I bought and used the Mini C for about two weeks before returning it. It's good, but I've come to the conclusion that 150ppi color is still not good enough. It's just "passable". I think I'd be fine if the color layer did not affect the black and white display experience at all ... BUT you can still see a degradation/graininess because of the extra color layer above the black and white eink layer. I'm willing to give up color for a VERY crisp black and white display of the Leaf 2 or Page. I also think it's actually somewhat difficult to use the Mini C as a one-handed ereader. It really does toe that line at what is a passable weight for one-handed reading. And honestly for ALL eink devices ... I think the reading activity is the #1 priority, even above notetaking. If you want smooth notetaking you'd get a ipad or android full tablet/smartphone device.
I agree on almost all points you mentioned, but got to another conclusion because I don't classify the Tab Mini C as an ereader. For mainly reading, there are definitely better devices out there, like the Leaf 2 or generally any non-Android E-Ink Carta device basically. But I think for an Android tablet with E-Ink, Kaleido 3 is a great step forward and does enhance the user experience in almost all aspects. Just sucks, that Boox can't seem to figure out how to properly weigh their devices, because I too would have liked a more lightweight device even more.
@@buttsbrown2442 For still-images and "regular" usage I doubt it'll make any difference in terms of display quality, color rendition etc. The only real difference I can see is the ultra-fast mode being faster than the fast-modes on other devices (so more fps) and having less artifacts. I wouldn't even say that ghosting is much better, it's just less pixelated - if that makes sense. I also would welcome a lighter device with a smaller battery, because even though it's a nice gimmick, I definitely can do without the ultra-fast refresh mode. I think the fast mode on the other Boox models is good enough for most things - other than watching videos. I agree about the software. The Boox UI is much more refined than the Bigme software. Boox isn't perfect either, but in day to day use more comfortable overall.
That's my experience as well, color isn't great, but I still prefer it over a B&W device, because I read colored mangas & similar, I browse the web, etc.
7" is slightly smaller than A6. 7.8" is just shy of C6. Most books are published on B6 which would require at lest an 8.4" inch screen. If this isn't compact enough it's because the bezels are still way too thick on e-ink devices. But there's a reason for that: namely not having your fingers on the screen. You win some, you lose some.
About the weight - maybe there will be white version without the glass over screen and it will be lighter just like white Leaf2 is lighter than black Leaf2
Hm, could be that they were planning on doing that, or maybe a Nova Air 2 C with a smaller battery. But either way, that shouldn't happen repeatedly imho :-/
Definitely take a closer look - it has become one of my favorites to use. Not only because it's compact, but also because it got better color saturation than the 10-inch-models.
Hello Chalid, thank you for the great reviews. What would you pick between the Boox Tab Mini C and the Pocketbook Inkpad Color 3 as the better device? I will only be using the device as an e-reader for books and some comics.
Just for ebooks and comics, I'd recommend the PocketBook InkPad Color 3. It's not as powerful as the Boox Tab Mini C but easier and more comfortable to use in my opinion. And a bit cheaper as well. But honestly, both are pretty good, so neither is a bad choice.
Thanks for the detailed review. Especially appreciate the side by side close up of Tab with the previous Kaliedo sceen. Nice to see the screen graininess has improved!
Great review, thanks. Small question. I notice you have both this Boox Tab Mini C and the PocketBook Inkpad Color 2 on your desk. I have read that the PocketBook uses an older version of Kaleido but for someone new to the eReader world (present for my wife) and who would like a good experience and battery life. Is your recommendation to go for the Boox (more expensive) or start with the Inkpad Color 2? The price difference in my case would be around € 170,- which is maybe to steep unless really worth it. Not looking for an iPad kind of experience but purely eReader for books, also to share with our daughter that wants to read color books.
Thanks! :) The InkPad Color 2 is a fine ereader and I suspect PocketBook went for the older Kaleido Plus screen technology because of the price. The InkPad Color 2 is the cheapest color E-Ink ereader right now if I'm not mistaken. I'm still not a big fan of the lower resolution, but I liked the device much more than I expected. The UI is nice and easy to use and the new CPU makes handling much better than with the older models. I'll release the review video shortly, where I talk about these things a bit more in-depth. Besides the screen technology the biggest difference between the InkPad Color 2 and the Boox Tab Mini C is the market segment. The InkPad is an ereader and the Tab Mini C is a full-fledged Android tablet. You can do much more with the Boox, but it's also more complicated to use as a result. Generally I think PocketBook offers the better and easier entry. If you speak German, check out my written review here for more details (or use Google Translate to get the gist of it): allesebook.de/news/pocketbook-inkpad-color-2-im-ausfuehrlichen-test-die-farbrevolution-984545/
Now that you have the kindle colorsoft, which one has less ghosting? What about the colors and speed between them? Does the kindle app work well in the mini c? Do you know where to get the mini c in USA (physical store)?
The Kindle Colorsoft is definitely the one with the least amount of ghosting. Boox Tab Mini C (and other Boox devices) can be tweaked with different E-Ink settings to reduce ghosting, but never get as low as the Colorsoft. I'll do a comparison video on that soon.
Love all the reviews! Can i get your opinion? I am trying to find something to read manhwas (either on specific apps or on google chrome). Manhwas are different than mangas in the sense that usually you read by scrolling. Would you suggest this device or perhaps there is something out there that i’m not aware of?
Thanks! :) I don't know anything about Manhwas, but if you need to scroll continuously, the ultra fast refresh mode of the Boox Tab Mini C is perfect for that. So the Tab Mini C might actually a great fit for that use case. Besides that, there's not much that can compete with it in terms of screen response time and refresh rate on E-Ink. Larger Boox devices have worse color saturation, so I'd stick with the Tab Mini C.
