad mini (A17 Pro) is a superb compact tablet that's perfect for everyday use and very portable.' 4. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Current price: £1,048.95 Average price over last six months: £980 Price in the March 2025 Amazon Spring Sale: £849 Best folding phone The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 was reduced to £849 in the March sale, which was a saving of 16 per cent on the usual price. We saw the same discount in last November's Black Friday sales. It's our top pick for the best folding phone in our best smartphones guide, offering fast performance and an improved battery life. Reviewer Rob Waugh said: 'Samsung finally hit the sweet spot for folding phones with the Z Flip 5, after almost a decade of showing off foldable screens at tech shows followed by four generations of handsets, and the new Flip 6 builds on the considerable strengths of its predecessor.' He mentions cost as a drawback, but with this deal, it's certainly less of one. The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids is our overall top pick of the best tablets for kids. It's already reduced but in the March sale the price dropped to its lowest ever at £69.99, compared to the usual £114. It has a great battery life and the price includes a two-year, worry-free guarantee where Amazon will replace it if it breaks. Reviewer Britta O'Boyle described the parental controls on the device as excellent, as the Amazon parent dashboard enables you to ensure children can only access age-appropriate content. She also said the dashboard lets you monitor screen time, approve app requests and block websites remotely from your phone, and she praised the included robust case with its built-in stand too. Amazon's entry-level Kindle dropped from £95 to £80 for Black Friday and again in the March sale. A similar hefty discount for Prime Day looks very likely. The Amazon Kindle delivers a superb reading experience, with access to an expansive library of e-books. It offers an incredibly portable design too, allowing you to catch up on your latest read whether you're on a sun lounger or squashed onto a packed tube. Reviewer Alan Martin said: 'While the costlier Paperwhite tops our list of the best Kindles, the Kindle 2024 offers 90 per cent of the features and that will be sufficient for most readers.' Awarded Best Buy in our guide to the best noise-cancelling headphones, the Sony WH1000XM4 dropped to £178 in the March sale and in the past have been available for as little as £175, a good price for such an excellent pair of cans. They are not the brand's newest headphones. The current M6 version has additional noise-cancelling features, but these still have over 30 hours of battery with noise-cancelling turned on and they deliver a superb mix of performance and price. Reviewer Rob Waugh said: 'In the under-£200 bracket, these are undisputed sound quality champions, with breathtakingly realistic music where the vocals sound like you're in the room with the person.' Our favourite smart alarm clock, the Echo Spot dropped to £55 in the March sale and has been known to drop to £45. Perfect for a bedside table, the Echo Spot has a display to show you the time and other important information, like the weather. It also has built-in Alexa, allowing you to perform various functions from controlling your smart home devices to playing your favourite music or podcasts, and the design is small and compact so it doesn't attract too much unwanted attention. In our Echo Spot review, Alan Martin said it was a 'charming little smart speaker' with the 'sound quality good enough for the bedroom and Alexa a helpful assistant'. Ahead of the sale, Amazon has already dropped the price of its own Fire TV by about £30 but you might be advised to hold off until Prime Day before buying. What do we think of the Amazon Fire TV? In our round-up of the best 4K TVs our television expert, Chris Hall, called it the best smart 4K TV, with its Alexa voice assistant integration and breadth of apps. Screen quality is superb for the price, too, with the TV adapting to the light levels in your room and tweaking the picture accordingly. If you're looking to improve your home security you can do a lot worse than the Ring Video Doorbell Pro. Loaded to the hilt with useful features, the Video Doorbell Pro is the only Ring camera with head-to-toe imaging, ideal for identifying packages left on your doorstep. It's currently more expensive than usual, so wait for the (probable) hefty Prime Day discount before buying. In our review of the best video doorbells, our reviewer Kulwinder Rai found that the fisheye camera offered plenty of detail and was particularly impressed with the Colour Night Vision, allowing him to identify nearby car number plates even in low light. Prime Day could be a smart time to pick up a previous-generation flagship smartphone for less. Samsung's Galaxy S24 has since been replaced by the Galazy S25 Ultra, but the differences were not huge. If you can pick last year's model up for the £660 we saw in the March sale, you will save a fortune. You get the same set of Galaxy AI tricks, including the ability to remove unwanted objects from the background of your pictures with just a tap and instant translations during calls. The display is immaculate, too, with true-to-life colour accuracy and a high level of brightness. Apple's top-of-the-range iPhone is already back down to its Spring Sale price. At just five per cent off, this doesn't meet our usual 10 per cent threshold, but keep an eye out: there's a small chance it could dip further on Prime Day. Even if not, a £25 discount is better than none. The iPhone 16 is undoubtedly expensive, but worth the outlay. You can read all about why our reviewer Britta O'Boyle rates it (including for its cameras and fast performance) in our best iPhone guide. Best predicted home deals 13. Hoover HL5 Current price: £269 Average price over last six months: £225 Price in the March 2025 Amazon Spring Sale: £149 Best lift-away vacuum for pet hair As any pet owner knows, it takes a special kind of vacuum cleaner to gracefully gather animal hairs, especially if you have a long-haired cat or dog. One of the best you can get is the Hoover HL5 Pets, which we consider one of the top vacuum cleaners for pet hair, earning a score of 9/10 during our hands-on testing. We regard this model as the best lift-away vacuum cleaner for pet hair, thanks especially to its impressive suction. The cleaner's HEPA 13 filter will help prep a feline-owning home for visitors who are allergic to cats, too. It was discounted by over £75 in Amazon's spring sale, so should be worth keeping a very close eye on. 14. GTech AirRAM MK2 K9 Current price: £260 Average price over last six months: £238 Price in the March 2025 Amazon Spring Sale: £183.99 Best pet vacuum cleaner for older users The GTech AirRAM dropped to £184 in the March sale, its lowest price ever. It's our top pick for older users in our best pet vacuum cleaners guide thanks to its lightweight build and ease of use. When Simon Lewis reviewed it, he said: 'Although the AirRAM K9 is far less powerful than the other vacuums we tried, the suction is actually pretty great. The large, rectangular head leaves clear, broad stripes where it's been, like a proper floor cleaner should.' 