The 15 apps I added to my E-Ink Android pill to get extra out of it

For a very long time, I used to be utilizing my Android-based E-Ink units in essentially the most fundamental methods potential. I learn books, often opened a PDF, and largely simply puzzled why they didn’t really feel all that totally different from a extra locked-down e-reader. The reality is, I hadn’t actually invested the time to get essentially the most out of units which are able to much more. Forward of the brand new 12 months, I frolicked testing a number of the mostly really helpful apps for E-Ink units to cease taking my Boox with no consideration and set it up for a greater expertise in 2026. These are the apps I preferred essentially the most and those I plan to maintain utilizing this 12 months.

To get this out of the best way early, even on an Android e-reader, the Kindle app earns its spot, although I admit that reluctantly. I’d love to depart Amazon’s closed ecosystem behind, however the actuality is that I’ve invested an excessive amount of in Kindle books to stroll away totally. My library follows me with none further effort, and whispersync works to carry my place after I’m swapping between units. I don’t love rewarding Amazon’s lock-in, however generally practicality wins over precept. I most well-liked utilizing web page turns within the Kindle app for a calmer, extra e-reader-like expertise, however in case you do need to scroll, it’s price tailoring the app’s refresh settings to hurry mode to make it smoother.

In the identical spirit of attempting to spend much less on books, Libby is the app that retains me out of the pink. It lets me faucet into my native library’s digital catalog and borrow titles totally free, helpful for anybody with an aggressive studying objective this 12 months. On an Android E-Ink reader, Libby is easy, and the scrolling on my Boox is actually satisfying whereas scanning the digital cabinets. I can take a look at books, obtain them, learn, and return with out ever leaving my home. I usually encounter wait lists, however I make a degree of placing books on maintain properly upfront, and I can all the time take a look at the “out there now” part if mandatory.

Moon+ Reader handles far more file varieties than inventory readers, and it offers you a ridiculous quantity of management over fonts (together with cursive ones, which is fancy and enjoyable), spacing, themes, and web page turns. It additionally syncs with Venture Gutenberg for entry to free ebooks (sure, I’m realizing there’s a theme growing), so I can obtain a number of classics to dip into this 12 months or reread The Depend of Monte Cristo for the eleventh time. The app additionally has an optionally available E-Ink mode that minimizes animations and simplifies the interface, which is strictly what I need for studying. You need to use Moon+ totally free, or fork over a small one-time payment to ditch the adverts and unlock a number of further options if you find yourself sticking with it.

Audible isn’t one thing I take advantage of commonly on my E-Ink reader, and after spending time with it, that is sensible. Typically it really works precisely as anticipated, and different instances it takes just a little encouragement to get going. After adjusting the background playback and sleep settings to maintain Bluetooth energetic, it behaved extra reliably, although my telephone continues to be the simpler possibility most days. That mentioned, on lengthy journey days or flights after I don’t need to drain my telephone battery, having Audible on my Boox as a backup has turn out to be useful. It’s not excellent, and it’s not my major method to hear, however as a secondary possibility (and infrequently as a wind-down device), it’s been genuinely helpful.

Wikipedia may nonetheless get side-eye in some circles, however as a reference device, it’s onerous to beat. I take advantage of it the best way it’s meant for use: to get oriented, fill in gaps, and rapidly perceive one thing earlier than deciding whether or not to go deeper elsewhere. On a glare-free display screen, lengthy articles are nice to learn, and the text-heavy structure is well-suited to E-Ink. Wikipedia video games are additionally one thing I found throughout this self-imposed E-Ink app endeavour, and I’m addicted.

Gmail works on Android E-Ink tablets, however it’s higher fitted to checking your inbox than truly sending e mail. On a Boox system, the app installs and features usually, which makes it helpful for fast check-ins or skimming messages with out switching units. The scrolling-heavy interface isn’t designed with E-Ink in thoughts, so inbox administration can really feel clunky, and I had a few emails cling within the Outbox when the connection dipped, or the system went to sleep too rapidly. In different phrases, it makes this listing as a result of it’s purposeful for versatile check-ins, or to learn your nice aunt’s insistent chain emails, however for emailing your boss again, it’s not likely definitely worth the effort when your telephone might be inside attain.

Google Residence wasn’t initially on my radar for an E-Ink pill, however a colleague really helpful giving it a attempt, and I used to be intrigued. I largely use it as a fast, glanceable management panel, checking a tool’s standing or flipping a swap. I may even verify my cameras, although the picture is sort of grainy, so I solely use it for issues like ensuring solely a cat walked into my yard and never a serial killer. My favourite use case to this point is popping off the lights from mattress after I resolve, mid-reading session, that I’ll completely not be getting as much as become pajamas. It’s not important, however having sensible dwelling controls on an E-Ink display screen makes the system really feel unexpectedly sensible.

