E Ink readers are very popular. Most US models are small, measuring only 6 or 7 inches in length. These sizes are perfect for holding a book in one hand.
The Note Air 2 is a great follow-up to the Note Air. Some people say that this is the best E Ink tablet of its size. It feels great to hold and use. One of its best features is that it is free. The device can work with multiple ecosystems. You can use almost any reading app on it because it runs Android. We had a few small problems with taking notes and wished it were waterproof, but these are not big deals. The Onyx Boox Note Air 2 is an amazing product that stands out from the rest. This in-depth review of the Onyx Boox Note Air 2 will tell you everything you need to know.
Design and Build: Cool and Classy
There are a lot of plastic devices in the E Ink world. The Boox Note Air 2’s high-quality metal frame makes it stand out right away. It looks and feels fancy. The front screen is flat, and the left side has a wider bezel. This makes a comfortable place to hold.
The pen that comes with it is a great addition. You don’t have to charge it. But the magnet isn’t very strong. Some people will find the lack of waterproofing to be a big problem. You should keep it out of the pool or bathtub.
The E Ink Display: A Treat for the Eyes
The screen is the best part. This is a great screen for reading and writing. The Elipsa turns pages a little faster than the other one. The light on the front is also a little brighter and bluer. The Boox Note Air 2 does have one big advantage, though. The front light changes color. You can change the light from a cool blue to a warm yellow that is easy on the eyes. This is great for reading late at night.
Does Onyx Boox emit blue light?
Yes, it can, just like any other screen with a backlight. But you can filter out almost all blue light with the adjustable warm light feature, which makes it more comfortable.
Hardware and Performance
What kind of processor does the Boox Note 2 have?
The Onyx Boox Note Air 2 has a better Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 processor. This is a big improvement over older models, which makes the interface and apps feel a lot faster. The physical features are finished off with a power button and a new USB-C port for charging and moving data. It has dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz) for fast and stable internet connections.
The Freedom of Android Software
The software is one of the best things about BOOX devices.
Does BOOX run on Android?
Yes, it does. This opens up a lot of new options. You can use the Google Play Store, but you might have to turn it on in the settings. This means you don’t have to go to just one bookstore. You can get and use:
- Kindle app for Amazon
- App for Kobo
- Nook app
- Libby for books from the library
- Any other app for reading or taking notes on Android
This level of freedom changes the game. Onyx’s software comes with useful features. You can read a book and take notes at the same time by using split-screen mode. You can also change the contrast and refresh rates of each app’s display settings to make them look better on the E Ink screen.
Taking Notes: Your Electronic Notebook
One of the main reasons to buy this device is to take notes. The Boox Pen Plus stylus that comes with it is a Wacom EMR pen.
Which pen can I use with the Boox Note Air 2?
The Boox Pen Plus that comes with it works great. Other styluses that work with Wacom EMR technology, like the Staedtler Noris Digital or the Lamy AL-star EMR, will also work. The tablet has a screen protector that is already on it and gives the screen a little texture. The Notes app is very useful. It has features like:
- Different types of pens and brush sizes
- Layers for notes or drawings that are hard to read
- A shape tool that makes perfect circles and lines
- A great feature for converting handwriting to text (OCR)
The experience is mostly great, but the source review did mention some “inconsistencies.” There may be a slight lag from time to time, but software updates have made things run better.
Key Comparisons: How Does It Compare?
Note Air 2 vs. Note Air 2 Plus
A lot of people are curious about the Boox Note Air 2 and Note Air 2 Plus. Later, the Note Air 2 Plus came out as a small update.
- Battery: The Boox Note Air 2 Plus has a bigger battery (3,700mAh) than the regular Note Air 2 (3,000mAh). This makes the battery last longer.
- Design: The Note Air 2 Plus has a different color scheme and finish.
The Note Air 2 Plus is the better choice if you want a long battery life. The Onyx Boox Note Air 2 has almost the same core experience, and you can often find it for a lower price.
The Boox Note Air 3 Series: What to Look Forward To
Things change quickly in technology. The Boox Note Air 3 and Boox Note Air 3 C have come out since then. The Boox Note Air 3 is a direct successor with a faster processor, a newer version of Android, and other small improvements. The Boox Note Air3 C is a big step up. It has an E Ink screen that shows color. This is a game-changer for reading comics, magazines, and adding color to documents. This would be the main point of a Boox Note Air 3 C review. Because of these new models, like the Boox Air 3, the Onyx Boox Note Air 2 and Note Air 2 Plus are often a great deal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boox better for your eyes?
What is the best Boox device?
Which ebook reader is the best?
