Onyx Boox Go 10.3 Monochrome: one-minute review

Onyx has been aggressively pushing out new ereaders and e-paper writing tablets for a while now – the brand released the unique and compact Onyx Boox Palma and the Boox Note Air 3 series in quick succession, then followed it up with a new series called Go. This includes the Onyx Boox Go Color 7 ereader and the Boox Go 10.3 writing tablet that launched together, and a smaller Go 6 ereader that came later. It’s nice to have choices but, at the speed that it’s churning out new models, is Onyx making great products to keep up with the competition?

With the Boox Go 10.3, the Chinese brand has done better than what it did with the Go Color 7, which had too many software flaws when I tested it. The Go 10.3, on the other hand, is a far better device that looks remarkably like the reMarkable 2.

As the name suggests, it’s a 10.3-inch dedicated e-paper writing tablet and, like its Scandinavian counterpart, writes like a dream. Stylus input is fantastic with no lag whatsoever. With different pen and brush choices, plus different nib thicknesses, it will easily work as a digital sketch pad too.

While the reMarkable 2 was designed to remove distractions from the creative process, the Go 10.3 isn’t so discerning – you get full access to the Google Play Store on account of it running on a trimmed-down version of Android 12, plus there are a lot more features in the note-taking application than on a reMarkable. It’s important to note that not all third-party apps will allow stylus input, so you’ll need to decide which ones will be the most useful to you.

It can also double up as an ereader thanks to the baked-in library app (NeoReader), something the reMarkable doesn’t quite master. However, lacking a screen light – just like the reMarkable – you’re not going to be able to use it for nighttime reading.

What I find most impressive here is that Onyx has trimmed its user interface down to make it a lot – and I do mean A LOT – more streamlined than on its previous e-ink tablets, but it still requires a slight learning curve. If you’re willing to put that time in, it could well be the better e-paper writing tablet for you, especially since the price difference between it and the reMarkable 2 isn’t all that different.

Onyx Boox Go 10.3 review: price & availability

• List price: $379.99 / €419.99 (about £355) / AU$699
• Ships with a stylus and magnetic sleep case from the Boox Shop
• Available to buy directly from the Boox Shop or third-party retailers

Launched in June 2024, the Boox Go 10.3 e-paper tablet carries a list price of $379.99 / €419.99 (about £355) / AU$699. When purchased directly from the Boox Shop, this price includes the stylus and a beige magnetic sleep case, but the latter may not be available as part of the bundle in some markets when bought from third-party resellers.

Given the reMarkable 2 has a similar price tag, now available for $379 / £389 / AU$639 bundled with the base Marker – which is a small drop since the reMarkable Paper Pro was launched – the Boox is quite well priced. In fact, it’s cheaper than the company’s own Onyx Boox Note Air 3, which retails for $479 / €549.99 (around £445) / AU$749 at full price.

However, without a screen light, it’s a little hard to recommend over other writing e-paper tablets like the Kobo Elipsa 2E ($399 / £350 / AU$629) and the Amazon Kindle Scribe (starting price of $339 / £339 / AU$549). If you want something far more portable than the 10-inch tablets, the Kobo Libra Colour will set you back $219.99 / £219.99 / AU$359.95 plus an additional $69.99 / £69.95 / AU$119.95 for the Kobo Stylus 2 purchased separately – that's good bang for buck considering you get a good color display and the full suite of Kobo writing features.

• Value score: 3.5 / 5

Onyx Boox Go 10.3 review: specs

Onyx Boox Go 10.3 review: Design & display

• Beautiful, slimline design in white and grey
• 10.3-inch E Ink Carta 1200 screen with no frontlighting
• Built-in speakers and mic

The Boox Go 10.3 takes a lot of its design cues from the reMarkable 2 but there are some differences that make the Onyx tablet smaller, lighter and potentially more durable. For starters, the Go 10.3 has a textured rear panel that feels very much like faux leather but is plastic. It offers a lot more grip than the glass on reMarkable 2, and makes the Boox lighter in comparison. This also means that the Go 10.3 doesn’t need the little nubs that the reMarkable uses as feet to protect its rear panel.

The aluminum edges of the Go 10.3 are rounded, leading to slim bezels that sit flush with the glass screen. The lower bezel, which is broader on both the Boox and the reMarkable, is comparatively smaller on the Go 10.3, making it the slightly shorter tablet and potentially shaves off a tiny weight too. The flip side to that is the Go 10.3 is more prone to accidental screen touches as compared to the reMarkable 2. Personally, I prefer the bezels on the reMarkable 2, with the metallic finish and white borders – epitomizing Scandinavian minimalism – compared to the light grey on the Boox.

Keeping the rest of the design looking sleek, the Go 10.3’s power button, placed on the top right edge (compared to the top left on the reMarkable), sticks out only marginally, so you can find it by feel. The bottom edge houses the USB-C port in the middle, with speaker and mic grills on either side of it.

