Key Takeaways
- Onyx Boox Observe Air 3 C affords an excellent writing expertise with a slim design and full Google Play entry.
- The pill’s colour show with uninteresting colours permits for note-taking and studying, however isn’t superb for movies or gaming.
- Its battery life is spectacular, although the stylus magnet and speaker high quality are missing.
Though I spend most of my time on a pc, there’s nonetheless one thing particular about taking handwritten notes. Whereas vibrant tablets just like the Apple iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab look good and supply very good instruments for artists, they do not present the identical really feel as writing on paper, and I have not been drawn to them for notes. E Ink tablets, however, usually provide a really feel just like writing on paper whereas additionally providing higher battery life.
The Onyx Boox Observe Air 3 C is a big E Ink pill, sitting in the identical ranks because the ReMarkable 2 and Kobo Elipsa 2E. Nonetheless, not like these two tablets, it contains a colour show and Android OS, which unlock a listing of helpful options that end in a well-rounded pill. Boox despatched me one to check out, and I have been impressed by the unbelievable but easy consumer expertise. It affords loads of issues to like and never a lot to dislike.
Beneficial
Onyx Boox Observe Air 3 C
The Onyx Boox Observe Air 3 C is a colour E Ink pill with unbelievable instruments for note-taking. It runs on a simplified model of Android 12, which is simple to make use of and customizable. Plus, it supplies entry to the Google Play Retailer, so you’ll be able to obtain all of your favourite apps.
- Slim and light-weight
- Excellent battery life
- Incredible writing expertise
- Full Google Play retailer entry
- Magnet for stylus is not very sturdy
- Audio system are fairly poor
- Handwriting would not work with third-party apps
Worth, availability, and specs
The Onyx Boox Observe Air3 C provides colour to the already wonderful Note Air 3, making it a bit extra well-rounded. It’s accessible from the Onyx and Boox web sites, in addition to Amazon for $499.99. It comes with a stylus however doesn’t embody a case.
What I preferred concerning the Onyx Boox Observe Air 3 C
First impressions matter, and the Observe Air 3 C makes an important one. Its aluminum body is enticing with its orange accents, and it merely feels nice within the hand, even and not using a case. At 15.2oz (345g), it weighs barely lower than the ReMarkable 2 (14.1 ounces) and Kobo Elipsa 2E (13.8 ounces), however it would not really feel heavy by any means. The left facet affords a thicker part of bezel so you’ll be able to maintain it with out placing your finger on the show. It is a very slim pill, too, so I can simply put it in my backpack together with my laptop computer when touring and never add a lot bulk.
One of many primary issues that makes the Observe Air 3 C stand out in comparison with different E Ink tablets is that it runs an Android OS. Consequently, you’ve entry to the Google Play Retailer, which means you’ll be able to obtain nearly any app you’d in your Android telephone or pill. That makes the Observe Air 3 C much more versatile than different E Ink tablets.
The power to obtain apps is very useful when studying on the Observe Air 3 C. Whereas the pill comes loaded with a local library app (Boox NeoReader) and Retailer, you are fairly restricted in what you’ve entry to. For instance, the Retailer app solely affords free classics from Challenge Gutenberg. You’ll be able to load epubs, PDFs, and different paperwork by way of the BOOXDrop app, however any content material with Digital Rights Administration (DRM) software program will not be suitable and not using a third-party app. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to obtain Libby to entry your native library’s free ebooks or use the Amazon Kindle app (or many different library apps), supplying you with full entry to no matter you wish to learn.
The working system is a customized model of Android 12, which may be very simplified and paired down. There is a vertical row of residence apps on the left facet, which guides you to all the pieces you want on the pill. I’ve by no means used an Onyx Boox product earlier than, however the controls are all extremely intuitive and simple to navigate. You may also customise many controls, together with gestures and the menu bar. The system as an entire operates easily for an E Ink pill, with the anticipated quantity of lab when leaping between apps.
It could possibly acknowledge handwritten notes and transcribe them into typed textual content, which I can then copy into an e-mail, Google Doc, or another cloud-based doc for entry on my pc.
