You can manually control both warm and cool backlights, and this is a key differentiator for Onyx's tablet line. However, the people at Onyx haven't quite figured out how to make the security pin page flip, so I have to log in right handed and turn the device around. The screen was easy on the eyes and I could read in both dark and bright environments, making it a versatile device. However, if you’ve moving from annotating on, say, an iPad using the Apple Pencil, know that you won't have to recharge the Wacom stylus supplied with the Note Air 2.

There’s handwriting recognition, which can be used to convert your handwriting to text – in my experience, it’s not quite as accurate as the implementation on the Supernote but it is still very good. It is one of a few e-ink tablets that were released circa 2021 that are still top products in 2023 (the others being the ultra-thin and beautifully-designed reMarkable 2, and the Supernote A5 X with it’s well-developed and innovative hardware/software). com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. If, however, you want something for general media consumption, you’d be better off with a traditional tablet.

The ability to alter brightness was great, and since I was able to use the Kindle app, I could easily highlight passages I enjoyed and make notes using the split-screen feature and the Notes app.

The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag.After all, the practical highlights Google introduces in its latest OS versions like Material U, wouldn’t be apparent through Boox’s skin. In fact, it will likely be the e-ink screen technology and its perceived low refresh rate that’ll make the whole experience feel slow compared to traditional tablets. The light coverage is beautifully even across the display, and the feature gives it a real one-up over the non-backlit ReMarkable 2 for anyone who sees themselves using the tab in the dark. I bought this tablet in an attempt at working paperless and it was a wonderful purchase, the best piece of tech I owned.