Onyx Boox Observe Air3 evaluate

I’ve looked for the proper E-Ink tablet for studying and writing for years. I struggled to decide on between what has shortly change into a saturated note-taking tablet market and needed an expertise that may be simpler on the eyes and worthwhile for the worth. As a university librarian, I helped troubleshoot numerous students’ tablets and appeared to listen to a problem about each mannequin I might contemplate. Enter stage left, and considerably steathily in 2024, the Onyx Boox Observe Air3.

Boox despatched me this E-Ink pill to evaluate, and I spent the final week and half utilizing the Observe Air3 as my major ereader, note-taking pill, and audiobook leisure machine and got here away with some notes myself. I learn a ton, for leisure, work, and faculty, and I feel I’ve lastly discovered an ereader/author I can see making a big distinction in my day-to-day life.

Onyx Boox Observe Air3

Really helpful

Onyx Boox Observe Air3 is a monochromatic E-Ink show pill that helps third-party apps with Android 12 and launched with a sooner CPU and a micro-SD card slot for better storage as effectively.

Professionals

• Battery life does not stop
• Third-party Android apps
• Sturdy construct, snug design
• Studying and writing is quick and pleasing

Cons

• Pen is not probably the most snug for long-term use
• Some anticipated 300ppi show
• Slight lag in line drawing

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Worth, specs, and availability

The place does it match within the ewriter market?

The Onyx Boox quietly got here on the scene earlier in 2024 after its sibling’s splashier arrival, the Note Air3 C — the colour E-Ink model of this studying and writing pill. Whereas the fervor over colour E-Ink tablets is comprehensible, the monochromatic Observe Air3 is all the things and greater than I anticipated. It does the E-Ink studying and writing extraordinarily effectively, and consists of Android 12, giving a performance enhance over many rivals.

The Observe Air3 is listed at $399.99, whereas it is colour model lists at $499.99. It has a big replace to the CPU, storage, and battery life to its predecessor, the Observe Air2 and Observe Air2 Plus. It feels sturdy regardless of it is impressively skinny display. The aspect panel grip makes holding it snug for lengthy studying periods and shopping.

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What I appreciated in regards to the Onyx Ebook Observe Air3

Battery, Android third-party apps, and PDF performance

I used the Boox Observe Air3 for ten days straight, and I have not topped up the battery as soon as. I learn two ebooks, took notes for a number of hour-long conferences, drafted my marriage ceremony visitor listing, listened to a whole 14-hour audiobook, examined the BOOXDrop file sharing options, and even used it as a scorecard for 2 intense sport nights. I did this on one full cost, and the machine nonetheless has 25% battery left. The note-taking was a stunning delight. It has the smallest of lags when drawing traces, however general it actually does write like paper.

The battery life on E-Ink readers is half the draw, the shows take up much less energy, they usually historically don’t want as a lot battery energy as LCD, OLED, or AMOLED show tablets. The spectacular Observe Air3 battery is probably going as a result of firm deciding to not embody a characteristic that’s current on the Observe Air3 C and most of the Boox Tab collection, Boox Superfast Refresh (BSR). This characteristic is nice for smoothing that ghosting and lag impact current on most E-Ink readers, however it might probably diminish the battery life.

I do not really feel like I am lacking out on a lot with out BSR although. With Android 12 and the CPU upgrades, I breezed by way of apps that even are inclined to decelerate my iPhone — Kindle, Libby, Libro.fm, and Audible — with out shedding battery life. Moreover, as an avid person of e book and audiobook apps outdoors the Amazon ecosystem, the power to make use of all my favourite third-party apps is an surprising delight. The addition of much less distracted studying, listening, and writing is an enormous promoting level for me. The Bluetooth connection is efficient, and I discovered no points utilizing my earbuds, speaker, and even my automobile with a downloaded audiobook.

The note-taking and markup performance labored effectively throughout conferences, and the microphone for fast recording to embed into notes is a good addition to its work/examine performance. I begin graduate lessons to complete my educating certification in a couple of weeks and anticipate the PDF markup features will get much more use. The BOOXDrop file sharing perform connects to my private Google Drive or my college’s OneDrive, permitting for cross-platform ease.

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What I did not like in regards to the Onyx Ebook Observe Air3

Minor critiques for my use, however may make a distinction for you

The training curve may be steep for brand spanking new Boox customers. Now that I’ve had every week and browse the included intro e-book, I am snug utilizing the platforms and see worth in how they’re arrange. I’ve seen some reviewers harsh on the “Retailer” within the Boox lineup, and the title might use some work because it’s truly crammed with public area books solely. However as a librarian, I beloved to see this. With Android 12 and the Google Play Retailer, you may add whichever different e book or audiobook app libraries you prefer to, which is a delight in comparison with stricter techniques like Kindles. It might be nice to have a more moderen Android onboard, however I did not have any points whereas testing.

The dearth of BSR (Boox Superfast Refresh) does imply ghosting is extra current on this model than the colour E-Ink mannequin, however I by no means discovered it distracting, and I want the longer battery life and monochromatic studying expertise. A fast guide display refresh wipes away any ghosting that’s overly regarding. Many Boox Observe followers have been anticipating a 300ppi E-Ink monochromatic show, however alas, it stays at 227ppi. To be clear, this is not a foul studying expertise or show. Presently, the Kindle Scribe is the one E-Ink monochromatic pill in the marketplace with 300ppi, but it surely has been out for greater than a yr.

The final potential detraction is the included pen. It writes effectively, however is primary and does not embody extras like erasers or additional perform buttons. It will possibly get a bit uncomfortable for prolonged use, which is a bit disappointing given the worth tag. If that is a dealbreaker, you can purchase a distinct pen or just add a pen grip for better consolation.

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Verdict: Must you purchase the Onyx Ebook Observe Air3?

Is that this your first ewriter or an improve?

When you’ve got the Observe Air2 or Observe Air2 Plus, you could need to wait to see if Boox releases a Observe Air3 Plus this yr or for the following era for a extra vital improve. The $399.99 price ticket won’t be value it if you happen to’re actually holding out for that 300ppi monochromatic E-Ink show, but when that is your first Boox machine or first ereader/author, and also you desire a personalized, distraction-free expertise for studying and writing, I extremely suggest it.

Moreover, the colour providing is on the desk, however personally, I am within the in E-Ink pill sport for the lengthy battery, third-party apps, and my eyes genuinely want monochromatic for studying. Should you plan to make use of an E-Ink pill for extra color-intensive studying supplies, and you’ve got the extra $100 to cowl the worth distinction, the Air3 C is likely to be a more sensible choice for you. However with my plans: four-five ebooks every week, an audiobook or two, a number of assembly notes, marriage ceremony planning, and graduate college, it is a improbable machine that matches my life and retains me off my distracting cellphone.

Onyx Boox Observe Air3

Really helpful

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FAQ

Q: Is the Onyx Boox Observe Air3 waterproof?

Whereas the IPX ranking is considerably troublesome to find, within the person guide and particularly the security information, Onyx makes a transparent warning to not get the machine close to any liquids, excessive humid environments, or rain. Maintain this machine out of the water. It isn’t waterproof.

Q: Which Boox Observe Air3 collection ought to I purchase, the monochromatic Air 3 or the colour Air3 C?

This relies on your pockets and your studying plans. They is a $100 distinction in price ticket, with the monochromatic Observe Air3 being $400 and the Air3 C being $500. The Observe Air3 C will get the 300ppi show and Boox Superfast Refresh expertise, however the battery performs a bit much less in different critiques I’ve learn.

Should you plan to learn loads of color-intensive supplies like graphic novels and PDFs with varied colour coding, the Observe Air3 C is likely to be higher for you. I examined and reviewed the monochromatic Observe Air3 and extremely suggest it for folk in search of an incredible E-Ink studying and writing expertise and a battery that may final a really, very, very very long time.