Last month Onyx released a new Bluetooth keyboard that’s designed to work with their 10.3-inch Onyx Note models along with the larger 13.3-inch Max models.
Technically you can use it with Onyx’s smaller devices as well, including the new Boox Nova2. The Nova is too small to fit securely in both end tabs but you can still prop it up along the back edge and use one tab to partially secure it and that works pretty well.
Pros
The Onyx Note2 fits securely in the keyboard’s tabs and you can pivot the holder so it works kind of like a laptop.
You can navigate much of the interface using the keyboard only, including turning pages in ebooks, switching apps, and there are a number of shortcuts using the Fn key, although there seems to be no way to access the quick settings menu or in-app menus without touching the screen.
The keyboard is lightweight and it has a built-in battery that supposedly lasts for several weeks of normal use.
It automatically reconnects after turning it off or putting your Boox device in sleep mode so you don’t have to reconnect it every time.
It’s nice having a word processor with the benefits of an E Ink screen, with easily readable text outdoors in bright light and low power consumption.
Cons
Onyx’s own Note app doesn’t support landscape mode so the keyboard is pretty much useless without using a 3rd party writing or note app (WriterP from Onyx’s onboard appstore seem to work well enough).
Inexplicably the keyboard has a micro-USB port even though Onyx’s devices now have USB-C ports so you have to carry around a different cable in order to charge the keyboard.
It’s a $30 keyboard so don’t expect great keys but it works well enough to be functional.
There’s no menu button or menu shortcut on the keyboard so you often have to use the touchscreen to open menus.
Bug: When using the default Onyx keyboard, it will revert to Chinese whenever you hide the on-screen keyboard from view. Switching to the Android keyboard solves the problem.
Conclusion
If you want to do any kind of long-form typing on your Onyx ereader, the Onyx Bluetooth keyboard is a nice accessory to have and the price is reasonable. I like how there’s a slot to hold the ereader in place, but I’ve also used this cheap Bluetooth keyboard and it works fine too if you don’t mind using a separate stand.
Good device. Buy
I am still waiting for Android 9.0.
Onix: Better software that boyue, and others.
Keyboard it’s not USB c.
Not versión for LATAM, spanish “ń”, yet.
I don’t want yo Buy another kind of cover case, Ford both devices. Or it comes incluye with they keyboard? I don’t think so.
No case is included and you have to actually remove the device from its case before it will fit (minor con, I guess).
Is it possible to see how Boox Max2 fits in? Also on cons side I would add screen overlapping of left tablet holder (this is based on picture in this text).
I don’t have one so I don’t know exactly how it would fit. On their website it says “*Perfectly applicable to 10.3 inch and 13.3 inch Boox eink tablets”, so I assume it would work with any of those models. The tab does overlap the screen a little but it’s not really an issue.
After looking more thoroughly video presentation, “applicable” should be read as “Max2 can connect to this keyboard but do not expect perfect or nice looking fit”.
I just have tried Brydge 12.9 MkII with Boox Max2. If we disregard gold color it fits better. Also, some function keys work as well. Interestingly, screen brightness keys are live but without any visible effect.
Anyhow, for the time being I will wait for real Boox Max (2) keyboard that will have stand-by switch when closed (keyboard lock works!) and full device protection (something like portfolio case with keyboard).
Of course, for outdoor typing Brydge will suffice even now.
Since the Max 2 is a previous generation Boox product, this will probably never happen.
One of the 3rd party writing apps that works with Onyx is Microsoft Word.
Nathan, understood HiSense Q5 is a 10 inch e-ink tablet price rather affordably at USD 329 if I remember well. I am keen to acquire it as Hi Sense is reputable compared to likebook say. Also it’s cheaper, doubling up as tablet. If it can double as a tablet, it got to be more powerful than conventional e ink reader. Please can you do a review on this? Target to release on 10 June.
It does not have an E Ink screen; it’s some kind of monochrome LCD screen. I’ll review it if Hisense sells it in the US, but they probably won’t.
Can you travel between icons with keyboard and select them? I’m a disabled guy who can access keyboard, mouse but touch screen and on-device buttons are difficult. Being able to control an e-book reader with external keyboard/mouse would be great. Mainly i want to be able to open an e-book and turn pages.
Yes, you can navigate the interface using the keyboard and use the arrows to select different app icons for instance. However, the one fail by Onyx is you cannot open a book using a keyboard.
does it work on onyx note plus ?
Yeah, it’ll work with any model that has Bluetooth.