I have a soft spot for E-ink tabletsEspecially Onyx Boox devices. They are niche products that are more expensive, which limits who should choose one of them. Still, they’re powerful tools for the right customer, blending the versatility of a tablet with the outstanding battery life and other benefits of an E Ink display.
Onyx Boox Note Air4 C is another premium edition in the lineup. There are noticeable improvements over the Note Air3 C, and if you’re in the market for a color tablet with Android E Ink, it’s hard to beat the Note Air4 C again this year. It’s not perfect, and it’s not for everyone, but that’s why the Note Air4 C is the E Ink tablet I’ll be carrying with me this year.
Box Note Air4 C
- accuracy
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2480 x 1860 black and white, 1240 x 930 color
- storage
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64 GB with microSD card slot
- Brand
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Alarm
- Screen size
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10.3 inches
The Boox Note Air4 C features a 10.3-inch Kaleido 3 Color E Ink display with front-lit. Includes the full Android operating system, allowing you to download your favorite productivity apps and content. It has a large 3700 mAh battery and Onyx-first apps for note-taking and web browsing.
- Great battery life
- Excellent construction
- Gorgeous e-ink display
- Not the strongest
- Awkward design for shipping
$500 in a box
Prices, specifications and availability
The Onyx Boox Note Air4 C is available through Onyx and Amazon for $500. It comes in a single configuration with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. A pen is included, which is essential for the experience. Onyx also sells a magnetic case to protect the Note Air4 C for an additional $50. Unlike many of the tech products I review, sales and discounts on Boox devices are few and far between, so be prepared to pay full price.
to set
- accuracy
-
2480 x 1860 black and white, 1240 x 930 color
- storage
-
64 GB with microSD card slot
- Brand
-
Alarm
- Screen size
-
10.3 inches
- Processor
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Octa core
- ram
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6 GB
- My voice
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Bluetooth, USB-C
- battery
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3,700 mAh
- Operating system
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Android 13
- weight
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420 grams
- Front light
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Yes
- color
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black
- programming
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Android
An e-ink tablet designed for creatives
Not everyone needs color
I’ve been quite happy with my Boox Go 10.3 black and white E Ink tablet. I didn’t need the color, and it met my needs. Although I would have preferred a backlight for night reading, it wasn’t a deal-breaker for me, and I love using the tablet for work. It’s perfect for brainstorming ideas and taking notes during meetings.
The Note Air4 C adds another layer of versatility with colors. It features a 10.3-inch Kaleido 3 Carta 1200 display. It has a resolution of 2480 x 1860 at 300 dpi for black and white content, with a resolution of 1240 x 930 for color content at 150 dpi. The colors are saturated, and definitely add to the experience.
Onyx hits the mark with the streamlined Boox Go 10.3 e-reader
Minimal bliss
Onyx has made efforts to reduce the gray tint of the screen when the front lighting is turned off. This is the only thing that bothers me about color e-ink displays, because I often enjoy using them outdoors or in brighter environments. I can definitely tell the difference, and the Note Air4 C doesn’t have the same gray tint as other color e-ink tablets. You’ll still see it with the front lighting turned off in dark interior conditions, but progress has been made.
If you’re an artist or content creator, the E Ink color tablet is worth paying for. The Note Air4 C’s writing and drawing experience isn’t as paper-like as some other products, but there’s enough resistance to make it enjoyable. I use the Note Air4 C to mark up documents and edit articles. Color capabilities make reading and understanding much easier.
E Ink display also has other advantages. Reading doesn’t strain my eyes as much, and I find searching for an article to be a better experience on the Note Air4 C than on a traditional tablet or my computer. This doesn’t completely reduce screen time, but it does reduce eye strain overall.
Excellent design and more familiar feel
UNIX worked on the program
Boox tablets are usually well-designed, and the Note Air4 C is no exception. Weighing 420g and just 5.8mm thick, it’s light and slim – perfect for carrying in a backpack or messenger bag. The fingerprint reader in the power button is a welcome touch, and Onyx has done a better job of making the Note Air4 C look like a traditional Android tablet.