One in all my favourite options of the Observe Air 3 C is its native note-taking app (which you could shortly entry from the house display). It affords premium options, together with a variety of templates and AI-based instruments. Most notably, for my work, it may acknowledge handwritten notes and transcribe them into typed textual content, which I can then copy into an e-mail, Google Doc, or another cloud-based doc for entry on my pc. Even with my messy writing, the AI device does a unbelievable job of determining what I wrote so I can share notes with others, and so they do not need to decipher my handwriting.
Though easy, my favourite AI device is Scribble Erase. If I write one thing unsuitable or simply wish to eliminate it, I can scribble over it, like I’d if I have been writing on paper, and it mechanically deletes it. It misses small strains often, however general, it does an important job and retains me from switching backwards and forwards from the pen to the eraser.
Handwriting on the Observe Air 3 C is a unbelievable expertise. It feels clean and easy with the included stylus. It is similar to writing on paper, although I really prefer it a bit extra in most conditions. There’s additionally minimal enter lag regardless of the E Ink show, so it may sustain with my notes even after I’m writing shortly.
The C within the Observe Air 3 identify signifies that it is a colour pill. After all, it is nonetheless E Ink, so do not anticipate colours like these on the Apple iPad or the Samsung Galaxy Tab. As a substitute, colours are fairly uninteresting, very like you’d get in a conventional newspaper. Nonetheless, the colour show makes it potential to focus on and write in numerous colours, which is an enormous benefit. You can even use it for drawing, although the colours will not be very thrilling.
You can, in principle, watch movies or play video games on the Observe Air 3 C, since there are audio system and colour, however I would not suggest it. The E Ink expertise cannot sustain with playback or the standard wanted for video, so movies look extraordinarily grainy, and playback is uneven. However, in a pinch, you do have entry to that.
Lastly, whereas I have not been utilizing the Observe Air 3 C every day or for prolonged intervals, I’ve nonetheless been very impressed by its battery life. It makes use of a 3,700 mAh battery and mechanically goes into standby mode when you do not use it for some time, saving the battery life considerably. I have not charged the machine since I began testing almost three weeks in the past, and it is nonetheless at 24%. After all, it would drain sooner when you use it loads in a single sitting or use power-hungry apps, however it ought to simply final you thru a whole day of courses or conferences.
What I did not like concerning the Onyx Boox Observe Air3 C
Handwriting solely will get you up to now
One of many primary causes I have been loving the Observe Air 3 C is as a result of I can use it to take handwritten notes. Sadly, although, the flexibility to make use of handwriting solely extends to the native apps, together with the native Notes and Library app. Any third-party apps will depend on the keyboard for textual content enter. The stylus can be utilized to navigate, however that is all. It is a bummer that the very best characteristic can solely be utilized in just a few conditions.
Though a minor element, I’ve additionally been fairly aggravated by the magnet for the stylus. It isn’t very sturdy, so the stylus comes off fairly simply. Fortunately, I even have the magnetic case, which holds it there, however I would not belief it with out the case holding it onto the pill.
Lastly, although I would not anticipate an excellent listening expertise on an E Ink pill, the audio system are very poor in high quality. The sound is admittedly harsh, particularly if you flip the amount up. There is no bass or element, so it is an disagreeable listening expertise. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to pair headphones with the Observe Air 3 C because of its Bluetooth connectivity, so you’ll be able to nonetheless make the most of being able to obtain media apps like YouTube and Spotify whereas having a greater listening expertise.
Must you purchase the Onyx Boox Observe Air 3 C?
When you’re out there for a well-rounded, extremely succesful pill for taking notes and studying, then sure, you can purchase the Onyx Boox Observe Air 3 C. It affords a unbelievable expertise with a high quality construct, loads of helpful instruments, great notetaking options, and a big show. The pill will not come near rivaling conventional tablets for normal leisure, however for notetaking and studying, the Observe Air 3 C is tough to beat.
Beneficial
Onyx Boox Observe Air 3 C
The Onyx Boox Observe Air 3 C contains a colour display, a customizable Android working system, and a premium construct, making it a well-rounded ereader and pill for taking notes.
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