Onyx has managed to carving out a distinct segment within the e-reader class on the again of thrilling launches, with units just like the Boox Palma serving a singular use case. It’s aiming to do one thing comparable with the Boox Note Air 3, a big e-reader that has a number of differentiating options.The Boox Note Air 3 is designed to take notes, and it does an amazing job in that space. But you additionally get a full-fledged model of Android, and that permits you to set up apps from the Play Store and use it as a pill. While I’m testing the monochrome model of the gadget, Onyx sells the Boox Note Air 3 with a shade display screen as effectively.Clearly, there’s loads on supply with the Boox Note Air 3, and after utilizing it for 2 months, I’m satisfied that this is without doubt one of the greatest e-readers if you would like a big display screen.Onyx Boox Note Air 3: Pricing and launch date(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Onyx unveiled the Boox Note Air 3 in October 2023, and the e-reader is now out there in all world markets the place the model has an official presence. The customary variant of the Boox Note Air 3 comes with a stylus and magnetic case (which is basically good), and it prices $399. There’s a stylus bundle that features a better-quality stylus along with the usual one, and this variant is on the market for $447 at Boox’s web site.Onyx makes a variant of the Boox Note Air 3 with a shade display screen, and that is referred to as the Boox Note Air 3C. This prices $499 for the usual mannequin that features the stylus and magnetic case, and the stylus mannequin is $547.Onyx Boox Note Air 3: Design(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The Boox Note Air 3 appears to be like each bit as premium as its price ticket suggests, with the e-reader that includes an aluminum chassis that is nice to carry and use. The brushed metallic design is elegant, the rounded edges make it snug to carry the e-reader, and whereas it’s fairly heavy at 450g, the load is balanced effectively.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)I just like the orange accents on the again and across the USB-C charging port, and this provides some vibrancy. The Boox Note Air 3 has an asymmetrical design — just like the Kindle Oasis — and this makes an enormous distinction in each day use. That mentioned, there aren’t any bodily web page flip buttons, and that lack of tactility when turning pages makes studying books on the e-reader rather less enjoyable.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Another characteristic that is lacking is ingress safety; the Boox Note Air 3 is not proof against mud or water, and that limits its versatility to an amazing extent. That mentioned, the sheer dimension of the e-reader means it is not precisely sensible to hold it to the pool — such as you would a Kindle — however it’s nonetheless a letdown.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)You get sizeable bezels across the 10.3-inch display screen, and whereas it’s greater than double the load of the Kindle Oasis, you get a significantly bigger display screen. The USB-C port is mounted on the left, together with two audio system. While they’ve massive drivers, the sound high quality is not notably detailed, and they do not get loud. They’re serviceable for podcasts, however if you wish to take heed to music, you need to actually use earbuds.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)What I notably like is that there is a case bundled within the package deal, and it’s of an excellent high quality. It attaches magnetically to the e-reader, folds into two completely different configurations, and affords enough safety when the Boox Note Air 3 is not in use.Onyx Boox Note Air 3: Display and {hardware}(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)I used over a dozen e-readers up thus far, however they’ve all had medium-sized screens. The Boox Note Air 3, however, has a 10.3-inch panel, and the distinction was completely evident from the second I began utilizing the e-reader.The panel itself is an E Ink Carta 1200, and with a decision of 1872 x 1404, you get an efficient pixel density of 227PPI. That’s greater than enough for an e-reader, and within the two months I used the Boox Note Air 3, I did not discover any points with the panel.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Switching over to the {hardware}, the Boox Note Air 3 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 680, and whilst you will not discover it on any telephone, it does an excellent job on the e-reader. You additionally get 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, Wi-Fi ac, and Bluetooth 5.0. There’s an accelerometer that switches the orientation of the display screen primarily based on what hand you are holding the e-reader, but it surely is not as clean because the Kindle Oasis. You additionally get a MicroSD slot if you wish to prolong the storage.