Onyx Boox Note Air 2 review 2024: great multipurpose tablet

Even though it uses the same E Ink technology that made the Kindle famous, the Note Air 2 is all about getting work done. Yes, you can read books on it. You can even use the Kindle apps or any of 17 different file types. The big 10.3-inch screen, on the other hand, is for editing. It doesn’t quite show A4 documents at their original size, but it does show them big enough to read and edit.

The Note Air 2 is a great phone for many reasons besides its size. It is only 5.8mm deep, and the left side has a large spine that makes it easy to hold with one hand. It also has a light on the front, so you can use it at night or in a dark airplane. The Note Air 2 is already set to a warm, yellowish color. This is very different from most tablets and e-reader back lights, which have a blue tint.

Onyx Boox Note Air 2 SPECIFICATIONS

Onyx Boox Note Air 2 review: Design

The Note Air 2 is almost the same as its predecessor, the Note Air. It weighs 420g and has dimensions of 229.4 x 195.4 x 5.8mm. It has the same spine down one side so you can hold it in one hand, which works really well, and it doesn’t have any buttons either.

Even though the Wacom stylus that comes with the Note Air 2 is impressive and comes with a choice of nibs, it is supposed to magnetically attach to the back of the device. It does that, but only in a very small area. When we tried to fix it, we dropped it on the floor several times. You can buy this Onyx Boox Note Air 2 from its official website.

Onyx Boox Note Air 2 review: Display

The anti-glare screen on the Note Air 2 makes the E Ink display look like paper, and this device is also made to feel like paper. The heart of the Note Air 2 is the same 10.3-inch E Ink Carta HD display as the Note Air. It has a layer of Asahi protective glass on the front and, more importantly, an extra layer on the stylus that gives it a little extra grip.

There are different E Ink refresh speeds, from ‘normal,’ which turns the pages slowly, to ‘X,’ which turns the pages very quickly and can play videos. However,’speed’ and ‘A2’ are the ones to use for clear, concise text without ghosting, which is visible in ‘normal’ mode. There are also a lot of changes you can make to the brightness and contrast.

Onyx Boox Note Air 2 review: Software

The big problem is that Onyx doesn’t let users access backed-up notes with software from other companies. So you can’t move data from your Note Air 2 to another device. You can use Dropbox instead of Onyx’s cloud storage, but the data is backed up in an encrypted state that can only be read by using Onyx’s software. We don’t know how to get to your raw data right now. Because of this, it’s better to use split screen mode to take notes.

Onyx Boox Note Air 2 review: Connectivity

The Note Air 2 has WiFi (5GHz), Bluetooth (for keyboards, headphones, and other devices that can be used with an Android tablet), and a USB-C connection. We thought the device would have MHL connectivity so that it could be used with a separate monitor. But neither of those things are mentioned in the specs, and we couldn’t get it to work.

Onyx Boox Note Air 2 review: Battery life

It’s hard to say how long the battery life of an E-Ink tablet will last. Our usual video rundown test isn’t a good way to measure this device because that’s not what it’s mostly used for. The 3,000mAh Note Air 2 still had 58% of its battery power after four days of light testing.

Which included reading, drawing, and taking notes. So, with light use, it will probably last about a week, and with heavy use, about half that long. How bright your backlight is will also affect how long your battery will last.

Onyx Boox Note Air 2 review: Price and release date

The Boox Note Air 2 Plus is now for sale in the UK for £500, in the US for $500, and in Australia for AUD$780. At the time I wrote this review, it was only available on Amazon in the UK. If you live in Europe, the US, or China, you can buy it on the official Boox website.

The only storage option for the Note Air 2 Plus is 64GB. It came out at the same time as the slightly cheaper Note Air 2, which costs £470 in the UK, $450 in the US, and AUD$780 in Australia (the same price as the Plus, oddly enough). The Plus has stronger magnets and a bigger battery.

Final Words

Because it works with the Google Play Store, the Onyx Boox Note Air 2 Plus is a great e-reader that can also be used as a tablet. The stylus that comes with the device is precise and great for taking notes and drawing, and the cover keeps the device from getting damaged. We like the Note Air 2 Plus. It’s perfect for anyone who wants a good e-reader that can also be used for basic web browsing.

The GOOD AND THE BAD

THE GOOD

1. Large 10.3-inch E Ink screen with a high resolution
2. Easy to carry because it’s light and thin.
3. Up to 512GB of storage can be added.

THE BAD

1. Compared to other tablets, it has less processing power.
2. No way to connect to a cell phone

FAQS

Is Boox Note Air 2 worth it?

If you can afford it, the ONYX BOOX Note Air 2 is a great way to upgrade your e-ink reader. It can do a lot of things at once and is very powerful. With so many hybrid e-readers coming out, it’s hard to tell which ones are really good at multitasking and which ones are just regular e-readers with a few extra features.

Which Onyx Boox note is best?

The Onyx Boox Note Air 2 is one of the best all-around e-ink tablets because it can be used to read, write, draw, listen to music, and take notes, just like an Android tablet.

What is the best BOOX alternative?

Pry, FreshBooks, and Synder are the best apps like Boox. If these three choices don’t work for you, there are a few more below. How do you feel about Boox? The brand-new FreshBooks is accounting software that makes it easy, fast, and safe to run a small business.