E-ink technology has come a long way since the early days of Kindle and Nook, but the BOOX Note Air 4C is pushing e-ink beyond simple black-and-white reading devices into something more flexible for creators, researchers, and writers. The Note Air 4C is a bold attempt to reimagine how we read, take notes, and create in a world dominated by glossy LCDs and OLEDs, and is a great option for users craving both clarity and calm.
Design
Out of the box, the Note Air 4C feels familiar in its form: a 10.3-inch slate, relatively slim 5.8 mm stated thickness, and light, weighing about 420 g. It retains the soft, matte finish and notebook aesthetic with what BOOX calls a “signature strip” on the back, making it less cold and gadgety than many tablets. The included magnetic Pen Plus attaches cleanly, and if you opt for the official case, you can prop the tablet up for easier viewing. Nothing about the build feels fragile or overly premium, but the Note Air 4C is solid and suitable for everyday use.
Where this device departs more boldly is under the hood and in display tech: BOOX employs a color e-paper Kaleido 3 display with “super refresh / BSR” improvements, and runs a full Android 13 stack so you can install third-party apps alongside the native note/reading tools. Additionally, the 4C utilizes 6 GB RAM to juice up the Note Air 4C’s processing power, a noticeable step up in performance from its predecessor, the Note Air 3C.
Specs & Features
The BOOX Note Air 4C offers the following features:
- Display: 10.3″ Kaleido 3 color e-paper with 300 ppi in black & white mode, 150 ppi in color mode.
- CPU/performance: Octa-core (unspecified chipset) plus Boox’s BSR (super refresh) tech. BOOX claims a ~50% improvement in CPU performance over the previous gen.
- Memory/storage: 6 GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage.
- OS/apps: Android 13, with Google Play support (so you can install many apps beyond the built-ins).
- Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth 5.1
- Extras: microSD card slot, fingerprint on/off button, dual speakers, microphone, USB-C port (which also supports OTG)
- Battery: 3,700 mAh Li-ion polymer battery
- Dimensions/weight: 226 × 193 × 5.8 mm and ~420 g (14.8 oz)
- Document/media support: broad list including PDF, EPUB, DOCX, PPTX, images (PNG, JPG, etc.), audio (MP3, WAV)
On the software side, BOOX claims a commitment to at least three years of updates for the 4C, including frequent firmware updates to keep the e-reader current. The included native note app is robust and features templates, layers, shape tools, lasso, outlines, links, and more alongside its NeoReader app, which features preset reading modes, split-screen reading + note, and FreeMark overlay annotations. BOOX also includes features like customizable home screen widgets and a “Smart Assistant” pane to make the user experience more efficient and effective.
Our Testing Experience
TWICE had the opportunity to put the BOOX Note Air 4C through its paces over a few months, and we were surprised by how it exceeded our expectations as an e-reader.
Just like most consumers, who are used to LCD or OLED full color screens on their tablets and smartphones, it took us a bit to get used to the muted colors on the 4C’s screen. But that’s precisely why e-readers exist; they are for people who care about eye comfort and distraction reduction. The Kaleido 3 color panel is smooth with a paper-like feel, and displayed charts, diagrams, simple illustrations, and highlights satisfactorily, while the black-and-white grayscale mode seemed slightly sharper and faster. We were able to read exceptionally well in both color and black and white outdoors in full and partial sunlight–a major draw for consumers looking for a high-quality color e-reader.
The screen’s touch functions were smooth with and without the Pen Plus, and once we got used to navigating the operating system, we uploaded ebooks and apps with ease. PDFs also displayed and functioned flawlessly. Having the Google Play Store natively supported is a welcome bonus, and we were able to download and install apps without any hiccups on the Note Air 4C. We tried out some simple games, but you can immediately tell that e-readers are not built for gaming, as the refresh rates struggled to keep up with faster action. That being said, we could play “slower-paced” games such as chess and card games with no problem.