@@ChalidRaqami thanks, this really helped! I have been contemplating for a while now on whether to get the Boox Tab Mini C or an ipad mini since they are about the same price point even though the technology is different..
@@yofatsoupdid you buy it? Did you mean webtoon? I have ipad mini but it hurt my eyes. I have boox poke 3 but it is too small, I can use it for manga reading tho. I’m considering tab mini c vs boox go 7 color
Thank you for your very informative review. I hope you see this question. Could you please tell me why the Mini C colors look so much more saturated compared to the Tab Ultra C? At the 4 minute mark in the video, they are side by side and you can see a big difference -- ruclips.net/video/EAyNoLYrxBk/видео.html If the actual screens from eInk are exactly the same, is the difference due to a change in the Boox software? Or did you just have something different in the device settings? I have been considering buying either the Tab Ultra C or the Mini C. I almost bought the Mini C a while back, but I hate that the pen doesn't have an eraser. More recently I started wondering if the larger screen of the Tab Ultra C would be a better choice for me... but I really want the more saturated colors shown of the Mini C. (My one other major concern is the phoning-home to Chinese servers for no good reason. I'm not sure I trust Boox enough to overlook that.)
My front lights are visible at the top of the tablet , its UNEVEN at the top of the tablet , maybe i have a faulty version as s you say your one has all even light and you cant tell where the led lights are , i can see the leds light at the top .... I may contact ONYX is they replace my mini tab c.
Thank you for the detailed video! I'm torn between this one and the nova air 2. The way I see it, I'd be swapping color in exchange for less weight and better battery life. My use case would be mostly reading books, sometimes those books will have colored charts that are not super easy to read on b&w, but it's doable, and occasionally use it as a notepad... Would you feel confident recommending one over the other?
Yeah, you're right with the trade-offs you'd make. It really depends on what you think is more important for you personally. Both are fine and you can't really go wrong with either one, but tbh I think the Boox Tab Mini C is the better value for money, even at that higher price point. Having colors, even if you don't need them all the time, are pretty sweet. And in my experience its also an incentive to actually view more colored content, because it simply looks better now. Just don't get the Boox Tab Ultra C if you like to read without the front light, because without it, it's pretty dark.
Nova line is technically discontinued isn't it? I think I like the idea of the Nova's smaller size better than this but am not sure if it's still around.
Can you recommend me an eink tablet that would last for two hours with youtube videos and browsing which eink tablet would suit this task with 7.8 inch size if not recommended me any
CAN I INSTAL google calendar or something that can sync whit Goo Calen. Can I write my events by hand here and have them in google calendar? please, thank you guys or author
Hello, Chalid! I love how thorough your review is, and I was wondering if you could give me some advice. I'm looking for a good ereader & note taking device, as an art history student and someone who likes reading comics, a device that supports color is a big preference. I'd also like to take notes or even do some sketching on the device (nothing super heavy like or clip studio paint, maybe just the playstore version of Sketchbook/Sketchbook pro). Boox tab mini C and the nova air c are some of the tablets I've been looking at as options. As a student I would prefer not to go over $450, but I'm willing to give out a little more for a solid device. Do you have any recommendations that could fit these parameters? :) It doesn't have to be just between those 2 devices.
For color E-Ink, I'd recommend getting the Boox Tab Mini C at the moment. The price difference to others is well worth it in my opinion, simply because the higher resolution (compared to Kaleido Plus) looks more paperlike. The Nova Air C (Kaleido Plus) has basically the same functions, but you can see that the resolution isn't as good. So especially for sketching, but also for reading I don't like it very much. Another option would be Bigme devices, which I find better in terms of color reproduction, but (much) worse in terms of software. So I would only recommend the Bigme Color Ink S6 Color+ if you're willing to compromise and tinker around a bit more.
Hello Chalid, on my tab mini c. I noticed when I turned the screen brightness to high. At the top of the screen, there are black smudges. And seems like it was caused by a bad quality because of the light + screen panel. I wonder if it is normal with those kaleido 3 screen, or if my unit is defective? Ty!
I'd say it depends on how pronounced it is. The LEDs on the Boox Tab Mini C are located at the top of the screen. That can create some subtle halos. But having said that, my Tab Mini C has an exceptionally good frontlight. Even when looking for irregularities, it's hard to spot any. So I'd say it's not normal for Kaleido 3 nor the Tab Mini C. But there's always some production variance, meaning some devices are better, some are worse. But nevertheless, it shouldn't be so bad, that it hurts the user experience.
OK, so... I'm struggling with why I would want an e-ink eReader if the battery life is no better than an iPad Mini. What are the advantages? Easier to read in direct sunlight? And that's it? Perhaps a little lighter than an iPad Mini? But it also costs more than a 5th Gen iPad Mini. Way more than a 4rth Gen. I think it's easy to forget what one is trying to accomplish here. (speaking for myself only, perhaps) What I want is a pocketable eReader that is easy to read in any light and has fantastic battery life. And color. And page turning buttons. Basically, I want a color (and much faster) Kindle Oasis with no ghosting and an easy to read with at least 2 weeks of battery life. I'm not into reading comics, but I do want to see color book covers and have color options for highlighting text. I also want to be able to use the Kindle app and be able to buy books from Amazon on the tablet, whether it be through the app - much preferably - or through a browser on the app.
If you simply want a color e-reader with page turn buttons I think you’d have to look elsewhere - like a kobo Libra color or Boox Leaf 3C, or Bigme B571C. But these are all 7” displays.
