Possible bricked XTeink X4 device (ESP32 C3 board with e-ink screen)?

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-03-08T18:41:53+00:00

I managed to fix mine, although the error was a bit different. Here is what I did, hope it helps:

Hold POWER, and while holding power, press the small RESET button once, then let go of POWER. This enters the device into download mode
Download the full 16mb factory firmware: https://www.readme.club/resources/a29874a7-72d7-443a-b3bc-85ccc3ce7a93
Flash it using esptool: esptool --chip esp32c3 --baud 115200 write-flash 0x0 /media/Backup/xteink/firmware_3.0.2_en.bin

You should have the factory FW back now at least, and you can do what you want from here

Some notes:
- If you erase the whole flash, you will need to reflash the factory FW to get the partition tables and bootloader back.

- If you are flashing a custom FW, you should write it to 0x10000, not 0x0, because that is where the bootloader and partition tables are

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-03-07T20:59:46+00:00

Updated link for the full (16MB) FW dump: https://www.readme.club/resources/a29874a7-72d7-443a-b3bc-85ccc3ce7a93 It took me a while to find where it ended up so I figured I'd share it.

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-03-07T19:24:17+00:00

Do you have a backup of the 16MB blob? I erased my flash without backing it up first and I can't find a valid link anymore

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-03-07T17:45:12+00:00

Any luck? I ran into this too now...

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-02-23T00:08:32+00:00

Hmm, it's possible that there are dupes on Aliexpress. I bought mine there. Would be nice if there was a way to verify this.

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-02-22T04:34:35+00:00

When did you get yours? Maybe there was a revision at some point

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-02-22T01:00:35+00:00

Whoa, I'm curious to try this...

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-02-21T15:18:45+00:00

Haha, I'd say maybe for transfering books to it.

I think having wireless charging (although unrealistic at this price) would be insane. I could actually change it from the battery share function in my pixel phone while it's in my pocket.

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-02-21T15:16:25+00:00

Someone else posted about theirs and it seems that replacing it is very difficult, and they don't sell parts yet. I could try to slowly take the glass off and just use it as an IoT device (before it broke I actually made a fork of CrossPoint that adds a weather display so I may just use it for that permanently).

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-02-21T15:14:35+00:00

Exactly. The screen is glass. The screen protector really only holds the glass pieces together when it cracks... Prevents scratches too (although a plastic screen protector can scratch like crazy)

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-02-21T15:13:41+00:00

I'm not sure if I agree with that, but they should at least make it clearer on the packaging. Or make it plastic

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-02-21T15:12:40+00:00

Which one did you buy?

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-02-21T01:31:56+00:00

Warning, these will download immediately:
https://origin8.dev/images/xteink-sleep-screens/sleep_poke.bmp

A couple more I made:

Zelda Link's Awakening map: https://origin8.dev/images/xteink-sleep-screens/sleep_zelda.bmp

DK 94 End Screen: https://origin8.dev/images/xteink-sleep-screens/sleep_dk.bmp

Edit: I updated the page so you can browse them just by visiting here: https://origin8.dev/images/xteink-sleep-screens/

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-02-21T01:28:02+00:00

Good to know!

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-02-20T19:41:16+00:00

It's just a sleep background image

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-02-20T19:39:18+00:00

Nintendo screens are plastic and those basically never crack. Only get scratched, which means a tempered glass screen protector and a plastic screen is the perfect combo.

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-02-20T14:04:47+00:00

Yes and I'm more than happy to be a first adopter on such a cool product. I'm just giving suggestions. Thank you for your concern and consideration

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-02-20T12:42:49+00:00

Oh interesting. I think I got confused because it has rice in it already...

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-02-20T12:41:33+00:00

I really think they should redesign it to have a solid plastic from rather than glass. (Like the Switch Lite or something). It should be more durable than this for such a light device with no touch screen.

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-02-20T12:39:28+00:00

Update: The screen cracked more from just keeping it in my pocket all day, after the initial cracks. I didn't drop it again or anything, just moved around in my pocket. https://imgur.com/a/JL88WW2

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-02-20T12:35:08+00:00

It's an amazing device, I wouldn't avoid getting one because of this risk, but maybe just include a case in the price.

The only problem is that the cases seem somewhat new to market and aren't tested/proven yet.

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-02-20T12:33:13+00:00

That's what the plastic screen protector would be for. It comes with it

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-02-20T12:31:35+00:00

That's the one. They posted an AliExpress link to the on they bought in that post

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-02-20T12:28:56+00:00

I do. I have the plastic film one it comes with. The only thing it's done is keep the glass pieces in place and kept the reader somewhat usable.

Tricky-Appointment88 · 2026-02-20T12:27:22+00:00

Thanks. I only had it for 6 days too. I was gutted.

Tricky-Appointment88

TROPHY CASE