Earlier this month Arta Tech released the Onyx Boox AfterGlow 2, a 6-inch ebook reader with a frontlight, HD E Ink screen and Android 4.2.2.
Soon after Banggood.com started selling an almost identical device called the Onyx Boox C67ML (upgraded version). It appears to be about 95% the same as the AfterGlow 2, though there are some subtle differences.
Onyx is one of those companies that releases a whole bunch of different devices with several almost identical yet subtly different models, some with different brand names. It’s hard to keep up with them all and makes it confusing for consumers.
Nonetheless, the Onyx Boox C67ML appears to be a good option for an Android ebook reader, at least on paper. And at $128.60 with a cover included, the price is reasonable for the amount of features it offers.
But the problem with Banggood is they ship from China so shipping takes longer and returning anything costs a fortune for return shipping. Plus their listings tend to be a little on the ambiguous side.
For instance, the product details mention that the C67ML runs Android 4.2.2 and that you can install all kinds of reading apps. But it doesn’t specifically mention anything about having Google Play access to install those apps. The user manual is available for download, and it doesn’t mention Google Play support anywhere either, but it does include a screenshot that shows the Play Store in the app drawer, along with a bunch on Chinese apps.
The C67ML is basically the Chinese version of the AfterGlow 2. Obviously it supports using an English interface, among others languages, but it’s not clear if the Play Store comes preinstalled or if the device has to be rooted to sideloaded it.
Another difference between the Boox C67ML and AfterGlow 2 is the stated processor speed, with emphasis on stated. Both list the same dual-core Cortex A9 processor, but the C67ML shows 1.0 GHz whereas the AfterGlow 2 shows 1.2 GHz.
Additional features for the Boox C67ML include a 1024 x 758 resolution E Ink screen, 4GB of storage space, it has a memory card slot, physical page turn buttons, a frontlight, capacitive touchscreen, 3.5mm headphone jack, and Wi-Fi.
If anyone happens to get an Onyx Boox C67ML, please let us know what you think in the comments section.
Onyx Boox C67ML Specs
- 6” inch E Ink display.
- 1024 x 758 px resolution (212 dpi).
- Capacitive touchscreen (2-point).
- Built-in frontlight.
- Android 4.2.2 OS.
- Processor: Dual-Core Cortex A9 1.0GHz.
- 512 MB RAM.
- 4GB internal storage space (3.5GB usable).
- Memory card slot (up to 32GB).
- Micro USB 2.0.
- 3.5mm headphone jack.
- Wi-Fi.
- Text-to-speech supported.
- Languages: Simplified Chinese & Traditional Chinese, English, Spanish, Finnish, French, Croatian, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Swedish, Turkish, Slovak, Slovenian.
- Supported formats: Adobe DRM, PDF, EPUB, TXT, DJVU, HTML, RTF, FB2, DOC, MOBI, CHM, PDB; Audio: MP3, WAV; Images: JPG, BMP, GIF, PNG.
- Battery: 1700mAh Li-Polymer.
- Dimensions: 170 x 117 x 8.7mm.
- Weight: 225 grams.
Warranty & Customer Service in China, not EU, no Google Play, no IVONA Text-to-speech. Price does not include taxes.
Are you positive that it doesn’t come with Google Play? A screenshot in the official user manual shows Google Play in the app drawer. Plus IVONA text-to-speech is free and there is no tax when purchasing in the US.
Just opened this for Christmas. Can confirm that it doesn’t come with google play. A post at banggood.com http://www.banggood.com/forum-topic-32037.html says it can be rooted to support google play. I’ve seen posts on some russian site about successful rooting. I’ll wait for clear instructions in english before attempting that.
In the mean time, apks can be side loaded.
Cool, thanks for letting us know. There are some different rooting methods outlined at MobileRead for the Onyx T68; here’s a one click rooting method and further down the page there’s a link for Towelroot. Here’s a separate set of detailed instructions for a different device, but the Android version is the same and the Google apps are in the links section. I don’t have any experience with either myself, but you might try researching them as they will probably work with the C67ML as well since the tools aren’t device specific.
Another minor inconsistency is that the Onyx pdf manual for the C67ML lists the processor speed as 1.2 GHz, making it seem identical in that respect to the “Afterglow2”. It seems possible the differences in the Afterglow2 and the C67ML are in software, not hardware.
The truth is even more inconsistent. ArtaTech indeed advertises AG2 as 1.2GHz. The actual frequency however is fixed to 912MHz. It does not contain any lower frequencies to save the battery life. It either runs at 912MHz or enters deep sleep. I am not even sure if its CPU (Rockchip 3026) can be run at 1.2GHz. The manufacturer page shows 1GHz max.
Does Onyx Boox c67ml carta have bluetooth to use wireless earphones?
I don’t think so but they have so many different versions it’s impossible to keep track of.