Always looking for reasons to draw and doodle, we were excited to see how the Note Air 4C performed, and we found that the Pen Plus’ stylus-to-ink latency was acceptable. We experienced occasional minor lag as we drew when the screen updated or when multitasking was happening in the background, but generally, writing feels fluid and natural–particularly with the native apps. Because of the nature of an e-reader screen, don’t expect dazzling OLED quality color digital art, but the 4C performed admirably as we drew, took handwritten notes, and made edits on documents with the Pen Plus stylus.
Speaking of the pen, it does magnetically attach to the side of the 4C, but we found that the official cover does not keep it in place as securely as we’d like, and it often rolled onto the screen under the front cover when we picked it up or when it was jostled in a backpack. Frustrating, but not a deal breaker. We also found the Pen Plus to be reasonably accurate. Its 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity respond well, and we found the tools like shape detection, lasso, and layering are sufficiently powerful for sketches, diagrams, mind maps, or even light design work.
The microSD slot is a nice addition for expanding storage and beats out the iPad with this feature. The fingerprint on/off button is a small but nice convenience. The dual speakers are serviceable for light audio, and while we could still enjoy music, we found the speakers work best for podcasts or lectures. We were able to connect Bluetooth headphones with no issue, and that helped improve our audio enjoyment with the Note Air 4C.
We enjoyed testing the BOOX Note Air 4C, and are impressed with its performance, versatility, and above-average battery life. It handled every task we threw at it with ease, and we only experienced noticeable lag when we purposefully tried to overload it with multiple running apps, tabs, and ebooks at the same time.
The Tablet Comparison: When the Note Air 4C Meets iPad and Galaxy Tab
It’s tempting to stack the BOOX Note Air 4C directly against an iPad or Galaxy Tab, but that misses the point as they’re designed for very different kinds of users. The BOOX feels more like a digital notebook than a tablet, while Apple and Samsung’s offerings are portable media powerhouses.
The biggest difference begins with the display. The Note Air 4C’s Kaleido 3 color e-ink screen is subdued but deliberate. With a matte finish and no glare, it’s built for extended reading and note-taking sessions rather than video streaming or gaming. Its color reproduction is soft, more akin to a magazine print than a backlit display, but that subtlety pays off in comfort and focus. By contrast, the LCD and OLED panels found in iPads and Galaxy Tabs explode with color and brightness, making them ideal for photo editing, watching content, or design work. They’re stunning to look at, but also more fatiguing over time.
Stylus use is another area of contrast. The Note Air 4C’s Wacom-based Pen Plus offers a natural writing experience with satisfying friction and solid latency. It’s excellent for annotation and handwriting.
Battery life is one category where the BOOX Note Air 4C shines. Thanks to its e-ink display, it can last several days or longer under light use, especially in grayscale mode. iPads and Galaxy Tabs typically manage a day or two, depending on workload and brightness. For users who value unplugged longevity over constant charging, the difference is stark.
Eye comfort is another defining factor. The Note Air 4C’s e-ink screen reflects ambient light rather than emitting it, making it gentle on the eyes and fully readable outdoors. By contrast, the backlit nature of iPads and Galaxy Tabs can lead to strain over long periods, even with blue-light filters or night modes enabled. For marathon readers or writers, BOOX offers a fundamentally more relaxing experience.
In the end, comparing the BOOX Note Air 4C to an iPad or Galaxy Tab is less about superiority and more about intention. The iPad and Tab are tools for speed, creativity, and content consumption; the BOOX is for focus, reflection, and minimal distraction. It’s not trying to replace your main tablet; it’s carving out its own quiet corner in a noisy digital world.
Verdict
The BOOX Note Air 4C is a niche product that knows its audience. Its sweet spot is in the intersection: readers, students, researchers, and creators who want more than a plain e-reader, but who care about eye comfort, distraction reduction, and flexibility.
It’s a digital notebook for thinkers–those who read deeply, annotate heavily, and prefer the calm of e-ink over the sensory overload of a full tablet. It won’t replace an iPad, but it might outlast one in focus and comfort. Color e-ink still isn’t a revolution, but in the Note Air 4C, it’s matured into something genuinely useful. It’s a quieter kind of innovation, one that trades flash for flow, and for the right user, that’s exactly the point.
See also: Review: LG C5 (OLED48C5)
