Onyx Boox Go 10.3 review: a versatile alternative to the reMarkable 2

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Onyx Boox Go 10.3 Monochrome: one-minute review

Onyx has been aggressively pushing retired caller ereaders and e-paper penning tablets for a while now – nan marque released nan unsocial and compact Onyx Boox Palma and nan Boox Note Air 3 bid successful speedy succession, past followed it up pinch a caller bid called Go. This includes nan Onyx Boox Go Color 7 ereader and nan Boox Go 10.3 penning tablet that launched together, and a smaller Go 6 ereader that came later. It’s bully to person choices but, astatine nan velocity that it’s churning retired caller models, is Onyx making awesome products to support up pinch nan competition?

With nan Boox Go 10.3, nan Chinese marque has done amended than what it did pinch nan Go Color 7, which had excessively galore package flaws erstwhile I tested it. The Go 10.3, connected nan different hand, is simply a acold amended instrumentality that looks remarkably for illustration nan reMarkable 2.

As nan sanction suggests, it’s a 10.3-inch dedicated e-paper penning tablet and, for illustration its Scandinavian counterpart, writes for illustration a dream. Stylus input is awesome pinch nary lag whatsoever. With different pen and brushwood choices, positive different nib thicknesses, it will easy activity arsenic a integer sketch pad too.

While nan reMarkable 2 was designed to region distractions from nan imaginative process, nan Go 10.3 isn’t truthful discerning – you get afloat entree to nan Google Play Store connected relationship of it moving connected a trimmed-down type of Android 12, positive location are a batch much features successful nan note-taking exertion than connected a reMarkable. It’s important to statement that not each third-party apps will let stylus input, truthful you’ll request to determine which ones will beryllium nan astir useful to you.

It tin besides double up arsenic an ereader acknowledgment to nan baked-in room app (NeoReader), thing nan reMarkable doesn’t rather master. However, lacking a surface ray – conscionable for illustration nan reMarkable – you’re not going to beryllium capable to usage it for nighttime reading.

What I find astir awesome present is that Onyx has trimmed its personification interface down to make it a batch – and I do mean A LOT – much streamlined than connected its erstwhile e-ink tablets, but it still requires a flimsy learning curve. If you’re consenting to put that clip in, it could good beryllium nan amended e-paper penning tablet for you, particularly since nan value quality betwixt it and nan reMarkable 2 isn’t each that different.

Onyx Boox Go 10.3 review: value & availability

• List price: $379.99 / €419.99 (about £355) / AU$699
• Ships pinch a stylus and magnetic slumber lawsuit from nan Boox Shop
• Available to bargain straight from nan Boox Shop aliases third-party retailers

Launched successful June 2024, nan Boox Go 10.3 e-paper tablet carries a database value of $379.99 / €419.99 (about £355) / AU$699. When purchased straight from nan Boox Shop, this value includes nan stylus and a beige magnetic slumber case, but nan second whitethorn not beryllium disposable arsenic portion of nan bundle successful immoderate markets erstwhile bought from third-party resellers.

Given nan reMarkable 2 has a akin value tag, now disposable for $379 / £389 / AU$639 bundled pinch nan guidelines Marker – which is simply a mini driblet since nan reMarkable Paper Pro was launched – nan Boox is rather good priced. In fact, it’s cheaper than nan company’s ain Onyx Boox Note Air 3, which retails for $479 / €549.99 (around £445) / AU$749 astatine afloat price.

However, without a surface light, it’s a small difficult to urge complete different penning e-paper tablets for illustration nan Kobo Elipsa 2E ($399 / £350 / AU$629) and nan Amazon Kindle Scribe (starting value of $339 / £339 / AU$549). If you want thing acold much portable than nan 10-inch tablets, nan Kobo Libra Colour will group you backmost $219.99 / £219.99 / AU$359.95 positive an further $69.99 / £69.95 / AU$119.95 for nan Kobo Stylus 2 purchased separately – that's bully bang for subordinate considering you get a bully colour show and nan afloat suite of Kobo penning features.

• Value score: 3.5 / 5

Onyx Boox Go 10.3 review: specs

Onyx Boox Go 10.3 review: Design & display

• Beautiful, slimline creation successful achromatic and grey
• 10.3-inch E Ink Carta 1200 surface pinch nary frontlighting
• Built-in speakers and mic

The Boox Go 10.3 takes a batch of its creation cues from nan reMarkable 2 but location are immoderate differences that make nan Onyx tablet smaller, lighter and perchance much durable. For starters, nan Go 10.3 has a textured rear sheet that feels very overmuch for illustration faux leather but is plastic. It offers a batch much grip than nan solid connected reMarkable 2, and makes nan Boox lighter successful comparison. This besides intends that nan Go 10.3 doesn’t request nan small nubs that nan reMarkable uses arsenic feet to protect its rear panel.