How would you say reading a normal B/W book on kaleido 3 compares to carta 1200 when using lighting to comensate the darkness? How much do you notice the grain from a normal reading position? Your video had a great close up comparison between kaleido 2 and 3 so see the grain from the color layer, but I'm interested to see/know how it compares to carta 1200. I dont care about the color per se, but the e-reader I'm looking at does have kaleido 3.
I'm planning a detailed video on this topic soon. But for a quick answer: when you're reading from about 30-40 centimeters away, like when you're lying in bed, you can still see the grain with Kaleido 3. E-Ink Carta 1200 definitely looks cleaner. BUT: I couldn't bring myself to reading on the previous Kaleido generations (Kaleido Plus and older), because I found that shimmering grain too distracting. With Kaleido 3 I have no issues with it. It's not 100% ideal to be honest, which you mainly notice when putting it side by side with a Carta 1200 device. So it's still a bit of a compromise. But on it's own (without directly comparing it) I'm very happy with using it for reading B/W content as well (with the built-in frontlight).
Maybe, depends on what you want to do :D Reading without the frontlight is definitely better on the Kindle devices, but for everything else the Boox Tab Mini C is a great competitor, especially since you can also just use the Kindle Android app and keep using your Kindle library. Just keep in mind that Boox devices are more complicated to use than Kindles.
I’ve been wanting to buy my very first kindle paperwhite but tempted to get a coloured e-reader. Which will you recommend between boox tab min-c and inkpad color 3? I’ll mostly use it for reading and used Kindle as my main e-reader platform.
If you mainly read Kindle ebooks, than the Boox Tab Mini C is the clear winner, because you can just install the Kindle app for Android. With the PocketBook InkPad Color 3 you'd need to convert your ebooks, which can be a hassle, especially if they are DRM protected.
Is that an Inkpad Color 2 on your desk? I like that design bit better with smaller bezels + buttons. Also likely 40g lighter. But I'm guessing it won't be able to compete well with Mini C due to the older display tech.
Yes, that's the PocketBook InkPad Color 2. I'll do a full review soon. But yeah, the 100 ppi resolution does show and the Boox Tab Mini C is definitely better in that regard, which is also visible to the naked eye. The InkPad Color 2 is the best PocketBook color ereader as of yet though. Much more responsive than the InkPad Color 1, and as you said, with a nice(r) design and noticeably lower weight than the Boox Tab Mini C.
@@ChalidRaqami Thanks very much., looking forward to that review especially compared to Mini C. I wonder if PocketBook will release K3 devices, but that might be a while certainly for a 7.8" model.
Hi@@ChalidRaqami Pocketbook released the inkPad Color 3. Any chance you might get that one to review and compare? Finally has now K3. I only see 1 review from goodereader but no comparisons but the colors look more vibrant. I wonder if that's because of less layers (since no pen support and inset screen), or just deceiving and in reality the same?
@@luc7976 Yes, I'll post the review soon - hopefully next week. Might even still post the InkPad Color 2 review, which I just wasn't able to finish, but actually filmed it already.
Hi khalid I've only just heard about e ink. I'm considering one for not minute taking I wrote in shorthand. I'd normally do this on a desk but, then I thought if I had to write down anything whilst I was out and about on site and don't have anything to lean on. What would you recommend for this scenario is there anything light enough and thin enough to hold without straining my hand?
Not too easy to answer unfortunately. The Boox Nova Air 2 is probably the lightest note taking E-Ink device with a frontlight and decent UI. It only got a 7.8 inch screen, which is great for portability, but can be a bit limiting for the content itself. The Supernote A6X is also a 7.8 inch device, that focuses even more on note taking, is also very lightweight, but doesn't have a frontlight. It seems to be out of stock right now though. In the 10 inch segment the Supernote A5X is the next best thing in terms of portability, with a weight of 375g without the pen and without the cover. Everything above that can become too heavy fairly quickly in my experience. The Pocketbook InkPad X Pro will be released in a couple of weeks and only has 350 grams, but it's unclear at this point how good it is. The Remarkable 2 or Onyx Boox Note Air 2 can be good choices if you're willing to compromise on the weight.
Yes and no ... You can directly annotate regular epub ebooks, but when changing the text styling many of the annotations will move to wrong positions. It's fine as long as you don't change any styling, but that can severely limit your options depending on what you're reading. Kobo is doing it much better with the screenshot-highlight after a text styling change and the Kindle Scribe is only allowing for sticky notes for that same reason.
I'd say it has rudimentary palm rejection, which works fine in notebooks but not especially great in PDF-files. Boox allows to disable the touchscreen for finger-touch to circumvent that issue.
Yes, it does have OTG-support, so you can use a microSD-card-reader via USB-C to access the data on the card. Just tried it again - worked without any issues.
The app itself does launch, but I personally don't it, so I can't say anything about it's reliability. But I suspect if it didn't work on the Poke 5 reliably it won't work on the Boox Tab Mini C neither, because both are using the same operating system.
I don't have RUclips premium, so I can't test it. But you can install the RUclips app and the Android settings have the option to enable picture in picture mode. So my best guess is, that it works same as on any Android phone or tablet.
I'd recommend the Boox Tab Mini C, because color saturation is noticably better. It also got better battery life and the more even front light. I'd honestly only recommend the Note Air 3C over the Tab Mini C if you need the larger screen. Other than that, I think the Mini C is the better device overall.
I don't have the Boox Nova Air C here with me, but another Kaleido Plus device: The resolution boost to 150 ppi makes a big difference for text quality. That low-key shimmering you can notice with Kaleido Plus is basically missing on the Boox Tab Mini C. It's more of a subtle grain, which makes readability much better in my opinion. Contrast, ghosting and color saturation are more or less the same.
