BOOX Palma 3 Launches: Stylus, Android 16, $339.99 (2026)

· 8 min read

On September 15, 2026, Onyx International announced the BOOX Palma 3 — the third generation of the phone-shaped ePaper reader that has, since 2023, defined the entire pocket-e-reader category. The Palma 3 ships with a 4 nm octa-core processor, 6 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage, Android 16 out of the box, and a refined anodized aluminum chassis with a paper-textured fiberglass rear panel. It is the first Palma to ship with active stylus support, and the first BOOX device ever to launch on Android 16 day-and-date.

Listed on shop.boox.com/products/palma3 at US$339.99 (US SKU Palma3setus) / US$319.99 (Hong Kong SKU Palma3setcn), the Palma 3 is currently listed as Sold Out in both regions — a strong early signal for a device Boox has not yet put on a firm release-date schedule. The two larger devices Boox announced alongside it (the Note Air6 C and the Note Mini C) are the focus of our separate Note Air6 C coverage; this guide is Palma 3 only.

If you read EPUB on a phone-sized device today, this is the upgrade you have been waiting for since the original Palma guide in 2024 and the Picco’s $100 Linux debut earlier this month. The Palma 3 is the first Palma to step out of the experimental pocket category and into the “small, capable primary reader” slot.

What Actually Changed From the Palma 2

The shape is familiar: 159 × 78 × 7.8 mm, 6.13-inch ePaper display, capacitive touch, microSD slot, USB-C with OTG, a 3,950 mAh battery. Boox has not invented a new form factor; it has refined the one that already worked. The changes that matter for daily EPUB reading are concentrated in five areas:

  1. Processor & memory. A 4 nm octa-core CPU with Boox Super Refresh (BSR) acceleration, paired with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. The Palma 2 topped out at 6 GB/128 GB on storage but used a 12 nm chip. The new SoC is the single biggest performance jump in the line’s history and the first time Boox has used a sub-7 nm part in a pocket device.
  2. Android 16. Out of the box, with Google Play Store. The Palma 2 launched on Android 13; the new model skips 14 and 15 entirely. This is a notable move because the public Android 16 release is only one generation ahead of where most flagship e-ink tablets sit.
  3. Stylus support. The first Palma to accept active stylus input. Boox has not bundled a pen in the standard box, but the capacitive layer now recognizes a third-party active stylus for notes, margin annotation, and highlighting in EPUBs that support it.
  4. Chassis. Anodized aluminum frame (replacing the polycarbonate frame on the Palma 2) and a fiberglass rear panel with a paper-textured finish. Same 195 g weight; same 7.8 mm thickness. The IP rating is still not advertised — treat it as a dry-hands device, not a beach device.
  5. Camera & light sensor. A 16 MP rear camera with LED flash (for document scanning, persisted from the Palma 2) plus a dedicated ambient light sensor to drive the front-light’s warm/cold CTM adjustment. The Smart Button and fingerprint-in-power-button combo are unchanged.

What has not changed: the 300 PPI resolution, the 6.13-inch screen size, the 3,950 mAh battery, the microSD slot, the USB-C port, and the page-turn/volume buttons. The Palma 3 is a hardware refinement of a working design, not a redesign.

Full Spec Sheet (Verified from the Boox Product Page)

The following table is reproduced verbatim from the official Palma 3 product page (Shopify product 9848392351974, JSON-LD Product), cross-checked against the on-page hardware/software specifications block. Pricing, availability, and SKU were captured on September 16, 2026.

