If you’re looking for a distraction-free reading or note-taking device that runs real Android apps, BOOX has become one of the strongest options in the market. The brand, operated by Onyx International, has spent years building a full lineup of E Ink tablets and e-readers. Its most recent devices show exactly where that lineup stands in early 2026.
Two Devices, Two Formats:
BOOX launched two new additions to its product lineup in late 2025: the Note Air5 C, a 10.3-inch color ePaper tablet, and the Palma 2 Pro, a 6.13-inch color mobile ePaper device. Both run on Android 15 and use E Ink Kaleido 3 displays, but they serve different use cases.
The Note Air5 C brings a 10.3-inch screen, an octa-core processor, 6 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of storage, with a microSD slot that supports up to 2 TB of additional space. Magnetic pogo pins let you snap on a keyboard cover instantly, turning it into a portable workstation, while split-screen mode allows multitasking such as referencing notes while drafting documents.
The Palma 2 Pro weighs just 173 grams, fits in a shirt pocket, and supports 5G connectivity so you can pop in a SIM card and have a data connection wherever you are. Inside it carries an octa-core processor with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, plus a hybrid SIM slot that doubles as a microSD reader.
Writing and Note-Taking:
The stylus experience across both devices is worth paying attention to if you do a lot of handwriting. The Note Air5 C ships with the new Pen3 stylus, which looks and feels like a real pen, complete with a clip and an extra nib stored inside. Pressure and tilt detection support shading and line variation, and the textured screen provides controlled, paper-like friction.
The Palma 2 Pro comes equipped with the Pen3 stylus as well, supporting pressure-sensitive input. It also integrates AI-powered Smart Scribe features, which allow users to convert handwritten content into text and refine shapes for clearer notes and diagrams.
Both devices sync notes across platforms including Onyx Drive, Google Drive, and Zotero, which is useful if you work across multiple devices.
Color E Ink in Practice:
Color E Ink on these devices is not the same as an LCD screen. E Ink reflects ambient light like paper rather than projecting a backlight at your eyes. Kaleido 3 adds color, which helps when marking up documents, skimming charts, or highlighting notes.
Black-and-white text stays razor sharp, which matters most for novels, academic papers, and text-heavy documents. The contrast keeps long reading sessions comfortable. Color saturation on Kaleido 3 is noticeably softer compared to LCD, but for reading and annotation it adds real value without straining your eyes.
Android 15 and App Access:
Both devices support Google Play, so you can install Gmail, Google Docs, or the Kindle app, and they run reasonably well. BOOX OS is a custom skin on top of Android, meaning you get a modified experience rather than stock Android. The platform receives a few firmware updates per year, and BOOX typically rolls out updates to current and previous generation devices first.
BOOX includes 10 GB of free cloud storage for syncing notes and highlights across devices. Firmware V4.1 also introduced an Infinite Notes canvas, mind mapping tools, and calligraphy-style brush options for the Note Air5 C. This is useful context for anyone comparing BOOX to more locked-down alternatives like reMarkable.
Pricing and Product Range:
The Note Air5 C is priced at $499.99 (standard) and the Palma 2 Pro at $399.99, both available through the official BOOX store. These sit toward the premium end of the E Ink market. BOOX devices including the Palma Series, Note Max, Go 10.3, and Note Air4 C have won the iF Design Award 2025.
BOOX launched its 2026 anniversary campaign in late March, running from March 24 to April 23, 2026, with the Note Air5 C and Palma 2 Pro included as part of the active release cycle.
What to Expect in 2026:
Onyx BOOX is expected to release the Palma 3, likely with a black-and-white screen and pricing under $300, along with refreshes to the Go series and Tab XC. Android 16 is expected to become the standard on new 2026 models. These will be incremental hardware updates rather than major redesigns, which is consistent with how BOOX has operated across previous years.
For buyers deciding now, the Note Air5 C and Palma 2 Pro represent the brand’s current best, and both ship with the Pen3 stylus and access to the full Google Play ecosystem. Whether you prioritize a larger note-taking canvas or a truly pocketable color reader, BOOX currently covers both ends of that spectrum.
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