The Go 10.3 is now arguably the thinnest writing tablet in this class – its thickness is only just enough to enclose the aforementioned USB-C port – measuring just 4.6mm. That’s just a millimeter less than the reMarkable 2 which, until now, has held the title of the thinnest e-paper writing tablet. The Go 10.3 tips the scales at a mere 375g, which is lighter than the reMarkable 2 (403.5g) and the 2022 Amazon Kindle Scribe (433g). Despite that, it doesn’t feel fragile in the hand.

As the name suggests, the Boox boasts a 10.3-inch display, which uses the E Ink Carta 1200 screen technology. That’s now a generation behind with the Carta 1300 already in use in the Kobo Clara BW and Amazon adopting it in its 2024 range of Kindles. Where the Go 10.3 one-ups the reMarkable 2 is in screen resolution and overall contrast – you get a 300ppi display here (compared to 226ppi), while a side-by-side comparison shows that the blacks are blacker on the Boox. This makes text appear sharper on the Go 10.3 as compared to its competition, although the contrast on the Kobo Elipsa 2E (which also has a 227ppi screen resolution) is much better than the Go 10.3, which makes the latter a superior ereader.

That said, the reMarkable’s screen has a better anti-glare coating than the Boox – during my testing I frequently had issues with overhead lights creating bright spots on the Go 10.3, which made reading at certain angles quite difficult.

Thanks to the glass layer on the screen, writing on the Go 10.3 is a pleasure. I’d say it comes close to the reMarkable 2 and the Kindle Scribe – which are my favourite e-paper tablets to write on – with the Boox coming in a very close third. It ships with a stylus, which is a basic pen that doesn’t have the eraser functionality – for such a premium tablet, I think that’s a glaring omission.

If you’re buying the tablet directly from Onyx, you’ll also get a magnetic sleepcover for the Go 10.3. It’s a lovely-looking beige faux-leather folio, with a fold on the rear panel to convert it into a stand. However, the flap that keeps the folio closed is a separate piece that attaches magnetically and is easily dislodged when taking the tablet in and out of the bag. In fact, if you fold the cover back completely, the flap magnetically sticks to the front panel and comes away with it when you close the folio. It’s a small thing but I found it so annoying that I stopped using it after a couple of days into my testing.

Unfortunately you’re likely to lose the stylus without the folio case. While the right edge of the Go 10.3 is magnetic to secure the stylus, it’s too darn weak to be of any use. The curved edge doesn’t help either, reducing the amount of surface area the pen gets to secure itself to.

• Design & display score: 4 / 5

Onyx Boox Go 10.3 review: Software & user interface

As mentioned earlier in this review, the Boox Go 10.3 runs a custom, trimmed-down version of Android 12 that focuses purely on reading and writing. Importantly, Onyx has also used this focus to streamline the user interface on the Go 10.3, which makes it a much easier Boox tablet to use than any I’ve tested before.

I suspect it’s this better UX that has eliminated a lot of the software issues I had with the Onyx Boox Go Color 7, or the company put all its efforts into the bigger flagship tablet and didn’t test out the smaller ereader enough before release. Whatever the reason, it means the Go 10.3 is a superior writing tablet that can give the reMarkable 2 a run for its money.

So while you won’t get the smartphone experience here, you will be able to download third-party apps from the Google Play Store, which makes the Go 10.3 a more versatile writing tablet than anything from the competition.

Android OS and apps

• Customized Android UX
• The most streamlined UX of any previous Boox writing tablet
• Not all third-party apps are usable

All current Boox devices run on a customized version of Android – Android 12 in this case – which is how you’re able to get access to the Google Play Store. Despite the OS being a little out of date compared to what you’d get on the latest Android phone, it’s not an issue for an e-paper tablet.

The Boox already has full support for Evernote and OneNote, as well as easy syncing to cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive, but you can also download and use other apps that you prefer. One thing to keep in mind is that not all of them will offer stylus input if the developer hasn’t allowed for it on the Android version of that particular app, or there could be input delays when rendering the writing on screen, which happened to me when trying Evernote.

Another thing to keep in mind when using an e-paper tablet like the Go 10.3 is that not all apps are optimized for this kind of display. Practically every app on the Play Store will have been developed for use on an LCD or OLED display – so a smartphone or a multimedia tablet – and E Ink’s screen tech doesn’t respond as well. Firstly, the screen refresh rate isn’t fast enough for most non-productivity applications, so while you can watch videos on YouTube in black and white, it’s not the best experience. You can play some mobile games (again, in black and white), but your graphics won’t be as clean as on your phone or regular tablet, and that’s despite the Go 10.3 using a mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 processor paired with an Adreno 610 GPU.

