Boox Go 7 is great for reading and writing

Final yr, I wrote about my expertise trying out the Boox Go 6 e-reader and the way it lastly transformed me into an e-reader fan. So when Boox reached out to me with a chance to check the subsequent model, the Go 7, I used to be positively intrigued.

Just like the Go 6, the Boox Go 7 is successfully simply an Android pill with an e-ink show, for good and unhealthy. I received into a few of the advantages and disadvantages of Android-based e-readers in the Go 6 review, so I gained’t repeat myself right here aside from to say that should you simply need to learn books, you is likely to be higher off with one thing like a Kobo. Nevertheless, anybody who desires customization and a extra open-ended expertise would profit from a Boox e-reader, so long as they don’t thoughts if issues are a bit janky, too.

Furthermore, the software program expertise on the Boox Go 7 is similar to that of the Go 6, with just a few small variations I’ll get into beneath the place related. The most important is that the Go 7 runs Android 13, which, whereas nonetheless a number of variations behind, can be forward of the Go 6’s Android 11. However when it comes to the core book-reading performance, I didn’t discover any instant variations between the 2 units, at the very least on the software program aspect.

The most important variations are literally within the {hardware}. Essentially the most instantly noticeable embrace the display — the Go 7 sports activities a 7-inch, 300ppi e-ink show in comparison with a 6-inch, 300ppi display on the Go 6. The bigger display additionally means the Boox Go 7 is bodily bigger, however a part of that’s the aspect deal with with buttons.

Massive aspect bezel

Boox Go 7 textured again

Sure, the Boox Go 7 is the newest e-reader so as to add a bigger aspect bezel on one aspect. Admittedly, I wasn’t an enormous fan at first, however as I used the Go 7 extra, it began to develop on me. Whereas I nonetheless assume it makes the Go 7 look bizarre, the massive aspect bezel makes for an efficient deal with, giving me a spot to grip. As soon as I received used to it and utilizing the buttons to show pages, I truly discovered the aspect bezel to be extra snug for longer studying classes, regardless of the heavier weight (195g to the Go 6’s 146g). The Boox Go 7’s textured again additionally helps with gripping it in comparison with the graceful plastic of the Go 6.

I did discover the aspect deal with bezel made orienting the machine really feel unusual, particularly with the case on (extra on that beneath). For instance, should you maintain the Boox Go 7’s deal with along with your left hand, it places the facility button within the top-left nook, however should you maintain it along with your proper hand — which I typically did — it places the facility button on the underside proper nook. There isn’t something actually improper with that; it simply felt bizarre for the facility button to be there. Plus, the USB-C charging port occupies the opposite nook of the side-handle, which implies it’s both within the top-right nook or bottom-left nook, relying on which manner you maintain the e-reader.

Boox Go 7 (left) and Go 6 (proper).

The Boox Go 7’s bigger footprint additionally leaves room for a much bigger 2,300mAh battery in comparison with the Go 6’s 1,500mAh cell, permitting for higher battery life on the Go 7. (The bigger battery probably additionally contributes to the heavier weight, however even holding them side-by-side, I barely discover the distinction.)

Finally, the largest draw back to the bigger footprint of the Boox Go 7 is that it isn’t as pocketable because the Go 6. The Go 6 was sufficiently small that I might chuck it in my pocket and carry it round with ease, however not a lot with the Go 7 because it’s too large.

Lastly, there are some notable inside variations. Each the Go 6 and seven sport an unnamed octa-core CPU, however the Go 7 options 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage in comparison with 2GB and 32GB, respectively, on the Go 6. It might not appear to be loads on paper, however the Go 7 performs noticeably higher than the Go 6. There’s additionally a model of the Boox Go 7 with a color display, although I haven’t examined that one myself.

E-writing with e-ink

Boox Go 7 with magnetic case.

That brings me to the one factor that could be very new, at the very least for me, coming from the Boox Go 6. And that’s the Boox Go 7’s stylus assist. I used Boox’s InkSense stylus, which labored fairly properly with the Go 7. There’s a built-in notes app with assist for many of the stuff you’d anticipate from a notes app, together with totally different brushes (and hues, if in case you have the color model), the flexibility to create traces and shapes, a characteristic that turns handwriting into clear textual content, and even a lasso device for choosing gadgets.

Stylus capabilities have been one of many issues that intrigued me most concerning the Boox Go 7. I really like an excellent paper pocket book, partially as a result of I discover that writing issues down helps them stick in my mind higher. As such, I used to be actually excited to strive the Go 7 with a stylus to see the way it stacked as much as conventional paper. Nevertheless, outcomes have been blended.