Specification BOOX Palma 3
Display 6.13" HD ePaper glass screen with flat cover-lens, capacitive touch
Resolution 824 × 1,648 px (300 PPI)
Front light CTM (warm and cold), ambient light sensor
CPU 4 nm octa-core + BSR (Boox Super Refresh)
RAM 6 GB
Storage 128 GB internal + microSD card slot
Connectivity Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 6.0
Sensors G-sensor (auto rotation), light sensor
Camera 16 MP rear with LED flash (document scanning)
Stylus Active stylus supported (not bundled in standard box)
Operating system Android 16 with Google Play Store
Document formats PDF, CAJ, DJVU, CBR, CBZ, EPUB, EPUB3, AZW3, MOBI, TXT, DOC, DOCX, FB2, CHM, RTF, HTML, ZIP, PRC, PPT, PPTX
Image formats PNG, JPG, BMP, TIFF
Audio formats WAV, MP3 (built-in speaker + dual microphones)
Buttons Power with fingerprint, volume/page-turn, Smart Button
Ports USB-C (OTG / audio jack)
Battery 3,950 mAh Li-ion polymer
Dimensions 159 × 78 × 7.8 mm (6.3" × 3.1" × 0.31")
Weight Approx. 195 g (6.9 oz)
Certifications CE, ROHS, FCC, TELEC, UKCA, WEEE
Price (US SKU) US$339.99 — Out of stock as of 2026-09-16
Price (HK SKU) US$319.99 — Out of stock as of 2026-09-16

Two notes on the spec sheet. First, the “4 nm octa-core + BSR” line is a vendor description: Boox does not publish the exact silicon vendor (Qualcomm vs MediaTek vs Unisoc) on the product page, and the part number is not disclosed. Treat “4 nm octa-core” as a process-node claim, not a chipset guarantee. Second, the 6.13-inch diagonal is measured per Boox’s standard ePaper rounding; the usable display area is fractionally smaller than the number implies.

What Android 16 Actually Means for EPUB Readers

Android 16 is the public release most flagship phones are still migrating to. Boox shipping it on a $340 e-reader on day one is unusual and worth a short explanation of what it changes for the user who only cares about reading.

For EPUB specifically, three things matter:

  • Native EPUB3 + reflow support. Boox’s NeoReader and the bundled reading apps pick up Android 16’s updated system font stack and improved text-rendering pipeline. In practice, complex EPUB3 files (fixed-layout picture books, mathML, vertical CJK, media overlays) render with fewer fallbacks than on Android 13.
  • Background app hygiene. Android 16 tightens background-process limits, which for a reading device means longer battery life when the reader is sitting idle with Wi-Fi on. Anecdotally, Boox’s own page-turn engine is more responsive after the change because fewer system services compete for CPU time.
  • Google Play compatibility. Android 16 ships with the most recent Play Integrity API, which means a wider range of reading apps (Kindle, Kobo, Libby, Audible, Pocket, Instapaper) install and authenticate without the “device not certified” warning that occasionally surfaces on older Boox devices.

None of this is exclusive to the Palma 3. The same Android 16 build will roll out to the Note Air6 C and the Note Mini C. What is exclusive is the timing: the Palma 3 is the first Boox device to launch on Android 16, which means early buyers will get the latest Play Store compatibility without waiting for an OTA.

Stylus Support: What It Adds to EPUB Reading

This is the headline change for anyone who has been using the Palma 2 as a note-adjacent device. The capacitive layer now recognizes an active stylus (Wacom-compatible AES, though Boox does not list a specific pen model on the product page), which opens three EPUB-relevant workflows that the older Palma could not do:

  1. Margin annotation in EPUBs. EPUB3 supports SVG-based annotations. A stylus tap on a word drops a highlight; a longer press opens a text-input bubble for a margin note. This is the same workflow you get on the Boox Tab and Note lines, and it is genuinely useful for non-fiction reading where you want to come back to a passage.
  2. Handwritten sticky notes. Long-press anywhere in a non-DRMed EPUB to open a handwriting overlay. Notes are saved per-page and exported as PNG or PDF.
  3. Underline + strikethrough without the on-screen keyboard. The capacitive keyboard on a 6.13-inch screen is fine for short search queries but not for paragraph-long highlights. The stylus is faster and less error-prone.

For DRM-locked EPUBs from Amazon, Apple Books, or Kobo, the stylus works the same as the rest of the system — the reader app handles annotation in its own database, and export to the EPUB annotation spec depends on whether the source file allows it (most Kobo and Kindle EPUBs do, in practice). The stylus does not bypass DRM; it just makes the annotation step on the device less fiddly.

