I switched to a color E Ink tablet for months, and it beats the ReMarkable in key ways

When you get up close with the Boox Note Air 4C, you might notice that photos can appear a bit fuzzy. And yes, some users find the denim-like texture on certain color images a bit off-putting. The color range on this device isn't as broad as what you'd find on a traditional tablet; it's more muted and limited. This isn't just a quirk of the Boox Note Air 4C; other color ePaper devices like the Kindle Colorsoft and reMarkable Paper Pro share these traits.

Personally, I've grown to appreciate the Boox Note Air 4C's colors. They add a consistent aesthetic to my work, and since I use it primarily as a note-taking device, the color limitations don't really bother me.

I recently tested an E Ink tablet running Android, and it made my Kindle seem a bit underwhelming in comparison.

Performance of the Boox Note Air 4C

The Boox Note Air 4C runs on Android 13, powered by an octa-core processor and 6GB of RAM. With up to 64GB of internal storage, expandable to 2TB via microSD, it's quite robust for an E Ink tablet. However, don't expect it to match the speed of an iPad. You can tweak the settings to speed up the refresh rate, but it's still slower than a traditional tablet, though not as sluggish as a Kindle.

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Maria Diaz/ZDNET: Ghosting issues when flipping pages are common with E Ink tablets, including the Note Air 4C. But honestly, it didn't bother me much.

My main gripes with the Boox Note Air 4C are quite specific. Depending on what you're viewing, pages can take up to 30 seconds to render, which can be frustrating. Also, when I zoom in for detailed work, the palm recognition fails, causing the image to shift and the tablet to pause and re-render.

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AI Features on the Boox Note Air 4C

The AI features on the Boox Note Air 4C have a lot of room for growth, which seems to be a trend across the board with AI tech. I tried them all out, and they were so hit-or-miss that I ended up keeping them turned off. The worst was when the tablet tried to "correct" my drawings and ended up deleting parts of my work.

I wish handwriting OCR was a standard feature, but on the Boox Note Air 4C, it's part of the AI suite and not very reliable. Handwriting conversion typically demands more processing power than what tablets usually have, which might explain why it's not a default feature on the Boox Note Air 4C or the reMarkable Paper Pro.

The pen magnetically attaches to the side of the tablet, but because the tablet is only 5.8 mm thick, it tends to fall off. I'd recommend getting a case to keep the pen secure when you're on the move. The pen uses electromagnetic resonance (EMR) technology, so no need to charge it; it's just there for convenience.

I recently tested an E Ink tablet that could replace my Remarkable, and in some ways, it's even better.

Using the Boox Note Air 4C as a Bullet Journal

The Boox Note Air 4C is fantastic as a bullet journal. The pen is both accurate and responsive, making it easy to draw or color with precision. It's great to have all my pages saved in one lightweight device, without the hassle of carrying around a bunch of pens and markers. Plus, I can add external files like photos to my journal without needing to print them.

ZDNET's Buying Advice

Maria Diaz/ZDNET: After weeks of use, my pen nib is ready for a replacement.

The Boox Note Air 4C is a solid choice for professionals and creatives. It's not meant to be a productivity powerhouse or a laptop replacement, but it's perfect for those who enjoy handwriting notes, journaling, reading, or even designing.

Among other color ePaper tablets, the main competitor to the Boox Note Air 4C is the reMarkable Paper Pro, which costs $629. While both have similar limitations, I'd go with the Boox Note Air 4C. It's $100 cheaper and runs on Android, meaning no need for a subscription like reMarkable's Connect membership to access extra features.

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Being an Android tablet, the Boox Note Air 4C allows you to download any app from the Google Play Store, including games and social media. But if you're looking for a device focused on writing and reading, you can keep it distraction-free. I've added the Kindle app for reading, Google Docs for work, and OneDrive for transferring files and adding photos to my notes, making the Boox Note Air 4C a versatile tool.