From eReader experts Onyx, theBoox Poke5is a palm-sized 6-inch design that’s perfect for travel. While light on features, this hearty digital device allows you to enjoy ebooks, audiobooks, and other digital content in one compact device—as well as install any Android apps you want.
Onyx Boox Poke5
The Onyx Boox Poke5 provides pocket-sized entertainment for fans of ebooks and audiobooks. It is one of the best eReaders for those who wish to carry their books with them daily.
Onyx Boox Poke5: What’s in the Box?
The Onyx Boox Poke5 eReader comes with everything needed to get started right away. The package includes the Poke5 eReader, and a USB-C charging cord. Equipped with a quad-core CPU, 300 PPI eInk Carta Plus display, dual-band Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0, the Poke5 also boasts USB-C and MicroSD compatibility. This makes for expandable storage up to 1TB—though 10GB of free cloud storage is also included.
Features and Expandable Storage
Things toconsider when purchasing an eReaderinclude compatibility, features, storage, and digital formats supported by the device. The Boox Poke5 excels in these categories.
It supports a multitude of ebook, audiobook, image, and media formats such as TXT, HTML, RTF, FB2, FB2.zip, DOC, DOCX, PRC, MOBI, CHM, EPUB, JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, PDF, DjVu, MP3, WAV, CBR, and CBZ. So Onyx customers have the ability to download content from various sources to enjoy on their devices. Considering the MicroSD slot and the cloud storage, you have room to download a ton of content and enjoy it on the go.
The Boox Poke5 can also be used to enjoy audiobooks or music through headphones with Bluetooth connectivity. Additionally, you can connect a Bluetooth speaker to the device. Additionally, the eReader features a capacitive screen for the ability to annotate and highlight as you read.
The Poke5 is Google Play Store-compatible and can be personalized with third-party apps as it runs Android 11. This means you can download a variety of third-party apps to your Boox Poke5 device, and further expand the usefulness of the device. An excellent example of this is the use of a third-party note-taking app, which can be paired with a Bluetooth keyboard if long-form note-taking is desired.
If you like to read in a reclined position, the Boox Poke5 offers both landscape and portrait modes for ultimate comfort. This feature isn’t offered by many other popular eReaders, and illustrates Onyx’s focus on user comfort within the design of the device.
A Comfortable and Customizable User Experience
One of the primary ways in which the Boox Poke5 outshines its competitors is through its focus on providing customers with an outstanding user experience. Unlike other popular eReaders, such as the Amazon Kindle, the Poke5 does not show on-screen ads at any price point. For this reason, there is no need for consumers to pay a higher price to not be bothered by unwanted ads displayed on their devices. This small change provides an advantage over the powerhouse that is the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, one of the Boox Poke5’s biggest competitors.
Beyond the lack of upselling, the Boox Poke5 also takes the time to address concerns about the user’ssleep wellness and eye strain.
It features a dual-tone illumination system. This system boasts both warm and cold adjustable light tones combined with adjustable brightness for optimal eye strain-reducing capabilities. These customizable settings make a large difference in the length of time one can read comfortably, especially within a low-light environment.
The page-turning speed while enjoying ebooks is paced well and does not feel laggy over the course of long-term use.
The Boox Poke5 offers easy access to free digital entertainment through its compatibility with common library apps such as Libby, Overdrive, and Hoopla. Apps like theLibby Library Appallow library members to check out digital resources, including ebooks and audiobooks, and send them directly to the Boox Poke5 to enjoy. By connecting directly to these vast resources, Onyx allows its users a simple pathway to content that is free of charge.
One of the most impressive features of the Boox Poke5 compared to marketplace competitors is its magnetic cover. While not included in the box with the device, the cover is worth the investment ($30) as it protects both the back and front of the device.
By magnetically securing to the back of the eReader, the cover stays in place easily and securely. The slightly less strong magnetic front cover closes and opens with ease to protect the device screen when not in use, and puts the Poke5 into sleep mode automatically when closed. This cover protects the Poke5, while also providing a sleek and minimalist aesthetic.
The battery life of the Boox Poke5 is adequate. The 1,500mAh battery provided a substantial number of hours of usage before needing to be recharged using the included USB-C cable. Exact times varied based on usage type and screen brightness, but on average a fully charged battery provided 10 hours of active usage time. When the device was in sleep mode, with the cover on, there was next to no battery drainage noted.
For an average eReader consumer, the Boox Poke5 would most likely only need to be recharged once every week or two.
A Few Drawbacks and a Confusing Interface
The Onyx Boox Poke5 is an impressive device; however, it is not without its drawbacks. Most notably, the device is not waterproof. For those wishing to read in the pool or bath, that’s a dealbreaker.
Additionally, the operating system could potentially be confusing for some users. While its customizable composition and compatibility with many third-party apps allow for a tailored experience, it can also become daunting for those who prefer a simpler interface.
Using the device is not as intuitive as some of the simpler eReaders on the market. For this reason, for those who enjoy simplicity and dislike taking the time to learn and customize many details, other devices on the market may be a better fit.
It is important to note that the smaller screen of the Boox Poke5, at 6 inches, does not allow for as many words to appear on each page when reading an ebook. For this reason, users may need to turn the page more frequently compared to other popular devices such as the Rakuten Kobo Elcipsea or the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite series. This issue can be mitigated by adjusting the size of the type to suit the preferences of the user.
One of the first things most consider when making a purchase is the price point of a device. The Onyx Boox Poke5 is priced at $170 compared to the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, which is priced at $139. While not the most affordable eReader on the market, the Boox Poke5 is offered at a fair price for the device’s capabilities, which surpass that of the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite.
However, should a customer order for delivery to the United States, it is important to note that an additional $40 shipping fee will apply, thus making the cost for the device $210. In the age of fast and free delivery options that competitors such as Amazon offer, Onyx’s shipping charges are a significant drawback when purchasing a Boox Poke5.
When choosing the Boox Poke5 for its compatibility with third-party apps, it is important to note that currently, the applications do not run as fast as they may on other devices. It appears that Onyx is aware of this issue, and improvements, along with new features, are expected with firmware updates at later dates.
Should You Buy the Onyx Boox Poke5?
Overall, theOnyx Boox Poke5is an excellent eReader for those who wish to take their reading on the go. It is incredibly compact and fits easily into most purses and even some back pockets. The optional cover is one of the most sleek and durable on the market.
The slightly heavier weight of this eReader compared to popular competitors on the market, paired with the high-quality cover, makes for a luxurious feel when reading the Poke5.