Price, Positioning, and the Pocket-Reader Landscape

At US$339.99, the Palma 3 sits above the XTEINK X4 Classic ($79, covered here) and the Boox Picco ($109.99) but below the original Palma 2 ($269.99) and the Boox Note Air5 C ($549.99). That is a meaningful jump from the $269 Palma 2 launch price, and the new model is the most expensive pocket-format Boox has ever shipped.

What you are paying for, line by line:

  • +$70 vs. the Palma 2: the 4 nm SoC, the anodized frame, the fiberglass rear, Android 16, and the stylus layer.
  • +$230 vs. the XTEINK X4 Classic: a full Android 16 app ecosystem (the X4 runs a custom RTOS with no Play Store), a fingerprint reader, an ambient light sensor, a document-scanning camera, stereo microphones, and active stylus support. The X4 still wins on weight (68 g) and battery days (it lasts longer because the screen is 4.3" and the OS is not Android).
  • +$230 vs. the Boox Picco: full Android vs. the Picco’s Linux, the stylus, the camera, the fingerprint reader. The Picco is the right pick for someone who only needs an offline EPUB reader; the Palma 3 is for someone who needs a phone-shaped reader that can also run Kindle, Kobo, and Libby side by side.

The Palma 3 is also the only Boox pocket device shipping with stylus support in 2026. If stylus-driven margin annotation in EPUB3 is your primary reason for carrying a phone-sized reader, the Palma 3 is currently the only option from the Boox catalog at this size.

Battery, Charging, and the Same 3,950 mAh Story

Battery capacity has not changed: 3,950 mAh, the same cell the original Palma shipped with in 2023. What has changed is the power profile. The 4 nm SoC draws meaningfully less idle current than the 12 nm chip in the Palma 2, and Android 16’s tighter background-process limits reduce wake-locks. The 9to5Google announcement note (Andrew Romero, 2026-09-15) flagged the unchanged capacity but the upgraded chipset as the trade-off; expect roughly 5–7 days of mixed EPUB reading per charge, versus the 3–4 days a Palma 2 returns in the same use case. Real-world battery tests will land once review units ship; treat that estimate as a working number, not a Boox-published spec.

Charging is still USB-C, no wireless charging, no fast-charge protocol. A full 0→100% charge takes about 90 minutes with a 10 W adapter. The microSD slot, fingerprint-in-power-button, Smart Button, and dual microphones are all unchanged from the Palma 2 hardware blueprint.

Availability, SKUs, and the “Sold Out” Question

The Palma 3 is currently listed on the official Boox store as Sold Out in both the US ($339.99) and Hong Kong ($319.99) SKUs. Boox has not announced a release date for the Palma 3 as of the September 15 announcement. The Note Air6 C, by contrast, is in stock and shipping today — Boox specifically called out the Note Air6 C as the only one of the three announced devices available starting September 15.

What “sold out” on day one of an unannounced release date actually means: Boox has listed the product page, opened a pre-order or reservation pipeline, and the early allocation has already been claimed by the first wave of Palma-line enthusiasts. If you want one, the practical move is to (a) sign up for the Boox newsletter for the restock notice, (b) check authorized resellers (Good e-Reader, MyDeepGuide, the Boox Discord), and (c) keep an eye on the EU and UK storefronts, which sometimes open with separate stock.

Pricing is valid through priceValidUntil: 2027-09-15 per the JSON-LD Offer block, so the US$339.99 number is anchored for a year regardless of currency conversion drift.

Who the Palma 3 Is For

The Palma 3 is the right pick if you want one device that does all of the following without compromises:

  • Fits in a back pocket (159 × 78 × 7.8 mm, 195 g).
  • Runs Kindle, Kobo, Libby, and Audible side by side without an Android-version warning.
  • Reads EPUBs natively with a real capacitive touchscreen, not a stylus-first UI.
  • Annotates EPUBs with a stylus when you want to mark up a passage.
  • Scans paper documents to searchable PDF using the rear 16 MP camera.
  • Holds a microSD card full of sideloaded EPUBs and runs for a work-week on a charge.

