This Tiny E-Reader Is the Single Best Piece of Technology in Years
The Atlantic reviews the Xteink X3, a credit-card-sized e-reader that the author praises for its utility despite its cheap, gimmicky appearance. The article contrasts the device's low-cost, mass-produced nature with its effectiveness for reading long-form literature.
Why it matters
It highlights the intersection of low-cost consumer electronics, social media marketing, and the changing habits of digital readers.
The $70 Xteink X3 puts Silicon Valley to shame.
Illustration by Jonelle Afurong / The Atlantic. Source: Getty. September 6, 2026, 8 AM ET Share Save No matter how you read it, The Power Broker is a serious undertaking. The paperback weighs as much as a brick; to avoid lugging around all 1,344 pages, people have cut it apart at the spine and chunked it into sections. Others have organized in-person Power Broker marathon readings that run continuously for three full days. I decided to try something else.
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