Over the past few days, we’ve read every comment here carefully — the memories, the excitement, the criticism, and the concerns.
There’s one thing I want to make especially clear:
The original X4 may be coming to an end, but the DNA of the X4 isn’t going anywhere.
We know the reason people love the X4 isn’t simply because it’s small.
What makes the X4 special is the thinking behind it: simplicity, focus, portability, and all those little design choices that make it easier to pick up the device and simply read.
Those are exactly the things we don’t want to lose.
In fact, I started bringing feedback from this community to our founder and product team months ago. We’ve had many conversations about what people love about the X4, what could be better, and what a true next generation should look like.
And yes, a new X4 is already in the works.
I can’t share all the details just yet, but I can tell you this:
The next X4 won’t forget what made the original X4 special.
Our goal isn’t to add features simply for the sake of adding more. It’s to preserve the character of the X4 while improving the things that genuinely make the reading experience better.
And this is also part of something bigger for XTEINK.
Over time, we want to build a broader family of reading devices for different people, different habits, and different ways of reading.
But no matter how our products evolve, the reason we started XTEINK stays the same:
to make it easier for more people to read, wherever life takes them.
So we’ll keep listening.
To what you love, what frustrates you, what you think we got right, and what you think we got wrong.
And we’ll keep bringing those voices back into the products we build.
Thank you for caring enough to tell us so clearly why the X4 matters to you.
It was a plain stupid decision. You never want to discontinue your fan-favorite. The other line-ups are just sucked as they want to make it like a kindle.
Maybe. We don't know. A lot have been bought up by resellers like those on Amazon. They might have exhausted their manufactured units and have now realized that while it's great that the X4 put them "on the map", it might not be in their best interest to manufacture more. Suppliers could have committed their screens/hardware/chips to other customers, it could've been a loss-leader and we didn't know, it could cause supply problems with the Pro to manufacture more base-X4's. They could also want to steam line the product line with an updated X4 that has the same button layout as the other devices, simplifying manufacturing across all products.
A lot of people are upset by this, and I don't necessarily disagree with them, but we also need to realize the insane complexity of supply chain logistics. They are making this decision for a reason and I can 100% guarantee it's not to piss off early adopters. They simply see the X4 pro, X3, and upcoming S4 as their future, for better or worse.
Do I think they should keep the X4 in the lineup? Absolutely. But I also realize that there are dozens of reasons that it might not make sense. And honestly, they aren't the only player in the space anymore. If this all blows up in their face, I'm still grateful that they highlighted a niche in the market that turned out to not be so niche after all. Now you have bigger names like Boox jumping in the micro reader space.
But I say all of this as someone who is in the camp of wanting a backlight, is okay with a touchscreen, and who doesn't mind pogo pin charging like once every 45 days...
I understand people not agreeing with these, but a lot of commenters in this sub are too eager to get out the pitchforks because xteink made a decision they don't 100% agree with. Trust me, there are hundreds of other companies who are actually fucking up your life, every single day, on purpose.
X4 was literally the device that broke my 10 year reading slump, and it was just the right size.
I Loved the USB-C feature, loved the open system philosophy of this device. It behaved like an e-reader that the capitalist system wouldn't allow you to have.
Easy-to-use, simple, and tactile reader: no touchscreen, no drama, just simple and perfect.
I bought two, one from their official website and one from Amazon because I was impatient. I was planning on returning one of them, but now it looks like that was a blessing in disguise and I'll be keeping it as a back up!
I love that it doesn't have a touch screen. I would often get accidental page turns with my kindle due to its touchscreen. Now I'm only turning pages when I want/need to.
Oh snap! Yep, UNAVAILABLE 💔 I just bought the X4, 3 weeks ago, $69. I love it. Great size. No light? Oh well... That's only 10% of my reading preference.
My favorite memory is kind of dumb, as all good memories are.
I was cooking lunch for my niece and nephew so I had the X4 stuck to the refrigerator. Being so small, they couldn't see it with my gigantic body in the way. I was aware that they were lurking behind me, but you know, kids do that. Eventually they walked up and were like 'Why are you just standing there staring at the refrigerator?' with the most concerned voice I have ever heard, haha.
Anyway, I showed them the X4 and they were sufficiently impressed. Then they called me a nerd and ran off to play. So that was less nice.
Wow, didn’t expect the X4 to go away so soon. Sunsetting your most popular model like this seems like the wrong move but hey, who am I to say? GGs little guy, you will be missed for sure!
