How This Little Device Rekindled My Love for Reading

Just to be clear to everyone, I’m not that kind of a reader where I can just read a book in just one sitting, but I do love reading and books. When I was in elementary and high school, I would spend my spare time reading books in the library and every day I would borrow books that I can read at home. Books were a luxury for me at that time. With the money I have saved from my allowance, I could only buy books at secondhand bookstores, and I would spend a lot of time choosing which ones that I would buy. 

The Struggle with Unread Books

I just love the smell of new books, and I am guilty of buying a lot and end up either reading a few pages or not reading it at all. There is a Japanese word for people who are like that – tsundoku (積ん読). Seeing those stacks of unread books makes me feel disappointed and every year I promise myself that I will read it all. Then I saw this little device online. It did not solve my “tsundoku” problem, but it somehow got me back to reading.

My Experience with the XTEink X4

Initial Hesitation and Community Support

I first discovered the XTEink X4 while browsing Shopee. Although the device initially caught my attention, I hesitated to purchase it because I wasn’t impressed with its interface. It looked like a generic e-reader, featuring only one font and an unappealing user interface. After spending time watching YouTube reviews and reading about other users’ experiences on Reddit, I eventually convinced myself to give the device a try. The decision wasn’t immediate, but what reassured me was learning about the active community that supports the XTEink X4. Both its creators and fellow readers are continuously working to improve the user experience. Once I decided to buy it, I just had to wait until it finally arrived.

Exploring Features and Customization

When my XTEink X4 arrived, I was so engrossed in exploring its features that I lost track of time and noticed it was already past midnight. The device came with a free SD card, so the first thing I did was load it with ebooks from my PC. I also downloaded images to use as wallpapers for when the device is in sleep mode. Since I wasn’t satisfied with the pre-installed font, I tried to download and install new fonts, but unfortunately, I couldn’t get them to work. After reading through user recommendations, I decided to try a firmware called Crosspoint, which many users had praised. The firmware looked much better than the stock version, and the fonts were aesthetically pleasing. It could also display images embedded within ePUB files and set the cover of the last book read as the wallpaper when the device is in sleep mode. Installing the firmware was straightforward, as it could be done online while the device was connected via USB. Although there are several other firmware options available, I’ve decided to stick with Crosspoint for now.

Reading Progress and Benefits

To my surprise, I was able to finish reading Flipped by Wendelin von Draanen in just a few days. Usually, I find myself stuck on a chapter and stop reading, but this time was different. I suspect that using a larger device can be overwhelming due to the sheer volume of text displayed, whereas the XTEink X4 felt more manageable. The e-ink screen was also less tiring on my eyes, allowing me to read more in one sitting—or even while standing on the train—compared to regular LCD screens. Now, I’m halfway through Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and hope to finish it soon.

Reflection and Invitation

That’s how the XTEink X4 rekindled my passion for reading. How has your reading experience been with the XTEink X4?