A Close Look at the Reading Experience
A great screen is only part of the story. The Onyx Boox Note Air 2’s reading software is what makes it stand out. It works well with a lot of different types of files, but PDFs are its best type. It’s often hard to read big PDFs on small e-readers. This is where the Boox Note Air 2 comes in. With its 10.3-inch screen, you can see a full A5 page with clear text. Some of the things that the NeoReader software can do are:
- Powerful Annotation: You can save your notes and send them to someone else.
You can also use any app on Android, of course. The Kindle app from Amazon works great. The Libby app for library books, the Kobo app, and the newspaper apps all do this. Onyx has an “E Ink Center” where you can make each app work better. You can make animations smoother or text bolder, making the experience just right for the E Ink screen.
Battery Life: Lasts for Days
The battery life of any portable device is very important. The battery in the Onyx Boox Note Air 2 lasts for 3,000mAh. This is a pretty good E Ink tablet. It lasts a long time, but it depends a lot on how you use it.
- For just reading: If you turn off Wi-Fi and only use the front light when you need to, the battery should last for weeks.
- For taking a lot of notes: Writing all the time and using the processor will drain the battery faster. You can still expect to use it for many days.
- Using Android apps, browsing the web, and keeping Wi-Fi on will use the most power. You should still be able to get through several days with ease, which is much better than any other LCD tablet.
The Boox Note Air 2 Plus is the model to look at if you need even more endurance. Its bigger battery makes a big difference for people who use a lot of power. The modern USB-C port makes charging easy and quick.
The Onyx Software Ecosystem
Onyx offers more than just an Android tablet. They have made a useful environment for their devices. BooxDrop is a great feature. This makes it easy to move files between your computer, phone, and Boox tablet. With just a few clicks, you can send books, articles, and documents wirelessly.
Will Boox work with Apple?
Yes. Because BooxDrop works in a web browser, it works on Mac, Windows, and Linux. The feature that lets you sync notes is also great. You can sync your handwritten notes with the Onyx cloud. This makes a copy of your notes and lets you see them on other devices. The Note Air 2 is a very useful tool because of this ecosystem.
Who Should Get the Onyx Boox Note Air 2?
- A student or academic: One of the main things they do is read textbooks and research papers. Being able to add notes to PDFs and write notes by hand that can be searched is very helpful.
- A Professional: Lawyers and consultants who look over big papers will love the easy-to-read screen and powerful markup tools.
- A Voracious Reader of PDFs and Comics: The big screen makes it fun to read things that aren’t meant for small e-readers.
- A Digital Journaler: This is a great choice if you want to write without distractions and have the feel of paper but the benefits of digital storage and organization.
The Onyx Boox Note Air 2 vs. reMarkable 2 debate usually comes down to this: the Boox is better if you need a tablet that can do a lot of things, like read and write. If all you want to do is write, the reMarkable 2’s ease of use is appealing.
Price, Worth, and Other Options
The Boox Note Air 2 is a high-end e-reader because of how much it costs. It’s a big investment. But you are getting a lot for your money. You get a strong metal body, a big E Ink screen with a warm light, a fast processor, and all of Android’s features.
Prices for the Onyx Boox Note Air 2 and Note Air 2 Plus go down a lot when the Boox Note Air 3 comes out. This makes them even more worth the money. The Boox Note Air 3 has a faster processor and a newer version of Android, but the main experience is very similar. For a lot of people, getting a Note Air 2 for less money might be the better financial choice.
When you compare the Boox Note Air 2 Plus to the reMarkable 2, it’s clear that the Boox is the better deal. Some people might like the remarkable 2’s writing feel better, but it doesn’t have a front light, and its best features are only available with a subscription. The Note Air 2 comes with all of its features right away, which makes it a better value over time. In the end, this gadget is a great way to boost your productivity and make reading more comfortable. It fills the space between a basic e-reader and a full-featured tablet, making a new and interesting type of product.
In the end, this is a top-notch E Ink tablet
The Onyx Boox Note Air 2 is still a great device. It perfectly combines high-quality hardware with very adaptable software. The big, clear E Ink screen makes reading PDFs and academic papers a pleasure. The note-taking is smooth and has a lot of features. The best thing about it is that you can use any Android app you want.
These are small trade-offs for the huge amount of power you get. It isn’t waterproof, and the pen magnet could be stronger. The Note Air 2 is still a great deal, even though newer models like the Boox Note Air 3 are available. The Onyx Boox Note Air 2 is a great choice for students, academics, or professionals who need to read, write, and make notes on a beautiful, easy-on-the-eyes screen.
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