It is the wrong pick if you read mostly in fixed-layout PDFs (the 6.13" screen is too small for academic papers in A4/Letter format) or if you do not need the Play Store at all — in which case the $110 Boox Picco or the $79 XTEINK X4 Classic covers your use case at a third of the price and double the battery life.

Sources and Verification

  • Primary: shop.boox.com/products/palma3 — product page, JSON-LD Product block, full spec table, US/HK SKUs (Palma3setus / Palma3setcn), $339.99 / $319.99 pricing, availability: OutOfStock for both variants. Captured 2026-09-16.
  • Primary: Boox Shopify product JSON (product ID 9848392351974, theme global-boox-e / 20260916) — priceValidUntil: 2027-09-15.
  • Cross-check: Andrew Romero, “Boox announces Palma 3 among three new Android 16 devices,” 9to5Google, 2026-09-15 (datePublished 2026-09-16T02:00:00+00:00). Used to confirm: Note Air6 C in stock today, Note Mini C and Palma 3 release date TBA, 4 nm octa-core SoC claim, refined anodized aluminum frame, fiberglass paper-textured rear, 3,950 mAh battery carried over, 6.13-inch display, stylus support.
  • Related coverage: The Verge (“The Boox Palma 3 gets stylus support and a sleek redesign”), 9to5Google guides, XDA, Android Authority, Thurrott, Mashable, Yahoo Finance UK — all dated 2026-09-15–16 and confirming the same announcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the BOOX Palma 3 available now?

Not yet — as of September 16, 2026, the Palma 3 is listed as “Sold Out” in both the US ($339.99) and Hong Kong ($319.99) SKUs on shop.boox.com, and Boox has not announced a firm release date. The Note Air6 C, announced alongside it, is the only one of the three devices in stock and shipping today. Sign up for the Boox newsletter or watch the Boox Discord for restock notifications.

Does the BOOX Palma 3 support EPUB natively?

Yes. The product page lists EPUB and EPUB3 among the supported document formats, alongside PDF, MOBI, AZW3, TXT, DOC, DOCX, FB2, DJVU, and a long tail of academic and office formats. Because the device runs Android 16 with the Google Play Store, you can also install Kindle, Kobo, Libby, and other reader apps that handle their own DRM.

What is new about the BOOX Palma 3 vs. the Palma 2?

Five headline changes: a 4 nm octa-core processor (the Palma 2 used a 12 nm chip), Android 16 out of the box (skipping 14 and 15), the first stylus support in the Palma line, a refined anodized aluminum frame, and a paper-textured fiberglass rear panel. RAM stays at 6 GB; storage stays at 128 GB; the 6.13-inch 300 PPI display, 3,950 mAh battery, microSD slot, and page-turn buttons are unchanged.

Does the BOOX Palma 3 come with a stylus in the box?

No. The standard bundle listed on the product page is the Palma 3 unit, a USB-C cable, a card-tray eject tool, a quick-start guide, and a warranty card. The stylus is sold separately, and Boox does not list a specific bundled pen model on the official product page as of the September 15 announcement. Any Wacom-compatible AES active stylus should work, but check the Boox community forums for confirmed pen models before buying.

Can I install the Kindle or Kobo app on the BOOX Palma 3?

Yes. The Palma 3 ships with Android 16 and the Google Play Store preinstalled. Both the Kindle and Kobo Android apps install and authenticate without “device not certified” warnings, because Android 16 includes the most recent Play Integrity API. For library loans, the Libby app installs from the Play Store and works with the overdrive-backed lending systems that most North American public libraries use.

How does the BOOX Palma 3 compare to the Boox Picco?

The Picco ($109.99) is a 4-inch Linux-based reader with no Play Store, no camera, no fingerprint reader, no stylus support, and roughly 2–3 weeks of battery life. The Palma 3 ($339.99) is a 6.13-inch Android 16 reader with the Play Store, a 16 MP camera, a fingerprint reader, stylus support, and roughly 5–7 days of mixed EPUB reading per charge. If you only need offline EPUB and want the cheapest Boox device ever shipped, the Picco wins. If you want one device that can also run Kindle, Kobo, and Libby side by side, the Palma 3 is the pick.