The Boox Note Air 4 C is Onyx International's 2024 update to the 10.3-inch color note-taker line and the device our editors recommend most often to readers who want a single device that handles serious note-taking, deep PDF work, and color-illustrated reading. The Kaleido 3 color E Ink panel is the same generation used across the contemporary color e-reader market, with the inherent color-saturation limitations the technology still has but with the genuine usability advantages of color in textbook PDFs, comics, and illustrated children's books. The Wacom EMR pen experience is excellent at this price tier and is the right pick for anyone who wants a serious digital notebook that is also a competent color e-reader.
What separates the Boox Note Air 4 C from the ReMarkable Pro and the Kindle Scribe is the full Android 13 operating system with the Google Play Store. The device runs Libby, Kindle (with sideloading), Kobo, Hoopla, Audible, Spotify, and effectively any Android reading or note-taking app. The tradeoff is that the software polish lags behind the closed-ecosystem competitors; some Play Store apps assume a tablet form factor and require fiddling with refresh-rate settings to render comfortably on an e-paper screen. Most readers who choose Boox accept this tradeoff in exchange for the flexibility.
Recommended for readers who want a single device that handles serious PDF and note-taking work alongside color-illustrated reading, for students and professionals who need the Android app flexibility, and as the best current pick at the Boox Note Air 4 C's price tier. Battery life is rated at three to four weeks of light reading and roughly one week of mixed note-taking and color-app use. The Boox Note Air 4 C ships with the pen included and supports the optional protective case as a separate purchase.