Boox Picco, Note Air6 C, Note Mini C and Palma 3

[Gormagon]

Boox has announced some new devices that are more or less the same as before (Note Air6 C and Palma 3, now with Android 16, which is already dated since 17 was released on June 16, 2026), a mee-too-product (Picco) or a semi-replacement of older Boox products (Note Mini C although the screen is larger than on the Tab Mini C).

All in all, it looks rather boring. I wonder why they don't include 4G/5G on the Palma 3. It makes no sense to me to have a smartphone-shaped device you can't use as a phone. Who wants to carry two devices?

And why do they list the Note Mini C and the Note Air6C both with the same price (US$579.99)?

[Yapyap]

The Note Mini C looks like the only “different and somewhat interesting” product but yes, at the same price as the Note Air 6C (580 euro on the EU site) while being smaller and not using EMR for the stylus, and no volume/page turn buttons (which the Note Air 6C has), it seems like it’d attract a very niche group of people .. dunno, those with a bag too small for the Note Air but wanting to read comic books on a screen larger than 7’’?

The Palma 3 looks OK but the EU price is “from 340 euro” which seems really a lot, given it’s not useable as a phone. At least in Europe, for anyone wanting a smartphone-ish sized device for non-Kindle reading, including built-in Adobe DRM and Readium LCP support + Libby and Onleihe (not apps beyond that), the PocketBook Q at 199 € is suddenly looking much more reasonable…

Basically, interesting to see where they’re heading - especially with the Note Mini C looking a lot like a custom order by Boox from E Ink, not one of their standard screen offerings? (I guess this explains the price, but not why they’d go for this) - but absolutely none of those look like something I’d want.

If they had a Note Mini in that same 8.5’’ size, but monochrome and with buttons, I’d be a lot more interested, although that price tag is … not for me, LOL.

[Stefan1985]

indeed, it looks like Bigme is getting ahead of boox with it's devices. Highbreak devices are real phones. Comparing B6 or B6 Pro they have color display compared to Go 6 and the Pro even stylus support.

Air 6 is a bit faster than the air 5, but in most cases not worth the upgrade

Note Mini C in my opinion too large of a screen, but compared to the Tab mini C it has a sd card slot. Any device without sd card slot would be a no go for me.

[Yapyap]

Originally Posted by Stefan1985

Comparing B6 or B6 Pro they have color display compared to Go 6

To be fair, with the current state of colour e-ink that’s not necessarily an upgrade or a positive thing for everyone, especially those of us who just want to read prose...

[Renate]

I'm not impressed.

They are clearly pushing into "Tiles" as they have that as a new category in their store.
The Picco is not 300 DPI (only 235), which for a teensy device is not very good.
It's apparently not Android and is a walled garden?

File Transfer: BOOX Tiles app or web

It comes with three apps?
It looks to be about as advanced as an iPod.

Oh, jeez:

The BOOX Picco is built on the ESP32 platform and comes preloaded with a lightweight operating system specially designed and developed by BOOX.

And:

Does the Picco support XYZ?

We are afraid that the Picco does not support XYZ.

(For XYZ substitute any feature that you can think of.)

The ESP32 is an inexpensive microcontroller used for household IoT.
Complete boards go for <$10.
If it had a low-end Qualcomm device in it I'd pick one up for fun hacking.

All the new "C" devices don't interest me.

Palma 3 is still neither a phone or has GPS?

The Go6 (Gen2) has no particular attraction with the stylus and negative marks for the "suitcase inspired" styling.

[Gormagon]

This website (https://www.readme.club/news/readme-...ing-crosspoint) claims that Boox is using Crosspoint as basis for the firmware of the Picco.
If true, Boox not even really developed something as firmware by themself.

[Renate]

You can see how much effort went into the Picco by visiting:
https://booxtiles.com/tabs/home
If it were twenty years ago I might be impressed.

[Gormagon]

Doesn't work with JavaScript and Cookies disabled. And if you allow them you have to use this site to utilize the USB-C-connection or you have to make an account to use the other options.
Well, they should have named the device Boox Trash or Boox Rubbish.