BOOX Poke – BOOX has unveiled its compact Poke 7 and Poke 7 Pro e-readers with 6-inch 300ppi monochrome e-ink, microSD expansion up to 2TB, and an open Android approach. The standard model starts with 2GB RAM, while the Pro steps up to 3GB and is only available in white.
On the same timeline that Amazon continues to squeeze its Kindle ecosystem, BOOX is moving in the opposite direction—this time with a refreshed compact lineup meant to feel less like a gadget you tolerate and more like a device you actually want to carry.
BOOX officially unveiled the Poke 7 and Poke 7 Pro after teasing the lineup last week. The company rolled out the details with a clear clock ticking behind it: the models are set to launch in China on May 21, while a global launch remains unconfirmed.
Both new devices lean hard into what BOOX calls an open approach. They ship with 6-inch monochrome e-ink displays rated at 300ppi. along with 32GB of storage and microSD card expansion up to 2TB. BOOX says both models use an octa-core processor, though the listing doesn’t specify the exact chipset. They also run Android 11.
The shared hardware is where the compact promise becomes tangible. BOOX lists the same 1,500mAh battery for both models, with a 6.7mm thickness and a 165g weight—small enough to disappear into a bag rather than live as a dedicated tech item.
The standard/Pro split is also straightforward. The Poke 7 Pro carries 3GB of RAM, while the standard Poke 7 starts at 2GB. Beyond that, the biggest practical difference for buyers is color: the Poke 7 Pro is only available in white, while the regular Poke 7 comes in blue, white, and sand.
BOOX says it’s refreshing the design, not just the specs. The new Poke models get a redesigned look with a ribbed back meant to improve grip. It’s also part of the broader strategy BOOX has used to stand out with devices like the Palma and Go series: treat its readers like small Android devices. not strictly e-readers.
That matters to people who bought into the idea that a reader could do more than mimic a bookstore page. BOOX’s emphasis on Play Store flexibility is positioned as a direct contrast to Amazon tightening the Kindle ecosystem. Even if Android 11 feels dated in 2026. BOOX’s open platform is still the core selling point it’s doubling down on.
Pricing is another pressure point for anyone comparing value across ecosystems. BOOX promotional materials on Weibo suggest pricing will start at ¥1199 (about $176) for the Poke 7 and ¥1399 (about $205) for the Poke 7 Pro. The current BOOX website listings still show placeholder pricing ahead of launch. and Chinese preorder listings reportedly bundle accessories like a protective case and stand.
For now, the May 21 launch appears limited to China. BOOX hasn’t officially announced global availability yet, but the company hasn’t left much room to doubt that international versions are likely to follow in some form.
The compact e-reader race is rarely just about screens. It’s about what each platform lets you do when you close the cover—and this time, BOOX is clearly betting that its open Android stance will feel like freedom to the kind of reader who’s tired of being boxed in.
BOOX Poke 7 BOOX Poke 7 Pro compact e-reader 300ppi e-ink Android 11 e-reader microSD expansion up to 2TB Play Store flexibility e-reader pricing May 21 China launch