Really appreciate you taking time to focus on privacy concerns! Can you share more about your recommendations for a software firewall and other strategies to make the 4C more secure? It's the primary concern holding me back from trying one out!
The easiest way to do it, is to use a VPN-firewall like Netguard. That's an app that runs locally and allows you to route all traffic through the app, so you can select which apps are allowed to access the internet. That helps with most network requests. Just make sure to also jump into the default Android settings (not accessible by default, so you need a separate app for that), to allow unrestricted battery usage, so it doesn't get force closed for battery savings. A more reliable way to lock down network traffic directly on the device is to root the tablet and use AFWall+, which edits iptables, which is more reliable and doesn't rely on the ondevice-VPN-service. Using the whitelist mode on either one allows you to block every app, except the ones you specifically chose. That's a good way to only allow the Kindle app for example and other "trusted" app to access the internet. Of course, nothing is bullet proof and can be bypassed if someone really wanted to, but that's a good way to lock down network traffic for better data privacy.
Thank you for all your in-depth reviews of e-books! I've been looking at buying my first colour e-reader for a while and finally settled on the Boox Note Air 4C. All your reviews have been tremendous in helping me choose, and I don't regret my choice. One thing I could add about the 4C is the awkwardness of the device langage when set to French. A given feature can be named differently depending on which screen it appears on, some words are not translated (i.e. they appear in english), some words in the menus are so badly translated you don't know what'll happen until you click on them and only the French from France could be selected (I would've liked to see French (Canada) in the list). I ended up switching back my device to English, so beware if you plan on using in your native language.
Thanks, good point. Translations aren't very good. It's not just French; German translations are also lackluster. I'll keep that in mind to mention in the future.
Great video, you pack a lot on information in a short time and in a form that can easily be understood... bravo. The accelerated battery cycle count on coloured devices combined with inability to change the battery with ease, continues to be a concern for me regarding Boox devices.
Chalid, thank you for great and unbiased videos! Some youtubers from the UK are still convincing us that Boox devices are not steeling our privacy ;-) Thank you again!
Well, that has to be proven… EVERY device (Apple, Microsoft, Android using manufactures, Boox etc) “calls home” with log/“how the user uses the device” data and also to check any updates! If you have automatic updates on, how do you expect that the device doesn’t “call home” to check the servers?! As I said, I have as many reasons to suspect Chinese manufacturers as I have from American manufacturers: Microsoft, Meta/Facebook and Google tough us that our data, one way or the other, isn’t completely safe. Yes I trust a little bit more the Americans, but none is a saint 😄
@ricarmig so true. Thank you for sharing this point of view. I just know, and a lot of people reported difficulties/inability connecting those devices to the company's accounts that are managed by their IT security services, me included with NA3C. But who knows, maybe I didn't research the topic fully, and there is a way.
@@kw4358 I use those devices purely for personal use, they work rather well but to be honest, I just use them for non important things/email. At least the EU should demand 100% of the servers in the EU for European users and zero info should get outside.
Thank you for this professional review of the BA4C. I found the side-by-side comparison of different Kaleido 3 devices very informative. Since I recently bought Bigme's B1051C I am looking forward to a more in-depth comparison review of these different devices.
Best review seen on this device. So if it has a replacable screen protectorr and if does how long will it last? So running a VPN is what your speaking about when using this device? If acess ing say DropBox my files will still be scaned by Chinese dervers ? I am concerened since I would be using this with patient notes in my practice?
As long as you don't scratch the screen protector, there's no reason to replace it imho. The WACOM pen tip is softer than the screen protector, so it shouldn't wear down and I haven't seen it happening on any of the Note Air devices I have here. Regarding firewall: Yes, I'm talking about a VPN firewall. It's mostly meant as a safeguard, because it's not clear what those connections to the Chinese servers are used for. Package size is small, so it doesn't seem to be a lot of data (like contents of files). Probably analytics data - but that's just speculation. They aren't as versatile, but Remarkable Paper Pro and Supernote Nomad might be better suited for patient related note taking if you wanted to play it safe, see: support.remarkable.com/s/article/Security-at-reMarkable supernote.com/pages/healthcare
Ive had my Note Air 3C for around 8 months by now, and i havent even noticed any change in the screen protector. Also I believe a VPN wouldnt solve the issue with chinese servers
@@ChalidRaqami Thanks . How large of micro SD Card can use on this device? Do have recommendation for a software firewall ? I currently use Bitdefender Total security .
Was hoping for a close up side-by-side image quality comparison between NA4C & GO 10.3 for b/w text You mention at 30-40cm distance the CFA grain isn't noticeable. Conflicted if that would bother me over getting a GO 10.3 that is widely praised as having the crispest screen. I'll be using it for 60% Manga, 20% ebook & 20% PDF annotation.
That definitely would have been nice to see. FWIW, I got a chance to check out a Kaleido panel on a Kobo e-reader. Best way I can describe the grain is that it's like the effect you get when a phone with lower dpi (200ish) has a matte screen protector on it. When you display white it sorta refracts into the RGB elements. Not exactly the same, but it's what Kaleido reminded me most of. Coloured elements will also be pixelated as they're half the resolution. Online consensus seems to be that B&W content will alway look better on a B&W screen. But if you need colour then you only have Kaleido 3 and Gallery 3 to choose from currently in the e-ink world. Lack of backlight is actually a deal breaker for me on the Go 10.3, but even a Note air 4 B&W doesn't seem like a meaningful upgrade over my Note Air 1 from 3 years ago unless they do something revolutionary.
