The Ultimate Onyx Boox Poke 5 Review: A Must-Read for E-Book Enthusiasts
Unleash the power of your personal library and essential media with the Onyx Boox Poke 5 Immerse yourself in the experience of holding a small paperback, enjoy the crisp and clear display, and embrace the versatility of its connectivity and compatibility Explore the world of HP Lovecraft and indulge in a customized reading experience Although lacking access to the Play Store, this remarkable device is a worthy investment for any avid reader
Key Takeaways
The Onyx Boox Poke 5 is a highly portable and versatile eReader that offers a clear and bright display, making it a great option for digitizing your library.
Supporting multiple file formats and eReader apps, the Poke 5 also includes a complimentary magnetic case to enhance both comfort and protection. Nonetheless, the Poke 5's performance may be sluggish and its user interface elements can seem cumbersome.
The Onyx Boox Poke 5 is positioned as a more user-friendly alternative to eReaders like the Kindle and Nook, particularly when it comes to its compact size and adaptability. While it provides ample support for all your eReading requirements, its Android software may appear somewhat rudimentary.
The Onyx Boox Poke 5 is a reliable replacement for worn-out paperbacks filling your bookshelves. While not flawless, its few shortcomings are easily overlooked thanks to its extensive selection of titles and impressive features.
- Brand: Onyx
- Screen: E-Ink Carta HD
- Resolution: 1448 x 1072
- Storage: 32GB
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- Front Light: Yes
- Operating System: Android 11
- Battery: Rechargeable 1,500 mAh
- Weight: 0.35 ounces
- Dimensions: 5.82 x 4.25 x 0.267 inches (148mm x 108mm x 6.8mm)
- Format Support: EPUB, DOC, DOCX, RTF, TXT, JPG, PNG, MP3, WAV
- RAM: 2GB
- Screen Size: 6 inches
- Ports: USB-C, microSD/SDHC card slot
- Pros: Clear and bright display
Comfortable size
Plenty of free books for download
Supports several file formats and eReader apps
Comes with a free magnetic case
Cons Not the fastest performance
Some clunky UI elements
$170 at Best Buy $170 at B&H Photo Video $170 at Walmart
Design: Like Holding a Small Paperback
When it comes to consumer tech, it often follows one of two trends: devices getting larger or devices getting smaller. Personally, I prefer the latter, which is why the ultra-portable design of the Poke 5 really catches my attention. Standing at 5.75 inches tall and 4.25 inches wide, the Poke 5 is slightly shorter than both the Kindle Paperwhite and Nook Glowlight 4. These two competitive eReaders are priced similarly, making the Poke 5 a significant standout in terms of its compact size.
The Poke 5 proved to be incredibly comfortable to hold for extended periods. Its sleek, contoured bezel provided a cushioning effect for the palms, and I was particularly delighted by the rounded corners of the eReader. Although I did experience some hand fatigue after prolonged reading sessions, I believe it was more attributed to my own tendency to remain immobile when engrossed in a captivating book.
Located at the top of the device, the Poke 5 features a power/standby button. With a simple tap, the eReader can be put to sleep, while a long-press will power it down (and subsequently turn it back on). Along the bottom frame, you'll find a USB-C charging port and a microSD card slot, though removing the covering of the card slot may require a paper clip. It is worth noting that while I expected a headphone jack for audiobooks, Onyx appears to assume that Bluetooth headphones are the preferred method of audio consumption in today's era.
With that said, the company offers a magnetized case for the Poke 5 that enhances comfort and provides extra protection for the eReader. Additionally, the case prevents the Poke 5's matte-black surface from accumulating fingerprints and smudges.
Regarding its power, the Boox Poke 5 comes with a 1,500mAh battery that can be conveniently recharged using a USB-C cable. During my usage of the eReader, I never had the need to recharge the device. However, I did notice a decrease in battery life of approximately 25 percent after every two hours of continuous use.
Display: Crisp and Clear
The Boox Poke 5 features an E-Ink Carta HD e-paper display, similar to other popular eReaders like the Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Elipsa. With a resolution of 1,448 x 1,072 and 300 pixels per inch, the six-inch screen delivers impressive detail despite its small size. Unlike traditional tablets, eReaders have a distinct look, particularly when it comes to font and images, resembling a printed book.
One standout feature of the Poke 5 is the level of control it offers over the backlight. When winding down at night, I prefer using electronic devices at the lowest brightness settings. The Poke 5 allows you to adjust the peak brightness levels, toggle the backlight on and off, and customize the warm and cool light output individually or in combination. During the day, I found it enjoyable to use the Poke 5 at its brightest setting, with both warm and cool light options enabled. However, at night, I found my eyes felt most comfortable with warm light set to approximately 50%.
While reading, the Poke 5 provides the option to customize the font style, text size, line spacing, language, and more. To access further display settings, simply tap the top of the screen where the clock, Wi-Fi, and battery indicators are located, and choose "E Ink Center."
Connectivity and Compatibility: Covers All the Must-Haves
This dashboard allows you to easily modify the overall contrast and refresh modes. The latter is particularly beneficial for enhancing the quality of fonts and images based on the type of content you are viewing. For straightforward eReader text and images, I found that the "Normal" and "Speed" modes yielded the best results. However, the "Regal," "A2," and "X" refresh modes are better suited for books and apps that involve a significant amount of scrolling and page-turning. I noticed that these three presets caused unnecessary ghosting, especially when using Chrome to browse the web.
The Poke 5 resembles a compact Android 11 tablet, making Wi-Fi crucial for its functionality. A reliable internet connection is necessary for downloading books and browsing the web, since there is no cellular backup option available. It is important to ensure that you are connected to a secure and protected Wi-Fi network.
