Onyx Boox Note Air 10.3' E-Ink Reader and Tablet Review

Lisa Gade reviews the Onyx Boox Note Air, a 10.3” e-ink eReader / tablet with a touch screen and Wacom EMR pen with 4,096 pressure levels. The Note Air is slim and light with a premium aluminum casing and color adjustable front lights. It has a faster than average processor for an e-ink reader so working with PDFs and note taking are responsive. It runs Android 10 with a custom UI and you can install apps from Google Play so you can use apps like Kindle and OneNote. It has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a USB-C port, headphone jack and a speaker. The product targets those who want a bigger screen for eBook reading, those who want split screen multitasking and those who want relatively snappy e-ink note-taking performance. We also test it with their optional $35.99 Bluetooth keyboard and cover.

[TheGroundedCoffee]

I simply love the tempo of your review just going on like a high speed train while still being very understandable. No fluff, just the important stuff.

[wheelsmidnight]

I love watching your reviews Lisa- even if I'm not particularly interested in the device you're reviewing, I'm still learning tech stuff that helps me be a better consumer. It's like taking little mini tech courses! Thanks and be safe & healthy :)

[jazway]

Btw, for left handers when in split-screen mode you can swap the writing side so the reading text is on the right side. Love my Boox! -Great review as always.

[FranciscoMalpica]

A bit expensive but I love the idea to have an e-ink reader that can open pdf without lag and makes possible to read websites (text mostly) with ease on the eyes. Also to be able to read Twitter comfortably. Thanks for the review. Will be interested to watch your next ones. Thumbs up 👍🏽 of course!

[danchatka]

someday, e-ink tablets are going to be awesome.

[John_B]

I really appreciate your honest and unbiased opinion in your review. Also, the pros and cons list to your reviews are spot on for what I am looking for. Keep up the great job!

[mburkhart]

Great review! I haven't wanted a new gadget in awhile. If this was closer to a $300 price point, I'd have to have it.

[heoTheo]

I keep clicking on these reviews they are the best! Thanks for all this work!

[randompalmtopgaming]

That this thing can last for weeks with Snapdragon 636 really shows just how efficient these processors are when they don't have to power complicated OS, apps and power hungry screens. Wow.

[bohdaniatsenko]

I've been using this device for about a week now, and I'm very happy with it. It's really not a proper tablet though. Like, yeah, you can install apps and browse the web, but it's so slow that I'd always prefer my phone to this. However, if you find a good article while browsing on your phone and send it to your Note Air through Pocket - that's great. I'd say it's the ultimate e-reader with a gorgeous large screen and amazing backlight, but it's not much more than that. Note-taking app is cool, but turning a page in your notes will take about a second, so you won't be able to find something in your notes quickly. I much prefer taking notes on my 2015 ipad pro which still works great. But for reading books and especially PDFs - this thing is absolutely amazing and I'm really glad I bought it.
P.S.
The review didn't mention it, but the keyboard feels very VERY cheap and small, and unlike the tablet, it uses micro usb. Don't waste your money on it. Get a case with a stand or a separate tablet stand and a good third-party bluetooth keyboard if you really need it.

[ChristopherPhillips]

Would love to see a comparison to the remarkable 2

[fmagicable]

Hi Lisa, I noticed you're left-handed. Just an FYI, you can flip the main menu bar on the home screen to the other side as it is customizable. Also, you can swap the split screen to make it easier to write without your arm covering the document side while doing note-taking.

[tabletdoodlewithtomtdt]

you are among the best reviewers on YouTube I love your work

[twospirits]

Nice seeing you review this. I have both the Air and the keyboard. The pen is okay, but there are better pens out there. You can also use the Remarkable nibs or the Wacom Pro nibs in the pen.
The cover isn't magnetic, but I modded it to be magnetic. I love it.

[EmilianoLoconsolo]

Great review Lisa.... Too bad to see such lag in using the pen on non-proprietary apps like OneNote..

[cahn]

finally a left handed reviewer!! perhaps you may add this into your future reviews.

[dkccerbero]

I have a Boox Note2 (previous model) I teach, write and grade papers with it. Very cool!

[justin-hurd]

i look forward to the day where eink color becomes as good as lcd's and drastically improve battery life.
also, lisa would be the cool aunt for sure.

[emiliofahr]

Always impressed with your reviews! This tablet is so tempting especially with that book cover

[akali]

I am so happy I found your channel Lisa! Very useful review for me, thanks!