I almost didn’t write this review.
My first thought while writing this was that reviewing a tablet from 2022 in 2026 seemed odd, especially since Onyx has already launched three newer models by now.
But as I looked through my old notes from when I used the Boox Note Air2 almost every day, I realized something: many people might still be searching for “Boox Note Air 2” every week, and that is actually true. They find it secondhand, read old reviews, or simply don’t need the latest version.So here’s an honest look at whether this older Boox device is still worth considering in 2026.
Let me be clear upfront because this is a key point. This is no longer the tablet Onyx is pushing for new buyers.
It has been quietly moved aside by the Note Air 3, the Note Air 3 C, and the newer Note Air4 C. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad product. It just means it’s meant for a specific group of users, not everyone.
Note Air 2 in Boox’s Lineup:
Onyx introduced the Note Air 2 in 2022.
At the time, it was a significant step forward for the brand.
It had a large 10.3-inch screen, an open Android system, and a design that stood out from the usual plastic tablets in the market. A Plus version followed a bit later with a bigger battery, and both models were on the market side by side before Onyx moved on to the Note Air 3 and later the color versions like the Note Air 3 C and Note Air 4 C.
Looking back, what I find interesting is how much of the original design and structure of the Note Air 2 carried over.
The 10.3-inch size, the general look and feel, and even some of the software elements, all go back to this device.
If you’ve ever used a newer Boox tablet and felt a familiar vibe, that’s not a coincidence.
Read
That doesn’t make the device pointless to talk about. Plenty of readers land on this exact search term because they already own one, inherited one, or found a listing somewhere and want to know if it still holds up. Short answer: mostly yes, with a few caveats worth being honest about.
Announced as the successor to the original Note Air, the Note Air2 arrived with a mission that sounds modest on paper but mattered a lot to the people who bought it: improve the writing feel, bump the hardware, and keep the whole thing thin enough to disappear into a bag. Onyx laminated the screen with an upgraded writing film specifically to add more friction under the stylus, paired it with a new magnetic pen, and packed it into a 5.8mm-thin aluminum shell.
Specifications:
| Details | Boox Note Air2 |
|---|---|
| Screen | 10.3″ E Ink Carta, monochrome |
| Thickness | 5.8mm |
| RAM / Storage | 4GB / 64GB (LPDDR4X, UFS 2.1) |
| Operating System | Android 11 |
| Battery | 3,700mAh |
| Stylus | BOOX Pen Plus, magnetic attachment, 4,096 pressure levels |
| Cloud Storage | 5GB free (Onyx later expanded this to 10GB across newer models) |
| Firmware Support | 3+ years of free updates, per Onyx’s own commitment |
| Original Price | $499.99, later discounted to $449.99 |
My honest first impression, going back and reading through Onyx’s own release notes for this device, is that it represented a genuinely deliberate step up from the original Note Air rather than a token annual refresh. The writing film change in particular is the kind of improvement that doesn’t show up in a spec sheet comparison but changes how the device actually feels under a pen.
The Design:
The Note Air 2 has a simple, clean design with a minimal aluminum frame and rounded edges.
Three years later, it still doesn’t look dated when compared to newer devices.
That’s a genuine compliment, considering how quickly tech from 2022 starts to look outdated.
Weighing in at around 420 grams, it fits within the typical weight range of most 10.3-inch E-ink tablets today.
So, newer devices haven’t really solved the issue of it feeling a bit heavy for one-handed reading either.
Onyx included a magnetic accessory system in the frame for its official case.It snaps on securely and can be folded into a stand, which I really appreciated after using it daily rather than just looking at it in photos.
“What surprised me most going back through this device’s spec history wasn’t any single number. It was realizing how much of what Onyx sells today as ‘new’ in their 2026 lineup actually traces its roots straight back to decisions made here.”