What I really like about the Go 10.3 over other similar Onyx Boox note-taking tablets is the overall user interface – it’s a lot cleaner and streamlined here, and isn’t plagued with the same software glitches I found when I tested the Boox Go Color 7. The only problem is that the default Fonts folder in the Settings isn’t connected to the Storage tab where it needs to live – so anyone sideloading fonts will need to create a new Fonts folder under Storage to make them work on NeoReader (the native library app).

The main applications are arranged to the left, making navigation simple, and an easy swipe up from the bottom bezel exits the app you're on. The system settings are also more streamlined, but there are still plenty of customization options within the System Display tab and Gestures. The latter is similar to what you’d find on other Android devices which, I personally think, is a bit of an overkill for the Go 10.3 but I’m sure other users would appreciate the various options.

As with other Boox devices, there’s also a NaviBall, which is optional to use. Tap on this circular icon and it will open a selection of up to nine configurable buttons to trigger up to 30 different functions.

You also have the Control Center on the Go 10.3 which is an easy way to access specific features like the AI assistant, Boox cloud storage, Kids Mode, Split Screen and, importantly, the E Ink Center. The last option is the most useful in my opinion as this is where you can control a lot of the system settings for the device, especially adjusting the refresh rate from a choice of four speed settings. Better yet, you can set individual apps at different refresh rates to suit.

The one feature on any Boox device that’s been the least useful is the built-in bookstore. You’ll typically find titles that are already in the public domain, but considering you can always use the Kindle or Kobo app on the Go 10.3, you can ignore the Store tab entirely. You can also use the native browser to make purchases online.

One thing to note here: like the Boox Go Color 7, the Go 10.3 doesn't register on a Mac device's Finder application, which makes it hard to transfer files via a cable. It does, however, register on a Windows machine, but I found that existing files cannot be found via the usual pathways. The best way to use this Boox tablet is via cloud sync.

• Software score: 4 / 5

Writing & productivity

• Native note-taking app is great but might be overkill for some users
• Broad support for note apps and cloud services
• Excellent stylus input

When it comes to writing, the Go 10.3 has excellent stylus input – there was never any lag during my testing. That said, I did have the input fail a few times on the native Notes app (where a line appeared on screen the moment the stylus touches it), and a full restart of the tablet was needed to fixed the problem. I’ve encountered this issue on the Kobo Elipsa 2E as well, but the latter allows for just that page to be refreshed, which solves the problem quicker than on the Boox.

Despite being a grayscale device, there is support for a handful of colors on the Go 10.3. You’ll see the options when you choose a pen or brush type in the Notes app and, when exported – as a PDF or PNG file – you’ll see those colors displayed on your computer.

There are five pen types to choose from, each with up to five thickness (width) levels.

There’s a heck of a lot of other functionalities within the Notes app itself, so you really don’t need a third-party application for writing or drawing, unless you’re syncing them to a specific cloud account.

You can add shapes and layers for, say, flowcharts and you can insert links to notes as well. The AI icon helps convert handwritten notes to text and, for the most part, the conversion is correct unless your handwriting is literally chicken scratches. Similar to the reMarkable 2, the Go 10.3 is excellent for annotating PDF files – you can fill forms and sign on the device, then export to your computer or a cloud service of your choice. There’s also image-to-text support (OCR) available if you need it, which will make pretty much anything within the powerful Notes app searchable.

Each document can have up to 500 pages, but I found that the bigger the notebook gets, the slower it is to reopen the next time you want to access it on the Go 10.3. This happened with a 7-page document, and the largest I had during my testing was 10 pages, so I’m not entirely sure how well a 100-page document will perform, let alone 500 pages. The aforementioned 10-page document even crashed once during my testing period.

The one thing I wish the native Notes app had was an easier way to delete individual pages within a document. This functionality exists, but is hidden away: you need to tap on the page number displayed on the top right corner, which opens the individual pages on a side panel. There, you need to spot the three dots for each page and then select ‘delete’. It’s a lot easier to do this on other writing tablets like the reMarkable 2, the Kobo Elipsa 2E and the Kindle Scribe.

Another missing feature for multi-page documents is tap-to-turn – you have to use the arrow icons on the top right corner to navigate page by page, or open the side panel to reveal all the pages.

If you’re a digital artist, the Go 10.3 will make an ideal sketchpad. There’s 4,096 pressure sensitivity levels that can capture nuances of the stylus quite well, with brush strokes looking quite detailed on the E Ink display. That said, there’s no tilt support on the Go 10.3, which you will get on the reMarkable 2.

• Writing and productivity score: 4.5 / 5

Reading

• Native library app is full featured
• Default Fonts folder is not linked for use
• Lacks a screen light for nighttime reading

Like the native Notes application, the baked-in NeoReader is also full-featured and has been built for e-paper screens. Text is sharp and very readable on the grayscale display and the customizable Floating Toolbar is handy for quick access to shortcuts. However, comparing the 300ppi display on the Go 10.3 with the 227ppi Kobo Elipsa 2E shows a marked difference in contrast – the lower resolution screen has darker text, which makes it stand out more without the frontlight on.

