Why you can trust Android Central
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Onyx Boox tablets are what Amazon’s Kindle e-readers could only dream of being. Equipped with the Google Play Store, native OCR, stylus support, and a wide range of features found in full-fledged Android tablets, Boox’s E Ink devices are spectacular. The Boox Note Air 4 C used to be the best E Ink tablet from Onyx Boox, and the best all-around e-paper tablet period. It was succeeded by the Note Air 5 C in October 2025, and I have been testing it for about a month now.
The Onyx Boox Note Air 5 C adds iterative upgrades to the Onyx Boox Note Air 4 C. However, the result is a polished product that performs smoother than ever before, is just as light as ever, and retains all the features that I love about Onyx Boox’s Android e-paper tablets.
First, let’s take a look at the technical specifications and compare what’s different — or unchanged — between the Onyx Boox Note Air 5 C vs. Note Air 4 C.
Onyx Boox Note Air 5 C vs. Onyx Boox Note Air 4 C
Image 1 of 4
The latest Onyx Boox Note Air 5 C costs $30 more than the last-gen Note Air 4 C, and you can buy both tablets from Amazon or Onyx Boox’s website. From the 10.3-inch Kaleido 3 display to the processor and memory specs, both tablets have almost exactly the same hardware.
Design-wise, not much has changed either. Everything is in the same place, from the power button with the built-in fingerprint sensor to the USB-C port on the left-hand side of the tablet, so you can use last-gen cases on the new Note Air 5 C.
|
Category |
Onyx Boox Note Air 5 C |
Onyx Boox Note Air 4 C |
|---|---|---|
|
Display |
10.3’’ Kaleido 3, 4,096 colors, 300ppi B/W, 150ppi Color |
10.3’’ Kaleido 3, 4,096 colors, 300ppi B/W, 150ppi Color |
|
Processor |
Octa-core 2.4Ghz CPU + BSR (BOOX Super Refresh) |
Octa-core 2.4 GHz CPU + BSR (BOOX Super Refresh) |
|
Memory |
6GB + 64GB, microSD slot, USB-C OTG |
6GB + 64GB, microSD slot, USB-C OTG |
|
OS |
Android 15, 3 years of updates |
Android 13, 3 years of updates |
|
Battery & charging |
3,700mAh, 15W |
3,700mAh, 15W |
|
Connectivity |
Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1 |
Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1 |
|
Stylus |
BOOX Pen3 |
BOOX Pen Plus |
|
Audio |
Dual speakers |
Dual speakers |
|
Extras |
Pogo-pin connection for Magnetic Keyboard Cover, fingerprint sensor |
Fingerprint sensor |
|
Dimensions |
225 x 192 x 5.8mm, 440g |
226 × 193 × 5.8mm, 430g |
|
Price |
$529.99 |
$499.99 |
Onyx Boox has promised three years of software upgrades to both tablets. Once you update the Note Air 4 C, both tablets run the latest version of BOOX Firmware, which is Firmware V4.1. However, the Note Air 5 C runs Android 13, whereas the last-gen Boox still runs Android 13.
Image 1 of 3
This means you can access nearly all the same tools on both devices, including BOOXDrop, BOOXDrop Screen Mirroring, a Smooth refresh mode thanks to BOOX Super Refresh, AI Assistant, FreeMark, Kids Mode, Split Screen, and more.
While the Note Air 4 C was a little glitchy at launch, the Note Air 5 C is incredibly smooth. Despite having the same hardware, it performs better, and even the fingerprint scanner is faster.
There are two new cases for the Boox Note Air 5 C
Image 1 of 3
So why does the Onyx Boox Note Air 5 C weigh 10g more? There’s a new pogo pin connector for the Magnetic Keyboard Cover. It snaps on magnetically and connects instantly, without any setup required.
The Note Air 5 C’s Magnetic Keyboard Cover transforms the tablet into a portable workstation. Its Split Screen mode is optimized to work really well with the keyboard case. You can choose to switch to the Smooth refresh mode automatically when the keyboard connects for no lag or ghosting.
Image 1 of 4
The Magnetic Keyboard Cover does not need to be charged, and it has a USB-C port for pass-through charging. It has a detachable magnetic flap that holds the stylus.
Unfortunately, the Keyboard Cover costs a whopping $109.99, which is too rich for a lot of people’s blood. Meanwhile, the new Note Air 5 C Case costs $50.99.
Image 1 of 5
Just like the Keyboard Cover, the Note Air 5 C Case also has a magnetic flap that detaches completely. This solves the issue with the Note Air 4 C Case, where the stylus would move about and go inside the folio.
The latest Boox tablet case also adds a USB-C cutout into the spine of the tablet, so you can finally charge the Note Air 5 C without having to open the folio.
Onyx Boox upgraded the stylus
Image 1 of 3
The Onyx Boox Note Air 5 C comes with the latest Pen3 instead of the Pen Plus. Both styluses are battery-less EMR pens that work with the WACOM layer on top of Boox tablets.
The Pen3 is slimmer, smoother, and more streamlined, so it’s more comfortable to hold, and it has a compartment to store extra nibs. Both pens also support 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity.
Should you buy the Onyx Boox Note Air 5 C?
Image 1 of 4
Onyx Boox’s lineup remains the most cohesive e-reader experience in the industry, tapping into the unlimited potential of Android and the Google Play Store. The app support is phenomenal. Native OCR is amazing to the point that even if you have a PDF file that contains scanned pages of a document, you can annotate them, copy them, and recognize them offline using the Boox Notes app.
With the new Magnetic Keyboard Cover and upgraded Pen3, the Onyx Boox Note Air 5 C is a professional and educational tool of the highest caliber. It’s non-distractive but not dull. Learning feels fun with the colorful Kaleido 3 E Ink panel. BOOX Firmware’s intuitive plethora of tools and features facilitates productivity.
Paying an extra $30 for the Onyx Boox Note Air 5 C over the Note Air 4 C makes perfect sense. You get Android 15 instead of 13, a newer stylus, and support for a magnetic keyboard. Even if you don’t buy the keyboard case right away, you always have the option to buy it later.
Best in class
The Onyx Boox Note Air 5 C is a fantastic productivity tool, bringing you AI-powered features, versatile app support, wide file format support, and a ton of incredibly useful tools and features built-in to take your reading and note-taking to the next level.
Onyx Boox Note Air 5 C Magnetic Keyboard Cover
Add on a keyboard
Unlock the full potential of your Boox Note Air 5 C with the Magnetic Keyboard Cover designed for it from the ground up. Equipped with pass-through charging, this cover connects to the Note Air 5 C magnetically and needs no setting up at all.