Open Book Touch: Minimalistic e-book reader with e-ink display is customizable

The Open Book Touch is a DIY e-reader (Image source: Oddly Specific Objects)

The Open Book Touch is a new e-reader with a built-in backlight. The relatively compact device has physical buttons and is supposed to convince customers with its open architecture.

Silvio Werner (translated by Enrico Frahn), Published 11/10/2025 🇩🇪 🇪🇸 ...

E-Ink DIY

Devices with e-ink displays come in various form factors with different concepts. Some models are full-fledged tablets with e-ink screens and can do much more than just show e-books. These devices often run on Android and are available at retailers such as Amazon. The newly announced Open Book Touch is a rather minimalistic e-reader that can be extensively customized.

This is a project from the maker community that will be available for purchase via a CrowdSupply campaign, but no price has been revealed thus far. The e-book reader is powered by an ESP32-S3, which is a widely used chipset found on many development boards. While its performance is nowhere near that of a modern APU from AMD or Intel, it should be more than sufficient for reading e-books. The chip has built-in WiFi and Bluetooth for wireless connectivity. Moreover, the gadget can be programmed via Arduino and CircuitPython, so users can create their own projects.

The Open Book touch measures 3.0 x 4.65 x 0.38 inches and weighs 3 oz. In addition to that, it features a compact 4.26-inch display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. The screen also has a front light that supports both cool and warm white. The device further has a microSD card slot to store e-books and other supported files. Last but not least, the integrated battery has a capacity of 1,800mAh.

Source(s)

CrowdSupply

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Editor of the original article: Silvio Werner - Senior Tech Writer - 15753 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2017

I have been active as a journalist for over 10 years, most of it in the field of technology. I worked for Tom’s Hardware and ComputerBase, among others, and have been working for Notebookcheck since 2017. My current focus is particularly on mini PCs and single-board computers such as the Raspberry Pi – so in other words, compact systems with a lot of potential. In addition, I have a soft spot for all kinds of wearables, especially smartwatches. My main profession is as a laboratory engineer, which is why neither scientific contexts nor the interpretation of complex measurements are foreign to me.

contact me via: silvio39191, LinkedIn

Translator: Enrico Frahn - Managing Editor Accessory Reviews, Tech Writer - 5702 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2021

My fascination for technology goes back a long way to the Pentium II era. Modding, overclocking and treasuring computer hardware has since become an integral part of my life. As a student, I further developed a keen interest in mobile technologies that can make the stressful college life so much easier. After I fell in love with the creation of digital content while working in a marketing position, I now scour the web to bring you the most exciting topics in the world of tech. Outside the office, I’m particularly passionate about motorsports and mountain biking.

contact me via: LinkedIn

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