Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The DuRoBo Krono is a new phone-sized e-ink reader with a very familiar feel. In fact, it appears to have quite a lot in common with the BOOX Palma 2, but it adds one obvious difference: a scroll wheel.
Check out the DuRoBo Krono at Amazon: amzn.to/3S9EKf9
And the DuRoBo Moodi: amzn.to/4abcyPb
Here's the top 10 phones if you are interested: youtu.be/yFptQHdaDS8
In this first look and review, I compare the DuRoBo Krono with the BOOX Palma 2, look at the hardware similarities, test the scroll wheel, try the Moody Bluetooth page turner, and think through who this kind of pocket e-reader is really for.
It is not the most original device in the world, but that may not be a problem. A fast, pocketable, Android-based e-ink reader with a 300ppi screen, a front light, Google Play, document transfer, AI voice recording and a physical scroll control could be a very useful thing — especially if you mostly read web articles, newsletters, digital newspapers and long text on your phone.
The big questions are whether the wheel is useful enough, whether losing the fingerprint reader matters, and whether this does enough to stand apart from the BOOX Palma 2 and Palma 2 Pro.
----
Here's the Top Ten E-Ink phones from October 2025:
*Boox Palma 2 Pro* :
US and HK: shop.boox.com/products/palma2pro?_gl=1%2Aardcn9%2A_ga%2AMTAwMjU3NTI3MS4xNzYxMDIwMTg5%2A_ga_DFJBLRCQEQ%2AczE3NjEwMjAxODkkbzEkZzAkdDE3NjEwMjAxODkkajYwJGwwJGgw&ref=0t1qqbSDWLMb
EU and UK: euroshop.boox.com/products/palma2pro?ref=my_f5MKKrpQRge&variant=52466704712043
Bigme's new HiBreak S is now available and may well be the cheapest way to get a 5.8" e-ink phone. It's available in black and white or colour, and if you don't need the finger print reader, this might be entirely enough e-ink phone for you.
https://store.bigme.vip/products/bigme-hibreak-s-4g-color-epaper-smartphone-with-android-14-os?ref=m70ez2cm&variant=45062829932723
Here's the ViWoods AI Paper Reader:
US (and world): viwoods.com/?ref=KITBETTSMASTERS
EU (and UK): https://viwoods-eu.com?sca_ref=10104379.G2oU9ZSEONIXcYYv
And at Amazon: amzn.to/48mpa4f
Check out the Bigme HiBreak Pro Colour the E-Ink Smartphone that I use
https://store.bigme.vip/products/bigme-hibreak-pro-color-6-e-ink-eye-friendly-smartphone-with-4g-5g-connection?ref=m70ez2cm&variant=44992853147827
And at Amazon: amzn.to/3Io3L1x
The Black and White E-ink phone, *Bigme HiBreak Pro* https://store.bigme.vip/pages/hibreak-pro-landing-page?ref=m70ez2cm&srsltid=AfmBOoqYGBvQe06JaRFr8dIzHFc0PUyFxyRb97772J1kV9N-BalqUO3W
Here's the Mudita Kompakt. And you can get 15% off with the code below:
mudita.com/products/phones/mudita-kompakt/?utm_medium=infl&utm_campaign=kitbettsmasters
Code: KITBETTSMASTERS15
Here's the XTEINK X4! I don't think I recommend it yet, but I will certainly update you if the experience of reading on it improves, because hardware wise, I don't have any issues with it really!
Here's their own website as well: xteink.com
LightPhone 2: thelightphone.com/shop/products/light-phone-ii-black
Minimal Phone: minimalcompany.com
Moaan Inkpalm 5: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DkduzN9
00:00 A BOOX Palma 2 in disguise?
00:51 The scroll wheel use case
01:14 Moody Bluetooth page turner
02:02 Why web articles make sense here
03:14 The wheel is useful, but not perfect
03:35 Minimal launcher and first impressions
03:58 DuRoBo Chrono vs BOOX Palma 2
05:22 Pocket reader or focus hub?
06:31 Price, front light and hand feel
06:48 Pocketability test
07:13 One-click voice recording
07:50 Document transfer and PDFs
08:36 Testing the Moody remote
09:08 The missing cellular option
09:35 Refresh modes and scrolling apps
10:02 The obvious Palma similarities
10:40 What the Palma still does better
11:17 A welcome new e-ink phone
12:16 Final thoughts
----
Check out my *website* at evaluateeverything.co.uk
(Links are affiliate links. I receive small commissions from sales made through them. Kind thanks for supporting the channel at no extra cost to you.) :-)
The DuRoBo Krono is a new phone-sized e-ink reader with a very familiar feel. In fact, it appears to have quite a lot in common with the BOOX Palma 2, but it adds one obvious difference: a scroll wheel.