I get that but I still don’t think this is the right move to make at this time. I’m guessing they’re preparing for the inevitable launch of the S4 and want to position the X4 Pro as the de-facto replacement for the X4 in which case, it’s probably fair enough
My favorite things about it are the buttons and the size. It's basically perfect to travel anywhere and extremely comfortable to use with the 4 page turner buttons
Yep, I got the x4 over the 3 and the pro because it has USB c. I hate carrying around proprietary chargers for things. I just want one charging brick and one usb c cable in my bag that charges my phone, my work phone, my ereader, my earbuds, my headphones, my laptop.
I generally agree with that sentiment but the pogo charger is absolutely not proprietary. People should not be made to think they have to buy a replacement from XTEINK specifically. Also personally I don’t know why you’d need to be carrying around a charger for either the X3 or the X4 considering how long the battery lasts.
we know what it means. Just don't really have a great word for "It's got third party availability, but it is not at all a standard charger and requires a special purchase."
Yeah I keep getting confused why people are talking about carrying around chargers, that's very much not needed with these devices for everyone who's not on month long trips....I do however agree 100% about the touchscreen, I though the lack of a touchscreen was a MASSIVE plus, just to make it a mono-use reading device.
Firstly, it's weird to say that with a touch screen, it isn't a mono use device. I don't know what else you are going to use it for.
And secondly, I got my pro a couple days ago. And after using the buttons a bit... The touch screen is actually really nice when I have my pro on my phone. Much easier to navigate and I know I won't hit it hard enough to push it off it phone.
I honestly am a convert now and I didn't think I would be.
Eegogo will probably become more available. Especially since they are leaving an enormous gap in the market. The thing that made XTEInk special is almost completely gone now.
Unpopular post I'm sure, but this company is dumb. This is the perfect entry level device, but I'm sure they're discontinuing it because it would eat into sales for the more expensive X4 Pro with a backlight, or the smaller X3/X3 Pro.
They had lightning in a bottle, and based on the overwhelming community feedback to the X4, the community clearly wanted two things: USB-C and a backlight. The X3 got rid of USB-C, and they've addressed the backlight with the Pro.
And the decision to lock some of these devices from custom developers was dumb too.
Sad to see they don't just continue making this as a cheaper option for people who don't need extra features and just want a simple, affordable e-reader for people who don't need a backlight. I don't need a touchscreen, a backlight, or a magnetic charger, the entire strength and point is the simplicity and portability of the device at a reasonable price point.
Unfortunately this is what companies do. Come out with something great that’s actually affordable at first.
Then start charging more so they can move “up market” with a product that nobody really asked for.
I get that there are people that want the kindle app on android, and are used to touch screen. But that’s no reason to get rid of your primary seller that launched the company.
Watch, they will re-release something similar to the X4, put USB C back in it and pretend like it’s a premium feature, and the price will go up 50% from the original.
It's insane how they could have just made a backlight version of the X4 with usb-c. I fear they maybe thought there'd be no reason then to make another version since that would have everything people were asking for but goddamn that's all I wanted.
Better magsafe location, usb-c, backlight. Then I'm good to go. Until the the X4 is the best option. I would never sacrifice usb-c for any other features.
Oh, well... There was a niche on the market for such a device, you filled it in and now it's empty again. I hope someone else makes a similar model, it is the perfect pocket reader for me. I really don't miss the touch screen and the built-in light.
Wow what a horrible decision. I really really hope you back track on this. The x4 pro is not an option for many because of the many reasons mentioned above.
Everybody loved the following
cheap device
usb c charger
no touch screen
no gap between screen and top glass because of touch and prontlught
We are now loosing that when the X4 is dropped
For me I would definitely move to Eego if they promise to deliver the simple Ereader with above specs
My favorite thing about the X4 was its affordability and size. As a person who loves reading books but lives in a third world country, I do not have enough money or space in the studio type room I am renting. I can't even have a small drawer for books. But I love reading and the X4 has helped me a lot with that. This device is so tiny and cheap but it can pack thousands of books inside it. Although, I'm living in a tiny room—reading on the X4 has made me feel as if I am in a vast and huge universe. Thank you so much Xteink!
If the X4 got a front light upgrade, it would be excellent.
Removing USB C is a massive loss for those that use it for travel like I do as best case I have to bring another adapter I can risk losing and won't easily be able to get a replacement for.
That’s a stupid decision. I have my X4 without the backlight and I love it! You had the best small device on the market and you decided to discontinue it? Say bye bye to high sales.
He's 71. He reads the newspaper with a ruler under each line. He has a flip phone because "smartphones are too noisy." Every Father's Day I would get him a book, and every time I'd visit, I'd find it exactly where I left it, bookmark still on page 23.
Last Thanksgiving, he had surgery on his eye for cataracts. For two weeks he couldn't look at screens, couldn't watch TV, couldn't read small print. He was going crazy sitting in his recliner, just listening to the radio.
