Xteink Unveils $109 X4 Pro E-Reader With Backlight and 1,100mAh Battery

Q: As the world adopts universal USB-C, why did this new e-reader revert to a proprietary magnetic charger?

Xteink likely switched to a proprietary magnetic pogo-pin charger to protect the X4 Pro’s core selling point: extreme compactness. On a 4.3-inch e-reader that is only 5.95mm thick and 72g, a pogo-pin system can take up less internal space than a full USB-C port and gives engineers more flexibility to fit the frontlight, touchscreen hardware and battery without making the device larger. There are also practical design advantages. Magnetic pogo connectors are commonly used in very small electronics because they can be easier to seal against dust and moisture, reduce wear from repeated plugging and unplugging, and make charging simpler in low light. Those benefits fit an e-reader meant for portable, casual use, especially now that the X4 Pro is explicitly aimed at reading after dark. The trade-off is convenience. USB-C has become the standard because it cuts cable clutter, lowers replacement costs and aligns with rules such as the EU’s common charger push. Rival e-readers from Amazon and Kobo have largely embraced USB-C, so Xteink’s move runs against the broader market. Xteink appears to be trying to soften that drawback by including a USB-C-to-pogo adapter in the box. That suggests the company knows users still expect USB-C compatibility, even if it chose a magnetic connector for industrial design reasons rather than ecosystem lock-in alone.

3 articles · Updated · Gizmodo · Jul 21

$109 X4 Pro adds the feature the original lacked most—an adjustable-warmth backlight—making Xteink’s 4.3-inch pocket e-reader usable in dark settings.
The new model also lifts battery capacity to 1,100mAh from 650mAh and adds a touchscreen, while keeping the tiny 72g form factor that helped the X4 go viral.
Xteink still makes trade-offs: the screen tops out at 219 ppi, below entry-level Kindles’ 300 ppi, and the company swapped USB-C for a pogo-pin charging port.
That leaves the X4 Pro positioned less as a Kindle rival than as a rare ultra-compact e-reader around $100, well below pricier pocketable alternatives like Boox’s Palma line.