On the Go 10.3, however, the lack of a light – which it borrows from the reMarkable 2 – makes it hard to use as an ereader for nighttime reading. So if you want your e-ink tablet to double as both an ereader and a note-taker, you might be better off looking elsewhere.

And while there’s wide font support, the NeoReader only has a single (unnamed) serif option available for use without dedicated weights or stylization (like bold and italics). While you can sideload a plethora of fonts, they don’t get saved within the default Fonts folder – instead, you need to create a new one within Storage for the additional fonts to be enabled within the library app.

If you happen to already have a Kindle or Kobo account, I personally recommend them over NeoReader, although the customizations here will be limited to what the two platforms allow on their Android apps. The page setup, though, is cleaner and makes reading a nicer experience. And, as I’ve previously mentioned, the built-in bookstore isn’t worth checking out at all.

• Reading score: 3.5 / 5

Onyx Boox Go 10.3 review: Performance

• Minimal ghosting compared to other Boox tablets
• Responsive screen
• Decent battery life, but significant drain in sleep mode

The combination of the mid-range Snapdragon 680 CPU and the Adreno 610 GPU is plenty to keep the Go 10.3 ticking along real nicely. During my testing, I noticed no issues with core tasks like writing and reading.

It’s arguably one of the best writing experiences I’ve had on an e-ink tablet, with absolutely no stylus input lag, although I found some multi-page handwritten documents can take a little longer than expected to open. One of my documents, which was 10 pages, even crashed, although I think I’ll put this down as a one-off as it happened just once. That said, launching Android apps is quite fast for a device like this and can match some budget phones or traditional tablets.

Individual apps can have their own refresh rates set, which is excellent, although even at the fastest speed, some apps might stutter. This includes the browser which, when scrolling through rapidly, will have a few hiccups. That’s natural, though, as it’s just how e-ink screens are.

One improvement I’ve noticed on the Go 10.3 compared to other Boox tablets is the lack of ghosting. During my testing, I experienced only the mildest when I was using the browser, but had no issues when using the Notes app to write or draw. I did have the occasional overlay when using the NeoReader but, again, it was significantly less than other Boox devices.

Without a screen light, the 3,700mAh battery can go quite the distance – depending on how much you use the Go 10.3, it can last 2-3 weeks on a single charge. However, there is a significant drain when the tablet is in sleep mode. I found it can drop anywhere from 2% to 10%, depending on how long it stays inactive. Onyx gets around this issue by allowing you to let the device power down completely after a day or two of inactivity (you can select this in the Settings pane), but even then I found a little battery drain. While this issue might be fixable via a future firmware update, it can mean that a full charge could last no more than a week.

Moreover, if you use the built-in speakers for listening to audiobooks or music, you might end up draining the battery a little faster than when using it for just writing and reading. And while sound quality isn't the best for music, it's perfectly adequate for audiobook narrations and can get quite loud within a small room. I personally prefer using one of the best wireless headphones for listening on any e-ink tablet.

Topping up the battery isn’t too bad – I found the Go 10.3 went from 20% to full in approximately two hours. This is when plugged into a 65W wall charger and using a high quality USB-C to C cable (not the provided one) – it will be slower to juice up if you plug the device into a PC, laptop or a docking station, or if you use a USB-A to C cable.

• Performance score: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Onyx Boox Go 10.3 e-paper tablet?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the Onyx Boox Go 10.3

• Used the device for approximately two months
• It became my main writing device during that time
• Did some reading and listened to some audio files as well

The first thing I did when I took the Go 10.3 out of its box was to sign into my Onyx account to sync existing notes across from previous Boox tablets I've used. I then signed into my Google account to transfer some ebooks to the tablet and access the Play Store.

Previous experience with Boox devices had already taught me to avoid the built-in bookstore, so I promptly downloaded both the Kindle and Kobo Android apps to access the libraries I've built up on those two platforms. I also downloaded a couple of benchmarking applications to determine what CPU was being used (Onyx doesn't make it very clear on its site) and check the battery stats.

The Go 10.3 then became my daily note-taker – I used it for a lot of work-related notes, including jotting down points for this review – and, even though I'm no artist, I did try drawing some simple sketches. All my notes are synced to my Google Drive account for access on a laptop or PC, and I also exported a couple of documents to cloud storage as PDFs for printing.

Given this is a writing tablet first and foremost, I tested the native Notes app thoroughly, but also tried out Evernote briefly.

Read more about how we test

[First published October 2024]

The Kindle e-reader was the original ‘Amazon device,’ and the heart of its e-reading lineup has long been the Paperwhite. So much so that Panos Panay, Amazon’s head of devices, described it as the “most loved Kindle” and the one that, as he admitted, owners with the current or previous-gen models are hesitant to upgrade.

