We saw the next Boox Palma and... is that a color E Ink screen and cellular connectivity?

"It wasn't on public display at its IFA 2025 booth, but Boox gave The Verge's Jess Weatherbed a brief but early look at its next Palma smartphone-sized e-reader. The company wasn't yet willing to divulge any technical specs. Still, the new Palma appears to feature a color E Ink screen, and the device's status bar also shows a 4G+ LTE cellular connection, seemingly indicating the next Palma could also be a fully-functional smartphone."

"The two previous versions of the Android-powered Boox Palma both feature a 6.13-inch black and white e-paper screen, but Boox was one of the earliest adopters of E Ink's color screen technology and introduced color e-readers long before Amazon and Kobo. But a color screen isn't the most requested feature amongst Palma fans. The pocketable e-readers have only offered Wi-Fi connectivity so far. Their functionality has come close to replicating an Android phone, featuring dual microphones and even a camera on the back."

"It's not yet known if the next Palma will include a SIM card tray, rely on eSim, or what cellular networks it will be compatible with. But like the Bigme Hibreak Pro that was announced earlier this year, it could be a true smartphone replacement for those wanting a more distraction-free experience (browsing social media on an E Ink screen still isn't easy on the eyes) or better battery life."

Boox previewed a new Palma pocket e-reader that appears to use a color E Ink display and shows a 4G+ LTE connection in its status bar. Previous Palma models used 6.13-inch black-and-white e-paper screens. Boox adopted E Ink's color technology earlier than competitors and already sells color e-readers. Palma devices have offered only Wi‑Fi so far despite Android capability, dual microphones, and a rear camera. Lack of built-in cellular has required users to rely on hotspots when away from Wi‑Fi. The next Palma's SIM or eSIM support and network compatibility remain unknown. A cellular Palma could serve as a distraction‑reduced smartphone alternative with longer battery life.

Read at The Verge