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The Boox Note Air 3 has a 3,700mAh battery, and the e-reader lasts every week between expenses even with heavy use. I learn two books over the course of every week and took notes each day, and the battery was nonetheless a really affordable 30%. The e-reader expenses at 15W, and it takes effectively over 90 minutes to cost the battery.Onyx Boox Note Air 3: Performance(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Reading on the Boox Note Air 3 is an absolute pleasure; the massive 10.3-inch display screen is terrific on this regard. It does not have the identical pixel density because the Kindle Oasis, however that does not actually make an enormous distinction in each day use, and textual content is evident. There is a few ghosting at instances, but it surely is not noticeable, and this is a matter with all e-readers that use E Ink panels anyway.The e-reader has a built-in NeoReader utility that works with all main codecs — together with EPUB, MOBI, PDF, AZW3, CBR, and so forth — and you may change the font dimension, select from a number of fonts or set up your individual, and a lot extra.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)NeoReader has a tabbed interface that is perfect should you’re switching between paperwork, and you may simply annotate by way of the bundled stylus. On that observe, the stylus has 4,096 stage of stress sensitivity, and it’s excellent at taking notes. I usually use a Lamy Safari and Leuchtturm1917 notebooks to journal and take notes, and whereas the e-reader does not fairly match the sensation of a fountain pen, it comes mighty shut.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)It’s additionally notably good at sketching. My spouse is an artist, and he or she makes use of an iPad Air together with an Apple Pencil to color digitally. She talked about that the Boox Note Air 3’s stylus has a slight delay when creating strokes, and that there isn’t any option to duplicate a layer of copy massive drawings.On the entire, the Boox Note Air 3 is a good alternative should you’re on the lookout for a big e-reader that doubles as a note-taking gadget.Onyx Boox Note Air 3: Software(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Onyx affords a customized model of Android on the Boox Note Air 3, and whereas Android 12 is outdated at this level, the gadget will get three platform updates. While it is nice that the e-reader runs Android, you may’t do a lot with it exterior of studying, note-taking, and sketching. The E Ink tech simply does not play effectively with video content material, and even scrolling by means of net pages, you can also make out distinct afterimages.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)You get 10GB of cloud storage as customary with an Onyx account, supplying you with loads of storage for your whole books and notes. Onyx has a number of pre-installed utilities — together with a clock, recorder, calculator, and so forth — however the truth that you get the Play Store means you may set up absolutely anything you need.Onyx Boox Note Air 3: The competitors(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The Kindle Scribe is a good different should you want a big e-reader to take notes. It provides you quick access to Amazon’s ecosystem, comes with loads of helpful options, and at $255, it’s inexpensive.Then there’s the reMarkable 2. It is the definitive note-taking gadget, and whereas it’s costlier, it’s lighter, has a sleeker design, and does a good higher job at taking notes.Onyx Boox Note Air 3: Should you purchase it?(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)You can buy this if:You need a big e-reader that is nice for studying and taking notesYou want the extensibility of AndroidYou need an e-reader that lasts every week between expensesYou want a bundled stylusYou should not purchase this if:You need bodily web page flip buttonsYou want ingress protectionOther than the dearth of ingress safety and bodily web page flip buttons, I can not actually discover any faults. Onyx clearly is aware of what it is doing, and the Boox Note Air 3 is without doubt one of the greatest e-readers at the moment out there. The massive 10.3-inch display screen is nice for studying e-books and searching, and it doubles as a implausible digital note-taking gadget— all due to that bundled stylus.The truth that you’ve got full entry to the Play Store is an added bonus; you simply do not get that versatility with many different e-readers. Battery life is excellent, the metallic chassis is sturdy, and there is loads of customizability — rather more so than what you get with different e-readers.
The Boox Note Air 3 is a good alternative if you would like a big e-reader that is nice for going by means of e-books and paperwork in addition to taking notes.