this post was submitted on 14 Jul 2026
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A $150 Buttonless, Open Hardware Answer to Kindle is being crowdfunded by Open Book Touch (itsfoss.com)
submitted 1 week ago by FirmDistribution@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
135 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/49429587

URL for the crowdfunding: https://www.crowdsupply.com/oddly-specific-objects/open-book-touch

Specs:

  • Display: 4.26" e-paper touchscreen, 480 × 800 px, warm + cool frontlight
  • Processor: ESP32-S3 dual-core, Wi-Fi + Bluetooth LE
  • Memory: 16 MB flash, 8 MB PSRAM
  • Formats: EPUB and plain text, no DRM
  • Storage: microSD card slot
  • Interface: USB-C with integrated LiPo charging
  • Dimension: 78 × 120 × 10 mm, about 85 g
  • Open source: MIT-licensed firmware, open hardware (to be released at shipping)

It also has a replaceable 800 mAh battery, I found it cool :)

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[–] kkj@lemmy.dbzer0.com 35 points 1 week ago (5 children)

Why would you pay $150 for a 4.26" ESP32- based eReader when you could get a 4.26" ESP32-based eReader for $70 or less? The XTEink X4 is already available.

[–] kilgore_trout@feddit.it 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

You can find a comparison on the CrowdSupply page. Xteink X4 does not let you easily replace the battery, for example.

[–] kkj@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 days ago

Thanks for mentioning the comparison. It was farther down than I had previously scrolled. TL;DR frontlight, touchscreen, user-replaceable battery, but also bigger bezels, double the price, and looks to be 3D printed instead of injection-molded. Comes with open firmware instead of just allowing it, but that's a non-factor to anyone with a little computer knowledge, which I suspect includes basically every potential buyer of this sort of device.

The XTEink X4 Pro has a front light and a touchscreen, but needs a magnetic adapter to charge (comes with one and they're cheap to replace, but still an extra thing to lose). It's $110 MSRP.

[–] lunarwire@lemmy.world 19 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I recently picked up an Xteink X4 for $55. Flashed the Crosspoint firmware on it. Crosspoint just works and has no bloat. I love being able to set the device and send books via the self-hosted web interface. Sending books via wifi from Calibre works too.

Buttons on the reader are nice. I actually prefer not having a touchscreen for something so small. I do wish it had a front light though. This turned out to be the less-expensive-non-Android-just-an-ereader alternative to Boox that I was searching for. Loving it so far.

[–] roofuskit@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Can it access OPDS feeds?

[–] lunarwire@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

According to the documentation it does have ODPS. I haven’t tried it out yet.

[–] kayohtie@pawb.social 2 points 1 week ago

Yep! I set it up with Calibre-web as the OPDS provider, can have multiple.

[–] zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 week ago

I did this as well, got it for the same price. The 4" screen wasn't the issue I had feared it to be.

[–] anon_8675309@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago

Front light

[–] Grass@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago

I'd be inclined to get the cheaper one and port the firmware if the new one is better, or someone else will almost certainly make a new one that takes the best features of both.