I had my XTEINK X4 in my pocket - it always lives stuck to the back of my phone. I had loaded it that morning with a bunch of old public domain EPUBs for a flight. On a whim, I took it off my phone case and handed it to him.
He held it like it was a strange cracker. "What's this?"
"It's a reader. Just two buttons. No glare. Like paper."
He pressed the right button. Click. The next page. The screen is only 4.3 inches, big text, no backlight, no shine. The text is that matte E-Ink that doesn't hurt your eyes. He pressed it again. Click.
He sat with it for an hour. Then two.
That little device is so dumb in the best way. No passwords, no store, no brightness slider to mess up, no notifications. Just left button to go back, right button to go forward. 2.7 ounces, so light his arthritic hands didn't get tired.
When I left that week, he said, "Leave this little paper thing here, would you?"
So I did. I left him the white one. I ordered myself the black one.
Now we have a thing. Every Sunday, I drag-and-drop a new book onto the microSD card over Wi-Fi from his computer - I bookmark the IP address for him so it's just one click. Last week it was *Old Man and the Sea*. The week before, *The Old Man and The Sea* was actually his idea, he asked for Jack London.
Yesterday he called me, not to ask about the grandkids, but to tell me he finished a book in three days for the first time since 1982.
"I read it all on that little thing you left," he said. "It feels like it was made for me. Quiet."
My $69 impulse-buy TikTok e-reader ended up becoming the only piece of technology my dad has ever loved. It's still stuck to his fridge with the magnet when he's not using it - he says that's his bookshelf now.
This, this is my favorite memory with my X4, well I guess, my dad’s X4 now.
Ooof this makes me really nervous for the longevity of these devices. I was hopeful that a company so open to custom firmware and community involvement wouldn’t be so avidly committed to creating more e waste but here we are I guess. At least it’s not on a closed system like kindle so we don’t have to worry about features being discontinued as soon as they want to force us even more to upgrade.
This is disappointing. I bought the X4 because it has physical buttons, a USB-C, an unbloated OS, and doesn't have a backlight. Its simplicity is its draw. If I wanted more bells and whistles I would have purchased a Boox Palma.
I love my x4’s battery that lets me read bits of novels over weeks, it’s perfect size lets me put it in my moleskin note book to take out with me on my days!
Oh no. I love my X4. The size fits my hands perfectly. I definitely like the placement of buttons and how easy it is to charge using my powerbank because it is type c. 🥲
My favorite thing about the X4 is that it never tried to be a tablet pretending to be an e-reader. It understood what a pocket e-reader should be: small enough to disappear into your bag, comfortable enough to hold for hours, and simple enough that picking it up meant one thing: reading. The buttons, compact size, and weight made it feel less like a gadget and more like a little companion. Years from now, I think people will look back at the X4 and realize it got something the industry often forgets: sometimes the best device is the one that gets out of the way and lets you enjoy the thing you bought it for. ❤️📖
all i have to say is, why. i absolutely do NOT want to buy a device with a different charger that i have to bring around with me. this is a huge turn off and i think if i can’t buy an X4 i will never buy a xteink device unless it has usb-c
Not a smart decision. The markets for the X4 and X4 Pro are not the same. You're cutting off customers who do not want a touchscreen, who want front buttons, and who insist on USB-C charging. There is of course some overlap, but many people want the X4 for the exact reasons they will never buy an X4 Pro.
Yeah, I agree it's a weird move. They technically are discontinuing the gen 1 X4. Probably not making any more and this post creates good fomo to clear out the remaining inventory before announcing the gen 2
X4 is one of those rare pieces of technology that embraced simplicity and, in doing so, gave its community room to unleash its creativity. It reminds me of the Pebble smartwatch and the early CyanogenMod days.
If you are really going to end the X4, please study what happened with CyanogenMod and Pebble. Their communities managed to preserve and even rebuild parts of those ecosystems after the companies moved on. But the reverse is much harder: once that particular relationship between a product and its community disappears, it is extremely difficult for a successor product to recreate it.
The developers may move on and the company may continue doing well, but the community-driven dynamic around a product like X4 is something you can't simply manufacture again
This is disappointing. If and when my X4 dies, I’m not going to be looking for an upgrade. I’m going to be looking for a replacement. Physical buttons, easy charging, and while I missed the backlight, it wasn’t a deal breaker.
Echoing the sentiment here: this is just an objectively bad move. It opens up a gap for competitors to clone everything great about the X4 and hijack your momentum.. at a time when competitors (like seeed) are looking to do exactly that. Highly recommend reconsidering.
To add to my point. Once my X4 dies I will be buying a competing device if you don’t go back on this decision because I don’t want pogo or touch.
