Photo: Andrew Liszewski | Gizmodo
When it comes to choosing an e-reader, for most users it comes down to which device has easy access to the books they really want to read, and the answer is usually Amazon’s Kindle or Rakuten Kobo. Now there’s a third option, Onyx’s Boox Leaf 2, which allows users to buy books from competing e-book stores, without having to settle for locked devices from either company.
Unless you’re as obsessed with E Ink devices as I am or live outside of the US, Onyx might not be a company you’ve heard of before. And that’s a shame, because over the past few years it’s been putting together a wide range of eReaders and eNotes that really put the established brands to shame in terms of performance and functionality. Unlike the Kindle or Kobo, which have proprietary operating systems, the Onyx Boox Leaf 2 runs Android 11 under a custom front-end and includes full access to the Google Play Store, including not only e-book apps, but also games and other tools too.
Is it the perfect e-reader for everyone? No, as it is definitely geared towards the customization-loving Android power user. But if you’re willing to invest a little time to make it work exactly the way you want it to, it’s an e-reader that anyone who’s given up paper books should seriously consider.
Onyx Boox Leaf 2
A compact e-reader with dedicated page-turning buttons that also runs Android 11, providing access to competitor reading apps and online bookstores, so users aren’t locked into the Amazon or Rakuten ecosystems Kobo.
Onyx Boox Leaf 2
A compact e-reader with dedicated page-turning buttons that also runs Android 11, providing access to competitor reading apps and online bookstores, so users aren’t locked into the Amazon or Rakuten ecosystems Kobo.
WHAT IS?
Onyx’s latest dedicated e-reader that adds a set of page turn buttons on an extended bezel that’s easier to hold with one hand, plus all the benefits of Android 11 and access to Google Play Store.
PRICE
$200
I LIKE
Incredibly customizable, including how the E Ink screen works. It’s also light and sturdy, but the biggest draw is being able to install any Android app you want to use, from e-book stores to e-readers, even games and productivity apps.
I do not like it
It can take a while to customize the Boox Leaf 2 to your liking, and even then the custom Android front end lacks the polish found on devices like Kindles and Kobos, and can sometimes feel a bit clumsy
Solid hardware that doesn’t dare to be different
By now, if you’ve seen an e-reader, you’ve pretty much seen them all. Like smartphones, there isn’t much variation between E Ink devices these days, other than screen size and where other features like buttons and charging ports are located.
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The Onyx Boox Leaf 2 is one of the smallest e-readers available today with dedicated page turn buttons. Photo: Andrew Liszewski | Gizmodo
If the Boox branding in the top corner doesn’t catch their eye, most people would have a hard time telling the Leaf 2 apart from the Kindle Oasis or Kobo Libra e-readers, which all feature an asymmetrical bezel design, making them devices are easier to use. hold in one hand
There’s no space between the Onyx Boox Leaf 2’s page-turn buttons, and it’s sometimes hard to distinguish between forward and backward, depending on where your finger lands. Photo: Andrew Liszewski | Gizmodo
The Boox Leaf 2 is one of the first Onyx devices in a few years to feature built-in dedicated page-turn buttons, but I’m not entirely thrilled with its execution. I like that the forward and back buttons on the side of the Kindle Oasis and the Kobo Libra have a space between them, which makes them easier to distinguish without having to look. In Leaf 2, they sit next to each other with a noticeable gap between them.
Another thing I miss on the Boox Leaf 2 is the raised lip that the Kindle Oasis and Kobo Libra have on the wider side of the bezel, which makes them easier to hold with one hand. That’s not to say that the Leaf 2 is difficult to hold, as it’s surprisingly light and sturdy, but it’s just another example of how the lack of polish and design sharpness keeps Onyx’s devices from being as popular as they deserve to be But year after year, they keep getting better.
There’s only one other button on the Onyx Leaf 2, a power/sleep button on the top edge. Photo: Andrew Liszewski | Gizmodo
On the top edge of the Leaf 2, you’ll find a power/sleep combo button to temporarily turn off the e-reader or turn it off completely, while on the edge closest to the page-turning buttons are speakers, a USB-C charging port, a microphone and a slot for a microSD memory card, which allow you to supplement the 32 GB of built-in storage.
