Boox Unveils $339.99 Palma 3 E-Reader With Android 16 and Stylus Support

Q: Why would Boox announce the highly anticipated Palma 3 and Note Mini C without confirming when users can actually buy them?

Boox is likely using the announcement to build demand and stake out attention in a fast-moving e-ink market before logistics are fully locked in. That pattern fits the company’s broader behavior. Boox has a history of teasing products ahead of full retail availability, and current coverage around its Picco mini-reader shows the same approach: announce early, promise it is “coming soon,” and fill in timing later. With the Palma 3 and Note Mini C, Boox may want to capture interest around two especially appealing categories — compact phone-like readers and portable color note devices — while competitors such as Hisense and Bigme are also pushing new Android-based e-paper hardware. There are also practical reasons. E-ink devices often depend on constrained component supply, regional certification, software finishing, and staggered market rollout. That matters here because Boox is emphasizing unusually current software with Android 16, plus new AI and note-taking features. Announcing before confirming ship dates gives it room to finish firmware, align inventory, and avoid promising a date it may miss. The company may also be testing demand and refining launch plans by region. The Note Air6 C is available immediately, which gives Boox a live product on sale now while the Palma 3 and Note Mini C generate buzz and mailing-list signups. In short, the early reveal is likely a marketing and operational hedge: secure attention now, finalize supply and release timing later.

3 articles · Updated · The Verge · Sep 16

Boox priced the Palma 3 at $339.99, up from the Palma 2’s $279.99, and said the smartphone-sized e-reader will be available soon after a nearly two-year gap.
Android 16 and support for Boox’s InkSense Plus stylus mark the biggest functional upgrades, turning the black-and-white device more directly into a note-taking tool.
The stylus is sold separately for $46, pushing the package closer to premium e-note rivals, while the Palma 3 keeps the same 6.13-inch 300ppi E Ink Carta display.
New hardware details include an anodized aluminum frame, fiberglass back, Qualcomm Q-6690 processor, 6GB RAM, 128GB storage, a 3,950mAh battery, 16-megapixel rear camera and fingerprint reader.
The launch follows Boox’s broader Android 16 e-ink refresh announced a day earlier, which also included the Note Air6 C and upcoming Note Mini C.