I indeed, indeed, I wanted to like the Boox Go 6 e-reader. Many reviewers were impressed with this Boox Palmai-ink instead of a doomscrolling smartphone, thanks to its easy-to-read and intuitive display. I thought this was it a small learning device such as a tablet can have the same effect. Sadly, the Boox Go 6 e-ink reader failed to convert me into a full-time user.
The e-ink screen of the Boox Go 6 is not a problem for me—I like the 6-inch display, which has adjustable backlight and brightness. Text and details on the screen appear sharp and clear even with the backlight turned off. But the slow refresh rate of the display powered by the central processor made my reading experience slower than a normal, portable book. It made me wait, and I hate waiting. No matter what I wanted to read, I had to wait for the screen to reach the point where I pressed my finger before the e-reader would load the content I wanted. It did this for ebooks I had stored locally, books I borrowed from Libby, and a few other apps I tried for the joy of unlimited access to the Google Play Store. One of the Go 6’s selling points is that it runs Android, which makes it easy to load third-party apps and stores. But working with the Boox Go 6 can be very frustrating; it probably doesn’t make the open nature of its software attractive, after all.
Open Reading
I The Kindle Paperwhite for the 2021 eraanother e-reader in my place, also has a comfortable display and a small profile. I was hoping to switch to the Onyx Boox Go 6, which was not limited to the Kindle library and its partners. I’ve been thinking about how to load DRM-free comics and novels onto Kindle using Calibre, a Windows app, but I’m still missing the third-party libraries I’d like to have, like Google. Google Play Books, which I have been using for a long time on Android, and this is the only application that I started using to hold Romanian ebooks. The Play Store also allows me to read my newspapers through their mobile apps: the San Francisco Chronicle as well as New York Times.
Android software for Go 6 provides integrated access to the Google Play Store without which requires a third-party solution. Setting up a Google account on the device is easy, then you can access the Google Play Store and download apps. But it’s not Android’s copy-and-paste experience. The version of Android 11 running on the Go 6 is not the interface you are used to on a smartphone. For example, there are two additional buttons on the navigation bar for refreshing the page and accessing settings—you’ll be using that refresh button less, depending on the content you’re reading. The notification panel drops down when you drag down from the top left of the screen. Quick settings are available at the top right. It’s fluid if you’ve used Android on a tablet, but it often feels sluggish on the Go 6.
When I got the San Francisco Chronicle uploaded to read on Onyx Boox Go 6, I couldn’t sync The New York Times—Undoubtedly the registration where I am trying to get my money. There seems to be an authentication issue that I haven’t been able to resolve yet. (Browser crashes when I try to log in.) At least, that’s what I was able to see while reading Histories the app was relatively painless, save for the times when the Go 6 would crash on me mid-scroll. It helps that mobile news apps of this type are relatively new. It’s just black text on a white background. Relatedly, the Go 6 has a lot of difficulty scrolling when you go into dark mode. I tried reading Reddit with the Chrome browser on the Go 6 that way, but the screen couldn’t keep up with each page jump.
One saving grace for the Go 6’s general sluggishness is that the e-reader doesn’t “delay” notifications for Android apps you’ve installed. When the e-reader is closed and opened again, you are not immediately bombarded with useless notifications of things from days or weeks ago. You get push notifications for the news that supports you, but it’s solid. I noticed that it only pushes the latest alert as the screen is on.
Uploading books to the Boox Go 6 is otherwise quick, though not as straightforward as dragging and dropping files from point A to point B using a computer. Instead, the Go 6 uses BooxDrop, which creates a small WiFi direct/FTP environment where you can drag and drop files through the browser. I uploaded PDFs of old magazines from the late ’90s and DRM-free comics I bought from SilverSprocket. I have also uploaded traditional CBR and EPUB files that I have collected over the years. The Go 6 comes with a default 32GB of internal storage. There is a microSD slot if you want to add more, which I got it it’s an easy way to tap into the huge library of ebooks you may already have stored.
What’s Inside
The Go 6 is a lighter device than the Kindle Paperwhite by about two ounces. Its 6-inch E Ink HD Carta 1300 display has a resolution of 1,448 by 1,072. There are bezels on the device, which is good because I like having the chassis to hold on to when I’m lying on my back. Boox also sent over a magnetic cover case to protect it. I like how nice the overall package is, and I liked the look and feel of the device next to my everyday gear.
The Go 6 has a 2GHz octa-core processor powering it, along with 2GB of RAM, which is why it’s not fast. It’s a slow thing than any early-generation Android device you can use, or things are fine if you don’t jump between screens and apps. I found it best to navigate to the app or topic I wanted to use and save it there. Whenever I tried to multitask, I got distracted, remembering that the whole point of this device is to slow down. I had to keep reminding myself that there was a 14GB difference in memory between this cute little e-reader and my Pixel 9 Pro smartphone and that I had to catch up.
Should You Buy the Boox Go 6?
You will get Onyx Boox Go 6 at Target and Wal-Mart for $150, about the same as the latest Kindle Paperwhite on Amazon. The Go 6 is a decent alternative to the locked Kindle Paperwhite at the same price. But just because it runs on Android doesn’t mean that he runs Android apps. Apps provide more access outside the ecosystem of e-books with an obscure e-reader. Still, I wouldn’t recommend this device to someone new to e-books or digital reading.
If you’re looking for a platform-agnostic, OLED solution for reading at night, the Go 6 isn’t a bad choice. Just lower your expectations. Remember that an e-ink screen is not the same as a smartphone. But the payoff is the e-reader’s incredible battery life—up to five consecutive days off the charger in my testing—and the ability to load a digital library of books, comics, and magazines onto one dedicated device. At least, the Boox Go 6 reminds you to go slower than everything else these days, even if you have to wait a while for the page to load.
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