@@tanzhonghui Been reading numerous reports of people returning due to the "grainy" look. I look at example photos they look okay. Maybe the camera can't capture it properly. Of course when you take a super close shot the CFA texture/moire pattern is very apparent, but no one views the screen that close in real usage. Seems the term "grainy" can mean different things. 1) 150 dpi colors are very obvious & noticeable. It looks grainy. Even in the photos I've seen. Maybe some people are reading text that isn't 100% black. Anything with a hint of color will display at 150dpi. Read a user thought it was grainy only to find out their kindle app was bugged displaying regular text at 150dpi instead of 300dpi. Once they reset the app it was clear. 2) the background is not perfectly clean, the CFA adds a texture, looks kinda like recycled paper or jean pants. Maybe the text is 300dpi crisp but the background grain gives it an illusion of less clarity. Some find this distracting or eye straining. This also lowers contrast ratio. 2) 300 dpi black text not as crisp. Edges of text are a bit fuzzy either due to the extra texture paper like screen protector or CFA fuzzing. I am conflicted what to believe without seeing one in person. I want the sharp/crisp blacks of the GO 10.3 but also like the BSR/color at times. If the NA4C falls into the #2 definition then I am okay with that. As long as the pure black text is sharp. Actually think a grainy background make it feel more like paper book than a clean smooth white.
I'll do a comparison soon, but generally it's hard to capture the effect on camera unfortunately. Imho there are three aspects to the grain: 1. 150 ppi resolution is noticeable with colored content 2. The RGB subpixel matrix of the color filter sits on top of the E-Ink screen and is slightly noticeable depending on the reading distance. 3. The colored subpixels absorb and reflect light slightly differently, which leads to a very slight shimmering effect. It's worse on older Kaleido Plus devices, but it's still visible on Kaleido 3 as well. It really depends on how sensitive you are to such things, if it's a problem or not. Personally I think it's fine for most people and I was very positively surprised at how good it looked on the Boox tab Ultra C where I saw Kaleido 3 for the first time. That said, for black and white content, a black and white E-Ink screen is still the best choice. The missing color filter makes it look cleaner overall.
@@theramennoodler7950 depends on what you mean by "outperform." they can both do a bunch of things the rMPP can't do at all, by design. but the writing experience on the rMPP is very, very good. reading -- not so much, it's true.
That is what I’m looking for exactly. Music scores (alternative to for score in eink), books and notes. This one seems like the best alternative. Specially if I can connect a page turning pedal to it.
@ I’ve been thinking about that as well. Debating with that one since it pretty much does what one needs. Only problem I see is that it is Android 12. Never been an Android user don’t know if that will be a problem in a short time.
The main concern with boox tablets is security. Even when they run on android, can't be encrypted like an android phone. Any solution for that? I'm concerned both, online access and also robbery/lost of the unit. Thanks
No, I was just pointing it out because the screen scratches a bit easier than some others. But if you don't scratch the screen protector there's usually no need to replace it. And since the regular WACOM pen nibs are softer than the screen protector, I also didn't notice any wear on the texture on the other Note Air devices I have hear.
@@ChalidRaqami Thanks, Chalid! I was concerned because I’ve been purchasing those magnetic paper-like screen protectors for my iPad and they keep their surface texture for about a month but then become almost as slick as my iPad screen and need replacement, and I doubt the BNA4C screen protectors are as easy or inexpensive to replace.
@@ChalidRaqami I don't plan on using the pen for note taking and exclusively to read ebooks. Do you recommend removing the factory installed textured screen protector to increase clarity?
@@Battlem0nk No, absolutely not 😅- the screen is VERY glossy under the screen protector and basically unusable without it imho. The only reason to remove it, is to replace it because it was damaged.
Just discovered your channel. ❣Informative, full of the direct comparisons with both competitors and predecessors. That is what I call unconditional dedication to one technology. I'm looking forward to your next video, since I'd love to buy one. Namely, it must be up-to-me as the owner of the device to use such apps as Syncthing or SyncTool. Simultaneously, having complete and unconditional control of the device.
At 14:32 you mentioned hit or miss palm rejection. Is that also a problem with the note taking app or just when annotating PDFs? If you temporarily disable touch input, can you still tap onscreen buttons with the stylus?
I found palm rejection only to be an issue in PDF files and mostly when it comes to turning the page. That haven't been a problem in the notes app for me. You can actually just disable the tap-to-pageturn function which mostly gets rid of the issue in PDFs and use the rest of the touch navigation as usual. But you can also disable other functions and gestures so you can't use finger-touch-input in the PDF at all. But even then, the floating toolbar can still be used with finger-touch-input and from there you can also use the rest of the UI with your fingers. It's just that initial touch input that's disabled.
If I'm not mistaken TUC does not have the textured screen surface/ protector, so text is slightly clearer, but it will feel like writing on glass rather than 'paper'.
Tab Ultra C, Tab Ultra C Pro, Note Air 3C and Note Air 4C are all very similar. It really depends on what you want to do, but overall I agree with @theramennoodler7950. If you're buying a new device, go for the 4C, otherwise any of the others is good if it's cheaper/used. Upgrading to the 4C from one of the others is only worth it, if you're unhappy with the frontlight.
Does 4c come with a pre-installed screen protector out of the box Or do we need to buy it separately? Also do you recommend the cover from boox or a 3rd party?
Yes, it does have a screen protector preinstalled, but it's actually meant to provide a paperlike writing feel as it's primary function. The screen underneath is glossy, so without that screen protector, the device isn't really usable imho. So long story short: No need to buy a third-party screen protector. The original cover is fine and better than the ones of the previous models.
Seems boox's return/refund policy is stringent. Do you recommend buying from their website or Amazon where the return policy is more lineant. How has been your experience with their support?
I recommend Amazon (sold by Amazon!) if you're unsure. That's simply the most reliable option if you want to return it. But it's a bit more expensive. I generally use PayPal for any orders in other shops, because their buyer protection already helped me a couple of times when there were issues. But I haven't had any problems with the Boox shop. Quick shipments and a quick response when I needed something invoice-related. Other than that, I haven't needed any kind support yet.
