XTEink X4 - Page 2

CrazyCoder · 12-06-2025, 12:43 PM

There has been huge progress with the converters for this device recently.

Xteink shared the format specs with me, and I put it here: https://gist.github.com/CrazyCoder/b...58249f59f1327d.

Since then people created companion apps and online converters (even one based on crengine compiled into WASM): https://x4converter.rho.sh/.

There are also several custom firmwares already available and a more performant display driver for 4-color rendering.

I almost finished my offline converter based on Cool Reader, will be released soon. See this post for some screenshots: https://www.reddit.com/r/xteinkeread...mment/nsgztpx/.

And there is a Discord server for developers and users: https://discord.gg/2cdKUbWRE8.

kilikini · 12-19-2025, 09:41 PM

I got mine the other day from AliExpress, and I quite like it. First thing I needed to do was change the display to English, and then there was a firmware update available. I haven't changed the font, except for the size. I've been using the x4converter.rho.sh to convert my epubs to .xtc format, which will include the book cover and images, and you can adjust the font details prior to conversion. The sdmicro card is a bit fiddly to deal with, but a credit card worked to pop it out and in again for me.

CrazyCoder · 01-18-2026, 01:23 PM

My desktop XTC converter for Xteink: https://github.com/CrazyCoder/cr2xt

You can get pretty much any formatting / fonts with it and customize it even further via CSS.

twowheels · 01-28-2026, 06:22 PM

I recently learned abut this device. I've been wanting a TINY ebook reader for some time now, so I ordered this one after seeing the positive reviews and great community support (alternative firmwares, XTC converters, etc, etc) and my first impressions are EXTREMELY positive. I don't think that my Clara HD will be getting much use anymore, this is exactly what I've wanted!

twowheels · 01-28-2026, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyCoder

My desktop XTC converter for Xteink: https://github.com/CrazyCoder/cr2xt

You can get pretty much any formatting / fonts with it and customize it even further via CSS.

Your XTC converter was the first one that I found. I liked it, but ended up using a different one because I was looking for inline footnote support, which yours didn't seem to have.

https://github.com/Rafal-P-Mazur/EPUB2XTC

Yours was more stable, faster, and easier to set up, but that one feature was my must-have for the book that I wanted to read first.

CrazyCoder · 01-28-2026, 08:38 PM

Thanks for the feedback, I'll see if I can add support for inline footnotes.

jago25_98 · 02-01-2026, 11:53 PM

They're cheaper in China. I have one on the way for <$30.

While I know it's extremely basic, having control of the software is a lot nicer than a more powerful device hamstrung with no Android security updates, or other devices with low RAM and much higher prices.

I'm still looking for a bigger device that I can keep up to date over decades / in my control, but hopefully this will help me while I wait.

The custom firmware with epubs loading directly from a local Caliber server is pretty good to me.

twowheels · 02-03-2026, 10:18 AM

<$30 is insanely cheap. I paid full retail for mine, but I have zero regrets -- it's beautiful and exactly what I've been wanting for years. My wife was asking why I was reading on it rather than my larger Kobo the other day and part of the reason was that it was already in my pocket when I sat down to take a break rather than having to go downstairs to get my Kobo out of my office. The always with me element has become even more true than it was with my 6" readers, it just disappears in my pockets.

12-06-2025, 12:43 PM	#16
CrazyCoder Zealot Posts: 122 Karma: 1256026 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: San Diego, CA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis (10th gen), Kobo Libra 2, Onyx Leaf2 Black	There has been huge progress with the converters for this device recently. Xteink shared the format specs with me, and I put it here: https://gist.github.com/CrazyCoder/b...58249f59f1327d. Since then people created companion apps and online converters (even one based on crengine compiled into WASM): https://x4converter.rho.sh/. There are also several custom firmwares already available and a more performant display driver for 4-color rendering. I almost finished my offline converter based on Cool Reader, will be released soon. See this post for some screenshots: https://www.reddit.com/r/xteinkeread...mment/nsgztpx/. And there is a Discord server for developers and users: https://discord.gg/2cdKUbWRE8.

12-19-2025, 09:41 PM	#17
kilikini Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 376 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: California Device: iPhone, Kindle, iPad, Xteink X4	I got mine the other day from AliExpress, and I quite like it. First thing I needed to do was change the display to English, and then there was a firmware update available. I haven't changed the font, except for the size. I've been using the x4converter.rho.sh to convert my epubs to .xtc format, which will include the book cover and images, and you can adjust the font details prior to conversion. The sdmicro card is a bit fiddly to deal with, but a credit card worked to pop it out and in again for me.

01-18-2026, 01:23 PM	#18
CrazyCoder Zealot Posts: 122 Karma: 1256026 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: San Diego, CA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis (10th gen), Kobo Libra 2, Onyx Leaf2 Black	My desktop XTC converter for Xteink: https://github.com/CrazyCoder/cr2xt You can get pretty much any formatting / fonts with it and customize it even further via CSS.

01-28-2026, 06:22 PM	#19
twowheels Wizard Posts: 1,858 Karma: 13432974 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kobo Clara HD, iPad Pro 10", iPhone 15 Pro, Boox Note Max	I recently learned abut this device. I've been wanting a TINY ebook reader for some time now, so I ordered this one after seeing the positive reviews and great community support (alternative firmwares, XTC converters, etc, etc) and my first impressions are EXTREMELY positive. I don't think that my Clara HD will be getting much use anymore, this is exactly what I've wanted!

01-28-2026, 08:38 PM	#21
CrazyCoder Zealot Posts: 122 Karma: 1256026 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: San Diego, CA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis (10th gen), Kobo Libra 2, Onyx Leaf2 Black	Thanks for the feedback, I'll see if I can add support for inline footnotes.

02-01-2026, 11:53 PM	#22
jago25_98 Zealot Posts: 116 Karma: 3200000 Join Date: Dec 2005 Device: n35 p800 n30	They're cheaper in China. I have one on the way for <$30. While I know it's extremely basic, having control of the software is a lot nicer than a more powerful device hamstrung with no Android security updates, or other devices with low RAM and much higher prices. I'm still looking for a bigger device that I can keep up to date over decades / in my control, but hopefully this will help me while I wait. The custom firmware with epubs loading directly from a local Caliber server is pretty good to me.

02-03-2026, 10:18 AM	#23
twowheels Wizard Posts: 1,858 Karma: 13432974 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kobo Clara HD, iPad Pro 10", iPhone 15 Pro, Boox Note Max	<$30 is insanely cheap. I paid full retail for mine, but I have zero regrets -- it's beautiful and exactly what I've been wanting for years. My wife was asking why I was reading on it rather than my larger Kobo the other day and part of the reason was that it was already in my pocket when I sat down to take a break rather than having to go downstairs to get my Kobo out of my office. The always with me element has become even more true than it was with my 6" readers, it just disappears in my pockets.