Boox Picco e-reader debuts with a tiny 3.97-inch screen
Boox has revealed the Picco, a pocket-size e-reader with an ePaper display, front light and TF card support, Mashable reports.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
3 min read
Boox has revealed the Boox Picco e-reader, a new mini device built around a 3.97-inch monochrome ePaper display, according to Mashable. The company has not yet announced when the tiny reader will arrive or how much it will cost.
The Picco is pitched as Boox’s smallest e-reader so far, Mashable reported, and it lands as pocket-size reading gadgets are getting fresh attention. The outlet pointed to Xteink’s small e-readers as another example of the trend, including models designed to be compact enough to attach to the back of an iPhone.
Boox has confirmed only a short list of Picco details for now. Mashable reported that the device will include a front light and TF card support, alongside its black-and-white ePaper screen.
What is the Boox Picco e-reader?
The Boox Picco is a miniature e-reader with a 3.97-inch monochrome ePaper display, according to Mashable. EPaper screens are designed to mimic the look of ink on paper, which is why they are common on dedicated reading devices.
The Picco is even smaller than Boox’s Palma Pro, which Mashable described as the company’s current smallest tablet. That size difference is the main hook so far: this is Boox leaning into the tiny-reader lane rather than showing off a large-screen note-taking slate.
What specs has Boox confirmed?
The confirmed details are limited. Based on Mashable’s report, the Picco’s known features include:
- A 3.97-inch monochrome ePaper display
- A front light for reading in different lighting conditions
- TF card support
- A smaller body than the Boox Palma Pro
Boox said in a press release cited by Mashable that the Picco will have an “accessible price point.” The company did not provide an exact price in that announcement.
Boox also has not given a release date, according to Mashable. That leaves the big shopping questions unanswered for readers who want a pocket reader but need to know the final cost and launch timing before getting excited.
Will the Picco run Kindle, Kobo or Libby apps?
Mashable noted that Boox has not confirmed whether the Picco will use the same broader app ecosystem as its other e-readers. If it does include Google Play access, users could download reading apps such as Kindle, Kobo and Libby, Mashable reported.
That matters because some rival mini e-readers are more limited. Mashable reported that Xteink e-readers support only DRM-free files, meaning readers with Libby loans or a Kindle library cannot access those books on those devices.
For now, the Picco is a small device with a short public spec sheet and a name built for a pocket. The rest of the story depends on what Boox confirms next: price, release date and app access.
This story draws on original reporting from Mashable.