I don't think the grain is a downside. It's paperlike. What if I want something that is this size but I don't need all the power and features. I just want a simple reader for Kindle and ePub and Comics? Preferably color but if that's not possible then monochrome
Anyone has compared this to the new Kindle? Which screen is whiter? I don't really need the color, but I thought the Boox Go was really great and sent it back. Thank you!
If you get it directly from boox, then typically yes. Check their website to make sure, because they might make changes to the bundles. If you buy the device from Amazon or a reseller, then there's no cover included most of the time.
PLEASE HELP!!! I’ll be buying my first reader and I’m in between the BOOX Note Air 4 C and the BOOX Tab Ultra C Pro. I’m not sure how much difference their tech differences would make in my intended use. Which one would be the best fit based on my intended use? I’m looking for a hybrid device to use as 1)notebook/agenda (note taking, being able to add hyperlinks to notes and access them, transform notes to text, deep thinking and organizing thoughts with visual pre-established formats/ shapes), 2) reader (kindle books and audio books, pdf, articles, public library apps, 3) learning tool (Coursera app, learn languages, other learning apps), 4) multitasking (split screen). I’m very ADHD and I’m trying to keep things in one place, avoid screen glare which affects my eyes, reduce social media use, avoid distractions (hard to achieve with iPad), and concentrate on learning to grow personally, professionally and staying organized As far as I understand based on my research is that both devices would offer me all I need and have the same specs except for 64BG vs 128 GB; Android 13 vs Android 12; Advanced Octa Core vs. 2.8 GHz; no rear camera, volume buttons, nor keyboard case vs. rear camera, volume buttons, and keyboard case (I don’t care about the camera, volume buttons or keyboard. I would connect the device to a different keyboard when needed) in the BOOX Note Air 4 vs. BOOX Tab Ultra C Pro, respectively.
Hi - both are very similar in terms of features and the differences are mostly in the details. So you can't go wrong with either one for what you're describing as your usecases imho. Having said that, I'd go with the Note Air 4C, mostly because it's more future-proof with Android 13. It's also more comfortable to hold and it's cheaper.
The 4C uses the same display tech with a glass backplane. So it can also break. If you're looking for a more robust E-Ink screen, you need to look at E-Ink Mobius tech, which uses a plastic backplane and are more robust. The Viwoods AIPaper, PocketBook Color Note and (upcoming) Supernote A5X2 have that one.
👌😎🤠👍 Really awesome review. My primary objective is using it as a learning device to read, watch tutorials and take notes. Perhaps even attend webinars tt don't require camera and mic input. In those tt require, it could be still an awesome pair with a simple smartphone. Mostly technical courses & content and need flexibility in an android environment due to other apps needed. Was wondering if the Eyemoo RLCD with front-lit option against the Air4C be a better fit. Eyemoo note taking seems to be laggy from reviews tt is dated like 1 yr ago; not sure any improvement since. Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thx again for the many reviews.
Note taking is definitely better on the Note Air 4C and I'd argue the general user experience as well. If you're interested in a frontlit RLCD, I'd wait for the Hansnote devices that were announced a couple of weeks ago. I suspect they might offer a better experience than the eyemoo tablet did.
I usually bring in scanned PDFs (in Arabic) and I like to zoom in to expand the margin and then writing a lot in those margins. Is that better here or with a different device?
That generally works well on the Note Air 4C - you might just need to find the right workflow for you, because there are a couple of options on how to do it.
Boox doesn't communicate how long they'll support their devices. Generally they have a good track record of bringing new features to older devices as well, but they don't upgrade the Android version. So Android 13 is most likely the only version the Note Air 4C will ever see.
@ChalidRaqami thanks. This is the reason I don't like boox: they sell to customers, but behave as a manufacturer and not as a brand. I mean, a brand can be also a manufacture, but should have brand-like behaviours if decides to sell to final users (e.g. Clear communication, good customer care and support policies, etc.)
Can you make a review on Xueyisheng X1? I could hardly find news on it and what tech it uses but sources are saying they are using a completely different e-ink tech.
Seems to be a China-only device for now, so it will be hard to get my hands on it. But I'll try - any new (color) e-paper tech is of course very interesting.
Thanks - yes there is text recognition for arabic as well. The package for text recognition can be downloaded directly from within the notes app. It can be a bit hit and miss though, but my handwriting is terrible, so your mileage might vary.
The Bigme B1051C has a few interesting things going for it (like Android 14), but the Boox Note Air 4C is definitely better overall imho. Boox has been working on their user interface for a lot longer and it shows. The Note Air 4C (and other Boox devices) is easier to use and features are (much) more refined. I'll post an in-depth review of the B1051C soon as well.
I have a Samsung tab 8 But i feel like i dont use it as much Im a pastor, teacher and writer. So while i use the tablet to teach, i feel like i dont use it as much even though i use to take notes alot on it. Should i stick with my Samsung, or try this out? I was also looking at the 10.3 go or remarkable 2 (that obviously would just be for notes if i did that)
The Samsung Tab 8 is obviously much better for any dynamic content (fast paced apps, video, etc.). So if that's something you'd typically use right now, I'd stick with the Samsung Tab. If that's not a focus, an E-Ink tablet can be a great alternative if you're looking for a more analog feel with reading, note taking and writing in mind. Maybe my "How to choose" video helps you a bit: th-cam.com/video/5iQn1n8h2MM/w-d-xo.html
going with the Titan MSD today I see; a new classic imo. also *wow* the image quality on the B1051C is trash compared to the others. and I agree re: all of the refinements that went into the 4C vs. the 3C adding up to something a bit greater than the sum of their parts.
