Onyx has released a new ereader with a 7.8-inch color E Ink screen called the Boox Nova3 Color.
Basically it’s exactly the same as the regular Nova3 except this new version has a color E Ink screen instead of a regular black and white screen, and the color models only have a cool-colored frontlight, no warm frontlight.
Aside from that the specs are identical. It has an octa-core CPU, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, USB-C, dual band WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, and a Wacom touchscreen with stylus, and like other Boox ereaders it runs Android 10 and is open to install Android apps.
They are using the latest version of E Ink’s Kaleido screen so colors have improved over the earlier Poke2 Color, but the resolution remains the same with 300ppi for black and white content and 100ppi for color. See my color E Ink comparison for a closer look.
With the release of the Nova3 Onyx is also releasing a new software update, version 3.1. They added more customizable options, more gestures, screen recording, and they added new sharing options to easily transfer content. They also improved the ePub engine on the built-in Neo Reader app.
The Nova3 Color is now available to purchase on Amazon for $419 with free shipping. It’s also available directly from Onyx’s website if you don’t mind their unfriendly return policy.
Looks like I better start carving out some space in the budget.
I’m super excited about the potential of color e-ink. But I have moments of despair… Is it actually possible to advance the contrast and clarity of a system that requires that color filter layer? It doesn’t really seem like we are dealing with Moore’s law or anything at this point, but rather actual physical laws of the universe and how they relate to these specific implementations.
In other words, is this is as good as it can get in a reflective color display?
The Wacom layer on the Nova 3 Color makes the experience worse, whites are more yellowish for example. The Pocketbook Color has the same screen but it’s nicer to look at, see the comparison side by side on Gizmodo: https://gizmodo.com/the-boox-nova-3-color-proves-color-e-ink-screens-arent-1846356179
And no, I don’t think so. Why would this be the best it can be? Color e-ink is making progress fast. Kaleido 1 in 2020, now Kaleido 2, and there are already images about Kaleido 2.5 and rumors about Kaleido 3. And Onyx mentions that ACeP is not used in e-readers in the Nova 3 Color page, see the FAQ: https://www.boox.com/nova3color/
“However, ACeP™ can only support a low refresh rate currently.” Currently. But they do mention it and talk about the differences with the Kaleido screen they are using now. As in “we are launching the best there is right today, but don’t be surprised if it changes in the future”.
It all seemed great until they mentioned that you have to pay for OCR. Forget that.
Having just purchased a Nova 3 Color I would like to advise people on one minor initial use issue. Do not try to activate the Google Services until after you update the device. Even if you do a manual check for an update and the device reports it is up to date you should wait. There really is an update that is required in order to activate Google Services. My device initially reported no update required and then refused to activate Google Services. After leaving it turned on for an hour or so it finally reported that an update was available and after installing I was able to activate Google.
How do you like your Color?