DON'T BUY FROM BOOX After 2 months of having my Mini Tab C the screen breaks. After talking to customer service they claimed there was some external force that caused it and it wouldn't be covered under warranty. This was in their case in a bookbag with other sensitive electronic none of which had an issue like this. They said I can pay another $270 to fix it. I think I'll just take the loss of $400 before it ends up being a loss of $670.
Sorry, I personally never have used any antivirus on my Android devices, so can't comment on that. I usually root them and block any outgoing traffic expect for some whitelisted apps. And I'm pretty restrictive on what I install.
Please don’t buy it . I bought it and it’s very slow and ghosting issues and the screen kept flashing. When I emailed customer service for return they tell you it’s normal. But n their website this tab mini c is advertising as super smooth experience. They tried everything but refused to gave me their return addresses. Until the 4 th time I ask to return and quoted the law in the uk for returning online purchases. Told them their refusal is breaking the law. I finally got it returned.
Personally, I don't think so. But it depends on the setting. It's lighter than the 10 inch tablets, so it's easier to hold and therefore notetaking is also a bit easier imho. If you're using it at school or at work sitting on a desk, a 10 inch tablet might be the better choice though. The larger screen is definitely noticeable in terms of comfort when writing lots of text.
@@ChalidRaqami thank you sir. I want a 3c, but knowing only some of what it can do..I need to know more to justify paying for it (it’s more expensive here in my country, it’s about 600).. Maybe I should check if Amazon can ship
The screen on this device doesn’t last. If you’re planning on leaving this device at home on your desk, it might be okay. I used mine in the cockpit of a business jet, to replace paper notes… screen stopped working and the Boox support has since refused to rectify the issue.
Sorry to hear that ... :( Doesn't help your case, but I haven't had any issues so far with any of the Boox devices I've tested on the channel (bought all of them myself). Not legal advice, but if you're in the EU and got it through Amazon or a local reseller, you should be able to make a claim through the mandatory legal warranty obligation that sellers must adhere to when selling goods. So not the manufacturer (Boox) is your contact, but the seller (e.g. Amazon).
I think it is stupid to do a color e-reader without sd slot. I would imagine that people want to read mostly comics, manga or pdf on it which are very large. Who is the target audience for this device? Grüße nach Österreich.
The main reason manufacturers ditched the card slot was because they could charge extra for more integrated storage. No idea why the ereading marketing followed suit with the smartphone market, because there's usually only one storage option for E-Ink tablets and ereaders. It's a shame really, because the slot itself probably only costs a few cents.
I will never understand why some people always want SD cards? They drain the battery, they are slower than the internal memory and we all have access to cloud and have several devices to transfer data. USB OTG is also a solution. Do you read 1000 comics on one vacation? Would be nice if you explain your usecase to offer you a solution.
@@anduelanduel1425 It is just stupid not to include one if not for purpose like achieving IP68 certification Lots of people store their local epub / comic collection locally and it's just a pain in the ass to always have to connect online or to have to delete your files once you've read them. It's just much more handy to have all your books on one device, always available with or without internet connection
@@anduelanduel1425Yes. I need my manga library with me at all times. All 94GB of it and growing every week. You know, because of the zombies 😅 I have the Page and I love it because it has a sdcard reader. Was thinking about also getting the Mini C but I’ll pass until something else comes along.
I brought one of the nova air 1s and it is a lovely and simple product for it;s intended use. Though I think i would love it to have a daily planner built into the homescreen. I think it has a possibility to appeal to more people who want it as a planner 1st and a reader 2nd. *very rough e.g of how i see it. ruclips.net/video/ABCXRMvdxCk/видео.html I don't use it enough form a strong opinion, but i ask myself if most users would like the buttons built into the device and not the case.
I suspect most users would want to see the buttons integrated directly into the device (myself included). Maybe Boox got that feedback a couple of times, because they did just that with the Leaf 2 and Page.
That column-dividing is such a genius simple feature, I wish it became more mainstream and used by other devices.
The only channel where I found the translation into another language in 2 touches, Vielen Dank!
Onyx really needs to invest in a scale at this point...
They're using the money to work towards the world record for most pointy camera.
@@BrianHallmond 🤣
@@BrianHallmondand the world record for most model versions
I bought and used the Mini C for about two weeks before returning it. It's good, but I've come to the conclusion that 150ppi color is still not good enough. It's just "passable". I think I'd be fine if the color layer did not affect the black and white display experience at all ... BUT you can still see a degradation/graininess because of the extra color layer above the black and white eink layer. I'm willing to give up color for a VERY crisp black and white display of the Leaf 2 or Page.
I also think it's actually somewhat difficult to use the Mini C as a one-handed ereader. It really does toe that line at what is a passable weight for one-handed reading. And honestly for ALL eink devices ... I think the reading activity is the #1 priority, even above notetaking. If you want smooth notetaking you'd get a ipad or android full tablet/smartphone device.
I agree on almost all points you mentioned, but got to another conclusion because I don't classify the Tab Mini C as an ereader. For mainly reading, there are definitely better devices out there, like the Leaf 2 or generally any non-Android E-Ink Carta device basically.
But I think for an Android tablet with E-Ink, Kaleido 3 is a great step forward and does enhance the user experience in almost all aspects. Just sucks, that Boox can't seem to figure out how to properly weigh their devices, because I too would have liked a more lightweight device even more.
@@buttsbrown2442 For still-images and "regular" usage I doubt it'll make any difference in terms of display quality, color rendition etc.
The only real difference I can see is the ultra-fast mode being faster than the fast-modes on other devices (so more fps) and having less artifacts. I wouldn't even say that ghosting is much better, it's just less pixelated - if that makes sense.
I also would welcome a lighter device with a smaller battery, because even though it's a nice gimmick, I definitely can do without the ultra-fast refresh mode. I think the fast mode on the other Boox models is good enough for most things - other than watching videos.