Make or break feature for me is ability to load Android version of Microsoft Intune / Company portal so that work version of Microsoft OneNote can be installed in a work user profile. If anyone knows, do share.
They do work, but pen latency is horrible most of the time. So third party sketching apps aren't something you want to use on here. The default notes app works fine for basic sketching though.
Netguard only whitelisting apps is the quickest way to improve data privacy. Battery saving settings need to be adapted so the app isn't force closed thought. Those settings can be found in the default Android settings, which need to be accessed through a separate app. Because Boox uses it's own settings app.
Still an old and bad snapdragon chip. So sad. My ultra c pro with the 855 is already sluggish, stuff take ages to load. Yes, even basic things like the notes. When will we get an eink tablet with an actual new chip? Even a midrange current gen chip is worlds ahead than this
From looking at Chalid's frown (down-turned mouth) in the preview images, I always think he has a strong dislike of the device he's reviewing. I guess appearances are deceiving :)
th-cam.com/video/yjsjBM5j7Mg/w-d-xo.html 10:21 | "it's even better than the remarkable paper pro" * I don't find it as true. To me, RMPP still looks better for that picture you've chosen...
It really depends on the image. Images that mostly lean towards blue tend to be better on the Note Air 4C, while anything with yellow in it looks better on the Remarkable Paper Pro. One issue with the RMPP is that it generally also leans heavily towards yellow for orange and green color tones, which looks more saturated (and arguably a bit better as a result), but color accuracy isn't great as a result.
What exactly is wrong with say a S9 tablet? Doesn't hurt my eyes at all, last time I charged mine to 100% was 3 days 23 hours ago and its at 52% battery and Eink refreshment literally disgusts me. I honestly would like to know! So many dedicated Eink channels, why?
It’s like a tablet, people just buy it for shits and giggles, I bought for doing school work and reading manga. It ain’t much only $500, definitely better on the eyes than a regular tablet, to answer your question idk cause I like it I guess.
for a lot of people e-ink is just much more of a satisfying writing experience because of the very short distance from pen tip to image. plus reflective displays are just easier for them to look at.
Obviously, a general tablet will be better for most people, but if your main focus is writing and reading, and you don't want any distractions, then a e-ink tablet is more suitable. I am in the same dilemma myself since I have to buy a tablet for school. I want to watch videos sometimes but I also like reading, and at the moment, the battery life of Android e-ink tablets doesn't seem to be good enough for me to pick it over a Samsung tablet. I'll probably just buy a e-reader for reading.
Hi, Chalid, thank you for your reviews Whats better PocketBook 741 InkPad Color or PocketBook 700K3 ERA Color? I have the first one, for 2-3 years now, and I don't understand whether era is better for reading color books (with pictures of artists' paintings, for example), or to stay with the version InkPad color Thank you!
In terms of color saturation, there isn't a huge difference. But the render quality on the Era Color is definitely better when you compare them side by side. Personally I'd go for the InkPad Color 3, because the frontlight quality is a bit better. Don't expect huge jumps in render quality, but more like incremental upgrades. Performance on both the Era Color and InkPad Color 3 are much better though.
Super informative and concise review! That 5-way comparison for the screen colours was awesome!
Really appreciate you taking time to focus on privacy concerns! Can you share more about your recommendations for a software firewall and other strategies to make the 4C more secure? It's the primary concern holding me back from trying one out!
The easiest way to do it, is to use a VPN-firewall like Netguard. That's an app that runs locally and allows you to route all traffic through the app, so you can select which apps are allowed to access the internet. That helps with most network requests. Just make sure to also jump into the default Android settings (not accessible by default, so you need a separate app for that), to allow unrestricted battery usage, so it doesn't get force closed for battery savings.
A more reliable way to lock down network traffic directly on the device is to root the tablet and use AFWall+, which edits iptables, which is more reliable and doesn't rely on the ondevice-VPN-service.
Using the whitelist mode on either one allows you to block every app, except the ones you specifically chose. That's a good way to only allow the Kindle app for example and other "trusted" app to access the internet.
Of course, nothing is bullet proof and can be bypassed if someone really wanted to, but that's a good way to lock down network traffic for better data privacy.
From Riyadh: Keep up the good work bro.
Thank you for all your in-depth reviews of e-books! I've been looking at buying my first colour e-reader for a while and finally settled on the Boox Note Air 4C. All your reviews have been tremendous in helping me choose, and I don't regret my choice.
One thing I could add about the 4C is the awkwardness of the device langage when set to French. A given feature can be named differently depending on which screen it appears on, some words are not translated (i.e. they appear in english), some words in the menus are so badly translated you don't know what'll happen until you click on them and only the French from France could be selected (I would've liked to see French (Canada) in the list). I ended up switching back my device to English, so beware if you plan on using in your native language.
Thanks, good point. Translations aren't very good. It's not just French; German translations are also lackluster. I'll keep that in mind to mention in the future.
Can I just say. I blummin' love that you always have Star Trek things in every review 😂 it makes my day.
Great video, you pack a lot on information in a short time and in a form that can easily be understood... bravo.
The accelerated battery cycle count on coloured devices combined with inability to change the battery with ease, continues to be a concern for me regarding Boox devices.
When you're doing the compare can you include a tab ultra pro c?
Chalid, thank you for great and unbiased videos! Some youtubers from the UK are still convincing us that Boox devices are not steeling our privacy ;-) Thank you again!
Well, that has to be proven… EVERY device (Apple, Microsoft, Android using manufactures, Boox etc) “calls home” with log/“how the user uses the device” data and also to check any updates! If you have automatic updates on, how do you expect that the device doesn’t “call home” to check the servers?!
