Boox has just unveiled its latest pocket-sized e-reader with the Palma 3, but how does it differ from the Palma 2?
Considering we awarded the Palma 2 with a solid four-star rating, how does the Palma 3 look set to compare? Are there enough updates to warrant an upgrade?
We’ve compared the specs of the Palma 3 to the Palma 2, and noted all the key differences and noteworthy similarities between the two below. Once you’re finished here, be sure to check out our best e-reader guide too.
Specs Comparison Table
Price and Availability
The Boox Palma 3 has a starting RRP of €339.99/$319.99 but, at the time of writing, we don’t know when exactly the device will be available to buy. Instead, Boox has just teased that the device is “coming soon”.
In comparison, the Boox Palma 2 is cheaper than its successor, with a starting RRP of €299.99.
Boox Palma 3 has stylus support
Boox introduced stylus support with the Palma 2 Pro and has carried that on with the Palma 3. However, neither the 2 Pro nor the 3 come with the compatible Boox InkSense Plus pen in the box and will cost an additional $49.
It’s not compulsory for using the device, but it is a useful addition for handwriting quite notes or doodles. We also found during our time with the Palma 2 Pro that the pen is lag-free, responsive and feels natural to use too. With that in mind, we expect a similar performance with the Palma 3.
Otherwise, the Palma 2 doesn’t offer stylus support and is solely designed to be used as a touchscreen device. We found that the Palma 2 did experience a slight lag between interacting with the display and getting a response from the interface. While we could still type fairly quickly and accurately, the lag is definitely noticeable.
Boox Palma 3 comes with Android 16 installed
Both the Palma 3 and Palma 2 are Android devices, which means they offer access to the Google Play Store. That’s a brilliant addition especially when you consider the best Kindles only provide access to the Kindle store and no other apps.
While the Palma 2 runs on Android 13, the Palma 3 benefits from the newer Android 16 – though at the time of writing, we don’t know how many years of security updates Boox will offer.
At first glance, you’d be forgiven for thinking there weren’t any differences between the Palma 3 and Palma 2’s design. Both have a 6.13-inch display and measure in at 6.3 x 3.1 x 0.31 inches. However, the Palma 3 is slightly heavier than its predecessor, at 195g compared to 170g.
The reason behind the increased weight comes down to the material. While the Palma 2 has a plastic frame, the Palma 3 benefits from an aluminium frame which results in a more solid build.
Boox Palma 3 has Bluetooth 6
Both Palmas are equipped with Bluetooth, which means you can pair compatible headphones, earbuds or even speakers and enjoy a higher quality listening experience – whether you’re listening to audiobooks, podcasts or streaming music from Spotify.
Perhaps unsurprisingly as it’s a newer model, the Palma 3 is equipped with Bluetooth 6 rather than Bluetooth 5.1 which the Palma 2 sports. This means you can expect better reliability, less dropouts and an overall smoother connection than the older iteration.
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Neither offer SIM support
Unlike the Palma 2 Pro, neither the Palma 3 or Palma 2 offer SIM support. That means you’re reliant on a Wi-Fi connection if you want to make calls or send messages
Early Verdict
The biggest difference between the two is the fact that the Palma 3 offers stylus support while the Palma 2 doesn’t. Although the stylus annoyingly isn’t included in the box, it is a useful addition that makes handwriting notes much easier.
If you’re not fussed about being able to handwrite notes, or perhaps you already own a device like the Remarkable Paper Pro, then there’s perhaps little reason to upgrade from the Palma 2 to the Palma 3.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a new e-reader and want one that can double as a digital notebook, then the Palma 3 seems like a solid choice.
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