Boox Palma 3 and New E-Ink Devices Get Android 16, With a $339.99 Price Tag for the New Palma
Boox has announced three new Android-based E-Ink devices, including the Note Air6 C, Note Mini C, and Palma 3. All three launch with Android 16, while the Palma 3 brings a redesigned aluminum-and-fiberglass body and a $339.99 starting price.
All three devices come with Android 16 out of the box, continuing Boox’s approach of combining a paper-like E-Ink display with access to the Android app ecosystem and Google Play Store.
The Note Air6 C is already available, while the Note Mini C and Palma 3 are scheduled to become available later.
1. Boox’s New Devices
The new lineup covers three different form factors.
The Note Air6 C is the largest model and is designed as a color E-Ink tablet. The Note Mini C takes a smaller, more portable tablet approach, while the Palma 3 continues Boox’s smartphone-sized E-Ink reader design.
Despite their different sizes and intended uses, all three devices share the same major software update: Android 16 comes preinstalled.
That gives the devices access to Android applications while retaining the paper-like characteristics of E-Ink displays.
2. Boox Note Air6 C
The Note Air6 C is the largest of the three new devices.
It features a 10.3-inch color E-Ink display using Kaleido 3 technology. The screen can be used with the included Pen3 stylus, making the device suitable for writing and document work as well as reading.
The tablet also has a front light with temperature controls, allowing users to adjust the lighting according to their preference.
Boox has equipped the Note Air6 C with a new internal processor and a 3,700mAh battery.
One of the processor’s supported features is Dual Notes, which allows two documents to be displayed in a split-screen layout so they can be annotated at the same time.
The device also includes AI-based features such as transcription and document scanning.
Boox claims that the upgraded refresh-rate performance can improve performance by up to 40%.
The Note Air6 C became available on September 15, 2026, making it the only one of the three new models available at launch.
3. Boox Note Mini C
The Boox Note Mini C was not yet available to order.
It is designed for users who want a more portable E-Ink tablet while retaining the color display and Android experience.
The device has an 8.52-inch Kaleido 3 color E-Ink display and includes a front light.
Under the hood, it uses an octa-core processor and has a 3,150mAh battery.
According to the article’s assessment, that battery capacity could provide relatively long usage for an E-Ink device, although actual battery life will depend on how the tablet is used.
4. Boox Palma 3
The Boox Palma 3 is the new generation of Boox’s smartphone-sized E-Ink reader series.
Its compact form factor makes it look similar to an Android smartphone at first glance, but it uses an E-Ink display instead of a conventional OLED smartphone screen.
The Palma 3 has a 6.13-inch, 300ppi E Ink Carta display. The display technology remains similar to the previous Palma generation.
One of the most visible changes is the exterior.
Instead of the plastic exterior used on previous models, the Palma 3 features an anodized aluminum frame. Its rear panel is made from fiberglass and has a paper-textured feel.
The Palma 3 is priced at $339.99 and is listed as “available soon.”
That is $60 more than the $279.99 launch price of the Palma 2.
Inside, the Palma 3 uses a Qualcomm Q-6690 octa-core processor, paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.
Storage can also be expanded with a microSD card.
The device has a 3,950mAh rechargeable battery, the same capacity reported for the original Palma.
On the rear, there is a 16-megapixel camera, while the power button incorporates an integrated fingerprint reader.
Stylus support is another new functionality upgrade for the Palma 3.
5. Palma 3’s Hardware Changes
The most obvious change to the Palma 3 is its exterior design.
The new anodized aluminum frame replaces the previous plastic design and gives the compact E-Ink device a different physical construction.
The rear fiberglass panel also has a paper-like texture, reinforcing the device’s focus on reading and paper-style interaction.
The display itself has not received a major size or technology change. It remains a 6.13-inch 300ppi E Ink Carta display.
The hardware update instead focuses on the redesigned body alongside the processor, RAM and storage specifications.
The Palma 3 also arrives with Android 16 preinstalled, making the software version another significant change in the new generation.
6. Android 16
All three new Boox devices launch with Android 16.
That is notable because E-Ink devices have often arrived with older versions of Android rather than the latest operating system.
The Palma 3 brings Android 16 to Boox’s compact smartphone-style E-Ink category, while the Note Air6 C and Note Mini C bring the same software platform to larger tablet-style devices.
Because they use Android, the devices can access the broader Android application ecosystem, including apps available through the Google Play Store.
This gives the new E-Ink models a different approach from traditional dedicated e-readers that are primarily built around reading rather than general-purpose applications.
7. E-Ink Devices and Their Use Cases
E-Ink devices provide a different experience from conventional OLED smartphones and tablets.
Their paper-like display is one of their defining characteristics, making them particularly suited to reading and other tasks where users may prefer an E-Ink screen.
Boox combines that display technology with Android, allowing its devices to go beyond traditional e-reader functions.
The new models can be used for reading, note-taking, document work and Android applications, with the exact experience depending on the device.
The larger Note Air6 C is oriented toward tablet-style work and document interaction, while the smaller Note Mini C emphasizes portability.
The Palma 3 takes the concept further into a compact smartphone-sized format while maintaining its E-Ink display.
8. Availability and Pricing Snapshot
| Device | Display | Battery | Price / Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boox Note Air6 C | 10.3-inch Kaleido 3 color E-Ink | 3,700mAh | Available; starting September 15 |
| Boox Note Mini C | 8.52-inch Kaleido 3 color E-Ink | 3,150mAh | Not yet available to order |
| Boox Palma 3 | 6.13-inch, 300ppi E Ink Carta | 3,950mAh | $339.99; “available soon” |
The three devices give Boox a broader Android E-Ink lineup across different sizes.
The Note Air6 C is already available, while the Note Mini C and Palma 3 are still awaiting availability. The Palma 3 also represents a higher starting price than its predecessor, with its $339.99 launch price sitting $60 above the Palma 2’s $279.99 launch price.