As I said, I have as many reasons to suspect Chinese manufacturers as I have from American manufacturers: Microsoft, Meta/Facebook and Google tough us that our data, one way or the other, isn’t completely safe. Yes I trust a little bit more the Americans, but none is a saint 😄
@ricarmig so true. Thank you for sharing this point of view.
I just know, and a lot of people reported difficulties/inability connecting those devices to the company's accounts that are managed by their IT security services, me included with NA3C.
But who knows, maybe I didn't research the topic fully, and there is a way.
@@kw4358 I use those devices purely for personal use, they work rather well but to be honest, I just use them for non important things/email. At least the EU should demand 100% of the servers in the EU for European users and zero info should get outside.
Thank you for this professional review of the BA4C. I found the side-by-side comparison of different Kaleido 3 devices very informative. Since I recently bought Bigme's B1051C I am looking forward to a more in-depth comparison review of these different devices.
what a precise work ! congrate
Best review seen on this device. So if it has a replacable screen protectorr and if does how long will it last? So running a VPN is what your speaking about when using this device? If acess ing say DropBox my files will still be scaned by Chinese dervers ? I am concerened since I would be using this with patient notes in my practice?
As long as you don't scratch the screen protector, there's no reason to replace it imho. The WACOM pen tip is softer than the screen protector, so it shouldn't wear down and I haven't seen it happening on any of the Note Air devices I have here.
Regarding firewall: Yes, I'm talking about a VPN firewall. It's mostly meant as a safeguard, because it's not clear what those connections to the Chinese servers are used for. Package size is small, so it doesn't seem to be a lot of data (like contents of files). Probably analytics data - but that's just speculation.
They aren't as versatile, but Remarkable Paper Pro and Supernote Nomad might be better suited for patient related note taking if you wanted to play it safe, see:
support.remarkable.com/s/article/Security-at-reMarkable
supernote.com/pages/healthcare
Ive had my Note Air 3C for around 8 months by now, and i havent even noticed any change in the screen protector. Also I believe a VPN wouldnt solve the issue with chinese servers
@@ChalidRaqami Thanks . How large of micro SD Card can use on this device? Do have recommendation for a software firewall ? I currently use Bitdefender Total security .
Hello! Can you connect this via HDMI (with an adapter) to an overhead projector in a classroom?
Same question here, I try to find a e ink Android based reader to cast screen content, anyone have a idea what to buy?
Was hoping for a close up side-by-side image quality comparison between NA4C & GO 10.3 for b/w text
You mention at 30-40cm distance the CFA grain isn't noticeable. Conflicted if that would bother me over getting a GO 10.3 that is widely praised as having the crispest screen. I'll be using it for 60% Manga, 20% ebook & 20% PDF annotation.
That definitely would have been nice to see.
FWIW, I got a chance to check out a Kaleido panel on a Kobo e-reader. Best way I can describe the grain is that it's like the effect you get when a phone with lower dpi (200ish) has a matte screen protector on it. When you display white it sorta refracts into the RGB elements. Not exactly the same, but it's what Kaleido reminded me most of. Coloured elements will also be pixelated as they're half the resolution.
Online consensus seems to be that B&W content will alway look better on a B&W screen. But if you need colour then you only have Kaleido 3 and Gallery 3 to choose from currently in the e-ink world.
Lack of backlight is actually a deal breaker for me on the Go 10.3, but even a Note air 4 B&W doesn't seem like a meaningful upgrade over my Note Air 1 from 3 years ago unless they do something revolutionary.
@@tanzhonghui Been reading numerous reports of people returning due to the "grainy" look. I look at example photos they look okay. Maybe the camera can't capture it properly. Of course when you take a super close shot the CFA texture/moire pattern is very apparent, but no one views the screen that close in real usage.
Seems the term "grainy" can mean different things.
1) 150 dpi colors are very obvious & noticeable. It looks grainy. Even in the photos I've seen. Maybe some people are reading text that isn't 100% black. Anything with a hint of color will display at 150dpi. Read a user thought it was grainy only to find out their kindle app was bugged displaying regular text at 150dpi instead of 300dpi. Once they reset the app it was clear.
2) the background is not perfectly clean, the CFA adds a texture, looks kinda like recycled paper or jean pants. Maybe the text is 300dpi crisp but the background grain gives it an illusion of less clarity. Some find this distracting or eye straining. This also lowers contrast ratio.
2) 300 dpi black text not as crisp. Edges of text are a bit fuzzy either due to the extra texture paper like screen protector or CFA fuzzing.
I am conflicted what to believe without seeing one in person. I want the sharp/crisp blacks of the GO 10.3 but also like the BSR/color at times. If the NA4C falls into the #2 definition then I am okay with that. As long as the pure black text is sharp. Actually think a grainy background make it feel more like paper book than a clean smooth white.
I'll do a comparison soon, but generally it's hard to capture the effect on camera unfortunately.
Imho there are three aspects to the grain:
1. 150 ppi resolution is noticeable with colored content
2. The RGB subpixel matrix of the color filter sits on top of the E-Ink screen and is slightly noticeable depending on the reading distance.
3. The colored subpixels absorb and reflect light slightly differently, which leads to a very slight shimmering effect. It's worse on older Kaleido Plus devices, but it's still visible on Kaleido 3 as well.
It really depends on how sensitive you are to such things, if it's a problem or not. Personally I think it's fine for most people and I was very positively surprised at how good it looked on the Boox tab Ultra C where I saw Kaleido 3 for the first time.
That said, for black and white content, a black and white E-Ink screen is still the best choice. The missing color filter makes it look cleaner overall.
I don't want it to do all, I simply want to read and scribe in color with no glare.
sounds like you want a reMarkable Paper Pro rather than a Boox device!
@@0xKruzr A Tab Ultra C or 4C, while not as good in writing performance, out perform the remarkable paper pro for a significantly cheaper price.