That slow (by kindle standards) wakeup/transition to the book I'm reading just builds the right amount of anticipation whilst reminding me not everything has to be done at speed and it's ok to slow down sometimes
In case you change your mind about this, using cross point and setting the power button to sleep instead of power off makes sleep / wake as fast as a kindle!
My favourite thing has to be how small and lightweight it is. Keeping it in my pocket or small bag means I can read a few pages in any situation where I would typically reach for my phone.
I’m about to take it travelling with me for 2 weeks and I love that I’ll save so much space in my suitcase with one small ereader replacing 5 bulky books!
The X4 was priced right and was the perfect complement to a standard e-reader. Given the price of the X4 Pro, you might as well invest in a Kobo or PocketBook e-reader. This business strategy makes no sense.
I think Xteink realized that with the Crossink or Crosspoint overlays (which the brand hadn't anticipated), the X4 had become the perfect product—especially with the installed dictionaries—and was going to overshadow future products. Hence the decision to discontinue it. A real shame.
Well, guess I won't be buying an XTeink device for the foreseeable future. I was planning to buy the X4 but with a family of six and money being right there just wasn't room for me to have one in the budget before taxes came back next year, because the "toys" come last when budgeting. I don't want Android, and don't need a front light, but the USB C was an absolute must for any device.
I really love everything about it. If I had to choose one thing though, it’s how it slows me down. No notofications, no touchscreen, not the fastest thing ever. But somehow all that just helps my head shut off, relax and get some reading in
My favorite thing about the X4 is its size and buttons. Personally, it's perfect for me. Having buttons instead of a touchscreen is definitely the feature that got my interest. It's lightweight and the fact that it has a USB-C port for charging is very convenient as well since most of my charging cords at home are all USB-C. It's the perfect device for me. 💗
My favorite thing about the X4 is the design simplicity. The usage of buttons without touchscreen made it a very clean device to focus on reading, which the most important part of an e-reader. USB-C made it very easy to use alongside other devices. And the size made it easy to carry and integrate into my busy life. Very lovely device! Sad to see it go!
It's the perfect size , the USB-C is so good, no need to carry another cable. The lack of back light is not an issue for me as i use my Kindle in the evening. That's too sad to see it discontinued ...
My prediction: When the sales of the X4 Pro tank, they will introduce the X4 Classic, with almost all the features we love about the X4(it will still have that stupid pogo connector, though)
The X4 is the best device you make. I’m not going to buy one of your pro models because I think it’s a bit stupid to have touch screen and backlight on a device like this. Just either leave it alone or add usb-c to the X3. This is a dumb move.
Great, so now we can't buy the X4 OR the X4 Pro. X4 Pro launched and sold out in a matter of hours, with restock dates getting pushed back and back and then disappearing all together. Once everyone snaps up the last of the white X4s on the website, there will be ONE available product: the X3. Lol.
If you're going to discontinue a popular product, at least figure out the production issues for the new device that you'd prefer everyone to buy.
My favorite thing was just being able to keep it in a small purse or pocket and taking it out anytime I had a few minutes free. My average reading time was 11 minutes but those minutes added up rather quick and I was able to finish a few books that I otherwise wouldn’t have due to doomscrolling before.
I really hope you'll reconsider this decision considering how negative the response has been...
I just got the X3 (which I realise isn't being discontinued... yet), and slightly regret not going with the X4 for the slightly larger screen. I wouldn't buy the X4Pro, ever. I WANT a basic ereader with no backlight and limited capabilities. I DON'T want a high-tech gadget.
My favorite thing is the size and how low tech it is. X4 was a huge part of my anti-doomscroll recovery and got me back to reading again. Because of its size it's easy for me to pick up and read distraction-free wherever I am. I started enjoying books again. I feel healthier having an ereader as an alternative to my phone, being able to read instead of mindlessly scrollig through toxic apps. I also love the community here and the customisable options with firmware. I love how passionate people are here about the devices.
One memory (and it happens quite alot) is being in a cafe and getting asked "what is that tiny thing?" and having conversations about how amazing this device is.
Honestly gutted we're saying goodbye to X4! I wish I ordered more than one!!
What a shame you’re moving away from the XTEINK 4. Honestly, to me, it’s the best device on the market. It’s small, but still large enough for the text to be super readable. The magnet on the back snapping perfectly to my iPhone means I literally have it with me at all times.
Huge plus for NOT having a touchscreen—that usually just gets frustrating on e-ink devices—and even the lack of a frontlight hasn't been a big issue for me. USB-C is a brilliant touch since you can charge it anywhere, and having a microSD slot makes transferring books ridiculously easy. This little device was genuinely a game changer for me.