Writing on the Boox Go 7.

Let’s begin with what I favored. Utilizing a digital pocket book like what’s on the Boox Go 7 felt very liberating as a result of there weren’t any bodily constraints — I didn’t have to fret about operating out of room or out of paper as a result of there was all the time one other web page. I additionally by no means felt wasteful writing on the Go 7, which made it loads simpler to make use of as a type of scratch pad all through the work day, jotting down no matter figures, calculations, notes, reminders, and anything I wanted.

As for what I didn’t like, properly, there are some things. Writing with the InkSense and Go 7 felt good, nevertheless it didn’t really feel pretty much as good as paper. Even after utilizing it as my main pocket book for a number of weeks, I nonetheless want paper. Possibly that’s as a result of I’m a sucker for good stationary and love fountain pens. No matter it’s, paper felt higher, extra significant and pure in a manner that the InkSense and Go 7 didn’t.

Boox Go 7 and InkSense stylus.

Past that, I discovered that referring again to what I had written was rather more tedious on the Boox Go 7. With a paper pocket book, I can shortly flip via pages and even mark essential pages by folding a nook or with a sticky notice. You’ll be able to obtain one thing related with tags within the notes app, nevertheless it simply doesn’t fairly really feel the identical.

Talking of pages, it additionally bugged me that the notes app compelled me to make use of digital ‘pages.’ I had hoped for an expertise the place I had an successfully endless digital canvas such as you’d discover in a whiteboarding app like Apple’s Freeform or Microsoft Whiteboard, however sadly, that’s not out there right here. You’ll be able to zoom out and in of the notice canvas, however the performance is restricted, and there are outer bounds to the dimensions of the notice, so it’s not perfect.

It’s additionally price noting that the stylus has a chargeable battery and a USB-C port for charging. The battery life on it’s fairly first rate — it lasted me shut to 2 weeks of pretty common use earlier than I wanted to high it up.

Nonetheless, I discovered the stylus and notice options useful, even when I largely ended up utilizing them as a scratch pad. I’m unsure I’d fork out the additional US$45.99 (C$63.13) for the InkSense stylus only for that performance, however it’s useful at instances. Nevertheless, should you do get the stylus, you’ll additionally need to spring for the companion magnetic case, which features a loop to carry the pen. In any other case, there’s no strategy to connect the stylus to the Go 7.

The magnetic case is okay, general. It is available in gray or beige colors and sports activities a vegan leather-based exterior together with a microfibre inside. It attaches to the Go 7 through magnets and is kind of safe with out including vital bulk. My solely actual gripe with the case is that due to the Go 7’s aspect deal with, orienting the case is usually a bit bizarre, and I discovered myself always turning the Go 7 round relying on whether or not I wished to put in writing or learn.

Value your cash?

The Boox Go 7 retails for US$249.99 (C$343.15) on the Boox website, which features a free magnetic case (no stylus loop), or you’ll be able to pay US$286.99 (C$393.93) for the bundle, which features a magnetic case (with stylus loop) and the InkSense stylus. This can be a bit cheaper than shopping for the e-reader and stylus individually, so in order for you the stylus, that is the best way to go.

Different retail choices are restricted. Amazon Canada lists some Boox units, however not the Go 7. There’s additionally an internet retailer known as ‘e-reader.ca’ that claims to be a certified Canadian vendor of Boox merchandise, although I’m not overly conversant in it. Canadians should purchase the Go 7 via e-reader.ca for either $310.50 (tablet only) or $350 (with case). The location doesn’t provide a stylus bundle, however it’s available separately for $59.50.

At roughly $100 greater than the Boox Go 6, the Go 7 is compelling. I believe the improved efficiency and battery life are sufficient to warrant the additional price, although anybody who desires a pocketable e-reader ought to persist with the Go 6.

Trying exterior the Boox household, the Go 7 is priced larger than the Kobo Libra Colour ($259.99), and the color Go 7 is much more at US$279.99 (C$382.38). Finally, I believe the core choice comes all the way down to what you need to do with the e-reader. In case you’re already deeply within the Kobo ecosystem, or should you’re out there for an easier, extra simple e-reader expertise with minimal friction, I believe the Kobo makes extra sense.

However anybody looking for elevated flexibility from their e-reader and keen to place up with some software program jank will discover the Boox Go 7 to be a way more succesful machine. I like having that flexibility and luxuriate in tinkering with the Boox software program — not everybody will.