15. Philips 5000 Series 9L NA555/09 Dual Basket Steam Air Fryer Current price: £249.99 Average price over last six months: £211 Price in the March 2025 Amazon Spring Sale: £169.99 Best dual air fryer for steaming The Philips 5000 Series 9L NA555/09 Dual Basket Steam Air Fryer dipped to a record low £169.99 in the March sale, which is a saving of £40 on the average price. When we reviewed it for our best air fryer guide, we loved the steam function and the option to cook both frozen and fresh fries. Reviewer Rebecca Shepherd said the Philips 5000 Series air fried food brilliantly and 'each test resulted in dishes that were golden brown, deliciously crisp and nowhere near dry'. Our Best Buy in our best bean-to-cup coffee machine guide dropped to its lowest ever price in the Spring event, about £150 less than it's currently on sale for. It offers a fantastic range of coffee options, is very easy to use and has a compact footprint. Reviewer Anna Tobin said in her De'Longhi Rivelia Automatic review: 'When tested against other bean-to-cup coffee machines the De'Longhi Rivelia came out as our favourite overall because it produces several different types of great-tasting coffee and it's super simple to operate and pretty easy to keep clean'. 17. Panda Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow Current price: £44.95 Average price over last six months: £44 Price in the March 2025 Amazon Spring Sale: £38 Best memory foam pillow We tend not to see many sleep deals worth shouting about in Amazon events, but the March sale saw a few pounds off our favourite memory foam pillow from our round-up of the best pillows for a good night's sleep. And given you can't put a price on a full eight hours, we'll take the savings where we can. Despite apprehensive first impressions (it's a lot flatter than a traditional pillow), our reviewer Abigail Buchanan was soon won over once she started sleeping on it. She was impressed with its breathability, and said: 'It is supremely supportive and comfortable once you lie down, and the hypoallergenic bamboo pillow cover is very soft to the touch.' 18. Cuisinart One Cup Grind And Brew Coffee Machine Current price: £148.48 Average price over last six months: £141 Price in the March 2025 Amazon Spring Sale: £107.98 Best budget coffee machine The current price is higher than average for this compact bean-to-cup machine, which is a good indication that a price drop is on the horizon. The March sale saw it slashed by £33. Our coffee expert Silvana Franco was impressed with this affordable machine, naming it the best budget-friendly option in her best coffee machines review round-up. It's not going to give you barista-quality coffee or fancy features such as grind size adjustment, but what you do get is an easy way to make classic, filter-style black coffee at home. 19. Breville Iced Coffee Maker Current price: £32.99 Average price over last six months: £31 Price in the March 2025 Amazon Spring Sale: £24.99 Best iced coffee maker We named this model the best iced coffee maker in our test of the best coffee machines. You use it pretty much like a filter coffee maker, and place a cup with ice beneath the coffee as it pours out (possibly squirting in a syrup for added flavour), and is an easy-to-use budget-friendly option. It's never expensive, but was reduced by 20 per cent in the March sale, which is about as good a genuine discount as you can get in Amazon sales. The March discount on the Bissell Revolution HydroSteam brought the top-performing product from our best carpet cleaners round-up down to its lowest price ever, at £299. Bissell's carpet cleaner is equipped with innovative steam cleaning tech that impressed our reviewer Kulwinder Rai. 'This machine categorically outperforms every other consumer-grade wet carpet cleaner I've tested, which is no mean feat,' he said. 'Even deeply embedded, dried-in blood and wine stains succumbed to its ministrations, once given a couple of passes of pure steam pre-treatment.' Best predicted fitness and beauty deals 21. Panasonic ES-EY90-A511 Wet and Dry Epilator Current price: £135 Average price over last six months: £125 Price in the March 2025 Amazon Spring Sale: £99.99 Best epilator overall The Panasonic ES-EY90-A511 Wet and Dry Epilator was crowned Best Buy in our best epilator guide and saw a very decent discount of £25 in the Spring sale. Reviewer Annabel Fenwick Elliott said: 'What a fantastic piece of kit. Not only was this the most efficient model for epilation, thanks to its somewhat-scary looking, combine harvester-esque double-row of tweezer discs, it also comes with an impressive array of extra accessories – including, most importantly, a small head that you can use on areas like the chin. This also makes it the best epilator for the face, and even toes.' We named the Waterpik Cordless Advanced Water Flosser the Best Buy in our best water flosser guide, so we were thrilled to see it reduced to £70 both on Black Friday and in the Amazon Spring sale. It's simple to use, packs away neatly and it offers three intensity modes. Reviewer Rebecca Astill said she thought this water flosser was 'almost perfect' when she reviewed it. 'I'd recommend starting out on the low mode as water flossing is quite a strange sensation if you haven't tried it before. I've built my way up and now favour the high mode and I've really noticed a difference in my gum line and overall mouth health,' she added. Similar to the far more expensive Oral-B iO10 but costing much less, the iO3 has a handy brush head replacement reminder and a built-in pressure sensor, with the toothbrush flashing either red or green depending on how hard you might be pressing when brushing. Our reviewer, Rebecca Astill, said: 'The surprisingly quiet sonic vibrations do provide a thorough clean of the mouth, reaching all the hard to reach corners and crevices.' It's already reduced by £44 from its fairly steep average price, but we predict the price on Prime Day could fall even lower, as it did in the Spring sale.