The aluminum edges of nan Go 10.3 are rounded, starring to slim bezels that beryllium flush pinch nan solid screen. The little bezel, which is broader connected some nan Boox and nan reMarkable, is comparatively smaller connected nan Go 10.3, making it nan somewhat shorter tablet and perchance shaves disconnected a mini weight too. The flip broadside to that is nan Go 10.3 is much prone to accidental surface touches arsenic compared to nan reMarkable 2. Personally, I for illustration nan bezels connected nan reMarkable 2, pinch nan metallic decorativeness and achromatic borders – epitomizing Scandinavian minimalism – compared to nan ray grey connected nan Boox.

Keeping nan remainder of nan creation looking sleek, nan Go 10.3’s powerfulness button, placed connected nan apical correct separator (compared to nan apical near connected nan reMarkable), sticks retired only marginally, truthful you tin find it by feel. The bottommost separator houses nan USB-C larboard successful nan middle, pinch speaker and mic grills connected either broadside of it.

The Go 10.3 is now arguably nan thinnest penning tablet successful this people – its thickness is only conscionable capable to enclose nan aforementioned USB-C larboard – measuring conscionable 4.6mm. That’s conscionable a millimeter little than nan reMarkable 2 which, until now, has held nan title of nan thinnest e-paper penning tablet. The Go 10.3 tips nan scales astatine a specified 375g, which is lighter than nan reMarkable 2 (403.5g) and nan 2022 Amazon Kindle Scribe (433g). Despite that, it doesn’t consciousness vulnerable successful nan hand.

As nan sanction suggests, nan Boox boasts a 10.3-inch display, which uses nan E Ink Carta 1200 surface technology. That’s now a procreation down pinch nan Carta 1300 already successful usage successful nan Kobo Clara BW and Amazon adopting it successful its 2024 scope of Kindles. Where nan Go 10.3 one-ups nan reMarkable 2 is successful surface solution and wide opposition – you get a 300ppi show present (compared to 226ppi), while a side-by-side comparison shows that nan blacks are blacker connected nan Boox. This makes matter look sharper connected nan Go 10.3 arsenic compared to its competition, though nan opposition connected nan Kobo Elipsa 2E (which besides has a 227ppi surface resolution) is overmuch amended than nan Go 10.3, which makes nan second a superior ereader.

That said, nan reMarkable’s surface has a amended anti-glare coating than nan Boox – during my testing I often had issues pinch overhead lights creating agleam spots connected nan Go 10.3, which made reference astatine definite angles rather difficult.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Thanks to nan solid furniture connected nan screen, penning connected nan Go 10.3 is simply a pleasure. I’d opportunity it comes adjacent to nan reMarkable 2 and nan Kindle Scribe – which are my favourite e-paper tablets to constitute connected – pinch nan Boox coming successful a very adjacent third. It ships pinch a stylus, which is simply a basal pen that doesn’t person nan eraser functionality – for specified a premium tablet, I deliberation that’s a glaring omission.

If you’re buying nan tablet straight from Onyx, you’ll besides get a magnetic sleepcover for nan Go 10.3. It’s a lovely-looking beige faux-leather folio, pinch a fold connected nan rear sheet to person it into a stand. However, nan flap that keeps nan folio closed is simply a abstracted portion that attaches magnetically and is easy dislodged erstwhile taking nan tablet successful and retired of nan bag. In fact, if you fold nan screen backmost completely, nan flap magnetically sticks to nan beforehand sheet and comes distant pinch it erstwhile you adjacent nan folio. It’s a mini point but I recovered it truthful annoying that I stopped utilizing it aft a mates of days into my testing.

Unfortunately you’re apt to suffer nan stylus without nan folio case. While nan correct separator of nan Go 10.3 is magnetic to unafraid nan stylus, it’s excessively darn anemic to beryllium of immoderate use. The curved separator doesn’t thief either, reducing nan magnitude of aboveground area nan pen gets to unafraid itself to.

• Design & show score: 4 / 5

Onyx Boox Go 10.3 review: Software & personification interface

As mentioned earlier successful this review, nan Boox Go 10.3 runs a custom, trimmed-down type of Android 12 that focuses purely connected reference and writing. Importantly, Onyx has besides utilized this attraction to streamline nan personification interface connected nan Go 10.3, which makes it a overmuch easier Boox tablet to usage than immoderate I’ve tested before.

