The one crucial feature e-paper phones need to finally go mainstream

Last year, I reviewed the Boox Palma 2 Pro, a smartphone-sized e-reader that missed out on one crucial feature: cellular connectivity.

While the device ran Android 15 and was capable of connecting to the internet via data connection, it could not send SMS texts or receive phone calls.

This held it back from being a true smartphone, but even if it had, it couldn't have competed with flagship devices from Google or Samsung.

Boox developed the Palma 2 Pro with Android support, but apart from stripping out most of the animations, it didn't compromise enough.

This meant poor performance, slow animations, and incompatibility with many apps. Nevertheless, Boox's attempt should be commended.

If you're willing to put up with the aforementioned issues, you'll find that it lasts a lot longer than your Android phone and is much easier on your eyes.

An e-paper display also has the side effect of reducing screen addiction due to the muted colors.

Still, even with cellular connectivity, I would never recommend the Palma 2 Pro over a standard smartphone. Here's why.

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E-paper displays and Android don't work well together

Android is not built with the limitations of e-paper displays in mind

Material 3 Expressive added a tactile touch that made simple actions like dismissing notifications fun. But you probably don't think about them anymore.

Take a close look at the animations that happen as you navigate your phone. They should be smooth and fast; you don't notice them because they're seamless.

However, these animations aren't possible on e-paper displays.

We have become accustomed to high refresh rates on our smartphones; 60Hz is generally the lowest rate you'll find. Most flagships offer higher rates; the Pixel 10's display can reach 120Hz.

A fast refresh rate means animations play correctly and you can play games and watch videos without noticeable juddering.

But when an e-paper display refreshes, there's a noticeable lag. This is fine for reading and basic tasks, but try to watch a video.

The Boox Palma 2 Pro has a relatively high refresh rate (roughly 60Hz at maximum), but it cannot display a smooth animation. The display hardware just can't handle it.

Android is built with smooth animations in mind.

While Boox has tweaked the OS's appearance to remove most complex animations, the result is a bare-bones experience that has none of the flair we've come to expect from Android.

If e-paper devices can't handle Android at its best, why bother at all? Why not just build something new from the ground up?

E-paper phones can feel fast with the right software

You don't need to settle for slow animations

At CES 2026, I tried out the Mudita Kompakt, a privacy-first phone designed to reduce screen time. It featured just 14 pre-installed apps, which were designed by Mudita for the phone.

These apps were minimalist, but contained all the functionality you need on a smartphone. If you needed anything extra, you could sideload Android apps.

However, what struck me about the Kompakt was its performance. Apps loaded instantly, without the flickering or ghosting I've come to expect from e-paper displays.

Whether I was scrolling through the Settings menu, playing chess, or finding directions, it felt just as fast as a standard smartphone.

That's when I realized what e-paper phones need to succeed.

A custom OS is needed for e-paper devices

But it doesn't need to be as minimalist as Mudita's approach

The Boox Palma 2 Pro struggled because it couldn't show Android at its best.

The complicated UI was poorly represented on its e-paper display, and animations felt sluggish regardless of how high I cranked the refresh rate.

On the other hand, the Mudita Kompakt was fast and responsive.

Mudita's approach is the correct one.

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Rather than trying to display content on a screen that can't handle it, Mudita built a fresh OS with the limitations of e-paper displays in mind.

Android is not built for e-paper displays, so devices like the Boox Palma 2 Pro will struggle as long as they try to run stock Android. It's why most e-readers run custom operating systems.

However, custom operating systems like Mudita's are not currently suitable for mainstream use.

Mudita's phones are designed to be privacy-first, so they strip out much of what is necessary for a standard Android smartphone.

For an e-paper smartphone to reach mainstream audiences, a compromise is needed.

E-paper phones can soar in popularity with the right approach

Clicks' collaboration with Niagara for its upcoming Communicator shows how manufacturers can build a custom Android OS for their phones.

However, while Mudita has built a custom OS, it is niche software built for people who value privacy and minimalism above everything else.

E-paper phone manufacturers need to adopt an approach more advanced than that taken by Mudita to appeal to everyday users.

With custom software that makes the right compromises, new e-paper phones could take advantage of the rising popularity of dumb phones and achieve mainstream success.