NBC News

29-05-2025

• NBC News

Amazon taps Xbox cofounder to lead new team developing 'breakthrough' consumer products

Amazon 's devices unit has a new team tasked with inventing 'breakthrough' consumer products that's being led by a former Microsoft executive who helped create the Xbox. The ZeroOne team is spread across Seattle, San Francisco and Sunnyvale, California, and is focused on both hardware and software projects, according to job postings from the past month. The name is a nod to its mission of developing emerging product ideas from conception to launch, or 'zero to one.' Amazon has a checkered history in hardware, with hits including the Kindle e-reader, Echo smart speaker and Fire streaming sticks, as well as flops like the Fire Phone, Halo fitness tracker and Glow kids teleconferencing device. Many of the products emerged from Lab126, Amazon's hardware research and development unit, which is based in Silicon Valley. The new group is being led by J Allard, who spent 19 years at Microsoft, most recently as technology chief of consumer products, a role he left in 2010, according to his LinkedIn profile. He was a key architect of the Xbox game console, as well as the Zune, a failed iPod competitor. Allard joined Amazon in September, and the company confirmed at the time that he would be part of the devices and services team under Panos Panay, who left Microsoft for Amazon in 2023 to lead the group. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed Allard oversees ZeroOne but declined to comment further on the group's work. The job postings provide few specific details about what ZeroOne is building, though one listing references working on 'conceiving, designing, and bringing to market computer vision techniques for a new smart-home product.' Another post for a senior customer insights manager in San Francisco says the job entails owning 'the methodology and execution of concept testing and early feedback for ZeroOne programs.' 'You'll be part of a team that embraces design thinking, rapid experimentation, and building to learn,' the description says. 'If you're excited about working in small, nimble teams to create entirely new product categories and thrive in the ambiguity of breakthrough innovation, we want to talk to you.' Amazon has pulled in staffers from other business units that have experience developing innovative technologies, including its Alexa voice assistant, Luna cloud gaming service and Halo sleep tracker, according to Linkedin profiles of ZeroOne employees. The head of a projection mapping startup called Lightform that Amazon acquired is helping lead the group. While Amazon is expanding this particular corner of its devices group, the company is scaling back other areas of the sprawling devices and services division. Earlier this month, Amazon laid off about 100 of the group's employees. The job cuts included staffers working on Alexa and Amazon Kids, which develops services for children, as well as Lab126, according to public filings and people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named due to confidentiality. More than 50 employees were laid off at Amazon's Lab126 facilities in Sunnyvale, according to Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filings in California. Amazon said the job cuts affected a fraction of a percent of the devices and services organization, which has tens of thousands of employees.