E-readers come in many forms, but none are as cute as the Boox Go 6. It’s definitely my new favorite e-book device.
Good things in small packages
Onyx has decided to shrink the packaging of its regular e-reader. It’s more like a simple sketchpad than a regular book-style reading aid. I love the Go Color 7 and used it until recently. This smaller, more book-oriented gadget has made it easy to get new and famous books without having to think twice.
It’s 146g so it doesn’t add anything to the EDC. Even with the official case, it weighs less than 300g. Straight from the Go Color 7, the slim chassis is immediately noticeable. However, I might have jumped at the “wallet friendly” title. Sure, it technically fits in your pocket, but it’s better in a small pocket in your bag, or in my case, in a sling. It’s about the same size as a passport, so it’s convenient to carry.
I was worried that the Boox Go 6’s display would be too small, but it’s great. The Carta 1300 e-ink screen is excellent. I would like it to be a little brighter, but that’s an opinion from someone who makes small points based on smartphones. Honestly, the contrast levels and rich, deep blacks make it easy to read in virtually any lighting condition.
The 1,448 x 1,072 pixel screen at 300ppi allows you to interact with books without breaking a sweat. There’s a bit of ghosting when scrolling a lot, but it looks great. This can be adjusted with different update modes, but it’s not too distracting.
Light internal structure
E-readers almost always have one consistent problem: performance. Onyx makes an Android-powered e-reader, so the biggest problem with low-powered Android phones applies here as well. As a tablet, the Boox Go 6 is pretty terrible. Things are hard to do on modern Android tablets. That may sound bad for an e-reader, but I think the performance is: Are you okay.
It utilizes Qualcomm Snapdragon 662, a low-power chip. I found that once the Go 6 “warmed up” it was much smoother and snappier. Compared to modern smartphones, it still takes a long time to load, which is to be expected, but it’s hard to get used to. Then you realize you’re not using this as a tablet or phone replacement, and it feels more in line with other dedicated e-readers.
There’s only 32GB of onboard storage, but I never felt like this was holding me back. Most e-books are very small, so there may still be enough space left to accommodate thousands of texts, books, and documents. The microSD slot is just a bonus, but if you have a large library, you can easily migrate your library to the Boox Go 6.
The Go 6 doesn’t have a built-in speaker, but strangely it does have a microphone. This means that while voice calls are theoretically possible, you’ll need to use Bluetooth or a USB-C adapter to hear them. It’s an odd choice, and it would have made more sense to have a speaker, but that’s the reality.
Old but acceptable Android version
While some of the other Onyx e-reader models already run Android 12, the Boox Go 6 comes preloaded with what is effectively the older Android 11. The advantage is that this is the latest version of Android 11 and includes the February 2024 version. Security patch. There’s no word on whether it will ship with Android 12, but it was originally sold as having the new OS, so it’s not a big deal for a dedicated gadget like this.
I wish Onyx had thrown in 4GB of RAM, as 2GB of onboard RAM has a pretty negative impact on performance. I only use this as a reading companion, so it’s a Kindle app all the way, and that’s fine. It’s on par with my old Kindle Paperwhite. You can also switch between reading apps, which is what annoys me about the duration of the Kindle series.
One notable issue at the moment is that the Kindle app takes a long time to respond from a cold start after a recent update. The app may take more than 10 seconds to open and a pop-up may appear indicating that it has crashed. This situation is not always encountered, so it is difficult to diagnose it accurately.
If I leave the book open and come back from sleep, it seems to work fine. It appears that only the Kindle application is affected, but other reading apps such as Google Play Books work as expected. Loading times for Play Store apps aren’t exactly fast, but neither is the pre-installed Boox Neo Reader.
Many apps will work, but you may not get the best experience due to low internal power. Considering the performance gap between the Go 6 and modern smartphones, loading times are the most painful aspect. We recommend sticking to basic content consumption. If you don’t, you’re going to have a terrible time.
One exception to this rule is Google Calendar or other basic calendar applications. I’ve been using Google Calendar as an organizer tool here without any problems. It’s very convenient to have one, so I recommend it.
While this seems like poor performance, it’s important to reiterate that this is not designed to be used like a tablet. If you’re expecting tablet-like performance, you’ll be completely disappointed.
great battery life
The battery is solid, drawing about 4-5% daily when idle if you don’t use the Boox Go 6 at all. Reading can reduce your reading by about 10-15% per day, depending on your display brightness settings and the amount of time you spend reading.
Considering how small the 1,500mAh battery is by modern standards, the e-ink screen’s low power consumption really helps with its smooth operation. For most people, charging once a week is about the amount you can expect if you read for an hour every day. This e-reader charger charges within an hour with a blast of 18W charger. It’s more convenient to just refill it every now and then, and I think you can read for more than a few days on a single charge.
final thoughts
While I like the overall package, there are some minor issues with Boox Go 6 that will need to be addressed in a future follow-up. Lack of onboard RAM is responsible for some of this, but if you insist on reading using the default apps or the Kindle app, you can pack it in your bag and read on the go, or read on the go. Perfect for use as a backup to your regular reading device. house. I’ve been treating this as such.
Perhaps its biggest selling point is its pocketable size. I’ve never found a little reading companion that I enjoy using as much as I do. It’s just a fun technique and has other features, but it’s perfect for readers on the go. Enjoy the flexibility and benefits of Android’s vast number of apps, while also taking advantage of superior and robust e-reader hardware.
At $149, it’s not cheap, but that’s the biggest stumbling block. Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite costs just $10 more and comes with upgrades like longer battery life and water resistance.
Still, it’s definitely appealing to be able to combine all your favorite reading services into one small device. Are there any good e-readers overall? Yes, but there aren’t many that are worth it at this size. Luckily, you can get the Boox Go 6 if you like the size.
FTC: We use automated affiliate links that generate income. more.
