einktools

Buying an Xteink

The reader is $69 to $99; the bill at the door depends on shipping, VAT, duty and the courier. Pick a model and a country to see what it actually costs.

The three readers on the global store

Prices checked 2026-10-27, USD, before shipping and coupons.

Affiliate links: einktools earns a small commission if you buy through one, at no extra cost to you.

What it costs to your door

Estimate, not a quote. The carrier's bill is the real one.

Reader + shipping
$99.00
Duty (0%)
$0.00
VAT / GST (0%)
$0.00
Handling
$0.00
To your door
$99.00

Orders under $800 usually enter duty-free; state sales tax may be added by the seller.

A reader bought from China usually arrives with VAT/GST to pay on delivery, plus a courier fee. The seller may collect it at checkout instead; don't pay twice.

What it does to the file

Everything below can be checked against the file you get back.

Landed cost, not sticker price
Shipping, VAT, duty and the handling fee are added in the order they are charged, so the last line is what the parcel costs.
Prices are a snapshot
Store prices and stock were read on the date printed on the page; a sale or a restock can move them overnight.
Accessories follow the model
A case for the X3 does not fit the X4 Pro, so the list changes with the model you pick.
Affiliate links are disclosed
Some links pay a commission. It does not change the price, and the note is on the page rather than buried in a footer.

The three readers, side by side

ReaderPriceChipScreenBest for
X3$69ESP32-C3528×792, 3.7"Smallest and cheapest; CrossPoint only
X4 Classic (X4 V2)$79ESP32-S3 + PSRAM480×800, 4.0"Buttons with the newer chip; Licorice
X4 Pro$99ESP32-S3 + PSRAM480×800, 4.0"Touch, front light, the most firmware
S4China onlyAndroid 11480×800, 4.3"Android apps; no XTOS firmware

The chip is the real dividing line. The ESP32-C3 in the X3 and the original X4 has very little RAM (CrossNext's author puts the X4 at about 380 KB usable); the ESP32-S3 in the X4 Pro and X4 Classic has 8 MB of PSRAM. That is why Licorice and CrossNext exist only for the newer two, and why the chooser on which firmware asks for the model first.

Where it ships, and what changes by country

  • United States: all three models ship from the global store, with no import duty under the $800 de minimis. State sales tax may be collected by the seller.
  • European Union and UK: expect import VAT (19–25%) and a courier handling fee unless the store collected it at checkout. Xteink also runs a regional EU shop; compare the final price, not the sticker.
  • India: the global store showed every model out of stock to an Indian address in late October, and one owner was told the country is served only in part. Check with your address before assuming a date.
  • Elsewhere: Xteink also sells through AliExpress, and the official store there runs its own coupons. Delivery and returns follow that store's rules, not xteink.com's.

Sources: the India stock thread and the Netherlands VAT question.

Accessories: what is worth adding

Most orders need two additions: a case and a spare charging cable. The stand is a desk luxury, the reading light is for people who read in the dark, and a screen protector is worth it when the model is in stock.

Protection

A case for the body; glass or matte for the screen.

Charging, a stand and light

The stand is optional; the reader charges over USB-C without it.

Prices from xteink.com on 2026-10-27. The magnetic case is the one that works with the stand; the X4 Pro protectors were out of stock on that date.

When to buy

  • October: Xteink ran a Halloween sale and gave cases with some models; a 12% partner coupon ran to 31 October.
  • 11 November: the official AliExpress store usually joins 11.11. Compare the landed price, not the discount badge.
  • Black Friday / Cyber Monday: not announced for 2026. Sign up to the store's email if you want the announcement; there is no reliable public calendar.

Before you order

  • Decide the chip first (X3 vs X4 Classic / X4 Pro), then the screen; the to-scale size comparison helps.
  • Add a case. The screens are plastic and the pogo pins are the weak point; a case also makes the stand work.
  • Skip the base unless you want a desk dock; USB-C charging works without it.
  • Check the return address and who pays return shipping before ordering, especially outside the US.
  • On 2026-10-27 the X4 Pro screen protectors were out of stock; the X3 and X4 Classic ones were not. A case is the cheaper protection meanwhile.
  • Budget for the customs bill. A $99 reader can land at $120–$140 in the EU or UK.

No Xteink yet, or want a second one? The X4, X4 Pro and X3 are sold on xteink.com. Already have one? There are magnetic cases for the X4, X4 Pro and X3, and a charging stand that fits all three. Those are affiliate links: if you buy through one, einktools earns a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Questions

›Which Xteink should I buy?

The X3 if you want the smallest and cheapest and don't mind the older chip. The X4 Classic if you want buttons plus the newer ESP32-S3, which is what Licorice and the heavier community firmware need. The X4 Pro if you want touch, a front light and the most community support. All three have the same software ecosystem except where the chip rules it out.

›Are there import charges?

Usually some. Xteink ships from China, so most countries charge import VAT/GST, many couriers add a handling fee, and some countries charge duty. The calculator above estimates it, but it is not a quote: your customs office and carrier decide. If the store already collected VAT at checkout, don't pay it again on delivery.

›Is there a Black Friday sale?

Xteink has not announced one for 2026. It ran a Halloween sale in October and a 12% partner coupon through 31 October; AliExpress runs 11.11 and Black Friday promotions. Treat any 'confirmed' sale date elsewhere as a guess, and compare the final price including shipping.

›Why is the X4 Pro screen protector out of stock?

Both X4 Pro protectors (tempered glass and matte) showed unavailable on 2026-10-27, while the X3 and X4 Classic ones were in stock. Owners have asked Xteink to restock; until then, a case is the cheaper protection.

›Do I need the base?

No. The base is a stand with pogo-pin charging; the reader charges over USB-C without it. If you want a desk dock, the $19.99 base (or $24.99 with the magnetic adapter) is cheaper than most 3D-printed builds once you count the magnets.

›Why is the X4 Classic cheaper than the X4 Pro?

$79 vs $99 at the time of writing. The Classic has the same ESP32-S3 chip and the same 480×800 panel, but buttons instead of the touch Home key and no front light. It is the better value if you don't need touch or the light.

›Do you earn from these links?

Yes. The buy links are Xteink affiliate links: einktools earns a small commission if you order through one, and the price is the same for you. It does not change which model or accessory we recommend; the guide says when something is out of stock or not worth it.

›What about the S4?

The S4 is an Android 11 reader sold in China. It is not on the global store at the time of writing, and none of the XTOS firmware, plugins or XTC tools on this site apply to it. If you want the community software, buy an X3, X4 Classic or X4 Pro.

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