That reluctance notwithstanding, Amazon has set out to make the best Paperwhite yet, with the all-new Kindle Paperwhite and more premium Kindle Paperwhite Signature. There are a lot of similarities between the two – both are thinner, lighter, and faster than the previous Paperwhite, with a better, larger 7-inch display that’s designed to be easily readable in any conditions.

It’s still only black-and-white, though – you’ll need to opt for the new Kindle Colorsoft if you want a color display for comics and the like – and is only for reading – get a Kindle Scribe, or maybe a Remarkable, if you want to write.

The new Paperwhite's colors are fantastic, and Raspberry is certainly my favorite. While I haven’t read a book on it yet, I got to spend some time with the Signature Edition at Amazon’s hands-on launch event. So, let’s talk through the new Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition.

Pricing and Availability

If you’re a Kindle lover, here’s some good news – the new Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition are shipping now. The Kindle Paperwhite costs $159.99 / £159.99 (we’re waiting for Australian pricing to be confirmed) and comes in a matte, soft-touch Raspberry, Jade (a green), or Black.

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition costs a bit more at $199.99 / £199.99 (again, we’re waiting for Australian pricing to be confirmed) and comes in metallic variants of those same three colors – aptly named Metallic Raspberry, Metallic Jade, and Metallic Black, which have some extra sparkle thanks to aluminum flakes being sprinkled in. That extra spend also doubles the storage to 32GB, and adds wireless charging capabilities and an auto-adjusting light sensor.

Both are shipping now, and Amazon has also debuted a bunch of new cases, including color-matched ones.

Kindle Paperwhite (2024): One Minute Review

As soon as I lifted up the new Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition – technically now the 12th generation – it was clear that Amazon has focused on refining an already successful model. It’s the most popular e-reader in the Kindle lineup, and the one we’ve recommended for most people, at least with the last generation.

It’s still very comfortable to hold with just a hand, and while the back is more reflective on the Signature Edition, it’s still easy to get a grip. Amazon says the Paperwhite weighs in at just 211 grams, which is a good bit under half a pound at just 0.47lbs or 7.5oz. I found it easy to navigate the interface with just one hand, though I think most folks will use both. You’ll still turn pages, scroll through your library, and adjust settings like font size, brightness, or warmth, by touching the screen.

The thinness here shouldn’t be underestimated either – it’s super portable, and at just 7.8-millimeters thick, which is a small but considerable decrease from the 8.1mm of the previous Paperwhite. Just take a look at the photos; it’s thin, and it has a good center of gravity for easily holding it. It’s also still waterproof, so you can safely read in the bathtub or by the pool, and with an anti-reflective coating over the display, it’s easy to see the screen even in bright sunlight.

The display here is a bit bigger than on the last-gen Paperwhite, and feels more front and center thanks to thinner bezels all around. It measures 7 inches diagonally, up from 6.8 inches on the previous version, and has 300 pixels per inch (ppi) resolution. Amazon says it also boasts a higher contrast rate, making it easier to read displayed text in any lighting.

I found that the text looked plenty inky, and it was easy to make out what was on the page… err, screen. The same goes for scrolling through Manga or a Comic on the Paperwhite; this is still very much a screen that’s easy on the eyes, and it’s even easier if you have the Signature Edition, thanks to its light sensor, it will automatically adjust the brightness and temperature throughout the day for better clarity.

What might be most impressive, though, is the speed, and how close to instant the new Paperwhite feels. Thanks to a new custom processor under the hood and a new Oxide back panel, the Paperwhite can refresh and update the E Ink display in record time. It’s 25% faster – at least what Amazon promises for both models – and it really shows when scrolling through a library or zooming through pages.

The Kindle Paperwhite simply flies. Unless you’re a speed reader, being able to quickly flip pages may not help, but it should make the Kindle Paperwhite feel more like a real book, or faster, since it can update what’s being displayed even quicker. This could make a really big impact, especially if you’re upgrading from an older model.

You’ll also have plenty of room to store your books and other documents, with 32GB of storage on the Paperwhite Signature Edition or 16GB on the standard model. Remember, you can offload books to the cloud as well, should you run out of space.

The only physical button for the Kindle Paperwhite still lives on the bottom, slightly off-center to the right, next to the USB-C port. You’ll use this to jump into the Kindle’s interface from the lock screen’s E Ink lock screen or to put the Paperwhite to sleep. The USB-C port may not see much action either, as Amazon promises up to 12 weeks of use on a full charge, and judging by my experience with previous models, it may last even longer, depending on use. This is also an improvement of the previous generation, which topped out at 10 weeks. You can also charge your Kindle wirelessly if you get the Signature Edition, which is convenient as you can simply lay it on a charging pad to ensure it’s always topped off.

