These Credit Card-Sized E-Readers Are up to 21% Off for October Prime Day

Joel Cunningham Joel Cunningham Deputy Editor ExperienceJoel Cunningham is Lifehacker’s Deputy Editor. He has 15 years of experience as a writer and editor. Previously, he was managing editor of content marketing for Barnes & Noble, where he founded the Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog. Read Full Bio October 6, 2026 Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Credit: Xteink/Amazon Table of Contents Prime Day is usually a great time to score a good deal on a Kindle, but before Amazon's "Prime Big Deal Days" event—starting today and continuing through Wednesday night—let me redirect your attention to another category of e-readers entirely. Tiny e-ink devices—I'm talking credit card-sized, with screens that measure around four inches—are all the rage in 2026. If you too can see the appeal of carrying all of your books with you on a device so small you'll forget it's even in your pocket, it's not a bad time to jump in: Two of the best options on the market, the recently released Xteink X4 Classic and the even smaller X3, are up to 21% off for October Prime Day. Xteink is a Chinese startup that shook up the e-reading world last year with the launch of the X4, a super bare-bones device that made up for its lack of features and usability with a cheap sub-$70 price point. Since then, a huge online community of fans has formed around the device, sharing tips on Reddit and even coming together to crowdsource an alternate operating system that fixes a lot of its early problems. Xteink quickly followed up the X4 with a slate of other devices, including the X3 and the X4 Pro, which adds a front light and touchscreen (at the cost of screen clarity and two physical buttons).The X3 was released early this year, improving on the original X4 by adding in quality-of-life improvements like a larger battery, relocated page-turn buttons, a real-time clock, and a tilt-to-turn-page feature. The X4 Classic, released in September, incorporates those changes and is also 6g lighter and a millimeter thinner than the X4, though there is a trade-off involved there: Both the X3 and the X4 Classic dropped their USB-C charging ports in favor of magnetic pogo pins that require a separate cable or adapter. These upgrades also increased the cost: The X3 started at $69 and the X4 Classic retails for $89, $20 more than the discontinued X4 and only $10 less than the X4 Pro. But right now on Amazon, the X3 has dropped in price by 15% to $58.65 and the X4 Classic is $69.99, or 21% off. Either is a good option for those who prioritize crisp, readable text above the conveniences of a built-in light or touchscreen, as those add extra layers between the inner screen and outer glass, and provided you understand what you're getting into: These devices support only e-books without Digital Rights Management (DRM), which means you can't use them to read your existing library of Kindle books.Amazon October Prime Day FAQsWhen is October Prime Day?October Prime Day (actually called "Prime Big Deal Days") begins Oct. 6 and runs through Oct. 7. This is one of three major Amazon sales throughout the year, and it happens every year during October. What do you think so far? How do October Prime Day deals work?Prime Day sales, including Prime Big Deal Days, let Prime Members shop online for thousands of products with big discounts. It lasts only two days, so make sure you know everything about the sale before it starts.What goes on sale during October Prime Day?Since Prime Big Deal Days happens in the fall, you're likely to see more deals on gaming and indoor gym equipment. Amazon has already announced some of the 35 categories that will be on sale, including beauty, tech, kitchen, fashion, and home. Some brands Amazon has already mentioned are: Shark, Princess Polly, Soundcore by Anker, UGG, Nest New York, Sony, Tarte, Adidas, and Barefoot Dreams. Our Best Editor-Vetted Prime Day Deals Right Now Deals are selected by our commerce team Lifehacker has been a go-to source of tech help and life advice since 2005. Our mission is to offer reliable tech help and credible, practical, science-based life advice to help you live better. Our Mission Our Team Newsletter © 2001-2026 Ziff Davis, LLC., A ZIFF DAVIS COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Lifehacker is a federally registered trademark of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of Lifehacker. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant.