By
Jon Gilbert
Published 6 minutes ago
Jon has been an author at Android Police since 2021. He primarily writes features and editorials covering the latest Android news, but occasionally reviews hardware and Android apps. His favorite Android device was the Pixel 2 XL, and he regards the three months when he owned an iPhone as a time of the utmost shame. Jon graduated with a History degree in 2018, but quickly realized his writing skills were better put to use writing about tech rather than essays. He started writing and editing for startups shortly after graduating, where he did everything from writing website copy to managing and editing for a group of writers. When he's not sitting at his computer, you can find him working at Warhammer World, reading sci-fi, or turning his speakers up to 11.
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I've tried plenty of ways to reduce screen time on my phone, but the "solutions" were too inconvenient or frustrating to follow through with.
I've successfully reduced my time spent doomscrolling on social media, and my overall phone usage has remained stable. However, while I was reviewing the Boox Palma 2 Pro, I noticed something unexpected.
The Boox Palma 2 Pro runs Android; apart from the lack of cellular texting and calling capability, it can be used as a regular smartphone.
The e-ink display is challenging to use for complex tasks, but after I finished my review, I noticed something strange happening: I was picking up my Palma 2 Pro to complete tasks instead of my Pixel 10 Pro.
This e-reader subtly found a place in my life without me noticing
I didn't decide to use it instead of my phone
I'm always leaving my phone in various places and forgetting about it; my most frequently issued command to my smart home speakers is "Find my phone."
However, my Palma 2 Pro serves a regular purpose as a clock on my bedside table thanks to its excellent screensaver. Thus, when I need a device, the e-reader is often the first one to hand.
There are many things I can't use my Palma 2 Pro for. I rarely take it with me when I commute to work; I prefer not to carry multiple devices for short trips. I don't use it for apps that hold sensitive content (such as banking apps), and I don't use it for any work-related purposes.
However, I've increasingly turned to it for social media, Google searches, note-taking, music, and reading. If you've used an e-ink display for Android apps, you would be right in feeling sceptical.
The unavoidable downsides of an e-ink display make performing complex tasks challenging, but nevertheless, I've found texting a breeze. This was fun, but it was a while before I realized why I was enjoying it so much.
An e-ink device is a distraction-free experience.
You don't see the usual triggers designed to keep you on your phone
One of the simplest ways to reduce screen time is to install a grayscale filter on your smartphone.
Participants in a 2019 study examining the effectiveness of a grayscale filter recorded an average of 37.9 minutes less screen time a day.
While there haven't been enough studies to determine exactly how effective it is, it can reduce your screen time.
The Palma 2 Pro differs from most e-readers in that it has a color e-ink display. Nevertheless, its effect is similar to that of a grayscale filter.
Removing color from a smartphone display reduces the distracting allure of brightly colored apps and UI elements; our brains react less positively to shades of gray than to color.
While the Palma 2 Pro's display is color, its muted tones and poor brightness have a similar effect on me. I just wasn't as compelled to hold on to my smartphone for long periods.
Much of my communication is done through Instagram, which is a big problem. It's frustratingly easy to end up accidentally scrolling through Reels after responding to a text, but on the Palma 2 Pro, that doesn't happen.
The e-reader's display is great for lots of reasons, but watching videos is a poor experience. Thus, after responding to a few messages on Instagram, I now close the app without bothering to open Reels.
E-readers can't replace smartphones yet, but they are close
E-ink displays are too limited for constant use
Despite my attachment to my Palma 2 Pro, I won't be replacing my Pixel with it.
While it's great at reducing distractions, and its battery life is astronomically better, I can't do everything on it.
However, most of these things aren't necessary to get me through the day. I enjoy playing games and watching YouTube videos on my phone, but I don't need to do it.
The biggest problem is the lack of cellular texting and calling. While I use WhatsApp for most of my calls and texts, I need the ability to make SMS texts and cellular calls.
The refresh rate is also a problem. While the brief pause between actions reduces the amount of time I spend flipping through apps, it's sometimes overly frustrating.
For example, sending photos is a cumbersome experience due to the number of menus and apps I have to flip between.
When I'm participating in a rapidly updating group chat, I've found myself hunting for my Pixel 10 Pro again.
I'm tempted to list the cameras as another issue, but I can't remember the last time I had to take a high-quality photo in my personal life. The Palma 2 Pro's photos are good enough for my daily use.
We may have accidentally stumbled upon the solution to smartphone addiction
The Palma 2 Pro is an impressively advanced e-reader, but it's not quite ready to replace my phone.
Nevertheless, the way it's subtly replaced my Pixel in some situations has shown me that the technology is nearly there.
Currently, the e-ink experience is too limited; I know that I would run into massive problems if I used it as my daily driver. But I'm excited for the future of e-readers and the possibilities they have for replacing our phones.
Boox Palma 2 Pro
6/10
Resolution
B/W: 1648 x 824 (300ppi), Color: 412 x 824 (150ppi)
Storage
128GB
Screen Size
6.13"
Processor
Snapdragon 750G
$400 at Boox
$400 at Amazon
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