All-in-all, with a larger display to let you see more of whatever you might be reading (it’s likely a reread of Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen for me, or diving into The World’s Worst Assistant by Sona Movsesian), an even lighter design that does indeed suggest ‘paper’, faster performance, and even better battery life, there’s a lot to like here.

And at $159.99 / £159.99, or $199.99 / £159.99 with the bells and whistles of the Signature Edition, it’s a bit more than the previous generation, which was $149.99 for the standard and $189.99 for the Signature Edition. We’ll need to spend a bit more time with it, and do some serious reading, but from our early impressions, fans of previous Paperwhites will be happy with the latest one, and those looking for a Kindle that can go anywhere will be equally pleased.

Amazon Kindle (2024): One-minute review

I was initially a little surprised that Amazon is calling the 2024 Kindle the “11th generation”, which was what the 2022 model was designated as. Delving deeper into the specs of the new entry-level Kindle – a lot of which Amazon hasn't actually revealed – and after spending some time with it, I can see why it's more a 2022 Kindle version 2.0.

I love the new Matcha Green color, though. It looks so much brighter than last year’s Denim Blue, but after years of seeing only black ereaders, any deviation from that is a breath of fresh air. I wish the rear plastic panel had some texture. It’s so smooth that I feel insecure when using it on public transport – a case to add some grip is definitely called for.

While Amazon isn't revealing what screen technology has been used here, a side-by-side comparison with the new 2024 Kindle Paperwhite and the Kobo Clara BW tells me it's still using the E Ink Carta 1200 display from the previous 2022 Kindle. That's not a bad thing, but it means you can get more contrast – and thus darker and sharper text – on other models that use the E Ink Carta 1300 screen. And the Kobo Clara BW, which does, isn't much more expensive than the 2024 Kindle.

The only thing different about the screen is the maximum brightness it's capable of and that’s likely not because of upgraded technology, but rather the addition of an extra LED. This improvement, to me, isn’t particularly a big deal as it will be the rare reader who needs the display set to maximum brightness. I, personally, found it hurt my eyes at full bore if there wasn't much ambient light around.

Like the previous model, there’s still no waterproofing and there’s still just 16GB of storage on board. While that’s plenty for hundreds of ebooks and some audiobooks, only 11.5GB of that is available for use as, I think, Amazon has done something with the operating system that's using approximately 2GB more than on the 2022 edition.

I can’t tell what the changes with the OS are exactly, as the interface is still quintessentially Kindle with no new features, but it's possible that these are performance changes. In testing, I found the 2024 Kindle to be a touch faster and more responsive than the previous generation, with no ghosting whatsoever. That said, it could also be because Amazon may be using a new processor, but that's another spec the company isn't revealing.

All said and done, the 2024 Kindle, to me, is just matcha ado about nothing (sorry, I just had to let that one out) as it truly is just version 2.0 of the previous model and I'm struggling to justify the price increase over the 2022 Kindle.

Amazon Kindle (2024) review: Price & availability

• Priced higher than the 2022 Kindle
• Listed at $109.99 / £94.99 with ads, or $129.99 / £104.99 / AU$199 without ads
• Available now directly from Amazon and some third-party stores

The 2024 Kindle might come in a lovely new color but it’s essentially still the same 11th generation model that was released in 2022, which is why I’m disappointed that Amazon saw fit to increase the price of its entry-level Kindle.

The 2024 release now costs $109.99 / £94.99 with ads or $129.99 / £104.99 / AU$199 without (note that, in Australia, only the ad-free version is available). In comparison, the 2022 edition cost $119.99 / £94.99 / AU$179 for the non-ads model before it was discontinued.

Another point of comparison could be the Kobo Clara BW, which is the same size, offers the same amount of onboard storage, but has an updated screen and IPX8 waterproofing too. It will set you back $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$239.95. That’s the same price as the 2024 Kindle in the US, but more expensive in the UK and Australia, although I'd argue that it easily justifies the higher cost.

The good news is that Amazon will always discount its Kindles during major sales in your location, which is when I think it might be worth considering the 2024 Kindle over the Kobo Clara BW.

There are two colors of the 2024 Kindle to choose from – a lovely Matcha Green and the usual Black – and both cost the same. I would recommend getting a case for the Kindle as it’s not very grippy, so be prepared to spend a little bit more – you can always pick up a third-party option which would be cheaper than buying an Amazon-made one.

• Value score: 3.5 / 5

Amazon Kindle (2024) review: specs

Amazon hasn’t disclosed a bunch of the usual specs for the 2024 Kindle, like which specific E Ink screen is being used here, the processor under the hood or the battery capacity. I’ve listed the official specs that Amazon has chosen to release, but have also added my thoughts in parentheses where necessary.