Check out the DuRoBo Krono at Amazon: amzn.to/3S9EKf9
And the DuRoBo Moodi: amzn.to/4abcyPb
Here's the top 10 phones if you are interested: youtu.be/yFptQHdaDS8
In this first look and review, I compare the DuRoBo Krono with the BOOX Palma 2, look at the hardware similarities, test the scroll wheel, try the Moody Bluetooth page turner, and think through who this kind of pocket e-reader is really for.
It is not the most original device in the world, but that may not be a problem. A fast, pocketable, Android-based e-ink reader with a 300ppi screen, a front light, Google Play, document transfer, AI voice recording and a physical scroll control could be a very useful thing — especially if you mostly read web articles, newsletters, digital newspapers and long text on your phone.
The big questions are whether the wheel is useful enough, whether losing the fingerprint reader matters, and whether this does enough to stand apart from the BOOX Palma 2 and Palma 2 Pro.
----
Here's the Top Ten E-Ink phones from October 2025:
*Boox Palma 2 Pro* :
US and HK: shop.boox.com/products/palma2pro?_gl=1%2Aardcn9%2A_ga%2AMTAwMjU3NTI3MS4xNzYxMDIwMTg5%2A_ga_DFJBLRCQEQ%2AczE3NjEwMjAxODkkbzEkZzAkdDE3NjEwMjAxODkkajYwJGwwJGgw&ref=0t1qqbSDWLMb
EU and UK: euroshop.boox.com/products/palma2pro?ref=my_f5MKKrpQRge&variant=52466704712043
Bigme's new HiBreak S is now available and may well be the cheapest way to get a 5.8" e-ink phone. It's available in black and white or colour, and if you don't need the finger print reader, this might be entirely enough e-ink phone for you.
https://store.bigme.vip/products/bigme-hibreak-s-4g-color-epaper-smartphone-with-android-14-os?ref=m70ez2cm&variant=45062829932723
Here's the ViWoods AI Paper Reader:
US (and world): viwoods.com/?ref=KITBETTSMASTERS
EU (and UK): https://viwoods-eu.com?sca_ref=10104379.G2oU9ZSEONIXcYYv
And at Amazon: amzn.to/48mpa4f
Check out the Bigme HiBreak Pro Colour the E-Ink Smartphone that I use
https://store.bigme.vip/products/bigme-hibreak-pro-color-6-e-ink-eye-friendly-smartphone-with-4g-5g-connection?ref=m70ez2cm&variant=44992853147827
And at Amazon: amzn.to/3Io3L1x
The Black and White E-ink phone, *Bigme HiBreak Pro* https://store.bigme.vip/pages/hibreak-pro-landing-page?ref=m70ez2cm&srsltid=AfmBOoqYGBvQe06JaRFr8dIzHFc0PUyFxyRb97772J1kV9N-BalqUO3W
Here's the Mudita Kompakt. And you can get 15% off with the code below:
mudita.com/products/phones/mudita-kompakt/?utm_medium=infl&utm_campaign=kitbettsmasters
Code: KITBETTSMASTERS15
Here's the XTEINK X4! I don't think I recommend it yet, but I will certainly update you if the experience of reading on it improves, because hardware wise, I don't have any issues with it really!
Here's their own website as well: xteink.com
LightPhone 2: thelightphone.com/shop/products/light-phone-ii-black
Minimal Phone: minimalcompany.com
Moaan Inkpalm 5: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DkduzN9
00:00 A BOOX Palma 2 in disguise?
00:51 The scroll wheel use case
01:14 Moody Bluetooth page turner
02:02 Why web articles make sense here
03:14 The wheel is useful, but not perfect
03:35 Minimal launcher and first impressions
03:58 DuRoBo Chrono vs BOOX Palma 2
05:22 Pocket reader or focus hub?
06:31 Price, front light and hand feel
06:48 Pocketability test
07:13 One-click voice recording
07:50 Document transfer and PDFs
08:36 Testing the Moody remote
09:08 The missing cellular option
09:35 Refresh modes and scrolling apps
10:02 The obvious Palma similarities
10:40 What the Palma still does better
11:17 A welcome new e-ink phone
12:16 Final thoughts
----
Check out my *website* at evaluateeverything.co.uk
(Links are affiliate links. I receive small commissions from sales made through them. Kind thanks for supporting the channel at no extra cost to you.) :-)
