While I was once the kind of person who would read two books in a single day and still want more, my reading habit completely disappeared somewhere between growing up, smartphones, and the fact that I was running out of drawers to store books. It wasn’t until I picked up an e-ink tablet that I got it back. Instead of getting a Kindle, though, the device that pulled me back was one from Onyx Boox’s lineup.
I’ve since used several Boox devices for reading, note-taking, and even as a minimalist phone replacement. One of the most popular devices in Boox’s lineup is the Go 10.3. It’s an ultra-thin, lightweight e-ink tablet that beats the Kindle and the reMarkable 2 in almost every way. Almost, though. Boox just announced the Gen II series of the Go 10.3, and it finally fixes the one thing that held the original back.
Boox announces two new Go 10.3 tablets
As announced via a press release, Onyx Boox announced the Boox Go 10.3 (Gen II) series today. Similar to its predecessor, it’s an ultra-thin E-ink tablet with a 10.3 inch display. But this time, the series comes in two models: the Go 10.3 (Gen II) Lumi and the Go 10.3 (Gen II).
One of the biggest complaints readers had from the previous generation Go 10.3 was that it was missing a front light. Though the lack of a front light happened to improve the display’s contrast, it also meant that you couldn’t use the tablet in dim environments at all. As someone who typically reads late at night when I’m cozied up in bed, this was a huge deal-breaker for me and most users — especially for a device that otherwise nailed the reading and writing experience.
Well, the Gen II Lumi model Boox announced today finally addresses this by featuring an integrated dual-tone front light! Interestingly, despite adding a front light, the Gen II Lumi is 10 percent lighter than its predecessor! The difference is ever so slight, though. The Gen II Lumi comes in at 364 grams, compared to the Gen 1’s 375 grams. Boox compares it to being lighter than a canned soft drink!
The Lumi variant is also impressively thin at just 4.8 mm, which is only slightly thicker than the original’s 4.6mm. I think it’s a fair trade-off for getting a front light. The standard Gen II model is now also optimized for natural light use without a front light. It retains the original’s 4.6mm profile and comes in even lighter at 360g!
Other than the front light and slightly lighter profile, the hardware stays largely unchanged. Both models pack an octa-core processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage, and a 3,700mAh battery. They also support 26 file formats, come with dual-band Wi-Fi, built-in speakers, and ship with the new Magnetic InkSense Plus stylus and a slim magnetic case.
The Gen 2 jumps from Android 12 to Android 15
The biggest reason why Boox devices stand out from Kindles and reMarkable devices is that they don’t lock you into a particular ecosystem. You’re free to install any third-party app you want from the Google Play Store, whether that’s a reading app, note-taking software, or even a streaming app. Keeping that in mind, staying on a current version of Android is especially important for ensuring that these apps continue to work properly.
The Go 10.3 (Gen II) gets a significant upgrade from its predecessor, jumping from Android 12 all the way to Android 15. Along with ensuring your device stays compatible with your apps and runs smoothly, this also means it offers better multitasking and large-screen support, improved memory management, smoother UI interactions, and stronger privacy and security features.
The Boox Note Air 5C is the perfect replacement for Kindle, iPad, and reMarkable
The best of all worlds in one device.
The Go 10.3 (Gen II) is available now on Onyx Boox’s website and Amazon. The standard model retails for $419.99, while the Lumi model comes in at $449.99.
