This tiny, magnetic e-reader could stop you from doomscrolling

Source: TechCrunch

Love at First Sight (with the Xteink X3)

It felt like scouring the mall—dipping in and out of sprawling department stores in search of a specific, elusive item—only to finally find what you’re looking for. Only, I didn’t even know I was searching for something like the Xteink X3, because I never dared dream of something so delightful: a tiny, MagSafe‑compatible e‑ink reader that could attach to my iPhone like a Pop Socket.

This was it. My life would change forever. I would get my hands on the Xteink X3, and I would stop doom‑scrolling forever. I would read more books than ever before… which is saying something, since – brag – I read at least 50 books a year. But – not a brag – I probably spend even more time on social media than I do reading. I know that I feel generally less anxious when I limit my social‑media time, but alas, the siren song of TikTok beckons me.

What if instead of opening social media, I could just flip my phone over and read on a tiny, Kindle‑like e‑ink screen? Could this $80 gadget fix me?

The Problem with Phone Reading

I’ve tried reading books (or downloads from AO3) on my phone, immersing myself in a fictional world rather than posts from the president in which he threatens to obliterate an entire country. But something about looking at my phone—where I’m constantly tempted to open Instagram to see whatever Reel someone sent me—doesn’t quite soothe me the way a book or an e‑ink device like a Kindle does.

Arrival & First Impressions

I was so excited for my X3 to arrive that I constantly refreshed the tracking link until, finally, it was delivered. Even though I had meticulously compared the dimensions of the X3 to my iPhone 16 (or my Pop Socket wallet), I still worried it might not fit—the previous model, the Xteink X4 (basically the same device but a little bigger) only fit on larger phones like the iPhone Pro Max line.

Sure enough, the X3 magnetically attached to the back of my phone like it was custom‑made to fit.

My X3 came in the mail about two hours before I had to leave for a Phillies game, so I rushed to load books onto it, thinking it would be funny to take photos of myself reading The Power Broker in a crowded baseball stadium. Behold, my handiwork:

Image Credit: TechCrunch

How I Use It

For the first several days I carried the X3 on the back of my phone. This made me a bit nervous, since I’m used to having a Pop Socket wallet and have gotten in the habit of leaving home without my actual wallet. I found that I used the X3 just as much when I carried it in my purse or pocket rather than attaching it to my phone. I’m still not sure if I’ll keep this setup or start using a real wallet so I can attach the e‑reader, but for now that feels most natural.

The X3 shipped with a very compact, cute, magnetic case that perfectly protects the device and its screen and makes it a little easier to hold. At just $9 for the case, I’d recommend getting one. The case can also magnetize to your phone, though it feels a bit less secure than attaching the X3 alone.

Impact on My Reading Habits

Over my two weeks of testing, I did find that the X3 helped me read more. If you’re in line at a coffee shop or waiting for the bus, you can just pull out the e‑reader instead of opening Instagram. I didn’t find the small screen difficult to read on, either. But just buying the device won’t change your habits—you have to remember that you have a 3.7‑inch screen in your pocket that can fit hundreds of books.

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Firmware & Software

The Xteink X3 is pretty close to being the device of my dreams, but it’s not quite there yet. The firmware that comes with the device is a bit clunky—​not unusable, but not exactly intuitive. I expected this, since the Xteink Reddit community was buzzing about CrossPoint, a community‑made, free, open‑source firmware.

The process of downloading CrossPoint was a bit intimidating as someone who writes words rather than code, but with the instructions on CrossPoint’s website (and a few videos), it was easy enough. I encountered some difficulties at first, but then realized I was trying to download the X4 firmware onto my X3—​so… my bad. You probably won’t even need the YouTube videos!

When you start loading books and open‑source firmware onto your X3, you’ll notice another divisive aspect of the device: it doesn’t have a USB‑C port, unlike the X4. Instead, it uses a magnetic charger. Yes, it’s annoying to have yet another charging cable specifically for this one device, but I don’t mind that much. After two weeks of consistent use, my X3 has dropped from a 100 % charge to a 96 % charge, so I can’t imagine I’ll be using that magnetic charger too often.

You don’t even need the cord to add new books to your e‑reader—you can transfer files over Wi‑Fi from your phone or computer (I wouldn’t call the process user‑friendly, but I was able to figure it out without Googling anything).

Loading Books – A Drawback

Speaking of loading books, that’s another drawback. The majority of what I read on my Kindle comes from Libby, which is my favorite app (#notsponsored). The Libby app allows you to easily borrow ebooks or audiobooks from your library and send them to your Kindle. But you can’t get those ebooks (legally) onto an Xteink e‑reader, since libraries us…