Xteink X4 Pro Debuts at $99, but 4.26-Inch E-Reader Stumbles in Early Review

Q: As the world adopts universal USB-C, why did this new e-reader revert to a proprietary magnetic charger?

Xteink likely switched to a proprietary magnetic pogo-pin charger to protect the X4 Pro’s core selling point: extreme compactness. On a 4.3-inch e-reader that is only 5.95mm thick and 72g, a pogo-pin system can take up less internal space than a full USB-C port and gives engineers more flexibility to fit the frontlight, touchscreen hardware and battery without making the device larger. There are also practical design advantages. Magnetic pogo connectors are commonly used in very small electronics because they can be easier to seal against dust and moisture, reduce wear from repeated plugging and unplugging, and make charging simpler in low light. Those benefits fit an e-reader meant for portable, casual use, especially now that the X4 Pro is explicitly aimed at reading after dark. The trade-off is convenience. USB-C has become the standard because it cuts cable clutter, lowers replacement costs and aligns with rules such as the EU’s common charger push. Rival e-readers from Amazon and Kobo have largely embraced USB-C, so Xteink’s move runs against the broader market. Xteink appears to be trying to soften that drawback by including a USB-C-to-pogo adapter in the box. That suggests the company knows users still expect USB-C compatibility, even if it chose a magnetic connector for industrial design reasons rather than ecosystem lock-in alone.

3 articles · Updated · Mashable · Jul 21

$99 buys Xteink’s second-generation X4 Pro, a tiny e-reader the reviewer found glitchy enough to freeze repeatedly and require restarts.
The 4.26-inch device adds a touchscreen, frontlight and MagSafe-compatible magnetic back, while offering 10-plus hours of battery life, 219 ppi resolution and microSD expansion up to 256GB.
Its biggest limitation is format support: the X4 Pro handles only DRM-free PDF and MOBI books, plus JPG and BMP files, making it a poor fit for most mainstream e-book buyers.
A magnetic pogo-pin charging setup also drew criticism for feeling easy to dislodge or lose, leaving article syncing through the Xteink app as one of the few standout use cases.
That leaves the X4 Pro positioned as a niche ultra-portable reader rather than a broad Kindle or Kobo rival, despite its unusually compact, phone-back-sized design.