The Onyx Boox Go Color 7 is ideal for the most determined E Ink enthusiasts

I was thrilled when I began reviewing the Onyx Boox Go 6. I loved all the previous devices from the company I had used, and I was looking forward to a smaller, Android E Ink experience. Unfortunately, its performance let me down, and constant slowdowns and lag made it nearly impossible to enjoy.

Thankfully, things are much improved with the Boox Go Color 7 in its second generation. It’s a more versatile slate than the Boox Go 6, and you still get a compact tablet companion to take with you on the go. There are a few drawbacks, and the color variant isn’t always the best option, but if you’re in the market for a relatively affordable color E Ink device, the Onyx Boox Go Color 7 should be on your short list.

Price, specs, and availability

The Onyx Boox Go Color 7 is available through Onyx and Amazon for $280. It comes with a decent quality case, but you must purchase a stylus separately if you want to use the writing functions on the Boox Go Color 7. The Boox InkSense Stylus is an additional $46 but is currently sold out on the Onyx site.

A solid build and an excellent display

Onyx delivers fantastic color for under $250

Like most Onyx products, I’m impressed by the build quality of the Boox Go Color 7. It’s a solid slate, although you can tell where the company made adjustments to keep costs down. The back panel is plastic, but I enjoy the texture Onyx chose — it gives the Boox Go Color 7 added grip, even if it took some getting used to.

The Boox Go 7 has several features that set it apart from other tablets. Much like an Amazon Kindle Oasis, the Boox Go 7 has two physical buttons on its bezel. By default, these are set to volume controls in the system, but inside reading apps, they can be used to turn pages. I love being able to flip through my favorite reads and documents without touching the display, which leads to a more relaxing reading experience.

Unfortunately, setting up the buttons is a nightmare. By default, all Onyx apps function well; however, using the Amazon Kindle and Kobo apps can be challenging. For the Kindle app, I had to go into settings and enable volume controls for turning pages. Onyx then has its own settings for controlling the buttons in individual apps.

I went in and swapped the Kindle app in the Onyx settings to enable page turning for the physical buttons, but that disables the function in the Kindle app. To get the buttons to work correctly, you must keep the Onyx settings for the Kindle app to enable volume control. Then, in the Kindle app, switch to page turning using the volume controls. Confused yet? Because I was, and it’s the most counter-intuitive way to program physical buttons I’ve seen.

When enabled, it’s an excellent experience, and I prefer having physical buttons on my E Ink tablets. However, I wish Onyx had made the setup process easier.

As with most Onyx products, the display is the standout feature. The Boox Go Color 7 features a 7-inch Kaleido 3 Carta 1200 panel, capable of displaying 4,096 colors. It has a 1680 x 1264 resolution, with 300 PPI for black and white content and 150 PPI for color. I enjoy having the option to view color content, but it’s a mixed bag.

The Kaleido 3 layer adds a grayish tint to the content, and if you have the frontlight turned off, it doesn’t reflect light like the standalone black and white displays. It’s not a dealbreaker, especially if you need a color E Ink display. However, it should give pause to users who may only occasionally use color or don’t find it a necessary feature for their needs. Still, the frontlighting is even, and I haven’t noticed any banding on the display that has plagued previous Onyx products.

Boox InkSense stylus support sets the Boox Go Color 7 Gen 2 apart from its predecessor, and I like the flexibility a stylus provides. The Boox Go 7 is just large enough at 7 inches to be an ideal productivity companion, allowing you to mark up PDFs and keep a handwritten calendar. The Boox Go 7 also includes a microSD card slot for expandable storage. It contains 64GB of onboard storage, but having the ability to add more is always welcome.

Snappier performance and a decent software experience

Onyx provides plenty of tools on the Boox Go 7

The Boox Go Color 7 is a device for enthusiasts. It’s not a plug-and-play experience like an Amazon Kindle or Kobo Clara Color. You’ll need to sit down and configure the device to your liking, and you’ll still be relying on third-party apps or your own files for content, as Onyx doesn’t include a proper store. Onyx does have a store on the device, but it’s a collection of public domain works for you to download.

Thankfully, the Boox Go Color 7 runs Android 13, with full access to the Google Play Store. I can download everything I need from Discord to my favorite email app. The Boox Go Color 7 doesn’t seem like much when you first boot it up, and you might be alarmed by the stark user environment. However, with a few minutes of setup, the Onyx platform becomes a powerful tool for the right users.

I still wouldn’t recommend a Boox Go 7 for casual users, but Onyx does include several tools to make things easier. The company has begun pre-optimizing popular Android apps to maximize the use of an E Ink display. It’s helpful, as the display settings can feel overwhelming. You do get granular control over refresh rate and display quality, which is excellent, but it’s easy to get lost in the weeds.

For the Boox Go Color 7, I noticed quite a bit of ghosting, so you’ll want to set your device to refresh more frequently. It all takes a bit of fine-tuning, but the result is better overall, and I appreciate being able to tailor my experience to my individual needs.

As usual, the included Onyx app suite is excellent. BOOXDrop is a fantastic way to transfer your files and data between multiple devices, making it ideal for syncing notes when you get home. The Onyx Calendar program offers a wide range of formatting options, allowing you to create your perfect planner. The NeoBrowser is also outstanding, combining the best features of a traditional browser while adapting to the E Ink display.

Thankfully, the performance of the Boox Go Color 7 is significantly better than that of the Boox Go 6. I still experience occasional slowdowns, but there’s nothing that would prevent me from making a purchase. It features an octa-core chipset and 4GB of RAM — nothing to write home about, but serviceable for the limited power needs of an E Ink tablet.

Typing is responsive, which was a concern of mine after using the Boox Go 6. Nothing is more frustrating than undue lag. There’s still some delay, as seasoned E Ink users understand, but it’s a smooth experience overall.

The battery life varies, depending heavily on the amount of frontlighting used. If you’re cautious, you can easily get a few days of use from the tablet’s 2,300mAh battery. However, with more intensive apps, heavy Bluetooth usage, and the frontlight constantly on, you’ll need to top off more frequently.

Bluetooth performance is solid, ideal for listening to audiobooks. The internal speakers are what you’d expect. They are fine in a pinch, but I wouldn’t use them for anything more than notification alerts. Onyx also features a built-in microphone, enabling you to make audio calls through your preferred app if needed.

Should you buy it?

Worth a look if you know what you’re getting into

The Onyx Boox Go Color 7 is a worthy purchase for those who know what they’re doing. If you’re an E Ink tablet enthusiast, you’ll enjoy the granular controls and excellent display. If you’re looking for a casual e-reader experience, this isn’t it. However, if you require a versatile productivity companion that can also function as a capable e-reader, Onyx once again proves it’s the best.