I agree about the software. The Boox UI is much more refined than the Bigme software. Boox isn't perfect either, but in day to day use more comfortable overall.
That's my experience as well, color isn't great, but I still prefer it over a B&W device, because I read colored mangas & similar, I browse the web, etc.
No issue holding the mini c with one hand.
I have Note Air 3c which I believe has the same screen and I've never noticed any issues with resolution, have been very happy with it all-up
7" is slightly smaller than A6. 7.8" is just shy of C6. Most books are published on B6 which would require at lest an 8.4" inch screen. If this isn't compact enough it's because the bezels are still way too thick on e-ink devices. But there's a reason for that: namely not having your fingers on the screen. You win some, you lose some.
Thanks for the video. I can't decide between Boox Tab mini C vs Pocketbook Inkpad color 2. Comparison video would be great :)
About the weight - maybe there will be white version without the glass over screen and it will be lighter just like white Leaf2 is lighter than black Leaf2
Hm, could be that they were planning on doing that, or maybe a Nova Air 2 C with a smaller battery. But either way, that shouldn't happen repeatedly imho :-/
The ultra seems way too big for me to use as an ebook. The ultra's camera bump is a dealbreaker too. I am really interested in this one.
Definitely take a closer look - it has become one of my favorites to use. Not only because it's compact, but also because it got better color saturation than the 10-inch-models.
Hello Chalid, thank you for the great reviews. What would you pick between the Boox Tab Mini C and the Pocketbook Inkpad Color 3 as the better device? I will only be using the device as an e-reader for books and some comics.
Just for ebooks and comics, I'd recommend the PocketBook InkPad Color 3. It's not as powerful as the Boox Tab Mini C but easier and more comfortable to use in my opinion. And a bit cheaper as well.
But honestly, both are pretty good, so neither is a bad choice.
Thanks for the detailed review. Especially appreciate the side by side close up of Tab with the previous Kaliedo sceen. Nice to see the screen graininess has improved!
Can you revisit the Bigme inknote color plus? :)
Great review, thanks. Small question. I notice you have both this Boox Tab Mini C and the PocketBook Inkpad Color 2 on your desk. I have read that the PocketBook uses an older version of Kaleido but for someone new to the eReader world (present for my wife) and who would like a good experience and battery life. Is your recommendation to go for the Boox (more expensive) or start with the Inkpad Color 2? The price difference in my case would be around € 170,- which is maybe to steep unless really worth it.
Not looking for an iPad kind of experience but purely eReader for books, also to share with our daughter that wants to read color books.
Thanks! :)
The InkPad Color 2 is a fine ereader and I suspect PocketBook went for the older Kaleido Plus screen technology because of the price. The InkPad Color 2 is the cheapest color E-Ink ereader right now if I'm not mistaken.
I'm still not a big fan of the lower resolution, but I liked the device much more than I expected. The UI is nice and easy to use and the new CPU makes handling much better than with the older models. I'll release the review video shortly, where I talk about these things a bit more in-depth.
Besides the screen technology the biggest difference between the InkPad Color 2 and the Boox Tab Mini C is the market segment. The InkPad is an ereader and the Tab Mini C is a full-fledged Android tablet. You can do much more with the Boox, but it's also more complicated to use as a result.
Generally I think PocketBook offers the better and easier entry.
If you speak German, check out my written review here for more details (or use Google Translate to get the gist of it): allesebook.de/news/pocketbook-inkpad-color-2-im-ausfuehrlichen-test-die-farbrevolution-984545/
Now that you have the kindle colorsoft, which one has less ghosting? What about the colors and speed between them? Does the kindle app work well in the mini c? Do you know where to get the mini c in USA (physical store)?
The Kindle Colorsoft is definitely the one with the least amount of ghosting. Boox Tab Mini C (and other Boox devices) can be tweaked with different E-Ink settings to reduce ghosting, but never get as low as the Colorsoft.
I'll do a comparison video on that soon.
Love all the reviews! Can i get your opinion?
I am trying to find something to read manhwas (either on specific apps or on google chrome). Manhwas are different than mangas in the sense that usually you read by scrolling. Would you suggest this device or perhaps there is something out there that i’m not aware of?
Thanks! :)
I don't know anything about Manhwas, but if you need to scroll continuously, the ultra fast refresh mode of the Boox Tab Mini C is perfect for that. So the Tab Mini C might actually a great fit for that use case.
Besides that, there's not much that can compete with it in terms of screen response time and refresh rate on E-Ink. Larger Boox devices have worse color saturation, so I'd stick with the Tab Mini C.
@@ChalidRaqami thanks, this really helped! I have been contemplating for a while now on whether to get the Boox Tab Mini C or an ipad mini since they are about the same price point even though the technology is different..
@@yofatsoupdid you buy it? Did you mean webtoon? I have ipad mini but it hurt my eyes. I have boox poke 3 but it is too small, I can use it for manga reading tho. I’m considering tab mini c vs boox go 7 color
Thank you for your very informative review. I hope you see this question. Could you please tell me why the Mini C colors look so much more saturated compared to the Tab Ultra C? At the 4 minute mark in the video, they are side by side and you can see a big difference -- ruclips.net/video/EAyNoLYrxBk/видео.html
If the actual screens from eInk are exactly the same, is the difference due to a change in the Boox software? Or did you just have something different in the device settings?
I have been considering buying either the Tab Ultra C or the Mini C. I almost bought the Mini C a while back, but I hate that the pen doesn't have an eraser. More recently I started wondering if the larger screen of the Tab Ultra C would be a better choice for me... but I really want the more saturated colors shown of the Mini C.
