Onyx has managed to carving out a distinct segment within the e-reader class on the again of thrilling launches, with gadgets just like the Boox Palma serving a novel use case. It is aiming to do one thing related with the Boox Word Air 3, a big e-reader that has a number of differentiating options.
The Boox Word Air 3 is designed to take notes, and it does an ideal job in that space. However you additionally get a full-fledged model of Android, and that allows you to set up apps from the Play Retailer and use it as a pill. Whereas I am testing the monochrome model of the system, Onyx sells the Boox Word Air 3 with a shade display screen as effectively.
Clearly, there’s rather a lot on provide with the Boox Word Air 3, and after utilizing it for 2 months, I am satisfied that this is among the finest e-readers in order for you a big display screen.
Onyx Boox Word Air 3: Pricing and launch date
Onyx unveiled the Boox Word 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 usual variant of the Boox Word Air 3 comes with a stylus and magnetic case (which is absolutely good), and it prices $399. There is a stylus bundle that features a better-quality stylus along with the usual one, and this variant is offered for $447 at Boox’s web site.
Onyx makes a variant of the Boox Word Air 3 with a shade display screen, and that is known as the Boox Word Air 3C. This prices $499 for the usual mannequin that features the stylus and magnetic case, and the stylus mannequin is $547.
Onyx Boox Word Air 3: Design
The Boox Word Air 3 seems to be 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 steel design is elegant, the rounded edges make it comfy to carry the e-reader, and whereas it’s fairly heavy at 450g, the load is balanced effectively.
I just like the orange accents on the again and across the USB-C charging port, and this provides some vibrancy. The Boox Word Air 3 has an asymmetrical design — just like the Kindle Oasis — and this makes an enormous distinction in every day use. That stated, 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.
One other function that is lacking is ingress safety; the Boox Word Air 3 is not immune to mud or water, and that limits its versatility to an ideal extent. That stated, the sheer measurement 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.
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. Whereas they’ve giant 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 hearken to music, it’s best to actually use earbuds.
What I notably like is that there is a case bundled within the package deal, and it’s of a very good high quality. It attaches magnetically to the e-reader, folds into two completely different configurations, and gives satisfactory safety when the Boox Word Air 3 is not in use.
Onyx Boox Word Air 3: Show and {hardware}
I used over a dozen e-readers up thus far, however they’ve all had medium-sized screens. The Boox Word Air 3, then again, has a ten.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 is greater than satisfactory for an e-reader, and within the two months I used the Boox Word Air 3, I did not discover any points with the panel.
Switching over to the {hardware}, the Boox Word Air 3 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 680, and whilst you will not discover it on any telephone, it does a very good 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 based mostly on what hand you are holding the e-reader, however it is not as clean because the Kindle Oasis. You additionally get a MicroSD slot if you wish to lengthen the storage.
The Boox Word Air 3 has a 3,700mAh battery, and the e-reader lasts every week between costs even with heavy use. I learn two books over the course of every week and took notes every day, and the battery was nonetheless a really affordable 30%. The e-reader costs at 15W, and it takes effectively over 90 minutes to cost the battery.
Onyx Boox Word Air 3: Efficiency
Studying on the Boox Word 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 every day use, and textual content is obvious. There may be some ghosting at instances, however it 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 measurement, select from a choice of fonts or set up your individual, and a lot extra.
NeoReader has a tabbed interface that is very best in the event 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 strain 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.
It is also notably good at sketching. My spouse is an artist, and she or he makes use of an iPad Air together with an Apple Pencil to color digitally. She talked about that the Boox Word Air 3’s stylus has a slight delay when creating strokes, and that there is no method to duplicate a layer of copy giant drawings.
On the entire, the Boox Word Air 3 is a good selection in the event you’re on the lookout for a big e-reader that doubles as a note-taking system.
Onyx Boox Word Air 3: Software program
Onyx gives a customized model of Android on the Boox Word Air 3, and whereas Android 12 is outdated at this level, the system will get three platform updates. Whereas it is nice that the e-reader runs Android, you’ll be able to’t do a lot with it outdoors of studying, note-taking, and sketching. The E Ink tech simply does not play effectively with video content material, and even scrolling via net pages, you can also make out distinct afterimages.
You get 10GB of cloud storage as normal with an Onyx account, providing you with loads of storage for your whole books and notes. Onyx has quite a lot of pre-installed utilities — together with a clock, recorder, calculator, and so forth — however the truth that you get the Play Retailer means you’ll be able to set up absolutely anything you need.
Onyx Boox Word Air 3: The competitors
The Kindle Scribe is a good different in the event you want a big e-reader to take notes. It offers you quick access to Amazon’s ecosystem, comes with loads of helpful options, and at $255, it’s reasonably priced.
Then there’s the reMarkable 2. It’s the definitive note-taking system, and whereas it’s costlier, it’s lighter, has a sleeker design, and does a fair higher job at taking notes.
Onyx Boox Word Air 3: Must you purchase it?
You can purchase 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 chargesYou want a bundled stylus
You should not purchase this if:
You need bodily web page flip buttonsYou want ingress safety
Aside from 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 Word Air 3 is among the finest e-readers at the moment out there. The massive 10.3-inch display screen is nice for studying e-books and shopping, and it doubles as a implausible digital note-taking system— all due to that bundled stylus.
The truth that you may have full entry to the Play Retailer 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 — way more so than what you get with different e-readers.
The Boox Word Air 3 is a good selection in order for you a big e-reader that is nice for going via e-books and paperwork in addition to taking notes.Â
