Xteink has marked down its X4 and X3 e-readers by 20% through Amazon's Prime Day promotions, bringing the X4 to $55.20 from $69 and the X3 to $63.20 from $79. The discount represents the most accessible pricing yet on a product that occupies a category niche neither Kindle nor Kobo has entered: e-readers compact enough to pocket and magnetic enough to mount on the back of a MagSafe-compatible smartphone.
What the Price Cut Actually Buys
The Xteink X4, at $55.20 on Amazon, is the larger of the two devices. It features physical buttons for page-turning — a deliberate hardware choice that sidesteps the need for a touchscreen — and delivers excellent battery life alongside multiple methods for loading books and documents. The tradeoff is navigation: without a touchscreen, moving through the bundled software using buttons alone can be cumbersome. Critically, neither the X4 nor the X3 connects to a dedicated online bookstore, which separates them structurally from Kindle and Kobo ecosystems where content and hardware are tightly coupled.
The X3, at $63.20, is the pricier but more pocketable option. Its button layout improves on the X4's, and its magnetic mount is compatible with a broader range of smaller smartphones. The engineering compromise here is the charging cable: the X3 uses a proprietary magnetic USB cord, which becomes a meaningful inconvenience for anyone who misplaces accessories.
The Software Asterisk
Both devices ship with bundled software that the hands-on assessment describes as rough around the edges. Amazon's Prime Day versions of both models can, however, be upgraded to CrossPoint Reader, a free third-party firmware that delivers a more polished interface. That upgrade path matters for buyers weighing the out-of-box experience against long-term usability; the hardware is capable, but as sold, it depends on the user's willingness to install alternative software.
The Competitive Position
Xteink's core argument is form factor. Both models are meaningfully smaller and more pocketable than any current Kindle or Kobo offering, and the MagSafe magnetic mount integration has no direct analog in the incumbent e-reader market. For a buyer who already manages content outside a proprietary bookstore ecosystem — sideloaded EPUBs, PDFs, document files — and wants a device that disappears into a pocket or adheres to the back of an iPhone, the $55.20 X4 and $63.20 X3 represent a reasonably priced experiment. The Prime Day window is this week; both units are available through Amazon and directly from Xteink at full price.