(My one other major concern is the phoning-home to Chinese servers for no good reason. I'm not sure I trust Boox enough to overlook that.)
My front lights are visible at the top of the tablet , its UNEVEN at the top of the tablet , maybe i have a faulty version as s you say your one has all even light and you cant tell where the led lights are , i can see the leds light at the top .... I may contact ONYX is they replace my mini tab c.
I love your accent!😍😍😍
How is it for scrolling in text pages / news, articles? (when 'changing page' is not available in a news app)
Thank you for the detailed video! I'm torn between this one and the nova air 2. The way I see it, I'd be swapping color in exchange for less weight and better battery life. My use case would be mostly reading books, sometimes those books will have colored charts that are not super easy to read on b&w, but it's doable, and occasionally use it as a notepad... Would you feel confident recommending one over the other?
If you usually read magazines, need charts, sketch or take notes in color, go... color. Else go B&W
Yeah, you're right with the trade-offs you'd make. It really depends on what you think is more important for you personally.
Both are fine and you can't really go wrong with either one, but tbh I think the Boox Tab Mini C is the better value for money, even at that higher price point. Having colors, even if you don't need them all the time, are pretty sweet. And in my experience its also an incentive to actually view more colored content, because it simply looks better now.
Just don't get the Boox Tab Ultra C if you like to read without the front light, because without it, it's pretty dark.
Hi may I ask which device did you buy eventually?
Nova line is technically discontinued isn't it? I think I like the idea of the Nova's smaller size better than this but am not sure if it's still around.
Can you recommend me an eink tablet that would last for two hours with youtube videos and browsing which eink tablet would suit this task with 7.8 inch size if not recommended me any
CAN I INSTAL google calendar or something that can sync whit Goo Calen. Can I write my events by hand here and have them in google calendar? please, thank you guys or author
Do they have an app and can you read kindle books on it.
Hello, Chalid! I love how thorough your review is, and I was wondering if you could give me some advice.
I'm looking for a good ereader & note taking device, as an art history student and someone who likes reading comics, a device that supports color is a big preference. I'd also like to take notes or even do some sketching on the device (nothing super heavy like or clip studio paint, maybe just the playstore version of Sketchbook/Sketchbook pro). Boox tab mini C and the nova air c are some of the tablets I've been looking at as options. As a student I would prefer not to go over $450, but I'm willing to give out a little more for a solid device.
Do you have any recommendations that could fit these parameters? :)
It doesn't have to be just between those 2 devices.
For color E-Ink, I'd recommend getting the Boox Tab Mini C at the moment. The price difference to others is well worth it in my opinion, simply because the higher resolution (compared to Kaleido Plus) looks more paperlike.
The Nova Air C (Kaleido Plus) has basically the same functions, but you can see that the resolution isn't as good. So especially for sketching, but also for reading I don't like it very much.
Another option would be Bigme devices, which I find better in terms of color reproduction, but (much) worse in terms of software. So I would only recommend the Bigme Color Ink S6 Color+ if you're willing to compromise and tinker around a bit more.
@@ChalidRaqami thank you so much for the response! I really appreciate it 😊
Hello Chalid, on my tab mini c. I noticed when I turned the screen brightness to high. At the top of the screen, there are black smudges. And seems like it was caused by a bad quality because of the light + screen panel. I wonder if it is normal with those kaleido 3 screen, or if my unit is defective? Ty!
I'd say it depends on how pronounced it is. The LEDs on the Boox Tab Mini C are located at the top of the screen. That can create some subtle halos.
But having said that, my Tab Mini C has an exceptionally good frontlight. Even when looking for irregularities, it's hard to spot any. So I'd say it's not normal for Kaleido 3 nor the Tab Mini C. But there's always some production variance, meaning some devices are better, some are worse. But nevertheless, it shouldn't be so bad, that it hurts the user experience.
OK, so... I'm struggling with why I would want an e-ink eReader if the battery life is no better than an iPad Mini. What are the advantages? Easier to read in direct sunlight? And that's it? Perhaps a little lighter than an iPad Mini? But it also costs more than a 5th Gen iPad Mini. Way more than a 4rth Gen. I think it's easy to forget what one is trying to accomplish here. (speaking for myself only, perhaps) What I want is a pocketable eReader that is easy to read in any light and has fantastic battery life. And color. And page turning buttons. Basically, I want a color (and much faster) Kindle Oasis with no ghosting and an easy to read with at least 2 weeks of battery life. I'm not into reading comics, but I do want to see color book covers and have color options for highlighting text. I also want to be able to use the Kindle app and be able to buy books from Amazon on the tablet, whether it be through the app - much preferably - or through a browser on the app.
The only advantage is for reading because it’s nicer on e-ink than lcd. In every other way an iPad mini is superior.
If you simply want a color e-reader with page turn buttons I think you’d have to look elsewhere - like a kobo Libra color or Boox Leaf 3C, or Bigme B571C. But these are all 7” displays.
Pockbook Inkpad color 3, 7.8‘’pure ereader.
How would you say reading a normal B/W book on kaleido 3 compares to carta 1200 when using lighting to comensate the darkness? How much do you notice the grain from a normal reading position? Your video had a great close up comparison between kaleido 2 and 3 so see the grain from the color layer, but I'm interested to see/know how it compares to carta 1200. I dont care about the color per se, but the e-reader I'm looking at does have kaleido 3.
I'm planning a detailed video on this topic soon. But for a quick answer: when you're reading from about 30-40 centimeters away, like when you're lying in bed, you can still see the grain with Kaleido 3. E-Ink Carta 1200 definitely looks cleaner.
