At IFA 2025 in Berlin, Boox quietly previewed the next-generation Boox Palma smartphone, now featuring a color E Ink display and integrated cellular (4G/5G-like LTE) connectivity. This marks a significant step toward making the Palma more smartphone-like—and more functional—than ever before.
What’s New with the Boox Palma smartphone?
- Color E Ink Screen: The new Palma smartphone model incorporates a color E Ink display—an innovation that expands beyond the monochrome e-paper used in previous Palma generations. The screen appears more vibrant, while still retaining the gentle, paper-like readability that E Ink fans love.
- Cellular Connectivity: A status bar in exclusive early reveal photos shows cellular signal strength icons, indicating the device will support mobile data—likely via 4G or LTE. This represents a major leap from past models, which were limited to Wi-Fi only.
Why These Upgrades Matter
- Enhanced Mobility: With cellular connectivity, the Palma smartphone becomes a truly independent device. You no longer need Wi-Fi access—download new books, check notifications, or browse the web anywhere.
- More Immersive Display: The color screen introduces limited hues to the otherwise monochrome interface, making comics, charts, or diagrams more visually engaging—while staying easy on the eyes.
- Maintained Portability: Despite these additions, the Palma smartphone retains its compact 6.13-inch form factor—just like the existing Palma 2—and stays lightweight and pocket-friendly.
Palma smartphone: Early Impressions and Expectations
Tech journalists at Android Authority got a sneak peek at the prototype. While details like battery life and pricing remain undisclosed, Boox assured early reviewers that the device should still offer “multi-day” endurance even with cellular signals active.
The preview unit showed some ghosting—a known E Ink artifact—but Boox plans to mitigate it via improved screen refresh tools.
What We Don’t Know—Yet
- Name and Launch Date: Boox hasn’t confirmed the official model name (e.g. “Palma Color”) or release timeline.
- Detailed Specs: RAM, storage, refresh technology, and pricing are still under wraps.
- Connectivity Details: It remains unknown if the device will have a SIM card slot or rely on eSIM, and which carriers will be supported.
Summary at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
| Display | Color E Ink (first in Palma series) |
| Connectivity | Cellular (4G/LTE) support—no more Wi-Fi-only limitation |
| Portability | Same compact, smartphone-sized 6.13-inch form factor |
| Battery Life | Expected to remain in multi-day range |
| Ghosting | Present in prototype; mitigations planned via refresh controls |
Conclusion
The upcoming Color and Monochrome models of the Boox Palma smartphone highlight Onyx Boox’s ambition to push e-paper devices beyond traditional boundaries. With options for both vibrant color and classic monochrome displays, plus the addition of cellular connectivity, the Palma is shaping up to be more than just a compact e-reader—it’s inching closer to becoming a true E Ink smartphone alternative.
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