I’ve spent the past few weeks with the BOOX Go 7, and I’m finding it to be one of the most curious and thought-provoking e-readers I’ve used in a long time. Not because it tries to compete head-to-head with Amazon or Kobo, though. Rather, it offers something else entirely: freedom.
This is a device built for readers who are tired of closed ecosystems, tired of being told where their books have to come from, and tired of hitting the same platform limitations over and over again. If that sounds like you, the Go 7 might feel like a revelation.
It’s not perfect. And it’s definitely not plug-and-play in the way a Kindle is. But if you’ve ever wanted to carry your entire digital library, across multiple platforms, in one compact and lightweight package, there’s a lot to like here.
If you’re tired of being locked into a single ecosystem, the BOOX Go 7 offers a refreshing level of freedom, giving you full Android access, physical page-turn buttons, and a design that feels tailor-made for serious reading.
Designed for Reading, Not for Flash
The BOOX Go 7 makes its priorities clear right out of the box. It’s thin, it’s light, and it’s shaped in a way that immediately reminds me of the dearly departed Kindle Oasis. You get an offset bezel that makes one-handed reading more comfortable, plus two physical page-turn buttons that are deeply satisfying to use. These buttons happen to be customizable, which is a minor yet thoughtful touch for those of us who like devices to behave in very specific ways.
The build is plastic but not in any bad way. The back has a soft, lightly textured feel that gives you a bit more grip than the slippery metal finishes you might find elsewhere. While it won’t win any design awards for luxury, it offers comfort and practicality.
You also get USB-C for charging, microSD card support for those with giant sideloaded libraries, stereo speaker cutouts (more on those later), and Bluetooth for audio or accessories. There’s no headphone jack, which might be a bummer for some.
As part of our review experience we were sent the magnetic case for the Go 7, which you’ll see pictured here. Priced $40, the beige accessory features a PU leather exterior with a pen loop. Inside it has anti-scratch microfiber interior to keep the screen safe from scratches.
The Screen: Almost Perfect, with One Frustrating Flaw
On paper, the display is ideal. It’s a 7-inch E Ink Carta 1300 panel at 300 PPI, and it’s sharp and easy on the eyes. Text clarity is excellent. Contrast is strong. I’ve read everything from novels to dense PDFs and manga on this thing, and most of the time, it feels like reading from a page.
But there’s something here that I feel I should point out, but I will not actually show you. I don’t want to dampen the experience if I can avoid it.
I noticed a faint vertical shadow or band that runs along one side of the screen when the frontlight is turned on, especially at mid to high brightness. It’s subtle, but once you notice it, it’s hard to unsee. It doesn’t affect text readability, but it does take away from the otherwise premium feel of the display.
It turns out that I’m not alone here as others have mentioned this on Reddit and in some reviews. It seems to stem from the placement of the LEDs under the glass. And while not every unit exhibits the issue in the same way, it does introduce a bit of a gamble into the buying experience.
Some might not notice it at all. And I actually feel kinda bad pointing it out and essentially asking readers to look for it. I’m reminded of the horizontal line that came with flat-screen monitors back in the 90s. Until someone points it out, most users are happily ignorant of the design “flaw.” That said, some might find it distracting enough to consider a return. Nevertheless, it’s the kind of thing I wish didn’t exist on a $250 e-reader.
Android: Freedom and Friction
This is the real reason someone considers the BOOX Go 7: it runs a full version of Android (version 13, in this case), complete with the Google Play Store. That means you can install Kindle, Kobo, Libby, Hoopla, Nook, Mihon, Pocket, Evernote, Spotify… whatever you want. The device doesn’t care where your books come from or how you want to read them.
That freedom is addictive once you get used to it. But it comes at a cost.
Out of the box, the BOOX experience can be a little overwhelming. The UI is flexible but dense, packed with settings that affect everything from refresh speed to contrast enhancement to per-app optimization. You’ll need to spend time fiddling with refresh modes (Normal, Speed, A2, and X-mode), especially if you’re switching between different reading apps or types of content. That’s just part of the experience here.
There’s also a the fact that Android and some of the background sync experience can have an adverse effect on battery life. I’ll touch more on that in a moment.
For the right person it’s definitely worth it. That person being someone who loves tinkering or is tired of being locked into one store or ecosystem. But if you are looking for a quick set-it-and-forget-it e-reader, this is not quite that.
