A $150 Buttonless, Open Hardware Answer to Kindle is being crowdfunded by Open Book Touch
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 :)
https://itsfoss.com/news/open-book-touch-crowdfunding/Open linkView original on lemmy.world
129 replies
There is this as well which is cheaper and uses RISC-V instead
https://www.xteink.com/products/xteink-x4
Both look like great options though.
In the great debate of buttons be no buttons, please keep in mind that it was likely a decision about components. Just a screen makes it far cheaper and easier to manufacture.
I do agree, buttons or GTFO, but understand why there might not be any.
so.... a used kobo??
Yeah I've got a buttonless reader that I got as a gift and I'm thankful to have it but it sucks. Give me buttons.
Especially as it gets older and slower now I'll give it swipe or tap and wonder, did it register and it's just taking a while...? should I try again? five more times?? oh you've really got to let your finger linger I guess? no? huh that worked last t--oh! It's going! Oh shoot this is way too far.. so now I just have to swipe.. back.., -_-
brushes against the screen "What the hell did I just hit? Where is my screen?"
taps against the spot 50 times "Respond!!"
Buttonless ? Fuck that 😅 I want at least a home button and page turning buttons...
What's wrong with Kobo?
Nothing. I love my Kobo, I take it everywhere and it has a literal zero amount of enshittification. You can set it to sideloaded mode by connecting it to your PC which totally hides the store and Kobo's online features. I manage my books in Calibre.
One never knows. Better to have alternatives today than to hope nothing goes downhill in the future.
If you're honestly asking, one thing I just read is that you need an account to use it. Not sure if that is a downside for many.
I wish people like you would have actual understanding of the things you talk about so confidently online. You're just posting disinformation and you're absolutely wrong.
Kobo does not need any account to use. Out of the popular mainstream eReaders, it is one of the most open. You can add non-drm ebooks to it without any issues unlike the Kindle.
I've been using send.djazz.se to wirelessly transfer books to my Kobo, as well as the open source Calibre program on my laptop.
No accounts required.
Woah hold on. You can wirelessly transfer books to your Kobo?
This man's ignorance may have lead to my enlightenment.
Damn I need to look into this now. That's like the worst part. I already stream everything else from my NaS
You're welcome. Cunningham's Law is proven to work flawlessly again.
"I just read this" in a review of someone very upset about requiring an account, while the signup server was offline over Christmas. I'm very sorry I came off so "confidently", I thought writing "I read this" is a reasonable indication that this is second hand knowledge not first hand. Hearsay in a court of public opinion you could say. I guess this confidence is just my natural charisma which is my undoing again lol
It might also be that this is only true for the regional distributor in my country. I suspect my country is the original inventor of enshittification.
No you don't. I've used mine without for the better part of a year.
There are ways to skip logging-in, as I did it on my Kobo.
You do?
I reset one recently, I would have thought that the account would have been reset like the rest. Anyway it works fine with my calibre archive.
I am somehow keeping faith that the PineNote will emerge from early adoption to a fully usable e-reader and e-note device before I pass to the shadow realm. I'm sure my grandchildren will see the day.
Lots of people complaining about buttons, but most people are fine without them.
This thing will fail because of the tiny screen, not because of the lack of buttons.
Sad choice.
I doubt the screen size is an issue for most. The Xteink X4 is about 4 inch and is flying off the shelves right now
Fair, it is selling very well now. But strong sales after a viral release doesn't neccisarrily mean a market norm. Could be an interesting market trend if it starts a shift to smaller, though.
Hi, if you don’t mind sharing; What do you feel is the conversion feature from kindle? I am developing on a platform with novels and want to develop user centric features; I have feature where you get assisted highlighting of words with auto scroll so you can “follow the word” and read.
I have the architectural design in place to incorporate tts for example but would love feedback from the reading communities
Conversion feature being?
Anything that converts a guest to a user due to the offering / features
At least it still raises public awareness about the problems with this tech generally being closed-source, and paves the way for an eventually successful open-source product over the years to come!
I have an German Tolino nice system
Why buttonless? I like buttons.