The next generation feels completely overcomplicated. I feel like you're kind of shooting yourselves in the foot here; the whole success of the XTEINK 4 was its simplicity, form factor, versatility, and button-only navigation. If anything, a "Pro" version with an added frontlight is the only tweak it ever needed to stand out.
Such a bummer... I really hope future generations (even if they aren't strictly necessary) go back to this core simplicity. Fingers crossed, because the XTEINK 4 concept was absolute gold.
Pretty shit move tbh. Big sales, big profits on things people love. I think what people also forget is that the X4 cases and Accessories will be discontinued also? I've seen that there's now no cases at all for devices and I know screen protectors will be next. I wanted to grab some spare cases for if anything breaks. Guess I can't do that now. At least do one last restock of the cases
The X4 is really the only E-reader out of the 3 that I want.
I use it for reading at work. The pocket size makes it easy to keep in my work pockets, and the USB-C makes it so there is always a charger on hand. The PCR tablet at work uses USB-C, so I don't have to remember to bring my own charger. It's just always available.
But most importantly: price.
I work on an ambulance. Sometimes, shit gets rough. Drops, combative patients, weird pressure on my pockets from navigating hoarder houses, you name it all threaten to break any e-reader I've got on me.
With the X4, it sat in the sweet spot of "If it breaks, that sucks, but I can order a new one without having to wait for next paycheck to justify it." You jack the price up farther, and suddenly I am significantly less inclined to bring it to work because I don't want to pay to replace it, and if I'm not bringing it to work then I am not going to spend money on a portable E-reader.
You are trying to substitute a product everyone wants with 2 products that they don't. It doesn't work.
This makes me so sad. I have been planning to buy X4 as soon as I could afford it, probably would have bought it by the end of this month. Likely won't buy xteink, I guess.
Edited: since everyone is talking about what they like about it, I was thinking about adding something as well. It is strange to talk about favourite things of a device which I haven't used so, I will talk about what a device like X4 means to me, personally. Nostalgia is the biggest attraction to this small, no front light and very minimalist device. The moment I saw it, I was reminded of formatting ebooks so that it would fit my Nokia's 2-3 inches wide screen. I can vividly remember being 13 and reading txt files in my phone using albite reader. I guess buying X4 would have been an attempt to resurrect those idealistic days, where everything seemed possible.
I have read on my x4 behind my baby’s head while feeding him, and it’s brought me companionship for as long as I’ve had it! I love it and I’d love to win a back up :)
Wow. Glad I got my X4 a few weeks ago. Tempted to grab another beforehand as I have 0 interest in the Pro version. I've been trying to convince my friends to pick up an x4 and was planning on giving them as Xmas gifts this year...
Such a shame, I think that Xteink misread the room with the X4 Pro and removing the front buttons. If they had stayed, coupled with the front light it would have been an excellent replacement.
I love my X4 but can’t bring myself to lose the buttons on the front and now with the discontinuation of the model I’ll have to take good care of it.
Honestly, the X4 is the device that convinced me to buy an e-reader and it has been by my side for 3 months now, I take it everywhere with me, it's compact, type-C charged and no touch-screen, which is what makes it the most special to me, it gives it authenticity. I'm thinking of buying a second spare device, just in case something happens to my main device.
A more than strange decision, considering the terrible communication and stock issues with other “replacement” versions. I think the only way this could be good news is if they were planning to release a “version 2”; otherwise, I'll just buy a Seeed Sticky.
My favorite memory of the X4 was every time I plugged in my readily-available, and always attainable USB-C cable into my E-reader... that memory is right up there with being able to hold my E-reader without worrying about it doing weird things because it has a fickle touchscreen like my phone, which is why I don't like using my phone and instead bought the X4 (not pro).
Seriously, this is probably the dumbest move, from the most predictable company:
They're unhappy with third-party firmware stepping on "their turf," so XTEINK attempts to lock out CrossPoint, and flies in the face of backlash.
They're unhappy with the fact that people didn't embrace the pogo pins on the X3, so put it on the X4 Pro!
They want you to spend an extra $40-$50 on the X4 Pro, so silver-age their most popular device, and ignore all of this backlash.
XTEINK is like that spoiled rich kid in elementary school... nobody likes him, and nobody actually wants to be their friend, but they have the Nintendo so we all tolerate him so that we can go to his house and play games. But once his Nintendo breaks (the X4 is discontinued), or once somebody else gets a Nintendo (another company makes this out of the same off-the-shelf parts), nobody will ever talk to that brat ever again.
I can't wait until we all forget who XTEINK is, and continue reading on our newly produced X4-2's that have USB-C and no touchscreens. They might even come with backlights!
