You can tap the hamburger menu in the upper-right corner for a quick menu that includes books and pictures like you’d find in the All menu. There’s also Cloud Sync, which lets you see what’s being uploaded or was uploaded over Wi-Fi from the app; USB Drive, which turns on USB Drive mode to upload files instead of Wi-Fi; and Settings. The app is very straightforward, but you’ll need to create an account and pair your device by scanning the QR code displayed on the Xteink.

The X4 Pro still tells me I need to pair it to an app (there’s a floating box whenever I’m in the Settings menu, even though I’ve already paired it), but the app remembered which devices I had, and has no issues sending material to the device.

Because most ebooks from major stores are Digital Rights Management (DRM)-protected and can’t simply be copied over, you’ll need DRM-free EPUB files if you want to upload books to an Xteink device. These are versions of books you can legally upload, whether it’s through Cloud Sync or USB upload. You’ll also likely want software designed for e-book management, like Calibre, to organize these files on your computer.

The Xteink devices are unlocked, so you can also upload your own software or even games to use on them. Popular options are CrossPoint and Crossink, open-source reading software you can install on the Xteink for a different experience. However, regardless of what software you’re using, there’s still a roadblock you’re going to hit: where the books come from.

Content Gap

Photograph: Nena Farrell

There’s no built-in bookstore for the Xteink as you’d find on a Kindle or Kobo. Xteink devices also aren’t directly compatible with the Libby app, a popular way to get e-books from your local library. You need to obtain those DRM-free e-books and prepare them for uploading yourself. There are a few popular sites for this: Standard Ebooks offers entirely free, public-domain books, while eBooks.com has a DRM-free section you can shop from.