This extends to software. Onyx tablets never run the latest and greatest versions of Android, so I’m not disappointed that the Note Air4 C runs Android 13 out of the box. However, the software interface on Boox devices is usually no-frills, catering mostly to enthusiasts. Onyx is changing that with the Note Air4 C.
It features a clean user interface, with widgets and a dock for easy navigation. I appreciate any changes Onyx makes to help casual users, especially since the Note Air4 C caters to students and artists. Just because I use a specialty product doesn’t mean I have to have a stripped-down experience.
As always, Onyx’s suite of first-party apps is great. I love the calendar app because it keeps all my appointments and can easily replace a paper daily planner. The NeoBrowser is excellent and takes full advantage of the E Ink display. Yes, there are limitations to browsing the web on an E Ink device, but Onyx does a great job of providing the tools to get the most out of your device.
Many popular Android apps are pre-optimized into the system for use on the Boox Note Air4 C, identifying the best refresh rate setting. You also get fine-grained control over the experience, as you can select a higher refresh rate to reduce ghosting or choose the best image quality. It takes some fine-tuning to get your tablet just right, but it’s worth the effort.
Naturally, you also have the benefits of full Android with the Google Play Store available. It’s great that I’m not locked into any one content ecosystem. I installed the Amazon Kindle app and the Kobo app on the Note Air4 C. Audiobooks are available on the Note Air4 C, either from the built-in stereo speakers or by pairing with your favorite Bluetooth earbuds. The USB-C port can be used as an audio port for users who prefer wired headphones.
The default note-taking app is excellent, and I can even download my favorite app. Cross-platform syncing is also made easy with Onyx, allowing you to seamlessly share your notes between your phone and computer.
Great battery life
Benefits of E Ink Tablet on display
Onyx managed to squeeze a 3,700 mAh battery into the thin Note Air4 C, and the results were excellent. I can easily get several days of use on a single charge. Of course, there are more variables with an E Ink tablet that affect battery life, especially a full Android tablet. If you use heavier Android apps or keep the lights on at maximum intensity, the battery will drain faster.
However, if you watch your usage, you’ll get through several days of note-taking and drawing without having to find a charger.
Not everything is perfect
There are definite negatives
The Onyx Boox Note Air4 C is excellent for the right buyer, but there are still drawbacks. It’s an expensive device at $500. It’s not an impulse buy, and unless you have a clear use for the E Ink color tablet, I wouldn’t recommend it.
It’s also slower than traditional Android tablets, and even budget devices. Onyx increased the RAM to 6GB this year, which helps with performance, but it’s not a device you want to run intensive Android apps on. I don’t want any misunderstanding. Given how you typically use an E Ink device, and with the limitations of the screen, you’ll rarely encounter performance issues, but it’s worth keeping in mind.
There’s also a weird design on the Note Air4 C. It has built-in landscape orientation, which I don’t mind. However, the USB-C charging port is located in an awkward location, making it impossible to charge the tablet while it’s in the Onyx’s magnetic case. It’s a small grip, and you might not even notice it, but I found this choice odd – I hope Onyx can change it for future designs.
Should you buy it?
As with most Onyx products, I highly recommend purchasing the Note Air4 C. You should know why you are buying it and the $500 price tag. E-ink tablet With all the limitations inherent in such a device, it is not suitable for everyone. However, if you’re a student or artist who loves the idea of a tablet but haven’t found a device that suits your needs, the Note Air4 C has a lot to offer.
Box Note Air4 C
- accuracy
-
2480 x 1860 black and white, 1240 x 930 color
- storage
-
64 GB with microSD card slot
- Brand
-
Alarm
- Screen size
-
10.3 inches
The Onyx Boox Note Air4 C isn’t a tablet for everyone. It’s expensive, and the E Ink display has limitations. However, if you’re using a color e-ink tablet running full Android, the Note Air4 C is a solid tool. It’s perfect for students and artists, and great for people who need to do a lot of reading for work without straining their eyes from their computer screens.
$500 in a box