I fishy it’s this amended UX that has eliminated a batch of nan package issues I had pinch nan Onyx Boox Go Color 7, aliases nan institution put each its efforts into nan bigger flagship tablet and didn’t trial retired nan smaller ereader capable earlier release. Whatever nan reason, it intends nan Go 10.3 is simply a superior penning tablet that tin springiness nan reMarkable 2 a tally for its money.

So while you won’t get nan smartphone acquisition here, you will beryllium capable to download third-party apps from nan Google Play Store, which makes nan Go 10.3 a much versatile penning tablet than thing from nan competition.

Android OS and apps

• Customized Android UX
• The astir streamlined UX of immoderate erstwhile Boox penning tablet
• Not each third-party apps are usable

All existent Boox devices tally connected a customized type of Android – Android 12 successful this lawsuit – which is really you’re capable to get entree to nan Google Play Store. Despite nan OS being a small retired of day compared to what you’d get connected nan latest Android phone, it’s not an rumor for an e-paper tablet.

The Boox already has afloat support for Evernote and OneNote, arsenic good arsenic easy syncing to unreality services for illustration Dropbox and Google Drive, but you tin besides download and usage different apps that you prefer. One point to support successful mind is that not each of them will connection stylus input if nan developer hasn’t allowed for it connected nan Android type of that peculiar app, aliases location could beryllium input delays erstwhile rendering nan penning connected screen, which happened to maine erstwhile trying Evernote.

Another point to support successful mind erstwhile utilizing an e-paper tablet for illustration nan Go 10.3 is that not each apps are optimized for this benignant of display. Practically each app connected nan Play Store will person been developed for usage connected an LCD aliases OLED show – truthful a smartphone aliases a multimedia tablet – and E Ink’s surface tech doesn’t respond arsenic well. Firstly, nan surface refresh complaint isn’t accelerated capable for astir non-productivity applications, truthful while you tin watch videos connected YouTube successful achromatic and white, it’s not nan champion experience. You tin play immoderate mobile games (again, successful achromatic and white), but your graphics won’t beryllium arsenic cleanable arsenic connected your telephone aliases regular tablet, and that’s contempt nan Go 10.3 utilizing a mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 processor paired pinch an Adreno 610 GPU.

What I really for illustration astir nan Go 10.3 complete different akin Onyx Boox note-taking tablets is nan wide personification interface – it’s a batch cleaner and streamlined here, and isn’t plagued pinch nan aforesaid package glitches I recovered erstwhile I tested nan Boox Go Color 7. The only problem is that nan default Fonts files successful nan Settings isn’t connected to nan Storage tab wherever it needs to unrecorded – truthful anyone sideloading fonts will request to create a caller Fonts files nether Storage to make them activity connected NeoReader (the autochthonal room app).

The main applications are arranged to nan left, making navigation simple, and an easy swipe up from nan bottommost bezel exits nan app you're on. The strategy settings are besides much streamlined, but location are still plentifulness of customization options wrong nan System Display tab and Gestures. The second is akin to what you’d find connected different Android devices which, I personally think, is simply a spot of an overkill for nan Go 10.3 but I’m judge different users would admit nan various options.

As pinch different Boox devices, there’s besides a NaviBall, which is optional to use. Tap connected this information icon and it will unfastened a action of up to 9 configurable buttons to trigger up to 30 different functions.

You besides person nan Control Center connected nan Go 10.3 which is an easy measurement to entree circumstantial features for illustration nan AI assistant, Boox unreality storage, Kids Mode, Split Screen and, importantly, nan E Ink Center. The past action is nan astir useful successful my sentiment arsenic this is wherever you tin power a batch of nan strategy settings for nan device, particularly adjusting nan refresh complaint from a prime of 4 velocity settings. Better yet, you tin group individual apps astatine different refresh rates to suit.

The 1 characteristic connected immoderate Boox instrumentality that’s been nan slightest useful is nan built-in bookstore. You’ll typically find titles that are already successful nan nationalist domain, but considering you tin ever usage nan Kindle aliases Kobo app connected nan Go 10.3, you tin disregard nan Store tab entirely. You tin besides usage nan autochthonal browser to make purchases online.

One point to statement here: for illustration nan Boox Go Color 7, nan Go 10.3 doesn't registry connected a Mac device's Finder application, which makes it difficult to transportation files via a cable. It does, however, registry connected a Windows machine, but I recovered that existing files cannot beryllium recovered via nan accustomed pathways. The champion measurement to usage this Boox tablet is via unreality sync.