@@theramennoodler7950 depends on what you mean by "outperform." they can both do a bunch of things the rMPP can't do at all, by design. but the writing experience on the rMPP is very, very good. reading -- not so much, it's true.
If you don't care about the display technology, then the TCL NXTPAPER tablets might be the budget alternative
@@0xKruzr paper pro has so many issue qc problem is out of hand rn
I want an e-ink device that I can use with notation software (like musescore) and a pen, read my books and take notes!
That is what I’m looking for exactly. Music scores (alternative to for score in eink), books and notes. This one seems like the best alternative. Specially if I can connect a page turning pedal to it.
sounds like you dont need colour, so why not just go for the boox go 10.3?
@@ozwin2 that is true but I do like having the option of colour when reading books etc
@@thecoffeesloth books, with black and white text? Or more like magazines with colour? Charge the device every 1-2 days or every 1-2 weeks
@ I’ve been thinking about that as well. Debating with that one since it pretty much does what one needs. Only problem I see is that it is Android 12. Never been an Android user don’t know if that will be a problem in a short time.
The main concern with boox tablets is security. Even when they run on android, can't be encrypted like an android phone. Any solution for that? I'm concerned both, online access and also robbery/lost of the unit. Thanks
Real professional. Thanks for the video!
Can you please confirm what wallpaper are you using in the television behind you. Thank-you.
Does the tablet’s screen protector need to be replaced eventually, and does its surface texture wear out over time?
No, I was just pointing it out because the screen scratches a bit easier than some others. But if you don't scratch the screen protector there's usually no need to replace it. And since the regular WACOM pen nibs are softer than the screen protector, I also didn't notice any wear on the texture on the other Note Air devices I have hear.
@@ChalidRaqami Thanks, Chalid! I was concerned because I’ve been purchasing those magnetic paper-like screen protectors for my iPad and they keep their surface texture for about a month but then become almost as slick as my iPad screen and need replacement, and I doubt the BNA4C screen protectors are as easy or inexpensive to replace.
@@ChalidRaqami I don't plan on using the pen for note taking and exclusively to read ebooks. Do you recommend removing the factory installed textured screen protector to increase clarity?
@@Battlem0nk No, absolutely not 😅- the screen is VERY glossy under the screen protector and basically unusable without it imho. The only reason to remove it, is to replace it because it was damaged.
this would be easier for audience to identify which models if you can keep the model names stay above the device in your comparison session. Thanks!
Great review, thanks!
Just discovered your channel. ❣Informative, full of the direct comparisons with both competitors and predecessors. That is what I call unconditional dedication to one technology. I'm looking forward to your next video, since I'd love to buy one. Namely, it must be up-to-me as the owner of the device to use such apps as Syncthing or SyncTool. Simultaneously, having complete and unconditional control of the device.
At 14:32 you mentioned hit or miss palm rejection. Is that also a problem with the note taking app or just when annotating PDFs? If you temporarily disable touch input, can you still tap onscreen buttons with the stylus?
I found palm rejection only to be an issue in PDF files and mostly when it comes to turning the page. That haven't been a problem in the notes app for me.
You can actually just disable the tap-to-pageturn function which mostly gets rid of the issue in PDFs and use the rest of the touch navigation as usual. But you can also disable other functions and gestures so you can't use finger-touch-input in the PDF at all.
But even then, the floating toolbar can still be used with finger-touch-input and from there you can also use the rest of the UI with your fingers. It's just that initial touch input that's disabled.
Thanks for battery test - this may sway me into buing 4c
Is this better than tab ultra c pro? everyone seems to forget or avoid mentioning that device, no channel does comparison with that
Both are really similar, only slight differences, if you’re buying new go for the 4c or if you’re buying used go for the tab ultra.
@@theramennoodler7950 Tab Ultra C Pro has the keyboard and faster CPU/GPU. that's about it as far as differences I can think of.
If I'm not mistaken TUC does not have the textured screen surface/ protector, so text is slightly clearer, but it will feel like writing on glass rather than 'paper'.
Tab Ultra C, Tab Ultra C Pro, Note Air 3C and Note Air 4C are all very similar. It really depends on what you want to do, but overall I agree with @theramennoodler7950. If you're buying a new device, go for the 4C, otherwise any of the others is good if it's cheaper/used. Upgrading to the 4C from one of the others is only worth it, if you're unhappy with the frontlight.
Does 4c come with a pre-installed screen protector out of the box Or do we need to buy it separately? Also do you recommend the cover from boox or a 3rd party?
Yes, it does have a screen protector preinstalled, but it's actually meant to provide a paperlike writing feel as it's primary function. The screen underneath is glossy, so without that screen protector, the device isn't really usable imho. So long story short: No need to buy a third-party screen protector.
The original cover is fine and better than the ones of the previous models.
Dumb question?
Which is best to write your next novel ( book) on????!!????
Dumb question indeed 🤦🏻
Seems boox's return/refund policy is stringent. Do you recommend buying from their website or Amazon where the return policy is more lineant. How has been your experience with their support?
I recommend Amazon (sold by Amazon!) if you're unsure. That's simply the most reliable option if you want to return it. But it's a bit more expensive.
I generally use PayPal for any orders in other shops, because their buyer protection already helped me a couple of times when there were issues.
But I haven't had any problems with the Boox shop. Quick shipments and a quick response when I needed something invoice-related. Other than that, I haven't needed any kind support yet.
Goign to buy a colour e reader for my partner for Christmas. What is your suggestion for the best one overall now?
Boox Note 4C or Pocketbook Inkpad EO? Can't decide which one is better...
Boox Note Air 4C is the better choice for most people. The InkPad Eo isn't bad, but it's just not as refined at the moment.
