# Xteink Pogo Pins vs USB-C: What's on the X3, X4, and X4 Pro
Source: https://pocketink.io/blog/xteink-pogo-pins-vs-usb-c/
Updated: 2026-08-25

The useful distinction is simple: USB-C is the shape of a connector, USB 3 is a data standard, and pogo pins are magnetic contacts. On Xteink readers, those names point to different hardware. The original X4 had USB-C on its body. The X3 and X4 Pro have pogo pins on their bodies instead.

That distinction explains a lot of crossed wires. A USB-C port does not promise USB 3 speeds or a book drive, and a pogo connection does not mean the reader has a USB-C socket. For the practical routes for getting books onto a reader, use the [Xteink book-transfer guide](/blog/how-to-transfer-books-to-xteink-x4/).

## What's the difference between USB-C, USB 3, and pogo pins?

USB-C names a connector system for plugs, receptacles, and cables. It does not name a data rate such as USB 3. USB 3 names data standards, while pogo pins describe the magnetic contacts that touch the reader. [USB-IF's Type-C specification](https://www.usb.org/usb-type-cr-cable-and-connector-specification) makes the connector-versus-data distinction clear.

<p class="kicker">Three different things</p>

<div class="compare compare--3">
  <div class="compare__col">
    <p class="compare__head">USB-C <span class="pill">Connector</span></p>
    <p>The plug and receptacle shape. It does not, by itself, promise a speed or a storage mode.</p>
  </div>
  <div class="compare__col">
    <p class="compare__head">USB 3 <span class="pill">Data standard</span></p>
    <p>A family of higher-speed USB data standards. It is not the name of a plug.</p>
  </div>
  <div class="compare__col">
    <p class="compare__head">Pogo pins <span class="pill">X3 and X4 Pro</span></p>
    <p>Magnetic contacts on the back of the reader. They are not a USB-C receptacle on the body.</p>
  </div>
</div>

The practical rule is: identify the connector first, then check what that specific device can do over it. "USB-C" alone does not answer the file-transfer question.

## Which of the X3, X4, and X4 Pro have USB-C and which have pogo pins?

The [original Xteink X4](https://www.xteink.com/products/xteink-x4) had a body-mounted USB-C charging connection. The [Xteink X3](https://www.xteink.com/products/xteink-x3) lists its port as Magnetic Pogo Pin, while the [Xteink X4 Pro](https://www.xteink.com/products/xteink-x4-pro-pocket-ereader) lists Pogo Pin.

- **Original X4:** USB-C on the reader body.
- **X3:** magnetic pogo pins on the reader body, with a magnetic cable in the box.
- **X4 Pro:** pogo pins on the reader body, with a magnetic adapter in the box and no charging cable.

If the body-mounted USB-C jack is the deciding factor, read the [original-X4 discontinuation guide](/blog/xteink-x4-discontinued-what-to-buy/) before treating the X3 or X4 Pro as a like-for-like replacement.

## Was the original Xteink X4 USB-C port USB 3 file transfer?

No. For copying books, the original X4's USB-C connection was for charging, not a USB 3 mass-storage connection that mounted the reader as a drive. The ESP32-C3's USB controller supports [USB 2.0 full-speed device operation](https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-hardware-design-guidelines/en/latest/esp32c3/schematic-checklist.html), not USB 3 SuperSpeed. A CrossPoint maintainer also says the chip in the X3 and original X4 does not support [USB gadget mode](https://github.com/crosspoint-reader/crosspoint-reader/issues/2630#issuecomment-5000426587), the mechanism a reader would need to present itself as a file-transfer device.

An unlocked original X4 can expose Serial/JTAG for firmware work. That controller is [fixed to serial and JTAG debugging](https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-idf/en/v6.0.1/esp32c3/api-guides/usb-serial-jtag-console.html), which is neither book storage nor USB 3.

<div class="callout callout--warn">

<p class="kicker kicker--flame">USB-C did not mean book transfer</p>

The original X4's USB-C socket looked familiar, but it did not turn the reader into a drag-and-drop book drive. Use the [book-transfer guide](/blog/how-to-transfer-books-to-xteink-x4/) for the routes that actually move files.

</div>

## Can the X4 Pro copy books through its pogo adapter?

Yes, on stock Xteink firmware. Xteink's [X4 Pro FAQ](https://www.xteink.com/products/xteink-x4-pro-pocket-ereader) says to connect a USB cable, choose USB Mode from the Home-screen menu, then copy the book after the X4 Pro appears on the computer. Because the X4 Pro body has pogo pins, that route uses its magnetic adapter and a cable.