Heck, a scroll wheel would be a killer feature so I don't smudge the screen with my disgusting oils
Buttons and scroll wheels cost more than touchscreens at this point… 90s me wanted touchscreens on everything, and me since maybe 2015? has been firmly “bring back buttons”
…whenever they started replacing useful things that SHOILD be buttons always (car) with touch things. Absolutely not bueno.
The cheapest Pockeboot model always had buttons (and touch screen). The more expensive ones are always touch screen only. I never got it. Buttons are a nice feature, why remove them in higher end models?
It's not that they cost MORE, they can be sub-cent per unit if you buy enough of them:
https://www.digikey.ca/en/products/filter/tactile-switches/197?s=N4IgbCBcoJYCZRAWgIwAYUgDQgA4BdFsR8BPXAU0QEMBnAYxAF8mg
Of course they cost MORE than putting all their functions on a tiny touch screen that’s already gonna be on the device!
Beyond manufacturing the device to be able to use separate physical moving pieces, you’ve also got costs supporting pieces that break in warranty, units damaged in shipping due to moving parts being tossed around, etc.
For just the part yes. Board design, programming, and manufacture costs increase with more components.
My Kobo only has a power button and it’s perfect for my needs.
My kobo has a power button, and two page turn buttons and its perfect for my needs.
Seriously, I have 4 (5 if you count the ancient kindle DX) ereaders, and the kobo is the only one I use. Will never again buy one without buttons
It’s not that hard to tap the screen to turn a page lmao
Hard, no. Uncomfortable, yes.
I'm really not looking to move my fingers much when I read. What am I supposed to do, rest my finger on the display so I can turn the page and skip 15 words per page?
I prefer physical media, but I appreciate the utility of ereaders. I, too, would prefer buttons if I used an ereader with any frequency; I still lament the disappearance of them from my phone!
However, in case this is a problem you really need fixed: my wife is an avid ereader user. She didn't like the page turning for many of the reasons you listed, so she bought a ring that has Bluetooth and a singular button. The ring connects to your reader, then when you press the button, simulates a click or screen tap. You get the page turning experience it sounds like you want and, after setup, the only thing you need to physically exert at all is your thumb.
edit: Fixed an embarrassing number of typos.
You’ve never read a real book in your life?? You do that every time you turn a real page. Quit being a baby.
At that point, why not just read a real book??
My whole reason for using an ereader is to eliminate the parts of reading physical books that annoys me, why would I buy a subpar reader that makes me do or simulates doing the actions I want to avoid?
Quit acting like a child that thinks everyone should think the way you do.
Don't know what you gain by calling names.
Different people have different likes. Its really not a hard concept. Have a fine day 👋
You make it sound as if moving your finger a few millimeters to tap on the screen then back to the frame is as exhausting as running a marathon. My touchscreen reader is 13 years old and I never even thought about this process.
No, I didn't say exhausting, I said uncomfortable. I bought my first ereader in 2009, and a lot of then in the meantime, I had devices with only buttons, only toucscreen, and both.
Using buttons for page turns is the most comfortable for me. I do appreciate a touchscreen to configure the device, select books, etc.
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.
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.
I did this as well, got it for the same price. The 4" screen wasn't the issue I had feared it to be.
Can it access OPDS feeds?
Yep! I set it up with Calibre-web as the OPDS provider, can have multiple.
According to the documentation it does have ODPS. I haven’t tried it out yet.
And you have open firmware for it: https://hackaday.com/2026/04/05/pocket-sized-e-ink-gets-a-firmware-upgrade/
Front light
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.
But I want buttons. Without buttons I always do the wrong gesture.
I read on a kindle on my bed before going to sleep, and everytime I stretch or turn over the font size changes or it advances a couple of pages. It's slowly driving me insane.
Why is "buttonless" being said like a good thing?
It’s a fact? It has no buttons. God or bad
Yes, but my point was that it was stated in a way like a feature being touted as opposed just a statement of fact, Maybe my impression was wrong, but "buttonless" immediately put me off from the device.
Might be listed as a warning for those of us that prefer button interfaces
Because buttons take space, reducing space available for the screen that has, well, the book.
The good sensor is the answer, IMO. I only wonder how should it turn on and off, then.
Having a space with no display where I can actually hold the reader makes it so much better, for me
Buttons can go on the side or back...
Sure. But would that be convenient?
I hold nothing against buttons if people really want them, but many others would just prefer a larger touchscreen, and this seems to be the target audience here.