Why have entry to the Google Play Retailer in case you’re not going to obtain all of the Google apps? Google Drive is well one in every of my favourite provides to my E-Ink pill. The power to tug up paperwork, PDFs, and shared recordsdata on a glare-free display screen makes the system really feel like a pure extension of my present workflow as a substitute of a separate, reading-only gadget. I largely use it to overview recordsdata moderately than actively work in them, however for that objective, it’s excellent.

Chrome is right here largely for comfort. Having all my bookmarks, saved passwords, and looking historical past sync immediately makes it the simplest method to choose one thing up the place I left off. In on a regular basis use, it’s been extra usable on E-Ink than I anticipated, and I haven’t run into the horror-story quirks you generally hear about. I examined lighter options like DuckDuckGo and EinkBro and located them first rate as properly. I simply don’t see a lot cause to depart the familiarity of Chrome when it already works properly on my pill. I used to be even pleasantly shocked by how properly movies labored; it’s not one thing I’d do usually on an E-Ink display screen, however it was completely effective for getting the gist of a spotlight reel or a fast how-to after I wanted it.

Todoist works properly on E-Ink as a result of it doesn’t ask a lot of the display screen, simply lists and checkboxes, which is my favourite style of content material. I largely use it to overview duties and mark issues off, to not overhaul initiatives or faux that is the place I lastly get my life collectively. Within the least masochistic manner I can say this, it’s simply satisfying to have my unfinished to-do lists comply with me onto yet one more system. In some methods, the slower, deliberate tempo of E-Ink makes it simpler to give attention to what truly must get performed, too.

As a part of organising my Boox for a extra productive writing 12 months in 2026, JotterPad was a surprisingly good match for E-Ink. I’ve been utilizing it for outlines, tough drafts, and concepts that will in any other case sit half-formed in my head, and it’s already earned a spot in my common rotation. It’s not the place polished writing occurs, however for constructing momentum, it matches the medium properly. The free model covers fundamental note-taking, whereas paid upgrades unlock issues like cloud sync and export instruments if you’d like them. It’s not essential for everybody, however for the correct of person (learn: me), it’s a genuinely good device to have on board.

Loop is the least intimidating behavior tracker I’ve ever used, which might be why it really works for me. There are not any streak fireworks, no gamified stress, only a easy grid the place you verify off whether or not you truly did the factor you mentioned you’ll do. On an E-Ink display screen, that stripped-down strategy feels particularly proper. I examined it as a part of attempting to be marginally extra put-together in 2026, and I like that it lets me monitor habits with out pretending I’m about to grow to be a radically totally different particular person. It’s fundamental by design and precisely the extent of accountability I can tolerate.

Crosswords are an ideal match for an E-Ink system, and Crossword Puzzle (Redstone) is among the higher apps I’ve discovered. It retains issues easy with clear grids, day by day puzzles, and problem ranges that scale properly, all of which translate simply to a slower display screen. My solely word of warning is that you simply flip the hold forth in case you resolve to obtain. I made the error of opening the app with audio on and was genuinely startled the primary time it chimed at me. As soon as muted, it’s precisely the sort of low-key puzzle I hoped so as to add to my system.

I’m already within the behavior of doing New York Instances video games on my telephone day-after-day (Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, and so forth.), so transferring them to my E-Ink pill felt like a pure experiment. The app works properly sufficient, and the choice to shift the day by day puzzles over is genuinely interesting. It helps me truly do the video games and cease there, as a substitute of falling into the acquainted phone-shaped black gap of notifications, apps, and unintended scrolling. Even when it solely works a number of the time, that alone makes it price holding put in.

My companion spends a powerful(?) period of time taking part in chess on his telephone, and I’m always telling myself I’ll observe extra so I can truly really feel assured sitting all the way down to play him. Chess.com is my try and make that promise extra practical. It’s simply the most well-liked chess app on the market, and it really works properly on an E-Ink display screen. The board is clear and readable, and the refresh tempo retains up (even throughout timed video games) as a result of nothing depends on flashy animation. My solely word is that the indicator dots for potential strikes don’t present up very properly on the preset inexperienced squares, however you’ll be able to select a unique board model within the settings menu. Has my companion stolen my e-reader a number of instances to get a recreation in? Sure. Have I personally additionally performed extra chess? Sure, as properly.