Boox Go 7 review

Last year, I wrote about my experience trying out the Boox Go 6 e-reader and how it finally converted me into an e-reader fan. So when Boox reached out to me with an opportunity to test the next version, the Go 7, I was definitely intrigued.

Like the Go 6, the Boox Go 7 is effectively just an Android tablet with an e-ink display, for good and bad. I got into some of the benefits and drawbacks of Android-based e-readers in the Go 6 review, so I won’t repeat myself here other than to say that if you just want to read books, you might be better off with something like a Kobo. However, anyone who wants customization and a more open-ended experience would benefit from a Boox e-reader, as long as they don’t mind if things are a bit janky, too.

Moreover, the software experience on the Boox Go 7 is very similar to that of the Go 6, with a few small differences I’ll get into below where relevant. The biggest is that the Go 7 runs Android 13, which, while still several versions behind, is also ahead of the Go 6’s Android 11. But in terms of the core book-reading functionality, I didn’t notice any immediate differences between the two devices, at least on the software side.

The biggest differences are actually in the hardware. The most immediately noticeable include the screen — the Go 7 sports a 7-inch, 300ppi e-ink display compared to a 6-inch, 300ppi screen on the Go 6. The larger screen also means the Boox Go 7 is physically larger, but part of that is the side handle with buttons.

Big side bezel

Boox Go 7 textured back

Yes, the Boox Go 7 is the latest e-reader to add a larger side bezel on one side. Admittedly, I wasn’t a big fan at first, but as I used the Go 7 more, it started to grow on me. While I still think it makes the Go 7 look weird, the large side bezel makes for an effective handle, giving me a spot to grip. Once I got used to it and using the buttons to turn pages, I actually found the side bezel to be more comfortable for longer reading sessions, despite the heavier weight (195g to the Go 6’s 146g). The Boox Go 7’s textured back also helps with gripping it compared to the smooth plastic of the Go 6.

I did find the side handle bezel made orienting the device feel strange, especially with the case on (more on that below). For example, if you hold the Boox Go 7’s handle with your left hand, it puts the power button in the top-left corner, but if you hold it with your right hand — which I often did — it puts the power button on the bottom right corner. There isn’t anything really wrong with that; it just felt weird for the power button to be there. Plus, the USB-C charging port occupies the other corner of the side-handle, which means it’s either in the top-right corner or bottom-left corner, depending on which way you hold the e-reader.

Boox Go 7 (left) and Go 6 (right).

The Boox Go 7’s larger footprint also leaves room for a bigger 2,300mAh battery compared to the Go 6’s 1,500mAh cell, allowing for better battery life on the Go 7. (The larger battery likely also contributes to the heavier weight, but even holding them side-by-side, I barely notice the difference.)

Ultimately, the biggest downside to the larger footprint of the Boox Go 7 is that it isn’t as pocketable as the Go 6. The Go 6 was small enough that I could chuck it in my pocket and carry it around with ease, but not so much with the Go 7 as it’s too wide.

Finally, there are some notable internal differences. Both the Go 6 and 7 sport an unnamed octa-core CPU, but the Go 7 features 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage compared to 2GB and 32GB, respectively, on the Go 6. It may not seem like a lot on paper, but the Go 7 performs noticeably better than the Go 6. There’s also a version of the Boox Go 7 with a colour screen, though I haven’t tested that one myself.

E-writing with e-ink

Boox Go 7 with magnetic case.

That brings me to the one thing that is very new, at least for me, coming from the Boox Go 6. And that is the Boox Go 7’s stylus support. I used Boox’s InkSense stylus, which worked quite well with the Go 7. There’s a built-in notes app with support for most of the things you’d expect from a notes app, including different brushes (and colours, if you have the colour version), the ability to create lines and shapes, a feature that turns handwriting into clean text, and even a lasso tool for selecting items.

Stylus capabilities were one of the things that intrigued me most about the Boox Go 7. I love a good paper notebook, in part because I find that writing things down helps them stick in my brain better. As such, I was really excited to try the Go 7 with a stylus to see how it stacked up to traditional paper. However, results were mixed.