• Software score: 4 / 5

Writing & productivity

• Native note-taking app is awesome but mightiness beryllium overkill for immoderate users
• Broad support for statement apps and unreality services
• Excellent stylus input

When it comes to writing, nan Go 10.3 has fantabulous stylus input – location was ne'er immoderate lag during my testing. That said, I did person nan input neglect a fewer times connected nan autochthonal Notes app (where a statement appeared connected surface nan infinitesimal nan stylus touches it), and a afloat restart of nan tablet was needed to fixed nan problem. I’ve encountered this rumor connected nan Kobo Elipsa 2E arsenic well, but nan second allows for conscionable that page to beryllium refreshed, which solves nan problem quicker than connected nan Boox.

Despite being a grayscale device, location is support for a fistful of colors connected nan Go 10.3. You’ll spot nan options erstwhile you take a pen aliases brushwood type successful nan Notes app and, erstwhile exported – arsenic a PDF aliases PNG record – you’ll spot those colors displayed connected your computer.

There are 5 pen types to take from, each pinch up to 5 thickness (width) levels.

There’s a heck of a batch of different functionalities wrong nan Notes app itself, truthful you really don’t request a third-party exertion for penning aliases drawing, unless you’re syncing them to a circumstantial unreality account.

You tin adhd shapes and layers for, say, flowcharts and you tin insert links to notes arsenic well. The AI icon helps person handwritten notes to matter and, for nan astir part, nan conversion is correct unless your handwriting is virtually chickenhearted scratches. Similar to nan reMarkable 2, nan Go 10.3 is fantabulous for annotating PDF files – you tin capable forms and motion connected nan device, past export to your machine aliases a unreality work of your choice. There’s besides image-to-text support (OCR) disposable if you request it, which will make beautiful overmuch thing wrong nan powerful Notes app searchable.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Each archive tin person up to 500 pages, but I recovered that nan bigger nan notebook gets, nan slower it is to reopen nan adjacent clip you want to entree it connected nan Go 10.3. This happened pinch a 7-page document, and nan largest I had during my testing was 10 pages, truthful I’m not wholly judge really good a 100-page archive will perform, fto unsocial 500 pages. The aforementioned 10-page archive moreover collapsed erstwhile during my testing period.

The 1 point I wish nan autochthonal Notes app had was an easier measurement to delete individual pages wrong a document. This functionality exists, but is hidden away: you request to pat connected nan page number displayed connected nan apical correct corner, which opens nan individual pages connected a broadside panel. There, you request to spot nan 3 dots for each page and past prime ‘delete’. It’s a batch easier to do this connected different penning tablets for illustration nan reMarkable 2, nan Kobo Elipsa 2E and nan Kindle Scribe.

Another missing characteristic for multi-page documents is tap-to-turn – you person to usage nan arrow icons connected nan apical correct area to navigate page by page, aliases unfastened nan broadside sheet to uncover each nan pages.

If you’re a integer artist, nan Go 10.3 will make an perfect sketchpad. There’s 4,096 unit sensitivity levels that tin seizure nuances of nan stylus rather well, pinch brushwood strokes looking rather elaborate connected nan E Ink display. That said, there’s nary tilt support connected nan Go 10.3, which you will get connected nan reMarkable 2.

• Writing and productivity score: 4.5 / 5

Reading

• Native room app is afloat featured
• Default Fonts files is not linked for use
• Lacks a surface ray for nighttime reading

Like nan autochthonal Notes application, nan baked-in NeoReader is besides full-featured and has been built for e-paper screens. Text is crisp and very readable connected nan grayscale show and nan customizable Floating Toolbar is useful for speedy entree to shortcuts. However, comparing nan 300ppi show connected nan Go 10.3 pinch nan 227ppi Kobo Elipsa 2E shows a marked quality successful opposition – nan little solution surface has darker text, which makes it guidelines retired much without nan frontlight on.

On nan Go 10.3, however, nan deficiency of a ray – which it borrows from nan reMarkable 2 – makes it difficult to usage arsenic an ereader for nighttime reading. So if you want your e-ink tablet to double arsenic some an ereader and a note-taker, you mightiness beryllium amended disconnected looking elsewhere.

And while there’s wide font support, nan NeoReader only has a azygous (unnamed) serif action disposable for usage without dedicated weights aliases stylization (like bold and italics). While you tin sideload a plethora of fonts, they don’t get saved wrong nan default Fonts files – instead, you request to create a caller 1 wrong Storage for nan further fonts to beryllium enabled wrong nan room app.

If you hap to already person a Kindle aliases Kobo account, I personally urge them complete NeoReader, though nan customizations present will beryllium constricted to what nan 2 platforms let connected their Android apps. The page setup, though, is cleaner and makes reference a nicer experience. And, arsenic I’ve antecedently mentioned, nan built-in bookstore isn’t worthy checking retired astatine all.

