Onyx Boox Note Air 2

With paper-like digital note-taking and Google apps, this sleek and super-fast E Ink tablet impresses

- JAMIE CARTER

Editing and annotating documents is a breeze on the large 10.3in screen

PRICE £375 (£450 inc VAT) from amazon.co.uk

It may use the same E Ink technology made famous by the Kindle, but the Note Air 2 is all about productivity. Sure, you can read books on it, and even download the Kindle app, but this 10.3 in screen is there for editing. It can’t quite display A4 documents in their native size, but it shows them big enough both to read and edit comfortably; more so than the 8in Kobo Sage opposite.

The EInk display has paper-like qualities that make writing and drawing feel natural

There’s plenty more to love about the Note Air 2 other than its big screen. Slim at only 5.8mm, a large spine on the left-hand side makes the unit easy to hold in one hand. It also includes a Wacom stylus, complete with a choice of nibs, which magnetically attaches to the spine of the Note Air 2. Well, most of the time: because the magnet is small, the stylus dropped to the floor multiple times after I thought I’d secured it in place. A larger, stronger magnet would be a great addition on any future upgrade. So would a choice of finishes: the navy blue with orange logo is a pleasant look, but a touch business-like. At least the bundled slip case matches.

Like all E Ink devices, the Note Air 2’s display is a joy to read. It uses a Carta panel with a 1,404 x 1,872 resolution that equates to 300ppi, so it’s sharp despite its size. Onyx uses Asahi protective glass topped by an extra stylus layer that gives it a paper-like friction, all in 12 shades of grey.