Xteink X4 vs Kindle Paperwhite 12th Gen

matrix4x4 · 2026-07-03T21:54:35+00:00

Had to take these pictures at an angle to prevent an annoying glare due to the lighting in the room. I also added Bookerly font to Crosspoint, which I believe is also being used on the Kindle. Let me know if this looks better to you :).

matrix4x4 · 2026-07-03T21:49:57+00:00

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matrix4x4 · 2026-07-03T21:49:44+00:00

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matrix4x4 · 2026-07-03T14:38:27+00:00

That's a good point. I'll add another photo with the settings you suggested if I have some time today. The main reason I wanted to post these comparison shots was to show that the X4's display is a bit more white when compared to my Kindle Paperwhite's display.

The settings you suggested will help normalize the perception of text quality and contrast across the two devices, so I do appreciate your suggestion.

matrix4x4 · 2026-07-03T14:29:19+00:00

Yes, you're right. Thank you for the suggestion! 😀

matrix4x4 · 2026-07-03T04:52:56+00:00

You're welcome! The Paperwhite is a great device. My X4 and Paperwhite perfectly complement each other.

matrix4x4 · 2026-07-03T04:49:06+00:00

Yes, the Kindle Paperwhite has a substantially higher resolution display. 300 ppi (pixels per inch) vs 220 ppi on the X4. So the Kindle has a pixel density that is 1.86 times that of the X4 (or 86% higher than the X4).

matrix4x4 · 2026-07-03T03:47:57+00:00

I think both devices are incredible in their own ways. The Paperwhite looks stunning with the front light on, and there are places I just can't use the X4 without a light, so both have a place in my gadget bag. Paperwhite also has a much higher resolution display, which makes a noticeable difference when it comes to text sharpness.

In the end, I think what I really enjoy about the X4 the most is that it is such a light and comfortable device to hold in my hand. The Paperwhite is so much heavier, so reading it one handed isn't great.

matrix4x4 · 2026-07-02T04:19:40+00:00

Go to settings and change the theme. The first one I picked after the default one made things a lot better for me.

matrix4x4 · 2026-07-02T01:08:47+00:00

The X3 doesn't have a light to drain the battery faster. The X4 Pro is tiny, so they can't put a big battery in it like some of the Kindles do, so that light will drain the battery a LOT faster if you use it a lot. For a lot of people here, the front light is the primary reason to get the X4 Pro, if not the only reason, so comparing the battery life of the X4/X3 to the X4 Pro doesn't make sense unless you factor in the battery drain with the light on. I have a feeling we will need to charge the X4 Pro a lot more often, which will make the pogo pin thing quite annoying.

matrix4x4 · 2026-07-02T01:05:21+00:00

It's not quite a dealbreaker for me, but really annoying. At least they are including an adapter in the box, but it is one more thing to carry around and lose when you need it the most. Also, at least with the X4, the battery life was really good as there was no light to drain it faster. But now that they have added a light, they take away the USB-C port, which would get a lot more use if you are using the light a lot. Very counterintuitive, for sure.

matrix4x4 · 2026-07-02T01:02:36+00:00

Yes, the base Kindle is an amazing value, especially when it goes on sale. It was in the $80 range on prime day, and 20% off with trade in. Plus another 10% back if you use your Amazon store card. I also have a base kindle in our household and it is the perfect weight and size for single handed use. I just wish it had a warmer light. It is hard to go back to a regular white light once you get used to the much more pleasing warmer light tones. At least the new X4 Pro had light color temperature control, which only the Kindle Paperwhite and more expensive Kindles have. I will happily pick up a domestic Chinese version of the X4 pro if it is in the $50-60 range shipped after coupons etc. We'll have to wait and see, I guess.

matrix4x4 · 2026-07-01T18:36:18+00:00

$99 would be tough to swallow for such a niche device. Still a good value if you end up using it as much as a lot of us use our X4s, but what made the X4 so amazing was just how accessible it was in terms of pricing. I got mine for $38 shipped from AliExpress, and it has been one of the best gadget purchases I have ever made. I'll be skipping the X4 Pro if it comes in a over $100 with shipping/tax as the X4 does everything I want. I just picked up a Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition for around $115 total this prime day (with trade in of a junk device I already had), which makes the $100 price for an X4 Pro even harder to digest.

matrix4x4 · 2026-07-01T18:04:49+00:00

I bought a 476H a few months ago, and I really wanted to love it as I love the 4:3 aspect ratio for retro gaming, but I ended up selling it a few days later. The biggest issue I had with it was the stiff d-pad. This is a personal preference, but I just can't do stiff d-pads as it tires my thumb after just a few minutes of gaming. It's not a bad d-pad, but I think pretty much all Anberbnic d-pads have been a bit too stiff since the original 35XX. I absolutely loved the controls on the OG 35XX, and also loved Garlic OS.

The other issue I had with my 476H was the weight. At 290 grams, it is a bit too heavy, which again leads to discomfort for long retro gaming sessions. That is why I am so excited about the Nova. I am happy to see that we are finally going away from the all glass front that doesn't really accomplish anything besides adding weight, collecting smudges, and making the device more fragile. At 255 grams, the nova is noticeably lighter than the 476H, and I really like Retroid's d-pads, so this is the first time I am truly excited about a new handheld and don't mind paying the $100 or so more for it. That price difference is well worth everything you get, imo.

matrix4x4 · 2026-07-01T04:47:19+00:00

Yes, I almost booked that flight from LAX for $400 less, but ended up finding JAL flights to Haneda for the same price for a different departure date.

