Boox’s tiny Picco e-reader launching in November without magnets

After initially teasing the Picco—its take on the popular Xteink X4 e-reader—back in July, Boox has provided a fresh batch of information coming out of IFA 2026. While an official price tag remains unannounced, prospective buyers now have a much clearer picture of what this miniature reading device will offer when it hits the market.

Unlike competing Xteink devices, the Boox Picco will omit the magnets on the back typically used to snap the e-reader onto a smartphone. It does, however, incorporate a 3.97-inch touchscreen e-paper display, which The Verge's Andrew Liszewski highlighted as a welcome upgrade over the X4 Pro. Furthermore, the hardware includes physical page-turn buttons that users can map to different functions using short or long presses.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Storage-wise, the Picco lacks any onboard memory and relies strictly on a microSD card slot to hold a library of books. To make up for this, Boox integrated a USB-C port—something absent on Xteink hardware—allowing users to sideload files directly from a computer in addition to transferring reading material via Wi-Fi from a companion app.

Rather than running Android like standard Boox hardware, the Picco operates on a lightweight, Linux-based operating system. The manufacturer pre-installs a few basic utilities, including a timer, a to-do list, and a reading stats tracker. However, analysts note that Boox is unlikely to open up its firmware in the way Xteink does, potentially making it a less modifiable device for power users.

"3.97-inch e-paper display... touchscreen... welcome upgrade on the X4 Pro"

Andrew Liszewski

Several details remain under wraps ahead of the release, including the official retail price, battery longevity, Bluetooth capabilities, and whether it will support audiobook playback. All lingering questions are expected to be answered in November 2026 when the device officially launches.

Source: The Verge