I’m an avid user of Onyx Boox E Ink devices. I love the tablets for numerous reasons, and I still use my Boox Go 10.3 for daily note-taking and organization.
It’s a fantastic alternative when you don’t want to drag around a million little notes and papers, and its ease of use syncing to my other devices makes it the first tablet in my bag.
I’m also enjoying the latest Boox Note Air5 C. It’s snappy and capable. It’s not perfect, and its E Ink display does have limitations.
However, it’s a high-quality tablet that has easily found a place in my everyday carry. It’s excellent for note-taking, but if I’m paying a premium for a color E Ink display, I want to make the most of it.
Getting content on Boox devices isn’t the most straightforward process, but running a full version of Android gives the tablet more versatility, allowing us to add our favorite apps.
I love the Boox Note Air5 C, but here are the apps it needs to shine.
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Amazon Kindle
It’s an excellent way to get lots of content
I don’t mind not having color on the Boox Go 10.3 because I don’t use it for content consumption.
Note-taking works well, and it’s a fantastic, distraction-free work tool. However, when I’m spending extra money on color, I want to see that value.
The Amazon Kindle app is a quick and easy way to get books, magazines, and comics onto your Note Air5 C.
Many of us already have an account, and it’s a fantastic way to get some additional value from Amazon Prime.
The extra magazine and bonus content you get with some books is ideal for the color display, and you’ll never run out of things to read.
The Rakuten Kobo app is also good for this. I get way more use out of Kobo Plus than I thought I would, as the company has added plenty of titles and audiobooks to enjoy for the monthly fee.
The Note Air5 C doesn’t have a 3.5mm headphone jack, but it does have speakers and Bluetooth connectivity, so you have a couple of options for listening.
I know enthusiasts will claim it’s simple enough to add content to their Boox tablets, and it’s possible.
However, for many users, downloading the Amazon Kindle app or the Kobo app will be the fastest and best way to get content on their Note Air5 C.
Instapaper keeps me up to date
Brings back good memories
I remember the late 90s and early 2000s, when I’d be sitting online, picking out what I wanted to read on my Palm Pilot the next day.
I’d select some stories and then sync the device, ready to read them between classes or on the bus the next day.
Instapaper gives me that same vibe in 2025. I couldn’t imagine using my Note Air5 C without it, and it’s really helped me stay more up to date.
I spend some time during the evening highlighting stories and interesting articles I missed during the day.
At night, I’m fried, and the last thing I want to do many times is sit down and read. I want to spend time with my daughter or zone out watching a football game.
It’s a straightforward process. I downloaded Instapaper onto the Note Air5 C and also installed the Chrome extension on my desktop.
I flag stories I want to read the next day, and they sync with my Instapaper app.
I like how lightweight the stories are, stripping away much of the extra text, while leaving some photos and relevant links for when I need to delve further into a topic.
It doesn’t use up much battery life, and there isn’t much data used either, so downloads are fast.
It’s a worthy Pocket replacement, and it’s the first app I install on a new E Ink device.
The one that’s not like the others
Slack is a decent experience on the Note Air 5C
I intentionally don’t install too many messaging and social media apps on my E Ink tablets, and that’s also true of my Note Air5 C.
I set them up as distraction-free work aids, and even though Slack is work, I do much better without constant notifications.
However, I was pleasantly surprised by how well Slack ran. It was smooth, and typing was solid.
If I’m working on notes for an article and want to reference something from a co-worker, I can shift back and forth without picking up my phone.
The fewer times I check my phone during the day, the better, since a glance for a piece of information can quickly turn into something more time-consuming.
I thought Slack might lag a bit on the E Ink display or have a choppy typing experience, but that wasn’t the case.
If you’ve never considered a productivity app or two on your Boox tablet, it’s worth looking into.
E Ink tablets are fantastic with the right apps
I’m glad I branched out a bit with the Note Air5 C.
I’ve gone back and forth on color E Ink devices, as I see the benefits and even enjoy them, but they have to justify the higher price.
Installing these apps certainly keeps me excited about the Note Air5 C. The color resolution still isn’t ideal, but with the proper uses and apps, I am absolutely in favor of having the color option available.