Display:
The Note Air2 features a 10.3-inch monochrome E Ink Carta display, part of the same screen family that was commonly used in serious writing tablets from that time.. It has no color options and lacks a Kaleido layer which makes it offer you a straightforward black and white E-paper experience optimized for clear text and handwriting.
For users who have tried modern color E-ink tablets and found the soft, muted colors disappointing, returning to a pure monochrome display like this can actually be quite refreshing. The text appears sharp, the contrast is strong, and there’s no distracting background competing with the content on the page.
The device also includes an adjustable front light, allowing users to switch between warmer and cooler lighting depending on the time of day.
This small but important feature made a significant difference for those using the device as a nighttime reading tool, as a bright, cool-toned light at 11 p.m.is far from ideal for a relaxing reading experience.
Hardware and Performance: A Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 Chip
Under the hood is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 chip, paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of UFS 2.1 storage.
These specs might not impress someone shopping for a modern smartphone, but for an E-ink tablet, where screen refresh rate is the primary concern, not raw processing power, it’s more than enough.
Taking notes feels smooth, split-screen multitasking between apps works well without lag, and navigating through the Boox launcher remains fluid.
However, the device does show its age in heavier Android apps, especially browser-based tasks.
Load times and scrolling can feel a bit slower compared to the newer Note Air 4 C, which uses a faster chipset.
Software:
The Note Air 2 runs on Android 11 with full access to the Google Play Store, which was rare for an e-ink tablet when it first came out. That remains one of its major advantages even now.
You can install apps like Kindle, Libby, OneNote, Evernote, and WPS Office, just like you would on a typical Android tablet.
Boox’s own reading and note-taking apps such as NeoReader for documents and the native Notes app for handwriting, support 17 different ebook formats. It offers PDF reflow for large documents, and includes text to speech conversion and cloud sync through a free 10GB Onyx cloud account..
None of these features has really changed in newer models, which tells me Onyx built a solid foundation with the Note Air 2 and has been gradually improving on it since.
The Stylus and Writing Feel:
The BOOX Pen Plus that shipped alongside the Note Air2 attaches magnetically to the side of the device. It is a small but genuinely convenient detail for anyone who’s ever lost a stylus while it was rattling around in a bag. With 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, it captures the kind of light-to-heavy stroke variation that makes handwritten notes and sketches actually look like they came from a pen rather than a rigid digital line.
The writing experience is further enhanced by the upgraded writing film by onyx. As a result, the overall feel of writing remains impressive even when compared to tablets that were released years after. While it doesn’t offer the same level of texture as a Supernote’s ceramic nib system, it is genuinely very close.
And this is a significant praise for a device from this time period.
Battery Life:
This is one area where the Note Air 2 impresses. With a 3,000mAh battery (the standard model), it comfortably handled about a week of regular use in my testing, closer to two weeks if I limited myself to reading and light note-taking.
The Plus version, with its 3,700mAh battery, stretched this even further.
This battery life is really competitive with newer Android based E-ink tablets, which typically fall within a similar range despite having newer hardware.
Battery efficiency on E-ink devices mostly depends on how well the software manages background processes, and Onyx clearly got this right even back in this older generation.
Colors & Folio
The Note Air2 is itself shipped in a single understated tone rather than a spread of color options, keeping the focus squarely on function over flash. Onyx provided a magnetic protective case, and the personalization was reflected in the accessories.
They opted for a genuinely appealing two-tone design, specifically designed for this series, and particularly for the Plus version. The design combined bright orange PU leather with a denim blue fabric spine, and this combination differentiated it from the majority of black folios that most competitors typically use.
Pricing: Then and Now
Officially, Onyx priced the Note Air2 at $499.99, with the price later dropping to $449.99 as newer models pushed it down the lineup. Since it’s now marked sold out on the official store, any current pricing you’ll find comes from secondhand markets or retailers clearing old stock, and that pricing swings widely depending on condition, included accessories, and how badly the seller wants it gone.
