How One Tech Journalist Took Matters Into Her Own Hands to Make the Boox Picco MagSafe

For gadget enthusiasts and digital book lovers alike, pocket-sized e-readers represent a fascinating intersection of portability and modern convenience. Among the prominent names in the E Ink landscape, Onyx Boox has long commanded a dedicated following. Known for crafting versatile, feature-rich devices that run on Android, the company’s hardware routinely attracts high praise from mobile technology critics. However, even the most revered ecosystems occasionally encounter supply chain shifts or accessory rollbacks that leave users searching for workarounds.

This exact scenario recently unfolded with the Onyx Boox Picco, a brilliant miniature pocket e-reader that initially launched alongside a dedicated MagSafe-compatible case. Without prior public warning, Boox quietly halted the sale of the accompanying magnetic case, leaving a distinct gap in the market. Because third-party manufacturers have been slow to recognize and fill this specific void, consumers who prefer a magnetic setup found themselves entirely without off-the-shelf alternatives. For tech journalist Namerah Saud Fatmi, who has spent nearly a decade reviewing smartphones, accessories, and mobile hardware, waiting for the market to correct itself was not an option. Deciding to take matters into her own hands, she set out to engineer a bespoke MagSafe solution for the ultralight reader.

Finding the Right Magnet for the Job

The premise sounded straightforward enough on paper. Attaching adhesive magnetic rings to modern smartphone cases has become a commonplace modification for users looking to mount wallets, grips, or wireless chargers. Because the Onyx Boox Picco features a matte back with a subtle, grainy texture, its chassis seemed inherently primed to accept an adhesive backing. Yet, the project immediately collided with a logistical roadblock that highlights the quirks of the current mobile accessory ecosystem.

A simple online search across major retailers reveals an overwhelming abundance of magnetic adhesive rings, but these products are universally designed for smartphones. They are engineered to attach to the back of a phone while exerting a magnetic pull outward toward an accessory. For a pocket e-reader, however, the engineering challenge required the exact inverse: a magnetic sticker that adheres directly to the back of the device and creates a secure magnetic attraction toward a phone or MagSafe charging stand.

Faced with this inventory mismatch, the search pivoted away from smartphone components and toward general-purpose supplies found in craft and hobbyist inventories. The first experiment involved a flat, round magnetic sticker backed by standard 3M adhesive. Marketed primarily for securing notes to refrigerators and magnetic whiteboards, these stickers seemed like a viable candidate, especially given the Picco’s featherlight footprint of just 58 grams. While the sticker bonded securely to the back of a Google Pixel 10 Pro during initial tests, its magnetic force proved entirely inadequate for supporting the weight of the e-reader. The device slipped away effortlessly, prompting a quick pivot to a much sturdier class of permanent magnets.

Adding Magnets to a Mini Pocket E-Reader

Neodymium magnets represent some of the strongest permanent magnetic materials available to consumers, serving as the foundational building blocks inside official MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging ecosystems. To bridge the gap, a small, round neodymium magnet equipped with double-sided 3M adhesive was sourced for a second attempt. Positioned precisely in the center of the Picco’s rear panel, the magnet established a remarkably firm and dependable hold.

The physical functionality was an immediate success. The modified e-reader clung securely to the back of the Pixel 10 Pro, a Pixelsnap phone case, and a standard MagSafe adapter ring affixed to another Android handset. However, the modification suffered from a significant aesthetic oversight regarding physical dimensions. In the excitement of the experiment, the thickness of the component was overlooked, resulting in a robust 5-millimeter-thick disk.

While the magnetic bond was exceptionally secure, the added depth forced the diminutive e-reader to protrude aggressively from the back of a phone. In profile, the setup created an unexpectedly comical appearance, transforming the sleek alignment of the devices into a bulky, awkward stack that clearly demonstrated the importance of precise measurements in DIY hardware modifications.

What I Would Do Next Time

Reflecting on the experiment, the ideal path forward became abundantly clear for anyone hoping to replicate the modification. Rather than utilizing a thick neodymium disk, a much thinner magnetic plate would yield a significantly more streamlined profile. High-grade neodymium plates are often expensive and typically sold exclusively in bulk quantities, making standard smartphone mounting plates a much more practical alternative. Because mounting plates are constructed entirely of metal rather than serving as active magnets, their lack of intrinsic magnetic charge is easily compensated for by the strong magnets embedded within a modern smartphone or MagSafe case, all while effortlessly supporting the Picco’s minimal weight.

Among the options available for sleek hardware integrations, mounting plates from the brand RollingSquare offer an exceptionally thin profile measuring a mere 0.5 millimeters in thickness. The brand offers comprehensive kits that bundle plates with stands and magnetic stickers, though users seeking a minimalist approach can acquire individual spare plates separately. These ultra-slim components eliminate the awkward protrusion while preserving the convenience of a magnetic ecosystem.

At the same time, the broader market for pocket e-readers continues to evolve independently of DIY modifications. While Onyx Boox maintains a loyal following for its larger Android-powered E Ink tablets, competing brands are rapidly innovating within the smaller form factor space. For consumers hesitant to invest time and money into modifying a $109.99 device after losing access to official magnetic accessories, alternative hardware options offer built-in solutions out of the box.

Devices like the Xteink X4 Pro illustrate this shift by incorporating native magnetic attachment directly into a miniature 4.3-inch touchscreen e-reader equipped with built-in front lighting and a generous battery capacity, often retailing at a competitive price point. While alternative form factors may introduce their own proprietary charging constraints—such as reliance on magnetic pogo pins rather than universal USB cables—the landscape for pocket-sized reading technology remains dynamic, ensuring that enthusiasts have multiple avenues to achieve the exact portable setup they desire.