• Reading score: 3.5 / 5

Onyx Boox Go 10.3 review: Performance

• Minimal ghosting compared to different Boox tablets
• Responsive screen
• Decent artillery life, but important drain successful slumber mode

The operation of nan mid-range Snapdragon 680 CPU and nan Adreno 610 GPU is plentifulness to support nan Go 10.3 ticking on existent nicely. During my testing, I noticed nary issues pinch halfway tasks for illustration penning and reading.

It’s arguably 1 of nan champion penning experiences I’ve had connected an e-ink tablet, pinch perfectly nary stylus input lag, though I recovered immoderate multi-page handwritten documents tin return a small longer than expected to open. One of my documents, which was 10 pages, moreover crashed, though I deliberation I’ll put this down arsenic a one-off arsenic it happened conscionable once. That said, launching Android apps is rather accelerated for a instrumentality for illustration this and tin lucifer immoderate fund phones aliases accepted tablets.

Individual apps tin person their ain refresh rates set, which is excellent, though moreover astatine nan fastest speed, immoderate apps mightiness stutter. This includes nan browser which, erstwhile scrolling done rapidly, will person a fewer hiccups. That’s natural, though, arsenic it’s conscionable really e-ink screens are.

One betterment I’ve noticed connected nan Go 10.3 compared to different Boox tablets is nan deficiency of ghosting. During my testing, I knowledgeable only nan mildest erstwhile I was utilizing nan browser, but had nary issues erstwhile utilizing nan Notes app to constitute aliases draw. I did person nan occasional overlay erstwhile utilizing nan NeoReader but, again, it was importantly little than different Boox devices.

Without a surface light, nan 3,700mAh artillery tin spell rather nan region – depending connected really overmuch you usage nan Go 10.3, it tin past 2-3 weeks connected a azygous charge. However, location is simply a important drain erstwhile nan tablet is successful slumber mode. I recovered it tin driblet anyplace from 2% to 10%, depending connected really agelong it stays inactive. Onyx gets astir this rumor by allowing you to fto nan instrumentality powerfulness down wholly aft a time aliases 2 of inactivity (you tin prime this successful nan Settings pane), but moreover past I recovered a small artillery drain. While this rumor mightiness beryllium fixable via a early firmware update, it tin mean that a afloat complaint could past nary much than a week.

Moreover, if you usage nan built-in speakers for listening to audiobooks aliases music, you mightiness extremity up draining nan artillery a small faster than erstwhile utilizing it for conscionable penning and reading. And while sound value isn't nan champion for music, it's perfectly capable for audiobook narrations and tin get rather large wrong a mini room. I personally for illustration utilizing 1 of nan best wireless headphones for listening connected immoderate e-ink tablet.

Topping up nan artillery isn’t excessively bad – I recovered nan Go 10.3 went from 20% to afloat successful astir 2 hours. This is erstwhile plugged into a 65W wall charger and utilizing a precocious value USB-C to C cablegram (not nan provided one) – it will beryllium slower to juice up if you plug nan instrumentality into a PC, laptop aliases a docking station, aliases if you usage a USB-A to C cable.

• Performance score: 4 / 5

Should I bargain nan Onyx Boox Go 10.3 e-paper tablet?

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How I tested nan Onyx Boox Go 10.3

• Used nan instrumentality for astir 2 months
• It became my main penning instrumentality during that time
• Did immoderate reference and listened to immoderate audio files arsenic well

The first point I did erstwhile I took nan Go 10.3 retired of its container was to motion into my Onyx relationship to sync existing notes crossed from erstwhile Boox tablets I've used. I past signed into my Google relationship to transportation immoderate ebooks to nan tablet and entree nan Play Store.

Previous acquisition pinch Boox devices had already taught maine to debar nan built-in bookstore, truthful I promptly downloaded some nan Kindle and Kobo Android apps to entree nan libraries I've built up connected those 2 platforms. I besides downloaded a mates of benchmarking applications to find what CPU was being utilized (Onyx doesn't make it very clear connected its site) and cheque nan artillery stats.

The Go 10.3 past became my regular note-taker – I utilized it for a batch of work-related notes, including jotting down points for this reappraisal – and, moreover though I'm nary artist, I did effort drafting immoderate elemental sketches. All my notes are synced to my Google Drive relationship for entree connected a laptop aliases PC, and I besides exported a mates of documents to unreality retention arsenic PDFs for printing.

Given this is simply a penning tablet first and foremost, I tested nan autochthonal Notes app thoroughly, but besides tried retired Evernote briefly.

Read much astir how we test

[First published October 2024]