Amazon Kindle eReaders are designed to do one thing: sell eBooks.
It’s a stylus-compatible Android tablet with an E Ink display, optimized for reading, not for selling.
But it’s not for everyone.
But for those comfortable with Android, it’s the king of its class.
What Is Onyx?
Onyx’s Boox eReaders aren’t as common as devices from Amazon or Kobo.
It’s pleasant to hold and fairly lightweight for a tablet.
But it’s almost twice as heavy as an Oasis and not nearly as svelte or balanced.
Nor does its screen automatically change screen orientation depending on how it’s held.
And forget about taking it to the swimming pool as the Nova2 lacks waterproofing.
Think of the Nova2 as an Android tablet that’s great for reading everything.
It smashes through ebooks and plows through websites with tablet-like speed.
If the Oasis is a lithe and graceful ballerina, the Nova2 is a chunky and powerful sumo wrestler.
Here are the Nova2’s major features:
So what do these specs mean?
But most important, it supports stylus input for note-taking.
While it may not charge as fast as a smartphone does, it works with any USB-C charger.
The Nova2 also includesOn-the-Go (OTG) supporton its USB-C port.
OTG allows for external devices, like flash drives and keyboards to receive power and transmit data.
I successfully connected a USB-C keyboard and flash drive, without any issues.
This is doubly true for eReaders from Amazon and Kobo.
However, Android eReaders need a little more CPU juice so you can fluently run apps.
The Onyx Boox Nova2 is one of the first E Ink devices equipped with a modern processor.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 uses a 14nm process-node technology and theArm Cortex A53 architecture.
To my knowledge, all Android 6.0-based eReaders get around a week of up-time with Wi-Fi on.
In comparison, the older Onyx Boox Nova Pro gets about a week of usage.
With Wi-Fi turned off, it can probably get in the range of two months of battery life.
Snow Field is a software-based technique that allows for partial refreshes of the E-Ink screen.
That means there’s less ghosting and higher visual clarity when running Android apps.
However, even with this technology, there are still visible traces of ghosting.
Unless I use the fastest refresh modes, the ghosting doesn’t impact reading quality, though.
Even with a matte-glass finish, the display looks whiter than the previous Nova Pro model.
The Default Reading App Is Excellent
The Nova2’s default reading experience stands above its competitors.
In other words, it’s possible for you to write on, highlight, and annotate your texts.
If that sounds too complicated, a Kindle Paperwhite, Oasis, or Kobo might better meet your needs.
New to the Nova series, there’s aNotesfeature, which takes advantage of a Wacom touch layer.
Onyx brands the app as the Neo Reader.
The best thing about the Neo Reader is that you canhand-write notes directly onto the text.
While there are zero margins to write in, the app will write-to and save all your marks.
For taking more detailed, handwritten notes, I’d strongly recommend the Notes app.
But if you want something more versatile, the Nova2 beats all competitors.
Note Taking With a Stylus
The note-taking abilities are outstanding for a $340 equipment.
But on top of that, the Nova2 can quickly transcribe your handwriting into digital text.
I was surprised at the Note app’s handwriting recognition accuracy, despite how sloppy my handwriting is.
It got every single word right with 100% accuracy.
In comparison, the Nova2’s significantly beefier hardware opens even the largest of PDFs in seconds.
And each page turn is a fluid, seamless affair.
The Nova2, while 7.8-inches, also weights a whopping 265 grams.
On the other hand, not everyone wants to deal with what’s essentially a black-and-white Android tablet.
And its 7.8-inch screen makes it difficult to pocket, particularly if you use the included case.
Additionally, I’ve had issues returning devices through importers.
Fortunately, in 2019 Onyx began contracting repairs out toMichigan-based iCare Repair, although the customer pays shipping costs.
iCare Repair, a disabled-veteran-owned and operated service, provides a two-day turnaround on returns.
In my opinion, however, it’s a serious black mark on an otherwise attractive gadget.
Boox Devices Aren’t Play Store Certified
None of Onyx’s devices are Play Store certified.
That means Google hasn’t evaluated any of these devices for security vulnerabilities.
This has led to Onyx selling their devices in China and East Asia without the Google Play Store.
Whats the Best ~8-inch Android eReader?
The Nova2 is the best eightish-inch Android eReader ever made.
It’s the kind of unit you wish Amazon sold.
But it’s not for everyone.
(We’ve coveredthe best simple Readers elsewhere.)