Which device working best with obsidian? Thanks
I hope the software updates like the outline feature (not the Android OS update of course :D) comes to the Note Air 3 / 3C as well
I don't think the grain is a downside. It's paperlike.
What if I want something that is this size but I don't need all the power and features. I just want a simple reader for Kindle and ePub and Comics? Preferably color but if that's not possible then monochrome
Hello, Did you tried using Goodnotes in air 4 c, please let me know how was the experience?
Hi. Thanks for the review. We are now waiting for ours to arrive. Do you mind to share where can I get the StarTrek screen that shows behind you?
Sure - check out mewho.com (not made by me). There are a couple of LCARS options available there :)
Anyone has compared this to the new Kindle? Which screen is whiter? I don't really need the color, but I thought the Boox Go was really great and sent it back. Thank you!
Does it come with cover from the box?
If you get it directly from boox, then typically yes. Check their website to make sure, because they might make changes to the bundles. If you buy the device from Amazon or a reseller, then there's no cover included most of the time.
PLEASE HELP!!! I’ll be buying my first reader and I’m in between the BOOX Note Air 4 C and the BOOX Tab Ultra C Pro. I’m not sure how much difference their tech differences would make in my intended use. Which one would be the best fit based on my intended use?
I’m looking for a hybrid device to use as 1)notebook/agenda (note taking, being able to add hyperlinks to notes and access them, transform notes to text, deep thinking and organizing thoughts with visual pre-established formats/ shapes),
2) reader (kindle books and audio books, pdf, articles, public library apps,
3) learning tool (Coursera app, learn languages, other learning apps),
4) multitasking (split screen).
I’m very ADHD and I’m trying to keep things in one place, avoid screen glare which affects my eyes, reduce social media use, avoid distractions (hard to achieve with iPad), and concentrate on learning to grow personally, professionally and staying organized
As far as I understand based on my research is that both devices would offer me all I need and have the same specs except for 64BG vs 128 GB; Android 13 vs Android 12; Advanced Octa Core vs. 2.8 GHz; no rear camera, volume buttons, nor keyboard case vs. rear camera, volume buttons, and keyboard case (I don’t care about the camera, volume buttons or keyboard. I would connect the device to a different keyboard when needed) in the BOOX Note Air 4 vs. BOOX Tab Ultra C Pro, respectively.
Hi - both are very similar in terms of features and the differences are mostly in the details. So you can't go wrong with either one for what you're describing as your usecases imho.
Having said that, I'd go with the Note Air 4C, mostly because it's more future-proof with Android 13. It's also more comfortable to hold and it's cheaper.
Boox note air 3c is a fragile. Many complains are there where the screen breaks while in backback to just put on table. Is it different in 4c ?
The 4C uses the same display tech with a glass backplane. So it can also break. If you're looking for a more robust E-Ink screen, you need to look at E-Ink Mobius tech, which uses a plastic backplane and are more robust. The Viwoods AIPaper, PocketBook Color Note and (upcoming) Supernote A5X2 have that one.
It’ll break if you don’t take of it.
👌😎🤠👍
Really awesome review.
My primary objective is using it as a learning device to read, watch tutorials and take notes. Perhaps even attend webinars tt don't require camera and mic input. In those tt require, it could be still an awesome pair with a simple smartphone. Mostly technical courses & content and need flexibility in an android environment due to other apps needed.
Was wondering if the Eyemoo RLCD with front-lit option against the Air4C be a better fit. Eyemoo note taking seems to be laggy from reviews tt is dated like 1 yr ago; not sure any improvement since.
Any feedback is greatly appreciated.
Thx again for the many reviews.
Note taking is definitely better on the Note Air 4C and I'd argue the general user experience as well. If you're interested in a frontlit RLCD, I'd wait for the Hansnote devices that were announced a couple of weeks ago. I suspect they might offer a better experience than the eyemoo tablet did.
Do we know if a blutooth keyboard here would be compatable?
Yes, you can pair a Bluetooth keyboard (and mouse) with the Note Air 4C.
I usually bring in scanned PDFs (in Arabic) and I like to zoom in to expand the margin and then writing a lot in those margins. Is that better here or with a different device?
That generally works well on the Note Air 4C - you might just need to find the right workflow for you, because there are a couple of options on how to do it.
does the previous version or any other boox products have the super refresh tehcnology?
Yes, there are a couple with that technology: Boox Note Air 3C, Tab Ultra, Tab Ultra C, Tab Ultra C Pro, Tab Mini C, Note Max, Palma 1 & 2.
I use this for calligraphy on infinite painter. And the light is much better than remarkable pro.
Super good to know it will run IP!
I can't get how many years of sw updates are provided...can you help?
Boox doesn't communicate how long they'll support their devices. Generally they have a good track record of bringing new features to older devices as well, but they don't upgrade the Android version. So Android 13 is most likely the only version the Note Air 4C will ever see.
@ChalidRaqami thanks. This is the reason I don't like boox: they sell to customers, but behave as a manufacturer and not as a brand. I mean, a brand can be also a manufacture, but should have brand-like behaviours if decides to sell to final users (e.g. Clear communication, good customer care and support policies, etc.)
Can you make a review on Xueyisheng X1? I could hardly find news on it and what tech it uses but sources are saying they are using a completely different e-ink tech.
Seems to be a China-only device for now, so it will be hard to get my hands on it. But I'll try - any new (color) e-paper tech is of course very interesting.
How does work with the MS OneNote Android app? If it does that well, I’d be interested in using it for work.
Check out 5:51 for a quick demo
How good is color representation with backlight turned off?
It's pretty dark and not something I'd recommend indoors. But that's true for all E-Ink Kaleido 3 devices.
Great review - Is there any functionality to recognise arabic script handwriting?