Yes. Buttons on the sides are awesome. The Kobo libre ergonomics are fantastic even for troll-handed people like myself.
Then yeah, by all means
Hall sensor/ reed switch and it turns off when it's idle or the case closes?
Maybe
I think it is definitely a matter of preference. I dislike touchscreens in general for user interfaces. I previous ereader used a touchscreen and swiping to turn pages and I absolutely hated it. I was glad to get back to having buttons to control pages as well as settings.
yeah I like buttons and connectors. You can put plenty without making a chunky device.
I've heard good things about the xtink stuff, and they have buttons.
I have the xteink X4, and I adore it. Open source firmware you flash onto it yourself (crosspoint), based on esp32, much cheaper than this thing. Tiny device fitting easily into your pocket and so it goes with me everywhere and I use it all the time. Big recommend.
That screen is absolutely tiny.
I actually just got one of these things (https://www.xteink.com/products/xteink-x4) that has a 4" screen (WITH BUTTONS) for $55 on Amazon and I kinda love it. I think my perfect phone would be something this size with GrapheneOS support and a headphone jack.
I have seen so many videos about this exact reader! I think Switch and Click has one, too. Yep, found it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKyuLl8A4CY
I only bought mine because of a post on lobsters.
got an x3 this week. love that i can keep it in my little shirt pocket, etc. reading more already vs scrolling. buttons for the win, really. the bezel left right and top are, imho, perfect.
The x3 is actually slightly newer too, but I was already wary of the 4" size so I went for the x4. It ended up being just fine though.
yeah. my x3 seems to fit fine in my notebook holder next to my 3x5 craft paper notebooks. or shirt pocket. i might change to x4 once they start shipping again but i have already read a bunch on the 3 … its size may work out fine. i daily carry an iphone 15 the small one.. and i think thats similar in size to the x4?
The x4 is smaller than any semi-recent smartphone I am familiar with, but maybe. The x4 is smaller than a 3x5 card, so this has me doubting that the x3 is truly smaller.
I just put mine next to an identical remote to confirm it is in fact larger :)
Read so much about that thing. Make it 100$, give it a backlight and WiFi and I'll buy three...
Why not add the backlight without making it $100? It already has WiFi (and a separate worm light if the mood strikes).
I'm fine with it being cheaper as long as it has a backlight lol
Its an essential feature for me, just saying of it would make the device more expensive, so be it
Security on android ereaders is definitely disappointing. My Boox palma 2 only supports pins, not passwords. And unfortunately I don't think a pure eink would work for me. The xteink has me curious if you could make firmware to "leech" off grapheneOS' security by doing something like an SMB share to avoid having potentially pirated books unencrypted.
What I'd personally love to see is an X4 sized device with NFC, wireless charging, and Lora for meshtastic.
The x4 doesn't run Android at all, so I don't think GrapheneOS is even remotely on the table. The open source firmware I use on my (https://crosspointreader.com/) does support using Calbre over wifi though.
Opds and kosync, I'm sold :o
add.: ordered it 2 hours ago.
That's also a rather massive price difference what seems to be similar devices?
I'm impressed for the price, but no way would I have considered paying $150 for it. I was concerned about the size, but I already finished a book on it and it was perfectly fine.
Yeah that seems like a really uncomfortably small screen to read on.
I wouldn't mind if my phone was 4,2" but I want a bigger screen for reading books. Like the size of A5 or even A4 paper.
I use a Kobo app on my phone. E-Ink would be nicer, but I am going to have the phone with me anyway.
I flashed my Kobo and have a pretty similar experience now. Except with a decent size screen.
What did you flash on your Kobo?
I've had a Kobo Clara BW for about 2 years. I use it almost every day and I love it. I think it was about $140 when I bought it. They go for $160 now, but I think the bigger screen makes it a better buy than this e-reader. I love crowd-funded projects, but Kobo is a better option, imho.
The point of this one is that it's open source. There's a subset of us that find projects like this worth the extra money.
Obviously, but the point is if the screen is a postage stamp is this actually moving the needle?
Not sure where this fits nor for whom
Why did I read that as 150 buttholes?
If they are targeting the tiny ebook reader niche, they're going to have to do better on features and pricing than the upcoming refresh of the XTEINK devices.
