The Viwoods AiPaper Reader Is Also Secretly a Phone

When I put the new Viwoods AiPaper Reader through its paces for my review, released yesterday, I made the mistake of trusting the company’s own claims when describing its capabilities. According to Viwood’s website, the phone-shaped device has mobile data functionality (specifically 4G/2.4G Wi-Fi).)which I tested using a data-only SIM card. Nowhere does Viwoods advertise that its new e-reader makes and takes phone calls. But it’s possible.

I’d love to say I figured this out for myself, but I first saw a post about it on Reddit shortly before bed last night. The moment I woke up, I received an email in my inbox from a Viwoods representative asking me to edit the part of my review where I had noted that the device couldn’t take calls, saying that it indeed could, with the correct SIM card. The representative explained that while the feature wasn’t announced, the company treated it as a “discreet extra” that customers could experience for themselves.

So this morning I took out the prepaid T-Mobile SIM card I keep for testing various devices, inserted it into the Viwoods AiPaper reader and was able to instantly use it to call my wife. As far as I can tell, it worked great – I wasn’t traveling, so I have no idea how reliable the signal was – but with one huge caveat.

It’s still only technically a phone

Calling capability aside, I’d hesitate to call the AiPaper Reader a phone for one pretty important reason: Missing external speakerwhich means that if you want to be able to hear the person on the other end, you’ll need to connect your headphones or Bluetooth earbuds (there’s no headphone jack). This also means it won’t sound audibly unless your headphones are plugged in and connected, which is probably a bigger problem. (A call will at least wake him from sleep.)

Obviously, not being able to use the device to take a call without first reaching for your headphones severely limits its usefulness as a phone, to the extent that I imagine it would be difficult for anyone to justify using the Viwoods AiPaper Reader as an e-ink replacement for their Pixel or iPhone. But at the same time, it is can make calls. So it’s… nice?

It lacks other common phone features

The fact that the AiPaper Reader also lacks many other features that are basically de rigeur for modern smartphones, including selfie and rear cameras and GPS functionality – no, this thing won’t work with Google Maps.

Why isn’t Viwoods announcing this feature?

This is the most interesting question for me. The AiPaper Reader appears to be attempting to directly compete with the new Boox Palma 2 Pro, which has the same dimensions and capabilities, including mobile data. So why not point out to potential customers that they can also use the AiPaper Reader as a phone?

I guess the company can’t do this legally because it isn’t certified as a phone by the Federal Communications Commission. But this is just a guess on my part; I have contacted Viwoods for more information and will update this article as soon as I hear back.

Compatibility is a question mark

Just because it can make calls doesn’t mean the AiPaper Reader will work with your particular carrier, and this apparent lack of FCC certification could be the reason. As I said, it worked fine with my T-Mobile SIM card, and when I search for the device’s IMEI (available in Settings>About) on T-Mobile’s IMEI checker, I’m told it’s “partially compatible” with their network.

But when I entered the IMEI into similar tools from Verizon and UScellular, both told me it wouldn’t work with their respective networks. Of course, it is entirely possible that the device would be You may well be able to make calls through these networks if you have inserted a valid SIM card, but there are no guarantees here.