BUT: I couldn't bring myself to reading on the previous Kaleido generations (Kaleido Plus and older), because I found that shimmering grain too distracting. With Kaleido 3 I have no issues with it. It's not 100% ideal to be honest, which you mainly notice when putting it side by side with a Carta 1200 device. So it's still a bit of a compromise. But on it's own (without directly comparing it) I'm very happy with using it for reading B/W content as well (with the built-in frontlight).
how is the battery life for youtube videos and browsing
I have a feeling this Mini C could replace BOTH my Kindle Paperwhite and Scribe! Do you think so? 😁
Maybe, depends on what you want to do :D Reading without the frontlight is definitely better on the Kindle devices, but for everything else the Boox Tab Mini C is a great competitor, especially since you can also just use the Kindle Android app and keep using your Kindle library. Just keep in mind that Boox devices are more complicated to use than Kindles.
I’ve been wanting to buy my very first kindle paperwhite but tempted to get a coloured e-reader. Which will you recommend between boox tab min-c and inkpad color 3? I’ll mostly use it for reading and used Kindle as my main e-reader platform.
If you mainly read Kindle ebooks, than the Boox Tab Mini C is the clear winner, because you can just install the Kindle app for Android. With the PocketBook InkPad Color 3 you'd need to convert your ebooks, which can be a hassle, especially if they are DRM protected.
@@ChalidRaqami thank you
Is that an Inkpad Color 2 on your desk? I like that design bit better with smaller bezels + buttons. Also likely 40g lighter. But I'm guessing it won't be able to compete well with Mini C due to the older display tech.
Yes, that's the PocketBook InkPad Color 2. I'll do a full review soon.
But yeah, the 100 ppi resolution does show and the Boox Tab Mini C is definitely better in that regard, which is also visible to the naked eye.
The InkPad Color 2 is the best PocketBook color ereader as of yet though. Much more responsive than the InkPad Color 1, and as you said, with a nice(r) design and noticeably lower weight than the Boox Tab Mini C.
@@ChalidRaqami Thanks very much., looking forward to that review especially compared to Mini C. I wonder if PocketBook will release K3 devices, but that might be a while certainly for a 7.8" model.
Hi@@ChalidRaqami Pocketbook released the inkPad Color 3. Any chance you might get that one to review and compare? Finally has now K3.
I only see 1 review from goodereader but no comparisons but the colors look more vibrant. I wonder if that's because of less layers (since no pen support and inset screen), or just deceiving and in reality the same?
@@luc7976 Yes, I'll post the review soon - hopefully next week.
Might even still post the InkPad Color 2 review, which I just wasn't able to finish, but actually filmed it already.
@@ChalidRaqamiThat would be awesome, looking forward to see how that compares:-).
Hi khalid
I've only just heard about e ink.
I'm considering one for not minute taking I wrote in shorthand. I'd normally do this on a desk but, then I thought if I had to write down anything whilst I was out and about on site and don't have anything to lean on. What would you recommend for this scenario is there anything light enough and thin enough to hold without straining my hand?
Not too easy to answer unfortunately.
The Boox Nova Air 2 is probably the lightest note taking E-Ink device with a frontlight and decent UI. It only got a 7.8 inch screen, which is great for portability, but can be a bit limiting for the content itself.
The Supernote A6X is also a 7.8 inch device, that focuses even more on note taking, is also very lightweight, but doesn't have a frontlight. It seems to be out of stock right now though.
In the 10 inch segment the Supernote A5X is the next best thing in terms of portability, with a weight of 375g without the pen and without the cover. Everything above that can become too heavy fairly quickly in my experience. The Pocketbook InkPad X Pro will be released in a couple of weeks and only has 350 grams, but it's unclear at this point how good it is.
The Remarkable 2 or Onyx Boox Note Air 2 can be good choices if you're willing to compromise on the weight.
Can u take notes on the e-books with this like the kobo sage or elipsa or the kindle scribe?
Yes and no ... You can directly annotate regular epub ebooks, but when changing the text styling many of the annotations will move to wrong positions.
It's fine as long as you don't change any styling, but that can severely limit your options depending on what you're reading.
Kobo is doing it much better with the screenshot-highlight after a text styling change and the Kindle Scribe is only allowing for sticky notes for that same reason.
I heard that it doesn't have palm rejection. Is there a posibility to change that?
I'd say it has rudimentary palm rejection, which works fine in notebooks but not especially great in PDF-files. Boox allows to disable the touchscreen for finger-touch to circumvent that issue.
I guess I’ll hold off purchase until a micro sd slot can be achieved
I am hoping eink tech will soon replace my ipad mini
i heard there was a way to expand the storage using a micro sd card with an otg connector, can you confirm this?
Yes, it does have OTG-support, so you can use a microSD-card-reader via USB-C to access the data on the card. Just tried it again - worked without any issues.
Does messenger work on it? I didnt get it to work on the 6" poke5 which made me return it.
The app itself does launch, but I personally don't it, so I can't say anything about it's reliability. But I suspect if it didn't work on the Poke 5 reliably it won't work on the Boox Tab Mini C neither, because both are using the same operating system.
How’s the security?
weight is very important for me
Can it be used as a monitor for MacBook Air?
Only with third-party software like duet and only with a bit of latency. See here (on a PC): ruclips.net/video/hTPefE69h2o/видео.html
Are your scales calibrated though?
Professionally? No - at least not since it has left the factory. But I have 2x 20g reference weights, that show that it works perfectly fine.
Can we change the picture on the cover?
Yes, you can set screensaver and power off images separately
it was heavier because of all comics you downloaded
Is it compatible with a keyboard?
Yes, you can use a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Wired keyboard should work as well, but I haven't tested that.
@@ChalidRaqami
Thanks 🙏🙏
kobo libra colour or tab mini c?
I'd pick the Tab Mini C because it gives a lot more options. It's one of the more underrated devices out there imho.
