The tech and e-reader space was abuzz when Boox first announced its tiny e-reader was coming soon. The Boox Picco, which would be the smallest e-reader from Boox with a 3.97-inch screen, was first teased in July. We knew very few details on the pocket-sized e-reader beyond its size and the company's promise it was coming at an "accessible price point." But at IFA 2026 in Berlin, the device finally made its debut with several outlets reporting more details on the new e-reader.
According to reporting by Android Police, the Boox Picco is coming this November. No exact date is provided, but that's just two months away from its reported release date. We'll also have to wait until November to learn its price. Although Good e-Reader has reported the device will cost around $100, the company has not confirmed this.
The biggest development we've learned about the Boox Picco is its operating system. When the Picco was first teased, I expect the device would run on an Android operating system like the rest of Boox's E Ink tablets. That would mean unlike the popular Xteink X3, X4, and X4 Pro e-readers, you could read across a variety of apps including Kindle and Libby. However, the new Boox Picco reportedly runs on a Linux operating system.
A Linux operating system on the Boox Picco would mean a closed system with no access to the Google Play store. That limits what you can read on the device and potentially limits you to only DRM-free books. So if you read primarily through the Kindle or Libby app on a Boox e-reader, you won't be able to do so on the Picco. It will include several built-in apps including image, a Pomodoro timer, reading stats, to do list, and countdown calendar.
As reported by Android Police, the Boox Picco won't have a magnetic attachment to make it compatible with MagSafe devices. It will feature page-turning buttons and all storage will be through a MicroSD. It's also USB-C compatible, a relief to those disappointed by Xteink getting rid of USB-C on its X4 Pro e-reader.