TechRadar compares Xteink’s four mini ereaders as Android-based S4 stays China-only

According to TechRadar, the S4 differs from the other Xteink devices because it runs Android 11. That gives users direct access to Kindle and Kobo apps, which the publication says it has missed on its Xteink X4 Pro. TechRadar also mentions the Boox Picco as a rival product. The S4 is currently available only in China, and TechRadar expects it to cost at least as much as the X4 Pro if it gets a global release.

The X4 Classic, X4 Pro and X3 are available directly from Xteink and from some third-party stores such as Amazon, and they ship to much of the world. TechRadar lists the X3 at $69, £69 or AU$102; the X4 Classic at $79, £79 or AU$116; and the X4 Pro at $99, £99 or AU$146. Pricing for the S4 has not been announced.

In the comparison table, the S4 has a 4.3-inch, 219ppi display, a touchscreen and a front light, 32GB of built-in storage, a 1,400mAh battery, USB-C charging, Android 11 and magnets. TechRadar's table lists its weight as 94g, while the article text says 95g; it is the thickest model at 6.98mm.

The X4 Pro has a 4.3-inch, 219ppi touchscreen with a front light, 72g weight, 111 x 69 x 5.95mm dimensions, microSD storage with a 16GB card included, a 1,100mAh battery and proprietary charging and operating system. The X4 Classic has a 4.3-inch, 219ppi screen without touch or front light, 68g weight, 114 x 69 x 4.9mm dimensions, a 920mAh battery and the same microSD and proprietary software arrangement. The X3 has a smaller 3.7-inch, 259ppi screen without touch or front light, 58g weight, 97.6 x 63.7 x 5.1mm dimensions, a 650mAh battery and the same microSD and proprietary setup. All four have magnets.

TechRadar says all four devices look like tiny phones with larger bezels than modern smartphones. They have buttons and charging ports on the sides. The X3 and X4 Classic have two long, narrow buttons on the bezel below the display, while the X4 Pro and S4 have a single circular button. The X3 and X4 Classic come in Space Black or Mist Gray, which is sometimes called Frost White; the X4 Pro is currently sold only in Space Black, though gray images exist; and the S4 is sold in black and white in China, with the same options likely if it goes global. The magnets let users attach the devices to the back of a phone, but TechRadar notes they are vulnerable in that position and a case may be preferable.

On display quality, the S4, X4 Pro and X4 Classic share a 4.3-inch, 219ppi panel, while the X3's 3.7-inch screen has 259ppi. TechRadar says the X3 is crisper but so small that readers will turn pages constantly. The publication adds that its X4 Pro is not as sharp as it would like, especially next to the ViWoods AiPaper Reader's 300ppi display. The S4 and X4 Pro have touchscreens; the X4 Classic and X3 do not. The S4 and X4 Pro also have front lights.

Editor's Summary

TechRadar's comparison shows the Xteink S4 as the most capable model on paper because of Android 11, Kindle and Kobo app access, USB-C, a 1,400mAh battery and 32GB storage, but it is China-only and has no announced global price. The X4 Pro, X4 Classic and X3 are already available in many markets at $69 to $99, with the X3 offering the sharpest and smallest screen and the X4 Pro adding touch and front light. The main trade-offs are the S4's heavier build and unknown availability, and the older models' proprietary software and limited storage.