This little magnetic e-reader could stop you from doing fatal scrolling

It was love at first sight. It was like walking through the mall, in and out of department stores in search of a specific, elusive item, only to finally find what I was looking for. I just didn’t even know I was looking for something like the Xteink X3because I never dared to dream of something so wonderful: a small MagSafe-compatible e-ink reader that could connect to my iPhone like a Pop Socket.

This was it. My life would change forever. I would get my hands on the Xteink X3 and stop doomscrolling forever. I would read more books than ever… which is saying a lot, since – brag – I read at least 50 books a year. But (not a brag) I probably spend even more time on social media than reading. I know I generally feel less anxious when I limit my time on social media, but alas, the siren song of TikTok beckons. What if instead of opening social media I could just turn my phone over and read on a small e-ink screen similar to a Kindle? Could you fix this $80 device for me?

I tried reading books (…or downloading them from AO3) on my phone, immersing myself in a fictional world, instead of posts from the president threatening to destroy an entire country. But something about looking at my phone, where I’m constantly tempted to open Instagram to see whatever Reel someone has sent me, doesn’t calm me down as much as a book or an e-ink device like a Kindle does.

I was so excited for the arrival of my X3 that I constantly updated the tracking link until it was finally delivered. Although I had meticulously compared the dimensions of the Xteink X4 (basically the same device but a little larger) only fits larger phones like the iPhone Pro Max line. But sure enough, the X3 magnetically adhered to the back of my phone like it was custom made.

My Here is my work:

For the first few days I had the X3, I carried it with me on the back of my phone. This made me a little nervous though, as I’m used to having a Pop Socket wallet, which means I’ve gotten used to leaving the house without my real wallet. But I found that I used the X3 just as often when I carried it in my bag or pocket, rather than plugging it into my phone. I’m not sure yet if I’ll stick with this setup or start using an actual wallet so I can connect the e-reader, but for now, that’s what feels most natural to me. Additionally, my X3 comes with a very compact and cute magnetic case, which perfectly protects the device and its screen and makes it a little easier to hold. At only $9 for the case, I would recommend getting one. The case can also be magnetized to your phone, although it feels a little less secure than placing just your X3 on it.

During my two weeks of testing, I found that the X3 helped me read more. If you’re standing in line at a coffee shop or waiting for the bus, you can just pull out the e-reader instead of opening Instagram. I also didn’t find it difficult to read on the small screen. But simply buying the device won’t change your habits: you have to remember that you have a 3.7-inch screen in your pocket that can fit hundreds of books.

The Xteink X3 is pretty close to being my dream device, but it’s not quite there yet. The firmware that comes with the device is quite clunky: it’s not unusable, but it’s not exactly intuitive either. I was expecting this since the Xteink Reddit community was talking about cross stitcha free, community-created, open source firmware. The CrossPoint download process was a little intimidating for someone who writes words, rather than code, but with the instructions on the CrossPoint website (and some videos), it was pretty easy. I ran into some difficulties at first, but then I realized it was because I was trying to download the X4 firmware to my X3, so… it’s a mistake. You probably won’t even need the YouTube videos!

When you start loading books and open source firmware onto your X3, you’ll notice another divisive aspect of the device: it doesn’t have a USB-C port, unlike the X4. Instead, it uses a magnetic charger. Yes, it’s annoying to have another charging cable specifically for this device, but I don’t mind that much. After two weeks of constant use, my X3 dropped from 100% charge to 96% charge, so I can’t imagine I’ll be using that magnetic charger too often. You don’t even need the cable to add new books to your ereader: you can transfer files over Wi-Fi from your phone or computer (I wouldn’t call the process user-friendly, but I was able to figure it out without Googling anything).

Speaking of carrying books, that’s another drawback. Most of what I read on my Kindle comes from Libby, which is my favorite app (#notsponsored). The Libby app allows you to easily borrow e-books or audiobooks from your library and send them to your Kindle. But you can’t get those ebooks (legally) on an This lack of compatibility is a drawback, but it also makes the device feel unique: It’s a “dumb” device that has no apps or touchscreen, which is surprisingly refreshing in an era of AI-enabled refrigerators.

It’s not difficult to find interesting .epub files to load on the X3, even if you can’t access your Kindle or Libby library. Many excellent books are in the public domain, meaning they are no longer subject to copyright and can be downloaded for free (strangely I have never read “Pride and Prejudice,” so now is the time). A few months ago, I purchased all of the .epub catalogs of science fiction writers Charlie Jane Anders and Annalee Newitz as part of a charity fundraiser, which should keep me busy for quite some time. If you wanted, you could even convert online articles or blogs into .epubs using a free program like Caliber.

So, did the Xteink X3 fix it for me? Am I now a newly reformed woman who has a healthy relationship with social media and has read a ton of classic novels that I never read when I was an English major, since I mostly took classes with ridiculous titles like “Aestheticus Extremus: The Politics of Precarious Invention in North American Poetry and Poetics”? It’s not that simple. But if you meet the X3 halfway and make a concerted effort to use it, then maybe you’ll save yourself a little more madness.