In just a few years, e-readers have become a common device in our daily lives. Even avid readers (myself included) succumb to the evidence of a technology that, without spectacular leaps, has ended up consolidating and offering a truly satisfying user experience.

The challenge for the industry now is to launch substitute for pencil and paperfrom notebooks, diaries or sketchbooks. An ultralight electronic device with great autonomy that combines the sensations that writing or drawing gives us with all the advantages of current technology. This is the promise and challenge of the protagonist of our analysis BOOX GO 10.3.

We received the BOOX GO 10.3 in careful packaging, which tries to offer the user a first-class experience from the first minute. The set includes the tablet, a leather case, a stylus, a set of spare tips and a USB-C cable. The quick guide on paper is a testament, although a tutorial has been incorporated during first power-up to help users learn how to use the device. In any case, it is recommended to read the complete manual enclosed in digital form.

The construction quality the tablet will surprise you for the better, the chassis is completely made of aluminum and leather on the back instead of classic hard plastic. The edges are rounded for an easy grip, and the glass that protects the front panel is perfectly flush with the case, with no points or protrusions prone to snagging or deterioration over time.

There is no hardware, lights or large logos for a sober and elegant design, ideal for both home use and professionals who will use it on a daily basis.

BOOX Go 10.3, technical specifications

• 10.3 inch display, E Ink Carta 1200
• Resolution: 2480 x 1860 pixels (300 ppi)
• Sensitivity: 4096 pressure levels with BOOX pen and capacitive touch
• Octa-core 2.4 GHz processor
• 4 GB RAM + 64 GB internal memory
• Battery 3700 mAh
• Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C
• Android 12
• Dimensions and weight: 235 x 183 x 4.6 mm, 375 gr.
• Super Refresh technology, automatic rotation, dual speakers, built-in microphone.

The device is almost as thin as a USB-C port, but it never feels flimsy. I was convinced by the commitment to a very discreet aesthetic, which gives the panel total emphasis and leaves the branding and a discreet white border. In terms of size resembling a standard sheet of paper, and its thickness (with the case on) is similar to that of any modern smartphone.

The included case is correct, works with the magnetic system and protects the device well. We expected something more from the included pencil, which works correctly, but it is far from reaching the qualitative level of the rest of the components and it is worth replacing it with a higher one if we really use writing and drawing intensively.

Sublime screen

This BOOX GO 10.3 has one of the best e-ink screens I’ve had the chance to try. The quality level is very similar to the Kindle Scribe or Remarkable 2, although the latter’s textured finish allows for a better reduction in reflections and a more paper-like appearance, at the expense of a loss of contrast.

On a technical level, we are talking about a monochrome Carta 1200 resolution screen 2480×1880 and 300 dots per inch. With these numbers, it offers exceptional sharpness, especially useful for very detailed reading or working with PDFs, be it maps, graphs, tables, annotations… If the main goal is to work with this format, there are certainly few rivals for the product we tested.

Extreme dot density enables perfect work with PDF documents.

Like the company’s other products, this device also includes the exclusive Super Refresh (BSR) technology, which adjusts the behavior of the panel according to the user’s needs: it has an HD mode for reading, balanced for taking notes and navigating the menu. , fast when it comes to web or images, and ultra-fast for running demanding applications and with video for specific uses.

In most scenarios we will use the first two modes, but BOOX Go 10.3 allows us to configure it for each application based on our preferences. In this way, we can have a mode for e-books, for browsing news sites, or for our email or RSS application, to name three examples that I have tested successfully.

At this point, it is worth reminding that BOOX 10.3 It has no front lightingso if we’re going to use it in the dark or in poorly lit rooms, we’ll need the same light we use with a traditional book or notebook. In exchange, we get better autonomy and the absence of additional layers between the panel and the glass, which a priori leads to a smaller delay in the response of the stylus.

Quick menu always available.

Being used to using a device like the Kindle Paperwhite or the Scribe itself, I can’t deny that there are times when you miss it (especially when it comes to reading in the dark without disturbing anyone), but it’s also true that for tasks like annotating , drawing or studying the headlight is insufficient and we will always need another source.

Android 12 and much more

One aspect that sets BOOX apart from other competitors is the software. Based on a android 12, on which we can install almost anything we want, they contain a number of solutions that are ideal for the user profile that the product is aimed at. From the first minute we have a fantastic note-taking app (again especially good with PDF), access to our library, notes and a very complete menu of settings where we can customize the behavior of the device.

Another very well resolved aspect is control centerquick access to all the functions we need in our daily life with just a touch of a gesture. It has a short learning curve, but once you get used to it, it’s really convenient and more direct than what Android offers by default.

Although we updated to the latest version available (a simple and practically automatic process), we found minor translation errors in some of the offers or small bugs that we’re sure will be fixed in future updates, as has happened with other products from the company .

Apps like Kindle or Raindrop work perfectly thanks to the variable refresh rate.

With hardware that combines a 2.4 GHz 8-core processor, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage, the BOOX 10.3 works smoothly and without lag, always bearing in mind that we are talking about an e-ink panel. My recommendation is to use a native note-taking app, especially optimized and with all kinds of export options, although others like OneNote or Goodnotes can be installed and they work.

There is no SD card slot, although the 64 GB should be enough (space for about 48,000 books) for almost every user, and if we want to go further, we can connect to various cloud services without any problem.

Read, comment, draw…

As it could not be otherwise, the BOOX Go 10.3 is great e-book reader. It comes standard with the feature-packed Neoreader app and is compatible with any modern format, including CBR and CBZ popular in comics, graphic novels and manga. Google Books is also a standard part, but we can install any other if it is available for Android.

Onyx includes an on-device store, but we only find books in English and royalty-free. However, installing systems like Kindle is trivial and we’ll have our content in sync within minutes. Additionally, we can transfer any DRM-free book we have and add it to our library to read using the native app or any other reader we install.

The native notes app is fantastic.

With a pencil in hand, we can use the tablet to make notes in our books and documents, underline, annotate or mark and export to the desired format. We also have the possibility to draw freely, with tools such as working in layers, a powerful OCR system or automatic shape recognition (very interesting for working with diagrams).

I’ve mentioned it several times in this article, but it’s worth repeating: working with PDFs (including very large documents) is exceptional, lag-free, and actions like zooming, turning pages, or adding notes are instant and intuitive. Excellent at this point.

In general, The “open” philosophy of the product convinced me a lot, radically unlike the walled gardens of the Amazon or Apple type. We can import and export almost any format at any time, allowing us to use the tablet as an element within the workflow wherever it suits us best.

Conclusions

BOOX Go 10.3 is an ideal hybrid between an e-book reader and a digital notebook. It is robust, light and thin, with great autonomy and a price-performance ratio compared to the competition.

I recommend especially for users who have their usual environment in PDF formatwhether you want to consult documentation, read, check and comment on texts, take notes on the go or carry a complete digital library in a device that weighs little, works quickly and has weeks of autonomy.

It offers a title compared to its most direct competitors more freedom than Kindle Scribe (in exchange we lose the front light) and both the panel and the performance with PDF are better than the Remarkable 2 and the like: there is a match and this BOOX Go 10.3 is without a doubt a device that must be considered by anyone looking for a lthe best e-ink experience at a reasonable price.