Writing on the Boox Go 7.

Let’s start with what I liked. Using a digital notebook like what’s on the Boox Go 7 felt very freeing because there weren’t any physical constraints — I didn’t have to worry about running out of room or out of paper because there was always another page. I also never felt wasteful writing on the Go 7, which made it a lot easier to use as a sort of scratch pad throughout the work day, jotting down whatever figures, calculations, notes, reminders, and anything else I needed.

As for what I didn’t like, well, there are a few things. Writing with the InkSense and Go 7 felt good, but it didn’t feel as good as paper. Even after using it as my primary notebook for several weeks, I still prefer paper. Maybe that’s because I’m a sucker for good stationary and love fountain pens. Whatever it is, paper felt better, more meaningful and natural in a way that the InkSense and Go 7 did not.

Boox Go 7 and InkSense stylus.

Beyond that, I found that referring back to what I had written was much more tedious on the Boox Go 7. With a paper notebook, I can quickly flip through pages or even mark important pages by folding a corner or with a sticky note. You can achieve something similar with tags in the notes app, but it just doesn’t quite feel the same.

Speaking of pages, it also bugged me that the notes app forced me to use digital ‘pages.’ I had hoped for an experience where I had an effectively unending digital canvas like you’d find in a whiteboarding app like Apple’s Freeform or Microsoft Whiteboard, but unfortunately, that’s not available here. You can zoom in and out of the note canvas, but the functionality is limited, and there are outer bounds to the size of the note, so it’s not ideal.

It’s also worth noting that the stylus has a rechargeable battery and a USB-C port for charging. The battery life on it is pretty decent — it lasted me close to two weeks of fairly regular use before I needed to top it up.

Still, I found the stylus and note features handy, even if I mostly ended up using them as a scratch pad. I’m not sure I’d fork out the extra US$45.99 (C$63.13) for the InkSense stylus just for that functionality, but it is handy at times. However, if you do get the stylus, you’ll also want to spring for the companion magnetic case, which includes a loop to hold the pen. Otherwise, there’s no way to attach the stylus to the Go 7.

The magnetic case is fine, overall. It comes in grey or beige colours and sports a vegan leather exterior along with a microfibre interior. It attaches to the Go 7 via magnets and is quite secure without adding significant bulk. My only real gripe with the case is that because of the Go 7’s side handle, orienting the case can be a bit weird, and I found myself constantly turning the Go 7 around depending on whether I wanted to write or read.

Worth your money?

The Boox Go 7 retails for US$249.99 (C$343.15) on the Boox website, which includes a free magnetic case (no stylus loop), or you can pay US$286.99 (C$393.93) for the bundle, which includes a magnetic case (with stylus loop) and the InkSense stylus. This is a bit cheaper than buying the e-reader and stylus separately, so if you want the stylus, this is the way to go.

Other retail options are limited. Amazon Canada lists some Boox devices, but not the Go 7. There’s also an online retailer called ‘e-reader.ca’ that claims to be an authorized Canadian seller of Boox products, though I’m not overly familiar with it. Canadians can purchase the Go 7 through e-reader.ca for either $310.50 (tablet only) or $350 (with case). The site doesn’t offer a stylus bundle, but it is available separately for $59.50.

At roughly $100 more than the Boox Go 6, the Go 7 is compelling. I think the improved performance and battery life are enough to warrant the extra cost, though anyone who wants a pocketable e-reader should stick with the Go 6.

Looking outside the Boox family, the Go 7 is priced higher than the Kobo Libra Colour ($259.99), and the colour Go 7 is even more at US$279.99 (C$382.38). Ultimately, I think the core decision comes down to what you want to do with the e-reader. If you’re already deeply in the Kobo ecosystem, or if you’re in the market for a simpler, more straightforward e-reader experience with minimal friction, I think the Kobo makes more sense.

But anyone seeking increased flexibility from their e-reader and willing to put up with some software jank will find the Boox Go 7 to be a much more capable device. I like having that flexibility and enjoy tinkering with the Boox software — not everyone will.