Author tests Xteink X3 e-reader to curb doomscrolling

8 articles · Updated · TechCrunch · May 3

After two weeks, the $80, 3.7-inch device attached magnetically to an iPhone 16 and encouraged more reading, though its firmware felt clunky and its proprietary magnetic charger was inconvenient.
The reviewer said open-source CrossPoint firmware improved usability, battery drain was minimal at 100% to 96%, and books could be transferred over Wi-Fi despite a setup that was not especially user-friendly.
Major limits remain: it cannot legally access Kindle purchases or Libby library ebooks, but its app-free, non-touch design and support for standard .epub files give it a deliberately simple appeal.

In an e-reader market dominated by Amazon, can a tiny, minimalist device survive without access to mainstream books?

Can a gadget truly cure our doomscrolling, or is it merely a high-tech placebo for a lack of self-control?

With a smarter model on the horizon, is the future of anti-distraction tech more features, not fewer?