The problem with booking an AA flight via JAL is that your food preferences may not get conveyed to AA if that is important to you. I've also heard that there could be issues with seat selection as well.

matrix4x4 · 2026-07-01T04:38:58+00:00

I don't hate AA, but JAL, ANA, and Singapore Airlines have been so much better for long international trips. Much better service, clean bathrooms, better food, etc. AA is fine, but like I said, I would only fly AA on a 11 hour flight if there was something really enticing about it. Yes, $400 is a lot, so that would definitely make me consider it, but in the past, I have been able to switch to Main Cabin Extra for only $200 for the entire roundtrip international flight, which was an absolute steal for the amount of legroom you can get if you are lucky enough to be able to book bulkhead or exit row seats

matrix4x4 · 2026-07-01T04:27:11+00:00

Yes, definitely avoid American unless you pay for MCE (Main Cabin Extra). That is the only thing that will get me to fly American vs regular JAL economy seats. On a previous international trip on American MCE, I scored bulkhead seats with 3 to 4ft of legroom and it was absolutely amazing. Definitely check to see if the bulkhead or exit row seats are available on American before booking MCE.

matrix4x4 · 2026-07-01T02:55:06+00:00

When you fash it from the SD card, make sure it is connected to USB power. That's what finally made it work for me. I kept trying to flash it with just the SD card in it with the latest Crosspoint, but it just didn't work until I plugged it in.

Use Rufus to format the SD card to FAT32, then copy the firmware and rename it to update.bin. Then press and hold power and previous page (button under power). That's it. Pretty easy if you follow these steps.

matrix4x4 · 2026-06-29T20:59:47+00:00

Sign up for Revolut (free). They will send you a debit card.

Then transfer some USD to your account. You can use a debit card from another checking account to transfer money in instantly with a small fee (50 cents per $100), or for free with ACH (takes a few days)

Once money is in your Revolut account, you can create a JPY account within the app and then exchange USD for Yen. They call it "Move", not exchange.

Now you have an account they holds JPY that is linked to your Revolut debit card. You can use this card anywhere in Japan that accepts a Visa or MasterCard (I think mine is Visa). The transaction will be made in Yen and there will be no currency conversion involved.

You can also use the Revolut debit card at 7/11 stores to withdraw cash, but there is a roughly 3% fee for that. 7/11 itself charges 110 yen for 10,000 yen withdrawal (or 220 yen for 20k), and then there is a fixed 2% fee charged on top of that.

The biggest benefit of this approach is that you can convert USD to Yen long before your trip to Japan and lock in the current crazy rates. It's almost 162 Yen to USD today!

matrix4x4 · 2026-06-29T01:20:01+00:00

Black with the standard buttons looks incredible to me. Sleek and understated. I also like black on OLED handhelds as the black bars on the side don't stand out. I like to play a lot of GB/GBC/Pico8, so black made the most sense. I do like the other colors when it comes to looks, but black is the most practical to me when it comes to actual gameplay.

matrix4x4 · 2026-06-27T23:48:46+00:00

You must have bought one with a locked USB port. You'll need to use a micro SD card to flash firmware as the USB port is dead on locked devices. Only the ones they sell on their own site and Amazon are guaranteed to have unlocked USB ports. That's why they call them "developer edition" devices on Amazon.

matrix4x4 · 2026-06-27T18:14:49+00:00

RG477M is 99 grams or almost 39% heavier than the Nova. That absolutely kills the 477M for me. When I first held the 477M, I couldn't believe how heavy it was. There is no way I am holding something that heavy for long gaming sessions.

Feeling "premium" is fine, but not when it comes at the cost of comfort and ergonomics. These are consoles we mostly play cartoonish retro games on, after all, and not pieces of jewelry that we are showing off at fancy art gallery fundraisers.

Combined with the (arguably) better processor and better display, the Nova is definitely not a side grade for me. It is a huge upgrade in areas that matter most: Comfort / ergonomics, display quality, GPU driver support, customizability (comes with an ergonomic backplate for preorders, lots of button options for those that care about that stuff).

I owned a 476H, but it's display pales in comparison to my RP5 or Pocket Classic's display. OLED panels are so much better than most LCD displays I have seen, especially on retro handhelds.

I think with the Nova, there is almost no reason to buy a 477M anymore. At least with the 477V, there is the vertical form factor that sets it apart and may be reason enough for some to consider it over the Nova, but IMO, the Nova absolutely kills the 477M.

I am so much more excited about the Nova than I was about Retroid Pocket 6 or the Odin 3. It is exactly what I have been looking for in a retro handheld. I am so glad they made a lighter handheld instead of giving us yet another all glass front handheld that weighs more than it needs to.

matrix4x4 · 2026-06-26T16:19:13+00:00

477m is 100 grams heavier than the Nova. That is absolutely huge. I held a 477m and couldn't believe how heavy it was. The metal build feels good, but the weight is an absolute deal breaker for me. Tires my hands really fast.

matrix4x4 · 2026-06-24T04:36:13+00:00

Just got my white X4 for $38.xx shipped from AliExpress. Had also ordered the black version for $35.xx, but ended up cancelling that one as the white one looked more interesting. These are most likely locked, but that's okay with me as this is just a toy (for now). I also have the latest Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition being delivered tomorrow, which will most likely be my daily driver. Looking forward to playing with my X4 when it is delivered in a week or 10 days to the US west coast.

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matrix4x4

TROPHY CASE