Boox GO Series Review: Budget-Friendly E-Readers with a Premium Punch

Boox has been busy this year and continues to challenge the standard-bearers of e-reader tablet market. The company has become a viable option to the likes of Amazon and Kobo. You can even make the argument that the note-taking features of many of the larger Boox devices take on more premium options, like the Kindle Scribe and ReMarkable tablet.

Boox has now come in with an even lower-priced entries with the GO ePaper series. The GO Color 7 and the GO 10.3 blur the lines even further of premium vs. budget buys. I’ve been testing both Boox devices and I have to say the hype is real, but let’s dive into the details.

Design

Let’s start with the shared DNA of the GO series. Many of the sensors and panels are very similar in design and mechanics. The GO Color 7 and GO 10.3 sport a 2.4Ghz Octa-core processors, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of internal storage. Both also support Boox’s fantastic magnetic cases.

The similarities don’t stop there. You also get Android 12 with a custom overlay as the base operating system for the GO series. Not only does this allow you a more flexible system than most e-readers, it also gives the tablets full access to the Google Play Store. This ultimately allows you to have access to pretty much any e-book service you can get on Android.

The exterior hardware of each is a mixed bag in comparison. The smaller GO Color 7 is mostly plastic with a faux-leather back covering. The larger sibling, 10.3 is made of fiberglass weaving giving it a very sturdy casing that almost feels aluminum. Neither feels cheap by any means, but you can see an upgrade in the GO 10.3 over the smaller Color 7.

Another distinction between the models is storage options. Both GO e-readers have 64GBs of internal SSD storage, however, the GO Color 7 can be expanded via a microSD card while the GO 10.3 can not. It’s a little thing, but I think the more premium, and pricey, GO 10.3 should have this included.

Screens and general experience

As the monikers would imply, the GO Color 7 is a 7-inch Kaleido 3 Color screen. This allows for the matte look with still allowing crisper colors and gradients than the black and white alternatives. You get 300PPI when using black and white text like books, and when you want to flip through your favorite magazine or comic book in color you get 150PPI.

I really like the GO Color 7 screen. While it’s a little on the small side for reading comics, the color gamut is very good and the overall size is perfect for reading traditional books and novels. Turning pages can be done either via the screen with a tap or swipe, and you even have tactile buttons on the right side of the screen if you prefer.

I thought lack of color would bother me more on the larger 10.3, but overall it’s still a very compelling option. The Carta 1200 Monochrome screen still offers crisp text balance and is very response with the hardware. The GO 10.3 also has the same 300PPI since it’s only black and white.

While the lack of color does hurt when using it for something like comics because the screen size is perfect for the physical medium it’s emulating, it’s mostly a minor annoyance. Other options outweigh this limitation for me like the note taking and pen input. Having this additional interaction options makes it a more affordable alternative to the Boox Note Air 3C.

At $380, it’s a compelling consideration for anyone considering a larger e-reader. Especially, if you also like to take notes. This puts it far under the hit on your wallet that other contenders like the Kindle Scribe and ReMarkable readers.

Our review samples included bundle accessories that most should consider. The magnetic cases for both GO tablets is very well made and includes several stand modes. The GO 10.3 also included the stylus pens and a box of replacement tips. I’d consider this almost essential if you plan to take notes at all. It really does extend the functionality of the larger GO and would be worth

Battery life

The GO series offers a 2300mAh capacity with the GO Color 7 and 3700mAh with the 10.3 e-reader. Both offer multiple days of real usage. The units sip battery when you are interacting with them with the low-power panels. You should be able to get through at least a week of general usage between

The standby is even better. You will notice very minimal drop in battery percentage when the tablets aren’t in use laying around the house. There’s also a wonderful suspend setting in the software options for each that allows the unit to power down when in not in use for several minutes. It takes a few minutes to power back, but this is a great setting for something folks may not be using every day or at least while away at work.

Final thoughts

Pinnacle Selection represents our highest honor, one reserved for products that stand out in design, performance, and overall value.

Products earning this distinction exemplify excellence across the board, delivering an experience that truly rises above the rest.

When you see the badge, you’re looking at the best of what’s available in its category.

I think Boox is quietly becoming one of the best manufacturers of e-readers in the market. The GO series build on this momentum and increases it in my mind. The GO Color 7 and 10.3 offer consumers high-quality options at just $250 and $380 respectively. Both offer specs and features that punch well above this price range.

You can get your own GO Color 7 and 10.3 e-readers directly from Boox or our Amazon links below. It’s worth a mentioning, that at the moment, Onyx offers the bundles of accessories with the purchase for an additional discount of sorts. This gets you the magnetic case cover for the Color 7 and the same for the GO 10.3 along with the pen and extra tips.