What are the currently popular Android based eink readers

[Dopedangel]

I've been reading on my phone for the past 3-4 years and am now considering a new Android-based e-ink e-reader. I used to have one but gave it away since I wasn't using it much at the time. I'm looking for a device that supports the Google Play Store, as well as apps like Calibre Companion and CoolReader. Can you recommend any current Android e-readers? It seems some of the older manufacturers are no longer in business."

[kandwo]

Onyx Boox is probably the most popular brand. Another one is Bigme, but their software is still buggy in comparison to Onyx Boox.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Dopedangel

It seems some of the older manufacturers are no longer in business."

Possibly because eink and Playstore apps don't mix well.

They are all over-sold.

Onyx Boox is the only one worth considering and you are better off with a dedicated eink or decent matt finish phone or tablet. You can install some things on a Kobo without a jailbreak. Not sure about Pocketbook.

Though some Kindles can be Jailbroken, they are best only bought if you want KU or Kindle exclusive bought books. Nook isn't available outside Barnes &Nobel home market, nor even the app!

[salamanderjuice]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Possibly because eink and Playstore apps don't mix well.

They are all over-sold.

Onyx Boox is the only one worth considering and you are better off with a dedicated eink or decent matt finish phone or tablet. You can install some things on a Kobo without a jailbreak. Not sure about Pocketbook.

Though some Kindles can be Jailbroken, they are best only bought if you want KU or Kindle exclusive bought books. Nook isn't available outside Barnes &Nobel home market, nor even the app!

Plenty are fine. Especially with tweaks. Reading based apps like Play Books, Kobo, Libby, etc. tend to work fine.

And there's no way to install Libby or Pressreader to read magazines or newspapers from the library on a Kobo or jailbroken Kindle.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by salamanderjuice

Plenty are fine. Especially with tweaks. Reading based apps like Play Books, Kobo, Libby, etc. tend to work fine.

And there's no way to install Libby or Pressreader to read magazines or newspapers from the library on a Kobo or jailbroken Kindle.

You are overselling Android eink. Also even if an app works today there is good chance it won't at next update.

[salamanderjuice]

Originally Posted by Quoth

You are overselling Android eink. Also even if an app works today there is good chance it won't at next update.

I don't think I'm overselling it by acknowledging reality. Most of the reader apps are happy with ancient versions of Android. In my years using Android eInk I've yet to have a reader app stop working on a device because of an update. Could it happen? Sure. But so could Kobo or Amazon decide to make your device useless with an update. Is that likely either? No. Perhaps it's more likely to have an app or apps break but by that time your device is probably pretty old anyhow.

I think you are overspreading fear frankly. There's plenty of use case for Android eInk as there is a plethora of apps and services that are compatible with Android but not one of the Linux based readers.

I never said it was perfect, but fine. Tolerable.

[cellaris]

I wouldn't worry too much about the Android version. Apps adapted to e-ink (such as KOReader or AlReader X) will continue to work without any major problems, and apps that are not adapted (such as Kindle or PocketBook) are unlikely to release versions that make the previous one incompatible. Saving the latest version compatible with the Android version you are using is more than enough. I think it's easier to change e-readers before the Android version becomes unusable.

Among Android e-readers, I generally prefer Onyx Boox devices, which have more polished firmware, but I don't dislike Bigme. Perhaps Meebook is the one I'm least interested in at the moment. I can't speak first-hand about the other Chinese brands, but they don't have good distribution channels.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by salamanderjuice

In my years using Android eInk I've yet to have a reader app stop working on a device because of an update. Could it happen? Sure.

Bolinda's Borrowbox. And there was another one too.

Loads of Playstore apps don't work at all.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by cellaris

Among Android e-readers, I generally prefer Onyx Boox devices, which have more polished firmware, but I don't dislike Bigme. Perhaps Meebook is the one I'm least interested in at the moment. I can't speak first-hand about the other Chinese brands, but they don't have good distribution channels.

Onyx Boox is the best supported. Still a small Chinese company.
Meebook used to be Boyue and Boyue went bust.
Bigme is tiny and over optimistic. Products that didn't work or never released.
A bunch of even smaller worse Chinese Android products.

They use Android either to try selling the idea they are tablets, or to differentiate, or to reduce software development effort.

Pocketbook is a Ukrainian founded company in Switzerland. Maybe some have Android.
Kobo is owned by huge Japanese company, Rakuten, and based in Canada and via Rakuten own the HW / reader part of German Tolino, which previously ran Android.
We all know who Amazon is & what a Kindle is. Amazon do use Android for tablets and TVs, but not ereaders.
Barnes&Noble have the Nook. Limited market.

All the best ereaders are Linux, not Android. Yes, Sony did 3 Android models and quit just after the T3 came out. It's not clear why as the T1 was inferior to PRS-x50 series. T2 was OK, but no easy way to add apps even though it was Android.

For Phones and Tablets, Android is the only viable alternative to iOS. It's like a dog taught to walk on two legs for eink.

[salamanderjuice]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Bolinda's Borrowbox. And there was another one too.

Loads of Playstore apps don't work at all.

On what device? How doesn't it work? On what Android version? My library doesn't support BorrowBox, so I can't log in but it at least launches and opens just fine on my Boox Nova 2 running Android 9 (and 16 is the latest version FYI). I did have to turn off the stupid Boox color enhancement thing that blacked out the buttons but it otherwise seems fine.

And sure eInk Android devices won't run every app, it's not something that you should use for movies or games. But most apps that are relevant for reading, IME work fine. Maybe minorly annoying with scrolling in menus.

[Quoth]

The app worked after the update, but the ebook pages were all blank.

Boyue Likebook Mars with Android 8.something. The EXACT same Android on a phone continued to work.

It's a nice Eink Android. The Native app is a bit like KOReader, which works.

The fact is that if you buy an Android eink for other than the native apps, you might be wasting €200 to €500. No-one can guarantee the app you want will keep working.

I've had 8 makes of ereaders (well, the reMarkable isn't really an ereader). I've had/have 7 different (distinct) Kobo models, 3 different Sony, 6 different Kindles.

I've read the threads on Android eink models.

I've built two prototype LCD VOIP 4G tablets running Debian.

I've Palm PDA with ebook reader.

I've got working Androids from 3 to 14.

Library or Subscription applications
The issue with those is you can't stay on the old working version as soon it stops connecting to the local lending library, or KU or whatever.

Bought ebooks
Remove the DRM and backup and likely it doesn't matter if it's a dedicated Linux ereader (likely more stable, better battery life) or an eink Android tablet. You'll be able to use it till the HW wears out. True for my Gen 2 and Gen 3 Kindles which still actually work with Amazon (there is GSM EDGE still for the Gen 2, though 3G is gone, why Amazon still supports it – at least May 2025 – is a mystery).

Loads of Kindle App versions don't work now with Amazaon to buy or borrow, but all Gen3 & later ereaders still do.

EDIT
LiChess, K9 mail sort of work on the Boyue Mars. Most medial players have broken interfaces. Never found a Solitare that worked.
I considered an Onyx Boox, but you can buy a decent Kobo and a real tablet for the same price as some of them. I saw the 10" Color Boox in real life and it was garbage compared to the NxtPaper 11. The Nxtpaper 14 is cheaper than a secondhand one.