After a yr with the wonderful Onyx Boox Palma, I used to be trying ahead to seeing a giant Black Friday sale so I may suggest it because the go-to e-reader this vacation season. Sadly, Amazon solely slashed the worth by 12%, which means it is not less expensive than the Boox Palma 2 that simply got here out.
Whereas I usually would suggest choosing up a year-old system for an important low cost, the Palma 2 is the higher purchase though it is at present $279. How does this make any sense? Merely put, newer may be notably higher on the planet of low-cost e-readers for a couple of hidden causes, most of all is software program assist.
The Boox Palma 2 runs Android 13 whereas the unique Palma remains to be on Android 11 and sure will not get up to date to something newer. Other than some good new options, meaning the Palma 2 can run apps for a minimum of two years longer than the unique Palma as a result of there’s going to be some extent the place apps now not assist Android 11. Contemplating apps are THE purpose to select a Boox over different e-readers, that is sufficient for me to suggest the newer unit.
✅Advisable if: You are trying to give your eyes a relaxation out of your cellphone’s harsh show, otherwise you simply need a extra pocketable e-reader that is able to operating full Android apps.
❌Skip this deal if: You solely learn books by way of Amazon’s Kindle service. There are cheaper Kindles which might be lower than half the worth of this.
I referred to as the unique Onyx Boox Palma “the right bedtime system” in my evaluation, and the second iteration improves the expertise in a couple of small methods. Onyx did not attempt to reinvent the wheel or radically alter the expertise for the Palma 2, however it did embrace a sooner processor, higher audio system, and a fingerprint reader nestled within the energy button.
The processor enchancment makes on a regular basis computing a bit faster and simply usually improves the general expertise. Onyx additionally added a couple of further new options to the system together with an AI assistant that may reply questions, maintaining your cellphone in your pocket (or in a cupboard) whilst you keep as distraction-free as potential.
The Palma 2 options the identical wonderful tremendous quick refresh e-ink show as the unique, which suggests it is good for scrolling by way of net pages, books, and loads of different apps with out having that basic e-reader refresh jank. Plus, it is tremendous pleasant on the eyes with no nasty PWM dimming or flickering backlight.
And whereas the Palma 2 is definitely able to enjoying video games, you are most likely going to need to follow crossword puzzles or Wordle-type video games as a result of it is powerful to play most fashionable video games on the black-and-white show. There is a purpose the unique GameBoy had simplistic video games, so follow these in the event you really need that from this system.