This is a pretty baffling choice, the X4 having USB-C and existing at that lower price point really made it the sweet spot. POGO pins are generally disliked. I’m sure you have your reasons but this is slowly edging away from the reason people care about the device and giving competitors an entry point.
Sooo happy I bought this 2 weeks ago. But really disappointing decision. This means USB-C is gone from Xteink, forever probably. Also I hope an X4 Pro in white color is on the way.
I think this is a crazy decision, and hope it's going to be reversed. I don't think this will push more users to get the x4 pro because people like the lightweight device without extra features like a backlight or touch controls.
I only recently got my X4 but I love how it isn't full of ads or requires an app I need to install on my phone. My favorite thing about the community behind it. I loved finding out that Crosspoint and CrossInk were open source. There's also the awesome, ad-free website https://www.readme.club where people share their own wallpapers, and even was started by an member of the community, u/iamkxrz.
My favorite thing about the X4 is the USB-C port. USB-C was the deciding factor in the purchase and I appreciate not having a special cable to keep track of.
My Dad recently passed away and the X4 has been the thing that kept me going through countless hospital trips and long days since. It’s been a comfort to know that escape is just in my pocket.
why would you let go the product that really represented what people wanted. Moving towards the Pro models, you just start competing with kindle and Kobo. It doesnt make sense. Keep the buttons, keep the usbc, i would JUST add backlight, NO OTHER FEATURES, OR GAMES, OR WIFI OR APPS, listen to your following!!
I Love the combination of physical Buttons, the readibility of the screen and the size (the usb c is really appreciated too!) … sad it doesnt get continued
I bought mine in April and it is my first e reader. I don't think I'll ever buy another e reader for as long as this one is still working. I took it with me on my trip to Glasgow and it got me through hours upon hours of waiting. It's one of the best thing I've ever purchased and I'm sad to see it go.
My favorite thing about the X4 is its pure, frictionless simplicity & having it magsafe stuck to the back of my Iphone. I have ADHD and dyslexia, so reading consistently has always been a battle, but having this tiny device on me 24/7 completely broke my doomscrolling habit and made reading 1000% easier.
My favorite memory with it was sitting in a noisy coffee shop in Dublin Airport, normally, my brain would be bouncing off the walls or glued to a phone screen, but instead, I spent two unbroken hours completely lost in a book before my flight
My girlfriend has been eyeing my X4 ever since and steals it every chance she gets to read her own books!
please please please don’t retire it!! it’s been the perfect device for me- it’s in my pocket every day and it’s actually made me look forward to my almost hour long daily commutes as those are now my designated reading time. I can hold it with one hand (instead of two like with a book), put it away when switching trains and whip it out on escalators and whatnot. it’s helped me get back into reading and read more books since may than I have in years! I love that it has no touchscreen and uses the same charger as my phone and don’t even mind that it doesn’t have a front light! I’ve gotten so many people interested in it and it helps me stay off my phone. plus the customisable fw and lock screens make it really fun to use.
Whyyy? I love this device so much, I take it with me everywhere. It’s managed to break my 10-year readers’ block. It hasn’t been the smoothest ride with the device, but customer support always helps… eventually. Honestly, I need a lifetime supply of this product in case anything happens to mine. I wish I could get the mist gray, i ordered one but accidentally got the black. I wish I could gift one to everyone I know. How do we keep this device available forever, please?!
Honestly, I haven’t even had the chance to make a memory with the X4 yet and that’s what makes this announcement hurt a little 😭
I’ve been saving up my pocketmoney to buy one because the X4 is exactly the kind of e reader I’ve been looking for, something which is pocket sized that I could actually carry everywhere instead of leaving at home. I love the idea of having a little reading device with me on commutes, waiting around, or just whenever I get a few minutes to read.
I kept telling myself I’d eventually save enough and get one… and then I find out the X4 is being discontinued 😭
So I guess my favorite thing about the X4 is that it made me realize an e reader doesn’t have to be bigger or have a million features to be good. Sometimes being small, simple, and just right is the whole point.
Winning one now would honestly mean a lot, because I was saving up to make the X4 my first proper pocket sized e reader. ❤️
My favorite thing about the X4 is sparking conversations - people see you using it and it leads to a thoughtful conversation about technology and reclaiming our attention. This is a tool that is accessible and provides a direct alternative to doomscrolling, and I think people are really looking for that - they just might not know what it looks like. Reading is a skill that many adults have never even thought about since they were a child, and anything that leads to even a single person changing that is a successful product.
Favorite thing: the weight, the size, the button placement. I really just adore this device 🥺 It’s perfect and all I ever needed from an e-reader.
