An ambitious homebrew project is turning an unassuming e‑ink reader into a somewhat capable single-platform handheld. The x4-boy project brings Game Boy emulation to the Xteink X4, pushing the niche e‑ink device well beyond its intended purpose, and dethroning our previous contender for worst way to play Game Boy.
While details are sparse, the developer has shown it off in a Reddit thread and short demo clip, and the core idea is straightforward: use the X4’s low-power hardware and crisp monochrome panel as a natural fit for classic Game Boy titles. The project forks work done with previous ESP32-based emulators with a control scheme tailored to the X4’s limited input options. The result is a minimal, somewhat frustrating way to revisit original Game Boy games on a device that has barely enough power to render eBooks in the first place.
This isn’t trying to compete with modern handhelds on responsiveness, but instead leans into what e‑ink does best: high-contrast, comfortable viewing that feels closer to reading than staring into a backlit screen. For people who already carry an X4 as their daily reader (me), the appeal is clear: one pocketable device that can handle ebooks and a small library of classics. I played and enjoyed a round of Tetris myself.
Installation is handled through user-accessible software on the device rather than any invasive modification, making it more approachable for technically curious owners who may not be comfortable with hardware-level tinkering. As more specialty readers and note-taking slates ship with flexible chipsets, efforts like x4-boy suggest a path where these devices could become quiet, low-power companions for both reading and play. It’s a small project, but it neatly captures the ethos of people looking at the hardware they already own and asking, “What else can this do?”
Source: GitHub via XTeInk Reader Reddit
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