Boox has just released their latest tablet, the Note Air5 C. As the newest iteration in their popular line of 10.3-inch color ePaper devices, it’s designed to appeal to professionals, students, and digital creatives. But the central question remains: is it worth upgrading from its predecessor, the Note Air4 C?
The Key New Features
The Note Air5 C is certainly a refinement, introducing several notable hardware and software updates compared to the Note Air4 C.
The most significant of these is the upgrade to Android 15. Moving to a future-proof operating system is a major reason to consider the 5C, especially since the older Android 12 has reached end-of-life, ensuring the latest security features and full Google Play access.
Another important addition is the New Pen3 Stylus, which uses EMR technology and offers 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, crucial for detailed handwriting and drawing accuracy.
Finally, the inclusion of pogo pins enables Dedicated Keyboard Case Support, allowing for a magnetic keyboard attachment that essentially transforms the Note Air5 C into a mini Android laptop for faster typing and enhanced productivity.
Despite these updates, the feeling remains that the updates are minor. Some might argue that a name like “Boox Note Air 4C Plus” might have been more fitting than “5C,” suggesting an incremental rather than revolutionary update.
The Pros of the Note Air5 C
The new device brings several strong selling points to the table. The Android 15 operating system offers a future-proof OS with the latest security and full Google Play access, which is a key reason to upgrade.
The confirmed EMR Stylus Support is excellent news, as it maintains accurate handwriting and better pressure sensitivity.
The Keyboard Case Support provided by the pogo pins is a significant productivity upgrade over the 4C. For reading and annotating, the device maintains a 300 PPI B&W Resolution for crisp text clarity (though color resolution remains 150 PPI due to Kaleido 3 tech).
Users will appreciate the inclusion of Expandable Storage via a microSD slot, supporting up to 1TB. For note-takers, the Smart Scribe AI converts messy, natural handwriting into clean, digitized text.
Lastly, the Boox Super Refresh Technology enhances refresh performance, improving responsiveness and reducing ghosting for a smoother reading experience.
The Cons
While the Note Air5 C refines the experience, it’s not without its drawbacks, particularly for existing Note Air 4C owners.
The primary issue is the Incremental Upgrade nature; the jump feels minor, focusing mostly on the new Android version and keyboard support, which may disappoint users who anticipated a major hardware overhaul.
There is also the issue of Identical Performance Hardware, as the device features hardware identical to the previous model—no speed upgrade, no additional RAM, and no change to the processor—meaning heavy users looking for a performance boost will be let down.
Battery Life Stagnation is another concern, as there is no change to the battery capacity from the previous device, so battery drain will likely remain a persistent concern for heavy users.
The device still utilizes Kaleido 3 technology, meaning Color Fidelity Limitations persist with low contrast and no improvement in color vibrancy over the 4C.
Furthermore, the new dedicated keyboard case, while a great addition, suffers from Keyboard Case Limitations because it lacks a touchpad.
Finally, a significant point of user frustration is the No OS Upgrade for Note Air 4C policy, meaning the older device will not receive the Android 15 upgrade despite having similar hardware.
Final Verdict
The Boox Note Air5 C is a refined device, not a revolutionary one. It addresses key needs like OS security, typing speed, and stylus precision, making it a compelling choice for new buyers and those upgrading from older models (pre-4C), as the updates will feel significant. However, if you already own the Note Air 4C and are satisfied with its performance and don’t specifically need the magnetic keyboard attachment or the jump to Android 15, the minor hardware changes might not be enough to justify the cost of the upgrade.
What do you think? Are Android 15 and the keyboard case enough to make the Note Air5 C a worthy upgrade?