Thanks - yes there is text recognition for arabic as well. The package for text recognition can be downloaded directly from within the notes app. It can be a bit hit and miss though, but my handwriting is terrible, so your mileage might vary.
I see that you also had Bigme B1051C. Which of them is the better option?
curious what Chalid will say but imo: Boox in a landslide. Bigme's software is incredibly amateurish.
I had bigme devices, they certainly are cheaper, but the software is worse in comparison imo.
The Bigme B1051C has a few interesting things going for it (like Android 14), but the Boox Note Air 4C is definitely better overall imho.
Boox has been working on their user interface for a lot longer and it shows. The Note Air 4C (and other Boox devices) is easier to use and features are (much) more refined. I'll post an in-depth review of the B1051C soon as well.
@@ChalidRaqami it's really a shame because some of their features like Global Handwriting are really interesting/innovative.
I have a Samsung tab 8
But i feel like i dont use it as much
Im a pastor, teacher and writer. So while i use the tablet to teach, i feel like i dont use it as much even though i use to take notes alot on it. Should i stick with my Samsung, or try this out? I was also looking at the 10.3 go or remarkable 2 (that obviously would just be for notes if i did that)
The Samsung Tab 8 is obviously much better for any dynamic content (fast paced apps, video, etc.). So if that's something you'd typically use right now, I'd stick with the Samsung Tab.
If that's not a focus, an E-Ink tablet can be a great alternative if you're looking for a more analog feel with reading, note taking and writing in mind. Maybe my "How to choose" video helps you a bit: th-cam.com/video/5iQn1n8h2MM/w-d-xo.html
going with the Titan MSD today I see; a new classic imo. also *wow* the image quality on the B1051C is trash compared to the others. and I agree re: all of the refinements that went into the 4C vs. the 3C adding up to something a bit greater than the sum of their parts.
Make or break feature for me is ability to load Android version of Microsoft Intune / Company portal so that work version of Microsoft OneNote can be installed in a work user profile.
If anyone knows, do share.
Wonderful!
I just want know if drawing apps work on it
They do work, but pen latency is horrible most of the time. So third party sketching apps aren't something you want to use on here. The default notes app works fine for basic sketching though.
What steps did you take to limit the data connection to China?
Netguard only whitelisting apps is the quickest way to improve data privacy. Battery saving settings need to be adapted so the app isn't force closed thought. Those settings can be found in the default Android settings, which need to be accessed through a separate app. Because Boox uses it's own settings app.
Thanks.
When comparing these keep the name of each displayed. You know but we don't.
Still an old and bad snapdragon chip. So sad. My ultra c pro with the 855 is already sluggish, stuff take ages to load. Yes, even basic things like the notes. When will we get an eink tablet with an actual new chip? Even a midrange current gen chip is worlds ahead than this
From looking at Chalid's frown (down-turned mouth) in the preview images, I always think he has a strong dislike of the device he's reviewing. I guess appearances are deceiving :)
I guess I need to work on my thumbnail facial expressions a bit :D
@@ChalidRaqami Oh the broad smile is absolutely PERFECT! 😊
th-cam.com/video/yjsjBM5j7Mg/w-d-xo.html
10:21 | "it's even better than the remarkable paper pro"
* I don't find it as true. To me, RMPP still looks better for that picture you've chosen...
It really depends on the image. Images that mostly lean towards blue tend to be better on the Note Air 4C, while anything with yellow in it looks better on the Remarkable Paper Pro.
One issue with the RMPP is that it generally also leans heavily towards yellow for orange and green color tones, which looks more saturated (and arguably a bit better as a result), but color accuracy isn't great as a result.
What exactly is wrong with say a S9 tablet? Doesn't hurt my eyes at all, last time I charged mine to 100% was 3 days 23 hours ago and its at 52% battery and Eink refreshment literally disgusts me. I honestly would like to know! So many dedicated Eink channels, why?
It’s like a tablet, people just buy it for shits and giggles, I bought for doing school work and reading manga. It ain’t much only $500, definitely better on the eyes than a regular tablet, to answer your question idk cause I like it I guess.
for a lot of people e-ink is just much more of a satisfying writing experience because of the very short distance from pen tip to image. plus reflective displays are just easier for them to look at.
Because of your eyes?
Obviously, a general tablet will be better for most people, but if your main focus is writing and reading, and you don't want any distractions, then a e-ink tablet is more suitable. I am in the same dilemma myself since I have to buy a tablet for school. I want to watch videos sometimes but I also like reading, and at the moment, the battery life of Android e-ink tablets doesn't seem to be good enough for me to pick it over a Samsung tablet. I'll probably just buy a e-reader for reading.
@DrowningInTea you might find that the writing capabilities of e- ink outweigh these other things!
FIRST!
Second
Why would their be youtube on an e-ink. It's pointless.
Very helpful for researchers when they need subtitles of a video
@ecological-ly on e-ink for what. You bugging. That's not the point of an e-ink lol
@@carlosauza1087 You tripping, e-ink’s purpose, is to do whatever tf you want. 🤡
@@carlosauza1087 heard of research?
@ecological-ly heard of tablets that actually do that. It's dumb cause youtube on there low quality it's a stupid thing to have on e-inks.
Hi, Chalid, thank you for your reviews
Whats better PocketBook 741 InkPad Color or PocketBook 700K3 ERA Color?
I have the first one, for 2-3 years now, and I don't understand whether era is better for reading color books (with pictures of artists' paintings, for example), or to stay with the version InkPad color
Thank you!
In terms of color saturation, there isn't a huge difference. But the render quality on the Era Color is definitely better when you compare them side by side. Personally I'd go for the InkPad Color 3, because the frontlight quality is a bit better.
Don't expect huge jumps in render quality, but more like incremental upgrades. Performance on both the Era Color and InkPad Color 3 are much better though.