But XTEINK is actively working to combat the flashing of open source software. It seems they had a spike in sales and interest due to their affordable hardware, but if they continue to lock aftermaket software out tech savvy people will be looking for different options.
Do you have a link to an article or something about that?
I was interested in them but all the listings on AliExpress expressly said they didn't support custom firmware. I started looking into it and it seems to be something theu did after they got popular.
Here's some info, but a lot of it is scattered around online communities: https://pocketink.io/blog/xteink-locked-or-unlocked-buying-guide/
Thanks! I bought one months ago and flashed crosspoint at the time.
But nice that you can still flash them via SD card even if they are USB locked. I guess it would be difficult to fully lock them given they just run an ESP32
Exactly, I just got a 4" model and it was 1/3 this price and has buttons and also had better open source firmware I could load on it.
They aren't even doing better than the current generation. Their version is more than double the price of the X4 and has the same screen and SoC.
1 cm seems pretty thick for something you'll spend a lot of time holding, too.
I'm looking for an open source ReMarkable alternative. A4 sized preferably. Any options out there?
I don't remember if supernote is OSS, but I've got the A6, and I think they got an A5 and A4 sized one. Pricey though.
Okay, but... Isn't pocketbook good enough?
Pocketbook is great, and runs Linux out of the box. But it's not available globally
Can I use a pocketbook with my self hosted OPDS server? My wife uses the Onleihe function it offers out of the box, but I would want to connect it to my book server.
You can install KOReader on Pocketbook ereaders (no jailbreak required), which supports OPDS
I haven't used anything like that, but a quick search brought up this:
https://github.com/j2robin/Pocketbook-OPDSClient
Aditional, Pocketbook can handle your public libary app, to read downloaded books from your public libary.
Damn, at 10mm thickness that's a chubby little SOB, nearly twice as fat as my leaf 2. And with a tiny 4.26" screen on top of that, yikes...I love my 7" screen, I'd hate to read on a screen smaller than that.
Still smaller than a novel and too thin and you can get hand cramps.
I've found the 6mm thickness is perfect for my hands, granted I have a medium-sized male hand and not a huge grappler. 10mm thickness is a little too thick IMO for a nice feeling, but not a deal breaker. The very small screen is a definite deal breaker for me though.
That's what she said
If course she did, no one likes reading on a small screen, it's terrible.
If anyone wants to see the old project: https://hackaday.io/project/192688-the-open-book
Its been around for a bit. The newest iteration looks like its trying to be more like kindle.
GH page: https://github.com/joeycastillo/The-Open-Book
I forget where but the developer goes over the cost of the physical hardware a couple of years ago somewhere. Its kinda expensive to make your own open source ebook reader from mostly scratch.
I like this version: https://www.oddlyspecificobjects.com/projects/openbook/
But can you get books to read on it? I suspect that these gadgets will get locked out of the market by the thugs.
These gadgets were locked into the market, locked out of everything else. Usually, how these things go, the community version supplies interfaces for downloading content from third parties.
Lock the gadgets out all they want. That’ll only make more interest around having all the popular new books available on platforms that thugs can’t control.
Very similar to https://diptyx.dev/
But its been around longer. Software looks really good for an esp32. Im hoping we see more of these open source ebook readers pop up.
Ooh, I like the clamshell design. Most people seem to use a flip cover for their eReaders anyway, may as well put a screen in it. 3Ah of battery is also a huge upgrade compared to the OP's 800mAh or the XTEink X4's 650mAh.
Nice, glad you like the design. I do too.
I think in theory it would be easier to repair. But it is 250 which is quite a bit.
Ill know in a couple months!
Will it handle DRM?
It's DRM-free by design. Any book you want to use in it will need to have it stripped off.
Not a huge fan of the size of the screen, but it seems nice otherwise. I actually appreciate it being a little thicker because I have big hands and gripping thin things hurts after awhile.
The specs on this are terrible. I wouldn't buy it for $29.
No buttons, no DRM, no notifications, no algorithm deciding what I should read next. Somehow an ESP32 powered e reader feels more rebellious in 2026 than most flagship gadgets. I just hope the touchscreen is good enough that turning a page does not become a mindfulness exercise.