I was thrilled when I started reviewing the Onyx Boox Go 6. I’ve loved all of the previous devices from the company I’ve used, and was looking forward to trying a smaller Android E Ink device. Unfortunately, its performance let me down, and the constant lag and lag made it nearly impossible to enjoy.
Fortunately, things have improved a lot with the Boox Go Color 7 in its second generation. It’s a more versatile board than the Boox Go 6, and you can still get it compact Tablet companion To take with you on the go. There are some drawbacks, and the color variant isn’t always the best option, but if you’re in the market for a relatively affordable color E Ink device, the Onyx Boox Go Color 7 should be on your shortlist.
Box Go Color 7 (2nd generation)
- accuracy
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1680 x 1264
- storage
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64 GB
- Brand
-
Alarm
- Screen size
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7 inches
The second generation Onyx Boox Go Color 7 improves on the tablet’s already impressive display with stylus support. It features a 7-inch Kaleido 3 Carta 1200 display with front lighting. It’s powered by an octa-core chipset with 4GB of RAM and features a large 2,300mAh battery, offering several days of use on a single charge.
- Saturated color
- Decent performance
- Excellent battery life
- The physical buttons are confusing to the software
- Steep learning curve
$280 at Onyx $280 at Amazon
Price, specifications and availability
The Onyx Boox Go Color 7 is available through Onyx and Amazon for $280. It comes with a good quality case, but you have to buy a stylus separately if you want to use the writing functions on the Boox Go Color 7. The Boox InkSense Stylus costs an additional $46 but is currently sold out on the Onyx website.
to set
- accuracy
-
1680 x 1264
- storage
-
64 GB
- Brand
-
Alarm
- Screen size
-
7 inches
- Processor
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Octa core
- ram
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4GB
- communication
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Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- battery
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2300 mAh
- Operating system
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Android 13
- weight
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195 grams
- Front light
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Yes
- color
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Yes
- Ports
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USB C
- buttons
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Yes
Durable build and excellent display
Onyx offers great colors for under $250
Like most Onyx products, I’m impressed with the build quality of the Boox Go Color 7. It’s a solid slate, though you can see where the company has made adjustments to cut costs. The back panel is made of plastic, but I enjoy the texture Onyx has chosen – it gives the Boox Go Color 7 an extra grip, even if it takes some getting used to.
The Boox Go 7 has many features that set it apart from other tablets. Very similar Amazon Kindle OasisThe Boox Go 7 has two physical buttons on its frame. By default, they’re set to system volume controls, but within reading apps, they can be used to turn pages. I love being able to browse my favorite readings and documents without touching the screen, which results in a more comfortable reading experience.
Unfortunately, setting up the buttons is a nightmare. By default, all Onyx applications work fine; However, using the Amazon Kindle and Kobo apps can be difficult. For the Kindle app, I had to go into settings and enable volume controls to turn pages. Onyx then has its own settings for controlling buttons in individual apps.
Review: The Boox Go Color 7 shows us the progress and setbacks in color e-ink devices
Color E Ink is a world of give and take
I went in and toggled the Kindle app in the Onyx settings to enable page turning for the physical buttons, but this disables the functionality in the Kindle app. For the buttons to work properly, you must keep the Onyx settings for the Kindle app to enable volume control. Next, in the Kindle app, switch to page turning using the volume controls. Confused yet? Because I was, and it’s the most intuitive way to program physical buttons I’ve seen.
When enabled, it’s an excellent experience, and I prefer having physical buttons on my E Ink tablets. However, I wish Onyx had made the setup process easier.
As with most Onyx products, the display is the standout feature. The Boox Go Color 7 features a 7-inch Kaleido 3 Carta 1200 panel, capable of displaying 4,096 colours. It has a resolution of 1680 x 1264, with 300 dpi for black and white content and 150 dpi for color. I enjoy having the option to view color content, but it’s a mixed bag.
The Kaleido 3 layer adds a gray tint to the content, and if you turn off the front lighting, it doesn’t reflect light like standalone black-and-white displays. It’s not a bargain, especially if you needs Color e-ink display. However, it should give pause to users who may use color only occasionally or don’t find it to be a necessary feature for their needs. However, frontal illumination is even, and I didn’t notice any of the banding on the screen that has plagued previous Onyx products.
The Boox InkSense pen support sets the Boox Go Color 7 Gen 2 apart from its predecessor, and I love the flexibility the pen offers. At 7 inches, the Boox Go 7 is large enough to be an ideal productivity companion, allowing you to mark up PDF files and keep a handwritten calendar. The Boox Go 7 also includes a microSD card slot for expandable storage. It has 64GB of internal storage, but the ability to add more is always welcome.
Faster performance and decent software experience
Onyx offers a lot of tools on the Box Go 7
The Boox Go Color 7 is a device for enthusiasts. It’s not a plug-and-play experience like the Amazon Kindle or… Kobo Clara color. You’ll need to sit down and configure the device to your liking, and you’ll still rely on third-party apps or your own files for content, as Onyx doesn’t include a proper store. Onyx has an on-device store, but it’s a collection of public domains that you can download.
Fortunately, the Boox Go Color 7 runs Android 13, with full access to the Google Play Store. I can download everything I need from Discord to my favorite email app. The Boox Go Color 7 doesn’t look like much when you first turn it on, and you might be annoyed by the harsh user environment. However, with a few minutes of setup, the Onyx platform becomes a powerful tool for the right users.
I still wouldn’t recommend the Boox Go 7 for casual users, but Onyx includes several tools to make things easier. The company has begun optimizing previously popular Android apps to make the most of the E Ink display. This is useful, as display settings can seem cumbersome. You get fine-grained control over refresh rate and display quality, which is excellent, but it’s easy to get lost in the weeds.
For the Boox Go Color 7, I noticed a significant amount of ghosting, so you’ll need to set your device to refresh more frequently. It takes a bit of fine-tuning, but the result is better overall, and I appreciate being able to tailor my experience to my individual needs.
As usual, Onyx’s built-in suite of apps is excellent. BOOXDrop is a great way to transfer your files and data between multiple devices, making it perfect for syncing notes when you get home. Onyx Calendar offers a wide range of formatting options, allowing you to create your perfect planner. NeoBrowser is also great, combining the best features of a traditional browser while adapting to the E Ink display.
Fortunately, the Boox Go Color 7 performs much better than the Boox Go 6. I still experience the occasional lag, but there’s nothing stopping me from making a purchase. It features an octa-core chipset and 4GB of RAM — nothing to write home about, but serviceable for the E Ink tablet’s limited power needs.
Typing is responsive, which was a concern of mine after using the Boox Go 6. There’s nothing more frustrating than inexplicable lag. There’s still some lag, as seasoned E Ink users will understand, but it’s a smooth experience overall.
Battery life varies greatly depending on the amount of front lighting used. If you’re careful, you can easily get a few days of use out of the tablet’s 2,300 mAh battery. However, with more intensive applications, heavy Bluetooth use, and constantly lighting the front, you will need to recharge more frequently.
Bluetooth performance is strong and ideal for listening to audiobooks. The internal speakers are what you would expect. It’s good in a pinch, but I wouldn’t use it for anything more than notification alerts. The Onyx also features a built-in microphone, allowing you to make voice calls through your favorite app if necessary.
Should you buy it?
Worth a watch if you know what you’re getting into
Onyx Boox Go Color 7 is a good buy for those who know what they are doing. If you’re a fan of the E Ink tablet, you’ll enjoy the precise controls and excellent display. If you’re looking for a casual e-reader experience, this isn’t it. However, if you need a versatile productivity companion that can also serve as a capable e-reader, the Onyx once again proves to be the best.
Box Go Color 7 (2nd generation)
- accuracy
-
1680 x 1264
- storage
-
64 GB
- Brand
-
Alarm
- Screen size
-
7 inches
The Onyx Boox Go Color 7 isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you’re a serious E Ink user who wants full Android versatility with e-reader features, it’s worth a look. If it has better performance than the Boox Go 6, I would love to have a color option when needed.
$280 at Onyx $280 at Amazon