Amazon Kindle (2024) review: Design & display

• Match Green in a lovely, bright color
• 6-inch display makes for a very compact and lightweight ereader
• Lacks any kind of grip

I suppose it’s fair to say that ereader design, particularly the entry-level ones, are getting very dated, but Amazon has countered that by offering a brand-new color for the 2024 release of the basic Kindle. The Matcha Green is a breath of fresh air – it looks bright and beautiful, more so than the Denim Blue from 2022, and makes quite the statement. There is the usual black version too if you prefer, but why would you when you can have something different for the same price? Another reason to opt for the green model is that oily fingerprints and smudges aren’t as visible as they would be on a darker version.

Other than that, not much else has changed physically on the Kindle, including the rear plastic panel that is smooth and makes me feel rather insecure when I’m using it during my daily commute. A case could solve the lack of grip easily enough, but that’s an additional cost you will need to bear.

As lovely as the 2024 Kindle looks (in green, specifically), I’m a little concerned about its longevity based on what I’m seeing on the 2022 edition. Two years on, the older model’s plastic chassis is cracking, with hairline breaks clearly visible along both curved edges.This is despite the fact that the 2022 Kindle has always been in a case since it was sent to me for testing and I can’t remember ever dropping it. I’m not saying this will happen to the 2024 version, but it would be remiss of me to not mention it.

I will admit that I’m not a huge fan of a 6-inch ereader – I find the screen too small, personally and prefer a 7-inch display – but there’s no denying that, at just 158g, the Kindle is very compact and portable. It would easily slip into a large pocket of a jacket or any bag for that matter, but you might want to keep it away from water. The entry-level Kindle still lacks waterproofing, which is a shame as Kobo’s counterpart is IPX8 rated and won’t cost you too much more. In fact, the Kobo might offer more value for money considering it also boasts the latest E Ink monochrome screen (Carta 1300) that the new Kindle seemingly misses out on.

While Amazon is tight-lipped about which screen is being used on the 2024 Kindle, I compared it to its Kobo competition and the 2024 Kindle Paperwhite – there’s a visible difference in contrast that makes text appear darker, sharper and clearer. That’s not to say reading on the entry-level Kindle is bad, far from it. The 6-inch screen still gives you a lovely 300ppi resolution and text looks great… it’s just that there’s something ever so slightly better out there for about the same cost.

Amazon claims that there’s 25% more screen brightness on the 2024 Kindle, and that’s definitely true, although I suspect it’s not because of a screen upgrade, but rather the addition of an extra LED. Again, the number of LEDs being used for a Kindle’s frontlight is something I can’t remember Amazon having ever revealed, so I can’t give you an exact number, but it’s an improvement I don’t think was necessary. I doubt there are too many users who will want to set their ereaders at maximum brightness. I usually have my Kindles set at brightness level 5, which is perfect for nighttime reading without straining the eyes, and you usually don’t even need a screen light in bright sunshine. I did try the maximum brightness setting on the device (which is level 24) and found it hurts my eyes on a cloudy day. It’s not too bad in bright sunshine when everything else around you is well-lit too, but it’s physically painful for me in a dimly lit room. That said, I’m sure there will be the rare reader who appreciates the extra brightness.

Another thing to note about the Kindle’s frontlight is that there are no amber LEDs here, so you won’t be able to adjust the light temperature to warmer tones for evening or nighttime reading (something you can do on the Kobo Clara BW). However, there is a dark mode that you can use to further reduce the effects of white light on your eyes.

• Design & display score: 4 / 5

Amazon Kindle (2024) review: User interface

• Easy-to-use interface
• Can feel cluttered to some users new to the Amazon ecosystem
• Native EPUB support, but still requires extra steps to load files

I’ve been a very strong proponent for simple ereader interfaces – after all, these are devices designed for the main purpose of reading, so anyone should be able to use them. Amazon nails this for the most part, with the Kindle OS quite easy to navigate and find what you need.

In fact, the entire setup process is simple – you just need to follow the on-screen instructions and choose the right options. In my case, I just had to sign in with my Amazon account (which is a paid Prime subscription) and my existing library – which at this point is still in the cloud – is displayed. Any of the books I want from there, I just have to tap and they download to the device.

While I love the Library tab of the Kindle, I’m not a huge fan of the Home screen – I find it excessively cluttered with too many recommendation options. It feels like I’m being forced into entering the Kindle Store every time I go to the Home screen. In comparison, Kobo’s Home screen is a little less recommendation heavy and, in my opinion, looks a little cleaner.

I wish there was a way to make the Library tab the default Home screen (something you will find on some Onyx Boox ereaders running an Android OS), but there’s no option for that in the Settings. However, if you set the Kindle to sleep mode with the Library pane open, that’s what will show when you wake it up again. Or, if you have a book open, it will wake up to the page you left off at, so you really don’t need to interact with the Home screen unless you need to access the Kindle Store to find your next read.

Settings are accessed by swiping downward from the top of the screen, where the screen brightness slider and dark mode button also sit. What I really appreciate about the Settings options is that it’s not overkill like I’ve seen on Boox devices – a handful of useful options that are easy to understand is exactly how it should be. I love the fact that I can remove practically all page furniture from a book, leaving me a clean display with just the text or comic frame I’m reading.