Comparison:
| Specs | Note Air2 | Note Air2 Plus | Note Air4C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 10.3″ monochrome | 10.3″ monochrome | 10.3″ Kaleido 3 color |
| RAM / Storage | 4GB / 64GB | 4GB / 64GB | 6GB / 64GB |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 11 | Android 13 |
| Battery | 3,700mAh | 3,700mAh | 3,700mAh |
| Availability | Sold out officially | Sold out officially | Currently sold new |
| Best for | Secondhand buyers on a budget | Slightly more polished secondhand pick | Buyers wanting a current, supported device |
If a genuinely current, fully supported device is what you’re after, the Boox Note Air4C is where Onyx’s attention and firmware updates are actively going in 2026. The Note Air2 remains a fine device to own if you already have one or find a well-priced used unit, but it’s no longer the forward-looking choice it was at launch.
2 Devices Side by Side
10.3″ mono · 64GB · Secondhand only
✅ Slim aluminum build that’s aged well
✅ Strong writing feel for its era
❌ Android 11, aging app compatibility
❌ No longer sold new by Onyx
10.3″ Kaleido 3 color · 64GB · $499.99–$529.99
✅ Current Android version and active support
✅ Color display, faster processor
❌ Heavier and pricier than the Air2
❌ Shorter battery life than a pure monochrome device
Pros and Cons, Honestly Laid Out
| UPSIDES | DOWNSIDES |
|---|---|
| Genuinely thin, sturdy aluminum build that doesn’t feel dated in the hand | No longer sold new through Onyx’s own store |
| Sharp monochrome text rendering with an adjustable front light | Android 11 is increasingly behind current app requirements |
| Pressure-sensitive magnetic stylus that captures natural handwriting variation | 4GB of RAM feels tight compared to newer 6GB models |
| Solid battery life for an Android-based e-ink tablet | No color display, which some buyers now expect as standard |
| Firmware update commitment that kept it usable well past launch | Pricing on secondhand markets is inconsistent and depends heavily on seller honesty about condition |
Who Should Actually Look for One
If you’ve found a well-priced, well-maintained Note Air2 and your needs are simple, reading, annotating PDFs, handwritten notes, this remains a genuinely capable device and arguably a smart way to get into the Boox ecosystem without paying current flagship prices. If you want a device Onyx is still actively updating, or you specifically want color e-ink, you’re better served looking at what’s currently sitting on their shelves instead.Skip it if: you want color e-ink or guaranteed ongoing software support
My Final Verdict
My genuine opinion after reviewing all the material Onyx has shared about this device is that the Note Air2 has aged better than most technology from its release period deserves. The build quality, the writing experience, and the thoughtful features like the magnetic stylus attachment still perform very well.
What has changed isn’t the device itself, but the fact that Onyx has moved on without it. Buying one now means you’re getting a well-made, older product rather than a new, supported device.
If you don’t mind this exchange and the price seems reasonable, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
However, if staying up-to-date with the latest technology and active support is important to you, consider looking at what’s currently available from Boox instead.
FAQs
Is the Boox Note Air2 still available to buy new?
No, it’s currently listed as sold out on Onyx’s official store. Any units available now come through secondhand markets or leftover retailer stock.
Is the Boox Note Air2 worth buying secondhand in 2026?
For basic reading, annotation, and note-taking, yes, provided the price reflects its age and it’s received available firmware updates. For anything requiring newer Android app compatibility, a current model is a safer bet.
How does the Note Air2 compare to the Note Air4C?
The Note Air4C brings a faster processor, more RAM, a color display, and current Android software support, while the Note Air2 offers a lighter, purely monochrome experience with strong build quality from its era.
What stylus does the Boox Note Air2 use?
The BOOX Pen Plus, which attaches magnetically to the device and supports 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity for natural handwriting and sketching.
Does the Boox Note Air2 support color?
No, it uses a monochrome E Ink Carta display. Color support arrived later with models like the Note Air3C and Note Air4C.
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