Xteink's X4 Pro brings a touchscreen and light to its tiny e-reader

Chinese hardware maker Xteink has released the X4 Pro, an update to its viral line of pocket-sized e-readers that adds two of the most requested features: a touchscreen and a front light.

Xteink’s earlier X3 and X4 models built a cult following on social media for their small size — compact enough to magnetize to the back of a phone or slip into a pocket — but relied on clunky button-based navigation. The X4 Pro keeps roughly the same footprint as the X4, at 72 grams and 5.95 millimeters thick, while adding touchscreen controls and a front light that let it double as a nightstand e-reader rather than just an on-the-go companion device.

In testing, the front light’s dimmest setting was still slightly brighter than ideal for reading in bed, even with the color temperature tinted warm, but the addition was enough to displace a Kindle from a nightly reading routine — the switch back to Kindle came only because the X4 Pro’s 4.26-inch screen made reading poetry with line breaks, such as the Odyssey, impractical. Pages can be turned either by tapping the side of the screen or using physical side buttons.

Battery life remains a strength of the category: after about three weeks of near-daily use, the device was still at 60% charge, though the added light drains the battery somewhat faster than earlier button-only models. One hardware change is a step back for some users — the X4 Pro switches from USB-C charging to a magnetic pogo charger, though infrequent charging limits the impact.

The X4 Pro’s software is a “big upgrade” over previous Xteink models and still supports loading open-source code. Loading content over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth remains workable but cumbersome; transferring files via the device’s microSD card and a bundled microSD-to-USB adapter is more reliable. The device cannot integrate with library lending apps like Libby, since libraries use protected ePub files that can’t be copied over, though ePub files purchased directly from publishers can be loaded. It also can’t read Amazon e-books, which are restricted to Amazon’s own devices.

The Xteink X4 Pro costs $99 and, at launch, is available only through Xteink’s website.

Why it matters

As Kindle-alternative pocket e-readers add smartphone-like conveniences such as touchscreens and lighting, they move from niche curiosities toward genuine daily-driver status for readers who want a screen built for one task.