Speaking of comics, all Kindles have a frame view that is fantastic, even on a small ereader like the entry-level Kindle. Open the comic or graphic novel of your choice, double tap on the page and each frame will open separately so you can read the speech bubbles comfortably. Without this feature, speech bubbles would be nigh impossible to read on a full-page view as they’d be too small on a 6-inch screen.

Gone are the days of Amazon's dislike of the EPUB file, the most common ebook format there is. With MOBI nearly dead now, there is native EPUB support on the Kindles, but you still have to jump through hoops to sideload them. You can either send them via email using the Kindle address you get set up with when you first start using the ereader, or you can use the Send To Kindle desktop app. Both have file size caveats, though, but you can also always use software like Caliber to convert EPUBs to AZW/AZW3 formats, which are Amazon’s proprietary files.

You can listen to Audible audiobooks if you have a subscription, but you will need to pair a set of Bluetooth headphones to the Kindle first. The pairing, I found, needs a few tries, but once connected, you can listen to the stories rather than read. With Whispersync turned on in Device Options, you can stop reading at a page and, if you also have the audiobook version, the narration will start on that page. It will even sync to your Echo device if you have one.

While you can connect to a Goodreads account if you use it, there are no other third-party options available for either cloud sync or borrowing library books, While readers in the US can use a Kindle to borrow from a local public library, it’s a limited feature that’s not available elsewhere, which makes a Kobo a compelling alternative if you don’t want to spend money on book purchases or subscriptions.

• User interface score: 4 / 5

Amazon Kindle (2024) review: Performance

• Slightly faster page turns and overall performance
• Lacks contrast compared to the competition
• Decent battery life, depending on brightness setting

Performance measurement for an ereader is simple, really – you determine how well the tap (or swipe) to turn functionality works and if there’s any ghosting (or overlay of previous page) on the screen, something that’s been very common with ereaders for years.

On both counts, the 2024 Kindle excels. In fact, I think the overall performance is a wee bit faster on the new model over its predecessor. While I’d love to say that’s because of a new processor, I don’t have that knowledge, but it could be software tweaks that have improved performance. Again, this is just a theory I have based on how large that OS is on the 2024 Kindle, so don’t quote me on that.

Whatever the reason, page turns are snappy and not once did I have any overlay while reading or typing via the on-screen keyboard. The latter also feels quite responsive – entering my WI-Fi password at setup and typing out my Amazon credentials happened with barely any lag. So while I might say that this doesn’t feel like an ‘upgrade’, I appreciate whatever Amazon has done to improve performance over what was already a pretty good budget ereader.

I also appreciate that downloading books from the Kindle Store is also very speedy compared to what I’ve experienced when sourcing titles from the Kobo Store on a Kobo ereader.

Battery life remains the same as before, with Amazon saying you’ll get up to 6 weeks of use on a single charge, although I think it’s more like 4 weeks. That, though, will depend on how bright you like your screen set at.

On my Kindle, I had the brightness set to 5 at all times and page refresh set to each page turn and saw an average drop of 2% per hour of reading. That increases to about a 3% to 4% drop each hour with Kindle Store browsing thrown in as well. With the brightness level set at 24, which is maximum, I found battery levels drop by an average of 7% per hour. So, depending on brightness settings and how long you read per day, I’d say you’ll get a top of 4 weeks between charges and that’s still pretty good.

Using a 65W wall charger and a good quality USB-A to C cable, the 2024 Kindle took 1 hour 52 minutes to go from 9% to full, which is average for an ereader. I haven’t had the opportunity to try charging it via a USB-C to C cable yet, but that might speed things up a touch, as long as you’re still plugged into the wall socket and not using your computer or dock.

• Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Amazon Kindle (2024)?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the Amazon Kindle (2024)

• Used as main reading device for one week
• Viewed both graphic novels and regular books
• Checked performance at various settings

I didn’t have the 2024 Kindle with me for too long before first publication, but I made sure I spent as much time as I could reading on it. Over the course of 7 days, I read an average 4 hours per day on it, reading history and fantasy novels, as well as my favourite The Sandman graphic novel.

These were already available in my Kindle library, so I only needed to sign into my Amazon account, then sync to the device via the cloud. I didn’t sideload any new titles to the 2024 Kindle though.

While I don’t have a Kindle Unlimited or Audible account, I used the free trial of the former to find some titles to read, but mostly used my Prime Reading subscription to borrow some books. I found one audiobook available on Kindle Unlimited to try pairing a set of wireless earphones to test audiobook functionality, although I’m not much of a listener.

I also repeatedly changed light settings to see how the battery held up, and did direct screen comparisons with the Kobo Clara BW and the 2024 Kindle Paperwhite.

Read more about how we test

[First reviewed November 2024]