The Boox Palma 2 is an incremental update to the original Palma, keeping much of what made the first model appealing. Priced at $279.99, the Palma 2 retains its compact size and E Ink screen, making it a great device for reading books, articles, and documents.
Its simplicity and long battery life are still key selling points, with the device capable of lasting four to five days on a single charge. For those looking for a minimalist, distraction-free experience, the Palma 2 continues to be a solid choice.
However, despite the updated chip and Android 13, the performance improvements in the Palma 2 are minimal. While the new processor performs better in benchmarks, particularly in graphics tasks, there’s little noticeable difference in everyday use.
Apps still take time to open, and page turns can be slightly sluggish. The performance gap between the Palma 2 and modern smartphones is wide, with the Palma 2 lagging behind in speed and responsiveness. The device remains functional but doesn’t offer the kind of performance boost some users might expect.
Beyond the internal changes, the Palma 2’s design and hardware are nearly identical to the original. It still features 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a 16-megapixel camera for document scanning. The camera quality is adequate but unimpressive.
The power button has been slightly redesigned to include a fingerprint reader for added security, though it’s slow and unreliable. The plastic body still feels cheap, and the screen has the same noticeable gap between the glass and the display. Despite these shortcomings, the Palma 2 continues to impress with its simple functionality.
Onyx could have taken the opportunity to improve several aspects of the Palma, such as adding a SIM card slot to transform it into a more capable device or upgrading the overall build quality. A price reduction could have also made it more competitive.
Instead, the company stuck with the same basic design, making only small adjustments that don’t dramatically change the user experience. While the Palma 2 is fine for those who are happy with the original, it doesn’t offer much for users who expected more substantial changes or upgrades.
The Boox Palma 2 is a competent device for those seeking a straightforward e-reader that also runs Android apps. It’s especially useful for reading and media consumption in a minimalist format. However, it feels like a missed opportunity for Onyx to make the Palma line truly stand out. Until other companies start competing in this space, the Palma 2 will remain a decent option, but it’s clear that there’s room for improvement in both performance and design.
