I spent 6 months with this pocket Android ereader and it got me into books again, but didnt break my smartphone addiction

Date:
Sun, 02 Aug 2026 13:30:00 +0000

Description:
The ViWoods AiPaper Reader is a smartphone-sized ereader that I carry with me everywhere, so now I can read anytime.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter I love reading or at least thats what I tell myself. In reality, Ive always had a very on-and-off relationship with it, going from devouring books in days to barely opening
one for weeks or months on end.

But one constant Ive realized is that I dont tend to prioritize reading if theres a show Im binging, a new game I cant stop thinking about, or simply lots of social engagements to attend, books will generally get put aside
until I have more time on my hands. But then something occurred to me while
I dont always have long stretches of time that Im happy to devote to reading, my days are full of short periods that arent being filled, like while Im waiting in line or at a train station, or simply waiting for the kettle to boil. And then there are times when Im on a train or in a cafe and might want to read, but dont have a book with me as I travel light. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

With all that in mind, back in late January, I bought the ViWoods AiPaper Reader a pocket-sized Android ereader thats small enough to carry with me everywhere alongside my phone in the hopes that it would get me reading during periods that might otherwise be dedicated to podcasts or simply spent sitting or standing in slightly bored silence.

At the same time, I also had some hope that, since this ereader has full access to the Google Play Store, it might help cure my smartphone addiction as doomscrolling was likely to be less desirable on an E Ink screen. You may like Xteink X4 ereader surpasses Kindle Colorsoft on Amazon charts Onyx Boox Palma 2 Pro review: a pocket-sized ereader with a color screen and stylus support The best ereader for 2026 A tiny device that was a big reading
success (Image credit: TechRadar) Before buying the ViWoods AiPaper Reader, I hadnt read much in a while I had dozens of unread books on my Kindle Colorsoft and big stacks of physical books silently judging me. I might start one, but it wouldnt stick life would get in the way, or it wouldnt immediately grab me enough to reach for it again.

But the ViWoods AiPaper Reader changed that. I loaded up the Kindle app on it and got in the habit of keeping it in my pocket, alongside my phone. Then, almost any time I would previously have switched on a podcast such as when
on a train or in small empty moments of my day Id reach for this instead.
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It didnt matter whether I had two minutes or two hours; Id aim to read something, and because the AiPaper Reader was always in my pocket, there was no excuse not to. I didnt even have to go to my shelves to grab a book.

It allowed me to build a consistent reading habit and make progress with
books even on days when I didnt have much time, or wasnt massively in the
mood to read. After all, reading a couple of pages while boiling the kettle
is still better than nothing, and it all adds up. And best of all, because this device got me back into reading, Im now more inclined to read my paperbacks than I have been for some time.

Was it all smooth sailing? No, there have been some days and even a few weeks where I would stop carrying the ViWoods AiPaper Reader with me. But so far, Ive always found it easier to go back to than a larger ereader or a physical book. What to read next The Xteink X4 Pro ereader adds a touchscreen and
front light to its phone-attachable design Boox Picco teased as an even smaller alternative to the Xteink X4 Pro The Boox Tappy is the cutest ereader page turner I've seen and it does more than just turn pages An imperfect light and unnecessary AI (Image credit: TechRadar) This isnt the perfect pocket-sized ereader. It has a front light but not a warm light, which can make reading at night a bit less comfortable than on some of the best
ereaders especially as the brightness is adjustable, the minimum level is still quite bright.

Theres also the AI-shaped elephant in the room, which even if you know
nothing about this device, youve probably been wondering about from its name.

Like so much recent tech, the ViWoods AiPaper Reader is trying to cash in on the AI craze; there's a dedicated AI button that you can press to speak to an AI chatbot , with models from OpenAI, Google, DeepSeek, and Qwen all built
in. (Image credit: TechRadar) These platforms can be used either as general-purpose AI chatbots or in combination with ViWoods' own apps to, for example, look up definitions of words in the books youre reading. But personally, Im tending to just use the Kindle app for reading, which cant directly communicate with the AI.

Plus, using the ViWoods' AI functionality requires a Wi-Fi connection, which drains the battery faster than I want from an ereader, and its slower to interact with than just pulling up Gemini on my phone.

Beyond AI, some of the other software available on the ViWoods isnt perfect, either, as while it runs a fairly recent version of Android in Android 16, theres no promise of any version updates, and ViWoods own interface leaves a little to be desired. For example, there's little explanation of how some features work, and many important settings are hidden away in an advanced settings submenu. Theres also an 11-step process to actually authorize and activate the Google Play Store on this device, despite it running Android.

Those gripes aside, Ive generally been impressed by the ViWoods AiPaper Reader. Its 6.13-inch Carta 1300 screen is big and crisp enough to
comfortably read on, its battery lasts me anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending on how much Im using it, and it looks like a genuinely
premium device, with a slim, sleek design thats almost up to the standards youd expect from a premium brand like Apple . This didnt cure my addiction (Image credit: TechRadar) While the ViWoods AiPaper Reader got me reading again, it was less successful at breaking my doomscrolling habit though not
a complete failure.

I figured that, since it runs Android apps, I could keep my phone in another room when Im at home, and use the ereader for most things, with its
monochrome E Ink screen sure to leave me reaching for it less.

And it somewhat worked for that when I was disciplined about actually
keeping my phone out of reach. But after a while, I got out of the habit, and even when I did keep my phone elsewhere, Id sometimes encounter things I genuinely wanted it for, like penning a long message. So this wasnt the perfect solution for me. (Image credit: TechRadar) Id perhaps have more luck if I fully replaced my phone with a device like this and the ViWoods AiPaper Reader does have a SIM card slot, so it can fulfil most smartphone functions. But it lacks speakers and cameras, so youd be making some unfortunate sacrifices.

Were I serious about that idea, I might invest in something like the Mudita Kompakt instead, as thats designed specifically as a minimalist E Ink phone. So, if youre looking primarily for something to break your smartphone habit, Id suggest a device like that instead (or, perhaps, the similarly distraction-free Balance Phone ).

Still, as a secondary function on a device Im mostly using for books, the ViWoods AiPaper Reader has not been a total failure.

Now, if youll excuse me, Ive got some reading to do. Today's best ereader deals Kobo Libra Colour 239 View See all prices Kobo Clara BW 149.99 View See all prices Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 12th Gen 2024 159.99 View See all prices Amazon Kindle Colorsoft 239 View See all prices Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024) 299.99 View See all prices voucher gift Low Stock Onyx Boox Palma 2 Pro
379.99 View See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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