Performance and Daily Use
Under the hood, the Go 7 is surprisingly capable. It runs on a Snapdragon 680 processor with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. For an E Ink tablet, that’s pretty beefy. The system feels smooth when navigating the interface, jumping between apps, or loading larger files. I never once felt like it was underpowered.
BOOX’s built-in NeoReader app is a standout here. It’s powerful and highly customizable, with tools for adjusting layout, margins, contrast, and even image sharpening. If you sideload a lot of content or read non-DRM material, NeoReader is a dream. Just know that third-party apps like Kindle and Kobo won’t give you the same level of control.
One of the reasons I like devices like this, and to a lesser degree, the Fire tablet line, is that it keeps me from distraction. If it’s not easy to slide over to my Google Workspace (email, documents, messaging, etc.), and I can stay focused on just reading, then great!
A standard Android tablet is a slippery slope for me. Somehow over the last decade I’ve found it harder to focus and stay “in” a book when reading on a tablet. Every little notification is like something asking me to go on a side quest. My reading habits have worsened over the years and now it’s a challenge just to pick up a magazine with my phone in the same room.
The Boox 7, while full of customization and access to the Play Store, doesn’t have to distract me in the same ways. And I kinda love it for that. I didn’t feel the urge to install a battery of social media apps or games.
Thanks to it pint-sized design, I can justify packing it for trips or a night away. There’s essentially no extra weight in my bag.
Audio and Stylus Support
Let’s get this out of the way: the built-in speaker is not good. It’s fine in a pinch for listening to a podcast or audiobook, but it’s tinny, low-volume, and not something you’ll want to rely on for any meaningful listening. But, when you look at how small and thin this thing is, you’d be silly to expect much more. Thankfully, Bluetooth works well for pairing wireless headphones or speakers.
Stylus support is here, too. The Go 7 works with BOOX’s active InkSense pen ($46), but it’s definitely a secondary feature. The screen isn’t textured, the latency isn’t particularly low, and the 7-inch size feels cramped for anything beyond light annotations or jotting down a quick note. It’s nice to have, but not a reason to buy this device.
The less active you are with something like this, the better. Lean back and read is the name of the game, right? Using a stylus, or trying to game on this is just setting yourself up for disappointment.
Battery Life: Pay the Android Tax
Battery life is actually one of the Go 7’s more noticeable compromises, and one that may surprise anyone coming from a Kindle or Kobo. The 2,300mAh battery drains much faster than traditional e-readers, thanks to both Android and the fact that there is a bit more powerful hardware under the hood.
I found myself charging every three to four days with moderate use (front light on, Wi-Fi occasionally connected, multiple reading apps installed). That’s not bad for a tablet, but it’s well below the multi-week battery life many e-reader users expect.
You can stretch it a bit by disabling background sync, keeping wireless off, and using the front light sparingly. Sideload a bunch of books you’ve downloaded and don’t need to worry about synchronizing things or keeping an active Wi-Fi connection? You’ll totally get a lot more life out of a charge.
Then again, if you’re doing all that, you’re kinda giving up some of the Android advantages that make the Go 7 special in the first place. It’s a trade-off. And it’s a conscious one. I happen to like that I can decide what I want to do or how I want to use it.
Final Verdict: A Niche Delight, If You’re the Right Kind of Reader
Awarded to products with an average rating of 3.75 stars or higher, the AndroidGuys Smart Pick recognizes a balance of quality, performance, and value.
Products with this distinction deserve to be on your short list of purchase candidates.
As I mentioned at the start, the BOOX Go 7 is not trying to be everything to everyone. It’s not here to replace your Kindle or Kobo. It’s here to give you more control, more flexibility, and a truly open reading experience that can adapt to you.
It’s best suited to readers who know exactly what they want: multiple app support, sideloading freedom, a large library of mixed-format content, and a device that can evolve alongside your habits. But it does ask you to meet it halfway.
You’ll need to configure it a bit or make adjustments early on, charge it more often, and potentially live with a small but visible screen quirk. If you’re okay with all of that? You’ll get one of the most versatile, thoughtfully designed reading devices on the market.
It’s not a Kindle killer so much as a Kindle alternative. Well, maybe it’s better characterized a more of a Kindle Oasis-adjacent product, with potential. And for a certain kind of reader, that’s exactly what they’ve been waiting for.