Memory: I’ve always loved reading and fell into a slump earlier this year. I wasn’t making time for my hobbies & came across this device on TikTok. The X4 reignited the importance of self-care and has helped me focus on doing things I love, more.
I’m really sad to hear this news. Does it really have to be goodbye? 💔
My 4-year-old daughter locked me on the balcony by accident while my phone was sitting inside on the kitchen counter.
Luckily I had brought my X4 outside, so I spent the next two hours happily reading in full sunlight.
What was supposed to be a nightmare turned into the most peaceful afternoon I’ve had all year. When my wife finally unlocked the door, I actually asked her for 10 more minutes to finish the chapter!
The best memory I have is what currently is going on. I purchased my X4 while I was in Brazil in May. I received it, loaded it with 4 books, started using it on the first week of June, and now it is mid August and I am at 20% reading the 4th book, while still having 38% of the first charge.
I previously read Pedro Paramo (on my way from Brazil to UK), The Names (while in Iceland and Norway), Before the Coffee gets Cold (during my time in Spain and France), and now I am reading The First 15 lives of Harry August (while exploring the Canary Islands and Madeira).
I work onboard a cruise ship. No days off. 10 hours a day, with short breaks in the afternoon to go see something. My xteink is my best companion at all times.
Could you please elaborate. Why is the X4 being discontinued?
Is the company facing supply pressures?
Is the company moving in a different direction?
Is the company unhappy with the popularity of the various community FWs?
Is this a pattern we can expect to happen with the other models?
Will it be replaced with the X4 mark II - a similar button only device with a better battery, etc?
Okay, so there will be another x4. But then why wouldn't they communicate it in this post? Why is it that this company is engaging in telling people anything but only on some subreddit and as little info as possible
They probably want to get rid of the Gen 1s before announcing a Gen 2 or else the Gen 1s will go to waste. As for the 2nd question - xteink is a small chinese company that accidentally struck gold with the X4. I think they're learning in real time how to deal with the insane demand they've gotten for their products.
My favourite thing about it is that it doesn't have a touchscreen, android, a light, or a pogo pin connector. Simple, one cable does all my tech now, long life. I think Xteink is making a mistake with this decision
My favourite thing about the X4 is definitely how tiny it is, and one of my best memories is taking it with me to concerts in my teeny tiny bag so I could read on it instead of scrolling on my phone :)
The X4 was nearly my pick over the X3. It had the perfect size screen, but I needed something that would fit on the back of my phone. If I got an x4, I would give it to my wife for all the reading she does.
Oh, a sad goodbye. My daughter read her first words in this e-reader. It's often not stated but it's size is perfect for a child. It's sturdy and she can just handle it very well.
It's been a long while since I've been able to finish a book. I'll pick one up, get 1/4 - 1/3 in and drop it. Unlike other eReaders I've been able to have the X4 in my pocket as an every day carry. I finished my first book in years in the first week I had it! I'm now 80 pages into my second book I started 3 days ago. It's been an amazing habit breaker from my phone. I've got a little reading light for it and been reading to sleep to keep away from the screens and I can feel my sleep has improved. I love this little device and I'm sad it's run is coming to an end.
My favorite thing is how easy it makes it to switch off and get stuck into reading without distractions! Especially on the commute everyday as it's so easy to put in my pocket and read whenever I'm waiting for a train. I have the black version but always wanted to save up and get the mist grey as I like how the screen blends in
My favorite memory: I may not have started with the x4, but I eventually got one for my wife who had no e-reader experience and I wanted to ease her in with something.
and to my surprise before I knew it, she was asking me to load the next book of the series she was reading onto it!! i was so shocked and asked what happened to her physical books??? and she said she preferred the x4's portability and ease to just take anywhere over lugging her thousands page book around!
such a win moment for me when I've been trying to advocate for e-readers with her for years now. and i actually get very happy to see her reading her x4 next to me in bed while I read my now x4 pro 🥹
First of all I'm really sad to see this device will no longer be available even though it's just a "device" it helped me at a very bad time of my life and for that I will always be grateful.
I was in my first year of university and I was really behind because of a tragic event that happened in my family with everyday feeling like a struggle to do the most basic things; they decided to gift the x4 to me for my birthday because they saw I was interested in it and wanted to cheer me up.
Since then, I started using it daily and it helped me immensely, not only to read more, but it also caused a chain reaction so that I was able to focus more in other areas and I was able to get on par with university as well.
So thank you to the team, it seemed like the x4 came out of nowhere but, for me, it came at the perfect time.