That documented USB Mode is not a promise of USB 3 SuperSpeed. It also does not prove the same option exists on the X3 or in CrossPoint. For microSD, Wi-Fi, app, and other transfer routes, go to the [Xteink book-transfer guide](/blog/how-to-transfer-books-to-xteink-x4/).

## How do I charge the Xteink X3 and X4 Pro?

The Xteink X3 uses the magnetic pogo-pin cable included in its box. The Xteink X4 Pro uses its included magnetic adapter, then a USB-C charging cable plugged into that adapter. Neither reader accepts a USB-C cable directly into a socket on the reader body.

- **For an X3:** seat the supplied magnetic cable on the rear contacts, then connect its other end to a suitable charger. Xteink says to use a locally certified charger and keep conductive objects away from the pins.
- **For an X4 Pro:** seat the supplied magnetic adapter on the rear contacts, then attach your USB-C cable to the adapter. Xteink says the Pro box includes the adapter, not a charging cable.

If you lose the magnetic piece, an ordinary USB-C lead alone will not connect to either reader. The [accessories guide](/accessories/) is the right place to compare replacement and third-party charging options by model.

## Should pogo pins stop me buying an X3 or X4 Pro?

Only if a body-mounted USB-C socket is a hard requirement for your routine. Pogo charging does not make the reader USB 3, and USB-C on the original X4 did not make it a book drive. The tradeoff is simpler: the X3 and X4 Pro ask you to keep a magnetic cable or adapter with the reader.

If that extra piece would irritate you on every trip, it is a good reason to prefer an original X4 you already own or to shop outside these three models. If it is merely a spare to keep in a bag, weigh it against the rest of the devices instead. The [X3 versus X4 guide](/blog/xteink-x3-vs-x4-model-choice/) and [X4 Pro versus X4 guide](/blog/xteink-x4-pro-vs-x4-upgrade-or-stick/) cover that buying choice without turning connector names into a proxy for every feature.

## What else do readers ask about Xteink pogo pins and USB-C?

<details class="faq">
  <summary>Is USB-C the same as USB 3?</summary>
  <p>No. USB-C names the connector; USB 3 names a data standard. A USB-C port can support different data modes, so the connector shape alone does not tell you the transfer speed or whether a device will mount as storage.</p>
</details>
<details class="faq">
  <summary>Does the Xteink X3 have USB-C?</summary>
  <p>No. The <a href="https://www.xteink.com/products/xteink-x3">Xteink X3</a> lists Magnetic Pogo Pin as its port and includes a magnetic charging cable.</p>
</details>
<details class="faq">
  <summary>Does the Xteink X4 Pro have USB-C on the reader?</summary>
  <p>No. The <a href="https://www.xteink.com/products/xteink-x4-pro-pocket-ereader">Xteink X4 Pro</a> lists Pogo Pin as its port. Its box includes a magnetic adapter but no charging cable.</p>
</details>
<details class="faq">
  <summary>Can I copy books through the original X4 USB-C port?</summary>
  <p>No. The original X4 does not present as a USB book drive. Use microSD or a wireless route from the <a href="/blog/how-to-transfer-books-to-xteink-x4/">book-transfer guide</a>.</p>
</details>
<details class="faq">
  <summary>Does the X4 Pro's USB Mode mean it has USB 3?</summary>
  <p>No. Xteink documents a stock-firmware USB Mode for copying files, but it does not identify that workflow as USB 3 SuperSpeed.</p>
</details>
<details class="faq">
  <summary>Can I use any pogo-to-USB-C adapter?</summary>
  <p>Do not assume that a generic magnetic puck will fit or work. Use an adapter listed for the X3 or X4 Pro, then check the compatible model before ordering.</p>
</details>

## Where can I check the underlying sources?

- [USB Type-C Cable and Connector Specification, USB-IF](https://www.usb.org/usb-type-cr-cable-and-connector-specification)
- [Xteink X3 product page](https://www.xteink.com/products/xteink-x3)
- [Xteink X4 historical product page](https://www.xteink.com/products/xteink-x4)
- [Xteink X4 Pro product page and FAQ](https://www.xteink.com/products/xteink-x4-pro-pocket-ereader)
- [ESP32-C3 Schematic Checklist, Espressif](https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-hardware-design-guidelines/en/latest/esp32c3/schematic-checklist.html)
- [USB Serial/JTAG Controller Console, ESP-IDF](https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-idf/en/v6.0.1/esp32c3/api-guides/usb-serial-jtag-console.html)
- [CrossPoint Target Mode discussion](https://github.com/crosspoint-reader/crosspoint-reader/issues/2630#issuecomment-5000426587)