I spent 6 months with this pocket Android ereader — and it got me into books again, but didn’t break my smartphone addiction

I spent six months using an Android pocket ereader called the ViWoods AiPaper Reader, which significantly reignited my love for reading, but didn't fully eradicate my smartphone addiction. Prior to acquiring the device, I had a sporadic relationship with books, often putting them aside in favor of shows, games, or social engagements.

However, the ViWoods AiPaper Reader provided a solution to my on-and-off reading habits by offering a compact, portable device that could be carried around anytime, even during short idle moments such as waiting in lines or at train stations. This allowed me to easily integrate reading into my daily routine, even during brief periods of downtime.

The device utilizes a Kindle app, enabling me to carry numerous unread books on it, as well as utilizing its full access to the Google Play Store, which I hoped would help curb my smartphone addiction, particularly the habit of doomscrolling. The reader features a 6.13-inch Carta 1300 screen, providing a comfortable reading experience, and a battery life that lasted from several days to several weeks depending on usage.

Despite its shortcomings, including a non-warm backlight and limited functionality of the AI button, which often required Wi-Fi and drained battery faster, the ViWoods AiPaper Reader proved to be an effective tool in rekindling my reading habit. While it did not completely eliminate my smartphone addiction, it did offer a viable alternative for when I needed a distraction without resorting to mindless scrolling.