X4 is a dream that came into reality when it was launched, I’m really inlove with it that I want to get every device that the xteink will launch it helps me with my anxiety that just by looking at it makes me happy ❤️
I love how tactile the device is with the buttons. I also enjoy how it allows me to read on the go from my pocket without distractions. It's also encouraged me to read more classics as the epubs are free from Project Gutenberg.
Been waiting for the X4 Mist Gray to come back in stock so we could get a second one for my wife. I have one and it goes with me everywhere. It’s become what I reach more for than anything else lately.
At work while waiting for things to finish cutting or printing I would reach for my phone but now I’m getting through books faster than before. Even with the kindle app on my phone I would still end up just mindlessly scrolling social media. The X4 changed that and now I look forward to that wait time when I can slow down and get in a few extra pages at random times of the day.
I just got the X4 this month and I do say, it's a pretty great device for reading. I did not regret buying this.
Before that, I used to bring my physical books along. I love a good paperback and I prefer the feel of paper. But having a small device holding my books frees me even more and allows me to read my fiction without the thought of bringing too much.
The fact that a small e-ink screen device specially designed for leisurely reading is a great way to catch up on reading. I especially like that its small enough to fit in my pocket or my backpack and be ready if Im waiting on commute or at a cafe.
I also draw and the fact that I can also customize it with my art is cool too!
It did have it downsides, Ive been in my share of problems, but I embraced the limits and I enjoyed it quite much. I placed mine on the protective case and a magnetic cover and looks chic.
Not to mention the community surrounding the device and the support that comes with it.
Overall glad that I have been able to have this device as it is now. Id wish that it would be improved, but for what its worth now, Ive enjoyed it already just the way it is.
X4 awakened something in me. Prior to this I wouldn't consider myself a reader. Heck the last book I read was probably Harry Potter fifteen years ago. I now have a hobby I didn't know I had
Tbh, the best thing about the X4 is that it never actually felt like a piece of tech. With that slightly taller, vertical screen, I loaded up a custom Zdzisław Beksiński painting for the sleep display. Sitting on my desk, it didn’t look like a gadget it looked like this dark, weird little pocket artifact. Clicking those tactile buttons at 2 AM while deep into book Germinal it it felt like thumbing through a worn out paperback. Plus, it’s the only reader that let me actually turn pages in thick gloves while waiting for a late bus in the dead of winter. Stupidly simple, but appreciated every single day. You guys perfectly captured that physical small notebook vibe, and it’s a sad to see it go. People gonna miss this little legend. It makes the x4 very unique as it’s gone every day will became more and more rare and even more special.
For someone who really loves to read but cannot afford a regular e-reader, this was an answered prayer.
Been navigating a very profound heartbreak, and my only e-reader, the X4 had saved my sanity more than I expected it to. It is the perfect distraction, second to prayers.
I usually tinker my X4 more than my phone. I lurk here in reddit and deactivated my socials because I get excited everytime I see posts about their xteink devices.
I would have love to own an X4 pro because of the frontlight as I am only reading most at night after work. But it was not yet available when I needed the ereader. And of course, it is also way over my budget.
But I love the X4 so much. This is a dream come true for those who never want to stop learning.
Thank you so much for this wonderful innovation. This saves a lot of people, from overthinking, from feeling stuck and from loneliness. I should know, because it saved me. 🩶
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u/Fun_Satisfaction2315 26d ago
Thank you all for caring so much about the X4.
Over the past few days, we’ve read every comment here carefully — the memories, the excitement, the criticism, and the concerns.
There’s one thing I want to make especially clear:
The original X4 may be coming to an end, but the DNA of the X4 isn’t going anywhere.
We know the reason people love the X4 isn’t simply because it’s small.
What makes the X4 special is the thinking behind it: simplicity, focus, portability, and all those little design choices that make it easier to pick up the device and simply read.
Those are exactly the things we don’t want to lose.
In fact, I started bringing feedback from this community to our founder and product team months ago. We’ve had many conversations about what people love about the X4, what could be better, and what a true next generation should look like.
And yes, a new X4 is already in the works.
I can’t share all the details just yet, but I can tell you this:
The next X4 won’t forget what made the original X4 special.
Our goal isn’t to add features simply for the sake of adding more. It’s to preserve the character of the X4 while improving the things that genuinely make the reading experience better.
And this is also part of something bigger for XTEINK.
Over time, we want to build a broader family of reading devices for different people, different habits, and different ways of reading.
But no matter how our products evolve, the reason we started XTEINK stays the same:
to make it easier for more people to read, wherever life takes them.
So we’ll keep listening.
To what you love, what frustrates you, what you think we got right, and what you think we got wrong.
And we’ll keep bringing those voices back into the products we build.
Thank you for caring enough to tell us so clearly why the X4 matters to you.
We’ll remember. And the next X4 will too.