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A keyfob-sized e-reader you can 3D print for about $30 [1]

['Ellsworth Toohey']

Date: 2026-04-15  

YouTuber Paul Lagier has built an e-reader barely larger than an adult thumb out of a 3D-printed shell, an ESP32 microcontroller, a small battery, and a Heltec Wireless Paper e-ink display. The whole build runs about $30 in parts, according to Android Authority, or roughly a fifth of the cheapest Kindle.

The ESP32 has just 8MB of onboard storage, so Lagier trimmed the system files and got the thing to hold six to 10 books of around 300 pages each. Files have to be plain TXT — no PDF or EPUB. A web interface handles syncing, bookmarks, and folders so you can sort books by genre or whatever scheme you like. A recent firmware update added a list feature for to-dos and reading queues, custom screensavers, added languages, and improved battery life.

The pitch is less "replace your Kindle" and more "fill the dead minutes." It's small enough to forget you're carrying, so you read in the gaps instead of reaching for a phone. No notifications, no apps, no browser — just text.

Lagier is selling the print files, schematics, and firmware on Ko-Fi for about $6 (€4.90), with all future updates included. Add the $30 in components, and you have a working pocket library for under $40.

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[1] Url: https://boingboing.net/2026/04/15/a-keyfob-sized-e-reader-you-can-3d-print-for-about-30.html

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