Smartphones can be addictive. To be clear, it's specific apps that make this happen, but it's undeniable that many people have a problem putting their phones down.

You see it everywhere, whether it's at school, the market, the mall, or people driving their cars.

It's been going on for a while now, so we've talked about this before. And we've also offered some suggestions on how to fight smartphone addiction.

We've even experimented with an app to help with this and have looked at devices that could help you stay focused.

Perfect for the reader

We're talking about the pocket e-paper gadgets made by Xteink that have been picking up steam since the end of last year.

They're compact, cheap, and most importantly, attach to the back of your phone for easy access.

We've spent some time with them and, for the most part, they can pry you away from your phone if you like to read.

Since this is a dedicated e-reader device, it's only good for a few things. You can read books and documents, view photos, and it can become a clock when it's not in use.

The list of what it can do is short, but that's what makes it so powerful. There's no app store or web browser to help your mind wander.

It can help you stay focused

It's purpose-built, and that's part of its charm. But more importantly, it can keep you locked in, without relying on extra tricks.

It's the perfect study device whether you're at home or on the go. I purchased one and found that it was an okay experience.

While I love that it's bare-bones, I would have appreciated it more if it could access e-books I have already purchased, or at least let me borrow from typical sources.

With the Xteink, you're stuck with transferring files to the device from your computer or phone.

If your books have some type of DRM, you'll need to do some extra work to get this done. But after you get things loaded and you're used to the flow, it's seamless.

While the default software experience is decent, there are people working on third-party software to make the experience better.

If you pick one up, we highly recommend loading up Crosspoint on your device.

If you're not so keen on going with Xteink, you might want to wait for the Boox Picco. It will cost a little more, but the product might end up being better.

Xteink X4
  •                 **Screen**
  • 4.3 inch
  •                 **Resolution**
  • 220 PPI
  •                 **Battery**
  • 650mAh
  •                 **Weight**
  • 74g
  •                 **Dimensions**
  • 114 × 69 × 5.9 mm