Boox Note Air 5C has been released recently! But is it any better than the reMarkable Paper Pro? Let’s compare them.
On one side, you have the Boox Note Air 5C (NA5C), a full Android ecosystem—the “Swiss Army Knife” of digital productivity. On the other, the reMarkable Paper Pro (RPP), a beautifully designed tablet purely for writing—the “Minimalist Dream.”
They both use similar E Ink color technology, but they are very different when it comes to hardware.
To help you decide, we break down where each device excels in focus, feel, and features.
The Upfront Verdict
Ultimately, the choice between these boils down to your needs:
Get the Boox Note Air 5C if:
Your priority is flexibility and apps. You need to run third-party apps like Kindle or OneNote, browse the web, and annotate diverse file types, including Word, ePUBs, and PDFs.
You also want the most powerful hardware and wish to avoid subscription fees for cloud synchronization.
For pure text reading, the NA5C is superior, offering the clearest black-and-white clarity.
Get the reMarkable Paper Pro if:
You prioritize a distraction-free environment and the closest resemblance to “pen-on-paper.”
It is best for individuals who focus primarily on clean handwriting, drafting, or visual journaling, or those who require a large canvas for diagrams.
Open vs. Closed Software
These two devices use a very different approach when it comes to the operating system.
Boox: The Android Open System
The Boox Note Air 5C runs on Android 15, which gives you access to the full Google Play Store. This flexibility allows the NA5C to be a jack of all trades for your digital life. You can use almost any app. Most e-reading apps are compatible (Kindle, Libby, Kobo).
Its open sync with services like Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive requires no mandatory recurring fee. This makes the NA5C an all-in-one productivity hub.
reMarkable: The Focused Operating System
The reMarkable Paper Pro is built on the Linux-based reMarkable OS. This system is closed by design, consciously excluding web browsers and third-party apps to foster a distraction-free environment.
But this simplicity comes with significant limitations. While the RPP supports cloud integrations like Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox, key features, including unlimited cloud storage and mobile/desktop app editing, are locked behind the Connect subscription ($2.99 per month or $29 per year).
Performance
The NA5C is a clear winner when it comes to power. It has a 2.0 GHz Octa-core CPU and a generous 6 GB of RAM. This powerful hardware, combined with BOOX Super Refresh Technology (BSR), is necessary to efficiently manage the complexity and overhead of the full Android 15 operating system and multitasking.
The NA5C has built-in speakers, a microphone, and a fingerprint scanner—features not available in the RPP.
The RPP uses a more modest 1.8 GHz Quad-core processor with only 2 GB of RAM. This leaner hardware is enough for what the RPP needs because its OS is optimized for its narrow set of tasks (reading and writing).
Both devices offer 64 GB of internal storage. The NA5C is future-proof because of its microSD card slot for cost-effective storage expansion.
Display
The NA5C uses a 10.3-inch Kaleido 3 display. It offers a 300 PPI resolution for black-and-white text (2480 x 1860), which is great for reading in terms of clarity and comfort.
But the trade-off of using Kaleido 3 is a lower color resolution of 150 PPI (at 1240×930).
The RPP uses a larger 11.8-inch Canvas Color display. This is superior in terms of display area for documents and sketching. But its resolution of 1620×2160 results in a lower B&W density of 229 PPI. The RPP’s use of Canvas Color, probably based on Gallery-class technology, offers better color saturation and contrast compared to Kaleido 3.
The Writing Experience
They both use somewhat different technologies for writing.
Pen-on-Paper
The RPP is made for maximum tactile fidelity. It has a one-of-a-kind textured display surface, which provides resistance that brilliantly mimics real handwriting. In terms of writing latency, it is exceptionally low (a rapid 12 milliseconds). The RPP is ideal for clean handwriting or visual journaling. Its pen supports pressure sensitivity and tilt, making it great for sketching and adding shading.
The NA5C also provides a good, smooth experience but is closer to “pen-on-glass.” However, the device compensates with a better digital feature set. Its stylus supports pressure sensitivity, palm rejection, and customizable buttons. The native Notes app is a studio-like workspace. It has advanced features like layers, an infinite canvas, extensive templates, and AI-powered Smart Scribe tools. Therefore, it’s aimed at users who need complex visual notes, detailed planning, and elaborate sketching.
For document handling, the NA5C wins. It has an open ecosystem, which supports almost any reading and annotation formats (PDFs, ePUBs, and even Microsoft Word documents).
The RPP’s file compatibility is limited, primarily working only with PDFs and its note formats.
Total Cost
In terms of cost, the Boox Note Air 5C wins.
The Boox Note Air 5C is priced affordably at about $530 USD. It has no ongoing recurring costs for core functionality.
The reMarkable Paper Pro has a significantly higher cost, approximately $779 USD. Also, the RPP requires the Connect subscription ($2.99/mo or $29/year) to unlock essential professional features like unlimited cloud storage and mobile application editing. Over a three-year span, this subscription adds approximately $108 to the cost.
The NA5C offers better hardware: Octa-core CPU, 6 GB RAM, expandable storage**,** and greater overall utility for a lower cost, making it better “bang for the buck.”
The Final Verdict
The Boox Note Air 5C is the definitive choice for someone who values versatility and affordability. Its strengths—superior hardware, the open Android 15 operating system, access to Google Play, robust file format support, and open cloud integration—make it the most versatile single purchase today.
Having said that, for the niche user base—people who appreciate focus and concentration, who value the tactile sensation of writing above all functional utility, or those who find any form of multitasking distracting—the reMarkable Paper Pro remains a great choice.
This device is great for deep-focus drafting or sketching where the cost premium and subscription requirement are acceptable trade-offs for unparalleled focus and analog feel.
