Xteink X4 Pro brings touchscreen and front light to wallet-sized e-reader
Xteink X4 Pro brings touchscreen and front-light improvements to the ultra-compact e-reader, making the pocketable device a more viable main reader at a $99 launch price.
The Chinese hardware maker Xteink has released the Xteink X4 Pro, a pocket-sized e-reader that adds a touchscreen and integrated front light to the company’s tiny magnetic devices. The update addresses user feedback that earlier models relied too heavily on awkward button navigation, and positions the X4 Pro as a compact alternative to larger e-readers. Priced at $99 and available at launch directly from Xteink, the model keeps the brand’s emphasis on portability while expanding functionality.
A response to social media demand
Xteink’s small e-readers attracted attention and a cult following on social platforms for their size and magnetized design. Fans repeatedly asked for a touchscreen and a built-in light to make the devices easier to use in more situations. The X4 Pro is explicitly billed as the company’s answer to that feedback, combining the familiar pocketable form factor with a more modern input and reading experience.
Design, dimensions and pocketability
The X4 Pro retains the compact footprint that made previous Xteink models notable, measuring roughly the same as the prior X4 and tipping the scales at about 72 grams with a 5.95 mm profile. Its size allows it to magnetize to the back of a phone or slip into a pocket or wallet with minimal bulk. The display is small relative to mainstream e-readers, a tradeoff Xteink accepts to preserve the device’s ultra-portable character.
Touchscreen and front light reshape bedside reading
The most visible changes are the addition of a capacitive touchscreen and a front-lit display, features that materially change how the device is used at night. Review usage indicates the front light supports a warm tint and a low brightness level suitable for bedside reading, though the dimmest setting can still feel brighter than some dedicated night readers prefer. The front light does allow users to replace a phone or larger reader for short nightly sessions, and the touchscreen makes navigation faster than the button-only controls of earlier models.
Handling, controls and reading ergonomics
Users can turn pages by tapping the touchscreen or by using physical side buttons, offering flexibility for different grips and one-handed use. Because the display is small, readers typically hold the device closer to the face than they would a standard e-reader, which can affect comfort on long sessions and may influence how text—especially poetry or text with complex formatting—renders. For brief reads, commuter moments, and slip-in-your-pocket convenience, the ergonomics remain compelling despite the screen size trade-offs.
Battery life, charging method and software
Like other e-ink devices, the X4 Pro delivers strong battery endurance: a review device used most days for about three weeks still showed roughly 60 percent battery remaining. The front light does reduce overall longevity compared with earlier, lightless models, but standby and active use remain efficient. Xteink shifted the charging connection from USB-C in the prior X4 to a magnetic pogo-pin charger for the X4 Pro, a change that may frustrate users who prefer universal USB-C cables. On the software side, the X4 Pro ships with updated firmware and retains support for open-source modifications, though Wi-Fi and Bluetooth content transfers can feel clunky; many users will still prefer to sideload files using the microSD card and the bundled microSD-to-USB adapter.
File support, libraries and DRM limitations
The X4 Pro accepts common e-book formats such as standard EPUB files, and sideloading purchased content is straightforward. However, it cannot integrate directly with library lending apps that rely on protected DRM formats, so users cannot add many public-library e-books to the device. Amazon’s ecosystem remains closed to non-Amazon hardware as well, so Kindle purchases are not portable to the X4 Pro. These constraints mean the device is best suited to readers who buy DRM-free EPUBs or who maintain their own digital libraries.
Price, availability and intended audience
Xteink is selling the X4 Pro at a $99 launch price and initially offering it through the company’s own online store. The combination of a sub-$100 price, compact size, and new touchscreen and front-light features targets readers who want a highly portable secondary device or a low-cost, pocketable primary reader for short sessions. For those who prioritize large-format reading, advanced library access, or Kindle integration, larger e-readers remain a better fit.
The Xteink X4 Pro refines the brand’s defining concept—an e-reader small enough to carry everywhere—by adding features that broaden real-world usability. Its compromises, including a tiny screen, magnetic charging, and DRM limits, are balanced by improved nighttime reading, a touchscreen interface, and a wallet-friendly price that will appeal to a growing niche of mobile readers.
