There are, but most of them are basically digital notebooks. They’re great for reading notes and handwriting, but not so good for doing all the regular tablet work like checking email and doomscrolling. However, Boox has released several E Ink tablets that can introduce users to the wide world of traditional smartphone apps.
The company’s latest product is a refreshed version of the Go 10.3 tablet, called the Go 10.3 Lumi. It offers a lot of new features and, as the name suggests, has a front light. The tablet is designed for both natural sunlight and low-light environments. The previous model was great, but without access to ambient light it turns into a useless paperweight.
Despite the front-facing light, the Go 10.3 Lumi is still 12.8 ounces lighter than its predecessor. It’s also on the slimmer side, with a 4.8mm profile.
Basic specifications are the same as the Go tablet, with an octa-core processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of internal storage. It runs, which is a huge improvement for both security and access to apps. The previous iteration ran on Android 12 and Google. This means there are no longer any important security updates.
Apart from security enhancements, Boox promises to upgrade to Android 15 which provides users with better memory management, better multitasking, and smoother UI interactions. E Ink devices can be sluggish so I’m all for anything that speeds things up.
It integrates with an external keyboard and boasts integrated speakers, which will definitely come in handy when navigating apps downloaded from the Play Store. Despite the screen technology, this is an Android tablet. It should be able to run almost any available app.
However, E Ink technology is likely to have issues with video-based apps and games. It’s just not made for that. It might be a great little gadget for email and text-based social media, but not for something like TikTok. It should be able to handle non-animated games, like crossword puzzles and things like that, just fine.
Boox says the tablet gets “ample battery life” and is “optimized for extended use cycles.” The company hasn’t announced detailed battery specifications, but it has said that people can “work all day without battery worries.” E Ink devices last a long time, so I’m not worried about that.
The Boox Go 10.3 Lumi is available to order now and is priced at $450. If you want to save a few bucks and you’re not interested in a front light, there’s a different version that also runs Android 15 but costs $420.
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