Onyx is a Chinese company which proposes e-readers with electronic ink and the Android operating system for a maximum compatibility with the applications of reading of ebooks. They have just launched the Onyx Boox Poke 5.
The particularity of the Onyx e-readers is the presence of the Android system and the possibility of adding new applications with Google Play.
This characteristic allows to install applications of reading proposed by the big actors of the ebook: Kindle and Kobo in head of list.
This new Onyx Boox Poke 5 e-reader comes with a 6-inch Carta 1300 HD e-ink screen with a resolution of 1448 x 1072 pixels.
The new Carta 1300 e ink screen is the real deal because it is one of the first e-reader to have it.
The Onyx Boox Poke 5 has a touch screen (perfectly integrated "flush bezel" type, i.e. without edge with the case) and is devoid of buttons on the front - contrary to the competing models which tend more and more to propose at least two buttons to turn the pages (Kobo Libra 2, Pocketbook readers).
In terms of lighting, this e-reader offers a color temperature adjustment system that adds a little warmth to the screen by offering a yellow / orange light softer for the eyes. This feature is supposed to reduce the negative effects of blue light on the body and eyes of the reader.
See the ONYX BOOX e-readers on Amazon.com
Here are the complete technical specifications of the Onyx Boox Poke 5 e-reader:
- E Ink Carta 1300 HD screen, 6 inches, resolution of 1448 x 1072 pixels (300 dpi)
- Touch screen with lighting and blue light filter
- Qualcomm quad-core processor
- RAM: 2 GB
- Storage: 32 GB
- Wifi
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Android 11 operating system (with Google Play)
- Micro SD
- Microphone
- 1500 mAh battery
- Weight: about 160 grams
These features reveal two important points.
First, there is a microphone and a Bluetooth connection that will allow to connect to the Onyx reader headphones or a speaker and, thus, enjoy reading audio books.
Then, the capacity of the battery linked to the use of the Android system (more greedy in energy than the system of a reader dedicated to the reading) will make the autonomy of this Onyx Boox Poke 5 rather weak.
Compared to a classic reader of a big brand like Kobo or Kindle, we can suppose that the autonomy will be 2 to 3 times weaker on this model of Onyx reader.
It is thus a technical compromise to allow to have a compact and light reader while proposing the Android system and its great variety of available applications.
The price of this Onyx Boox Poke 5 e-reader is $179.99 which is quite high. But, for this price, you will also have a protective cover with magnet to protect the screen, as well as the whole Android ecosystem (Google Play and Google services).
It is therefore one of the most affordable reading devices on the market if you want to enjoy the many reading applications available for Android (ebooks, but also audio books and manga).
As always, I have mixed feelings about these models of e-reader with Android. On the one hand, it's very nice to enjoy the numerous applications available. But, on the other hand, the reading experience has always seemed to me less good and less intuitive than with a "classic" e-reader fully optimized for this function.
This Onyx Boox Poke 5 reader is thus to be reserved for the informed users who are at ease with the configuration of technological devices. The users who wish a simple and "turnkey" reading machine have all interest to turn to a brand of reader like Kindle, Kobo or Pocketbook.