@@ChalidRaqami thanks! what apps do you use for reading btw?
Does is have RUclips Picture in Picture mode?
I don't have RUclips premium, so I can't test it. But you can install the RUclips app and the Android settings have the option to enable picture in picture mode. So my best guess is, that it works same as on any Android phone or tablet.
Can you use a pen with a eraser on ?
Yes, the eraser of the Boox Pen 2 Pro works
What is the price?
450 USD / 500 EUR
Hi, Thanks for the video.
I have a question.
Does Readwise Reader Application Work on This Product? When we emphasize, can we see the active emphasis?
Between this and Note Air 3C which one would you suggest given I don't mind a bit smaller screen. Can you fo a review to compare the 2? Thanks a lot.
I'd recommend the Boox Tab Mini C, because color saturation is noticably better. It also got better battery life and the more even front light. I'd honestly only recommend the Note Air 3C over the Tab Mini C if you need the larger screen. Other than that, I think the Mini C is the better device overall.
Hi Chalid, how is the text quality and B/W contrast compared with Nova Air C ?
I don't have the Boox Nova Air C here with me, but another Kaleido Plus device: The resolution boost to 150 ppi makes a big difference for text quality.
That low-key shimmering you can notice with Kaleido Plus is basically missing on the Boox Tab Mini C. It's more of a subtle grain, which makes readability much better in my opinion.
Contrast, ghosting and color saturation are more or less the same.
DON'T BUY FROM BOOX
After 2 months of having my Mini Tab C the screen breaks. After talking to customer service they claimed there was some external force that caused it and it wouldn't be covered under warranty. This was in their case in a bookbag with other sensitive electronic none of which had an issue like this. They said I can pay another $270 to fix it. I think I'll just take the loss of $400 before it ends up being a loss of $670.
its good but too dark for me!
Brighter is bad for your eyes
What is the best antivirus for this Ereader?
Sorry, I personally never have used any antivirus on my Android devices, so can't comment on that. I usually root them and block any outgoing traffic expect for some whitelisted apps. And I'm pretty restrictive on what I install.
you
Please don’t buy it . I bought it and it’s very slow and ghosting issues and the screen kept flashing. When I emailed customer service for return they tell you it’s normal. But n their website this tab mini c is advertising as super smooth experience. They tried everything but refused to gave me their return addresses. Until the 4 th time I ask to return and quoted the law in the uk for returning online purchases. Told them their refusal is breaking the law. I finally got it returned.
Is this too small for note taking?
Personally, I don't think so. But it depends on the setting. It's lighter than the 10 inch tablets, so it's easier to hold and therefore notetaking is also a bit easier imho.
If you're using it at school or at work sitting on a desk, a 10 inch tablet might be the better choice though. The larger screen is definitely noticeable in terms of comfort when writing lots of text.
@@ChalidRaqami thank you sir. I want a 3c, but knowing only some of what it can do..I need to know more to justify paying for it (it’s more expensive here in my country, it’s about 600)..
Maybe I should check if Amazon can ship
The screen on this device doesn’t last. If you’re planning on leaving this device at home on your desk, it might be okay.
I used mine in the cockpit of a business jet, to replace paper notes… screen stopped working and the Boox support has since refused to rectify the issue.
Sorry to hear that ... :( Doesn't help your case, but I haven't had any issues so far with any of the Boox devices I've tested on the channel (bought all of them myself).
Not legal advice, but if you're in the EU and got it through Amazon or a local reseller, you should be able to make a claim through the mandatory legal warranty obligation that sellers must adhere to when selling goods. So not the manufacturer (Boox) is your contact, but the seller (e.g. Amazon).
1:40 I hope you know you have to weigh the device when it's not charged? because if you charge it fully, it'll weigh more. 😂
When kindle will have colour screen 😢
I think it is stupid to do a color e-reader without sd slot. I would imagine that people want to read mostly comics, manga or pdf on it which are very large. Who is the target audience for this device? Grüße nach Österreich.
USB OTG works excellently - tested with 1TB SD card (NTFS) in a USB C reader
The main reason manufacturers ditched the card slot was because they could charge extra for more integrated storage. No idea why the ereading marketing followed suit with the smartphone market, because there's usually only one storage option for E-Ink tablets and ereaders. It's a shame really, because the slot itself probably only costs a few cents.
I will never understand why some people always want SD cards? They drain the battery, they are slower than the internal memory and we all have access to cloud and have several devices to transfer data. USB OTG is also a solution. Do you read 1000 comics on one vacation?
Would be nice if you explain your usecase to offer you a solution.
@@anduelanduel1425
It is just stupid not to include one if not for purpose like achieving IP68 certification
Lots of people store their local epub / comic collection locally and it's just a pain in the ass to always have to connect online or to have to delete your files once you've read them. It's just much more handy to have all your books on one device, always available with or without internet connection
@@anduelanduel1425Yes. I need my manga library with me at all times. All 94GB of it and growing every week. You know, because of the zombies 😅
I have the Page and I love it because it has a sdcard reader. Was thinking about also getting the Mini C but I’ll pass until something else comes along.
I brought one of the nova air 1s and it is a lovely and simple product for it;s intended use.
Though I think i would love it to have a daily planner built into the homescreen. I think it has a possibility to appeal to more people who want it as a planner 1st and a reader 2nd.
*very rough e.g of how i see it. ruclips.net/video/ABCXRMvdxCk/видео.html
I don't use it enough form a strong opinion, but i ask myself if most users would like the buttons built into the device and not the case.
I suspect most users would want to see the buttons integrated directly into the device (myself included). Maybe Boox got that feedback a couple of times, because they did just that with the Leaf 2 and Page.