No new Onyx Boox model had been officially announced as of March 4, 2026 — but the signs of an incoming launch are unusually loud: signs point to a black-and-white Boox Palma 3 with a Carta 1300 panel releasing soon, per The eBook Reader Blog, February 4, 2026, and Onyx's own store now offers 10 GB of free Onyx Cloud storage with more OCR runs, per the official BOOX store news page. Rumor is not a spec sheet, so this piece separates the two.
What is actually documented right now?
Start with what Onyx itself has published. The official BOOX store lists the current phone-sized lineup: the Palma and Palma 2 with 6.13-inch Carta 1200-class screens, and a color mobile ePaper model with cellular connectivity and stylus support at $399.99, per shop.boox.com, as of early 2026. Onyx also upgraded Onyx Cloud to 10 GB of free storage with additional OCR allowances, per the BOOX store news page — a service change, not a device, but it shows where the company is investing. Everything beyond this paragraph is attribution-required rumor, and we will keep it that way.
What is the Palma 3 rumor based on?
Two things, neither from Onyx. First, per The eBook Reader Blog, February 4, 2026, the black-and-white Palma 2 was becoming hard to find at retailers — historically a sign that Onyx is clearing the channel before a successor. Second, enthusiast outlets including Good e-Reader and Geeky Gadgets reported through late 2025 and early 2026 that the expected device is a Palma 3 with a Carta 1300 display, the newer E Ink panel that improves contrast and response over Carta 1200. Community timing guesses on Reddit range across 2026, with some posters arguing late 2026 at the earliest because Onyx typically sells through existing stock first. None of this includes an Onyx confirmation, a price, or a ship date.
What else is rumored for 2026?
The same enthusiast reporting points to a broader refresh rather than a new category: a Note Air series update with color e-paper, a smaller color note-taker informally called Note Mini C, a Tab-series refresh, and updates to the Go reading line, with newer models expected to ship on a current Android version. Treat all of it as direction, not roadmap — Onyx has not confirmed any of these devices, and the company's actual 2025 pattern was iterative updates to existing lines, which is the safest base prediction for 2026.
Why does Carta 1300 matter to a reader?
If the panel rumor is right, the meaningful jump is contrast and page-turn response rather than resolution. Carta 1300 is E Ink's newer black-and-white panel generation, and in devices that already shipped on it, the difference shows up in darker text and slightly snappier refreshes — the details e-reader people actually notice. On a phone-sized device like the Palma line, where small text is the norm, a contrast bump is arguably worth more than any spec-sheet number.
Should you wait or buy the current model?
- If you need a pocket e-reader now: the current Palma-line devices are documented, shipping, and their Carta 1200-class screens remain good — per shop.boox.com pricing as of early 2026.
- If you can wait: the retailer-stock signal suggests a successor is close, and buying last year's model at full price right before a launch is the classic regret.
- If you want color: the documented color mobile model exists today at $399.99; rumored color note-takers are unconfirmed and undated.
How do you verify a Boox rumor before believing it?
A three-step habit keeps you honest. First, check shop.boox.com's product pages and news section — a real launch appears there with a spec sheet and price, usually within days of enthusiast reports. Second, look for the regulatory fingerprint: new wireless devices pass through certification databases before sale, and filings naming a new model number are the most reliable pre-announcement signal there is. Third, weigh the retailer inventory: a single store running out means little, but the Palma 2 pattern — the model becoming broadly unavailable across sellers, per The eBook Reader Blog, February 2026 — is the classic predecessor-clearing move. Anything supported by only one of those three legs is a guess wearing a headline, and the Boox rumor cycle produces plenty of those every winter.
What would make the launch a real event?
Three things to watch in any official announcement: the panel generation named in the spec sheet, the Android version shipping at launch, and whether Onyx Cloud improvements (like the 10 GB tier) get tied to new hardware. When Onyx does announce, the spec sheet on shop.boox.com will settle everything the rumors could not — and that page, not a leak, is where your purchase decision should start.
For more context, read How Much Should a Back-to-School E-Reader Cost?.
For more context, read color e ink panels.
For more context, read How Do Ebook Royalties Actually Work for Indie Authors?.