I’d generally describe the Leaf 2’s hardware as minimal and elegant, but its smooth back panel is a fingerprint magnet and desperately needs some texture to make the device easier to grip. That said, I highly recommend e-readers with asymmetrical bezel designs like this, as I find them much easier to hold without my fingers blocking or accidentally touching the touchscreen, and I’d still choose the Leaf 2 over the Kindle and Kobo devices more basic which do not have dedicated page turning buttons.
The black version of the Onyx Boox Leaf 2 includes a protective layer of glass, while the white version (not tested) leaves the E Ink panel exposed for less glare and sharper text. Photo: Andrew Liszewski | Gizmodo
Onyx actually sells two versions of the Boox Leaf 2, in black or white, but it’s not just a color difference that differentiates the two options. Both models are nearly identical in terms of their hardware, each featuring the seven-inch, 300PPI E Ink Carta 1200 display we’ve already seen on other devices. But while the black version, which I tested, has a layer of protective glass over the E-ink panel, which brings the screen in line with the rest of the front of the e-reader, the white version skips the panel of glass, with an exposed E Ink panel slightly lower than the surrounding bezel.
The black version offers the benefit of extra durability, especially if the Leaf 2 is going to bounce around unprotected in a bag or backpack, but the extra layer of glass contributes to screen glare when the device is used in direct sunlight or under a lamp and a slight softening of what is seen on the screen. It’s not like night and day, but when compared closely, the text and details on the white version of the Leaf 2 appear a little sharper. Both versions are priced exactly the same and Onyx leaves it up to each user to decide what works best for their needs. That’s pretty much what the Leaf 2 is all about: extreme customization, which is both a plus and a minus for this device.
Android: Onyx Leaf 2’s not-so-secret weapon
While Amazon’s Kindles and Rakuten Kobos run a proprietary operating system (a version of Linux under the Kobo’s hood), the Boox Leaf 2 runs Android 11, with a custom front-end developed by Onyx.
Even with a custom front-end, navigating the Onyx Boox Leaf 2 will feel familiar to Android users. Photo: Andrew Liszewski | Gizmodo
If you’re familiar with Android and prefer it to more restricted operating systems like Apple’s iOS, you’ll probably find the Leaf 2 a familiar and welcome experience, complete with a Control Center that’s accessible at all times by swiping down from the top. of the screen and a navigation bar accessible by swiping up from the bottom. Functionally, using the Leaf 2 feels more like using an Android tablet than an e-reader, but visually it’s more like a Kobo or Kindle thanks to the Onyx front-end, which unfortunately lacks much polish.
I’ve said this before with Onyx devices, but the custom UI can feel a bit confusing, clunky, and far from pretty. After spending some time with the device, you’ll easily find your way around, but it’s not intuitive, and that could be a big disadvantage for users who are already familiar with and fans of Amazon’s e-readers. Benefiting from Onyx’s e-reader approach takes some determination and perseverance.
The color temperature of the Onyx Boox Leaf 2’s display lighting can be precisely adjusted for warmer or cooler hues. Photo: Andrew Liszewski | Gizmodo
If you like to customize the look and feel of your devices, the Leaf 2 is definitely the e-reader for you. Users can choose to make it feel more like an Android tablet, with menus popping up on the screen from all directions, or switch to a more streamlined interface where swipe gestures on specific parts of the screen make changes, like now adjust the screen brightness or volume. without any controls appearing on the screen. Onyx also offers a feature unique to all of its E Ink devices: a small dot on the screen that can be placed anywhere and provides quick access to a small menu of shortcuts that users can configure to their liking. I actually hate it and immediately turned it off, but I can understand the potential utility it offers.
The extensive customization of the Onyx Boox Leaf 2 can be overwhelming at times, including how text is displayed in e-books and documents. Photo: Andrew Liszewski | Gizmodo
Sideloading content, including e-book, text or PDF files, is accessed via the default Boox Neo Reader app, which offers an almost exhaustive level of customization in how content is displayed and appearance of the text. It’s certainly a welcome feature for power users, and there are options I’ve often wished were available on Kindles and Kobos, but at the same time I can easily see my parents being overwhelmed by the countless slider-filled menus and switches that the Leaf 2 presents a user. To broaden its appeal, I think…