Moreover, the Poke 5 conveniently supports Bluetooth 5.0. This allowed me to effortlessly connect the device to headphones and an Alexa smart speaker. This feature is beneficial for those who enjoy ambient sounds while reading. Additionally, Bluetooth audio provides an excellent means of utilizing the Poke 5 for playing audiobooks and podcasts.
As far as supported file formats go, the Poke 5 can handle a pretty diverse array of document and media types, including EPUB, DOC, DOCX, RTF, TXT, JPG, PNG, MP3, and WAV.
Software and User Interface: Android Doesn’t Always Listen
Running on Android 11, the Boox Poke 5 is equipped with a powerful Qualcomm 2.0GHz quad-core chipset and 2GB of RAM. With 32GB of built-in storage, expandable up to 1TB using a microSD card, the Poke 5 offers ample space for all your needs. While it may not be the fastest device, the Poke 5 reliably reaches its destination. It takes approximately 30 seconds for the eReader to power on and load the user interface. Once loaded, you'll find five main tabs available at the bottom of the default home screen: "Library," "Store," "Storage," "Apps," and "Settings."
In my experience, there were occasional delays when selecting any of these options, almost like catching the Poke 5 off guard. Additionally, the buffering was minor, but other UI elements, such as the touchscreen keyboard, also operated at a slower pace. It would sometimes require one or two keystrokes before successfully inputting a character. However, unless browsing the web, the keyboard usage should be infrequent.
The "Library" section is where you can find all the ebooks and compatible documents that you have downloaded or uploaded to the Poke 5. On the other hand, the "Store" is where you can access Boox's marketplace to download ebooks. If you enjoy reading extensively, you will be pleased to discover that Boox's archive consists of a vast collection of literary classics, royalty-free books, graphic novels, and novellas. The best part is that all of them are completely free!
For those seeking a more contemporary experience, Android apps such as Kindo and Libby provide the option to download modern books and publications. However, it should be noted that these reading apps cannot be downloaded from Onyx's App Store. Instead, one must navigate to the Google Play Store to install these alternative readers.
A notable feature of the "Storage" app is its ability to provide a comprehensive overview of the various types of media stored on the Poke 5, including documents, images, music, videos, fonts, and more. The "Apps" section allows users to access their downloaded apps and provides the option to download additional ones, either through Onyx's App Store or the Google Play Store. Another important section is "Settings," where users can check for firmware updates, establish Wi-Fi connections, link the Poke 5 to platforms like Dropbox and Google Drive, and access the device's built-in user manual.
Using the Onyx Boox Poke 5: An Evening with H.P. Lovecraft
Lately, I've been really into horror fiction, so I thought it would be interesting to immerse the Poke 5 in the eerie world of H.P. Lovecraft's "The Dunwich Horror." This creepy short story provided a great opportunity for me to test the functionality of the eReader.
While reading, the Poke 5 allows for page turns through both finger swipes and taps. A leftward or downward swipe on the screen takes you one page forward, while a rightward or upward swipe brings you one page back. Additionally, a single tap serves as a secondary page forward.
The floating toolbar is initially positioned on the right margin. Tapping the icon with three horizontal lines will display a comprehensive dashboard with various reading customizations such as font size/style, word spacing, languages, book progress, and more. Additionally, the floating toolbar includes page-turning buttons and a three-dot icon that allows customization of the toolbar itself. To eliminate distractions, I promptly chose to hide the toolbar entirely. However, it can easily be accessed by swiping left from the right margin (tap the icon with two pointing arrows at the top of the toolbar to re-hide it).
Furthermore, I found it beneficial to press and hold a word (which can be expanded to encompass entire sentences, paragraphs, and pages) to reveal a dashboard consisting of useful tools. These tools include Neoreader's built-in dictionary, a notepad feature, highlighting and underlining options, and more. If you prefer using Webster or other online dictionaries for definitions, you can also link them to the Poke 5. These dictionaries can be accessed through the sub-menu in the same manner.
I found the haptic feedback to be generally reliable, although there were a few instances where I had to repeat a long-press on the Poke 5 because it didn't respond to my touch. This occurrence was sporadic and didn't happen too frequently.
Apps and Entertainment: No Play Store Allowed
In addition to its eReading capabilities, the Poke 5 offers several pre-installed apps, as well as the option to download others, allowing you to use it as a traditional tablet or smartphone to some extent.
The app menu includes essential tools such as a calculator, calendar, clock, photo gallery, and music player. Furthermore, by accessing the Onyx App Store, you can download additional apps categorized as "Reader," "News," and "Study." While I initially found Onyx's app archive unimpressive, I was delighted to discover that the Android 11 OS enables you to download a wide range of apps from the Google Play Store. However, before accessing the Play Store, you'll need to complete a few registration steps.
To access the Play Store on your Boox device, follow these steps:
1. Open the "Apps" menu and click on the three-line icon located at the top-right corner of the page.
2. Select "App Management" and scroll down until you locate the "Enable Google Play" option.
3. By default, this setting is disabled. Toggle it to the on position.
4. Once enabled, tap on the option labeled "GSF ID" below it.
5. You will then be directed to a login screen where you need to sign in with your Google account.
6. After signing in, your Boox device will be linked to your Google account, granting you access to the Play Store.
7. Please note that it may take between one hour and 48 hours for the linking process to complete.
Although the process of linking your account may not be the most user-friendly, it is necessary if you wish to download books from Kindle and other ebook apps. However, after following the above steps, the account linking process was completed swiftly for me, allowing me to download and use the Play Store without any issues.
Should You Buy the Onyx Boox Poke 5?
In the end, I believe the Onyx Boox Poke 5 is a reliable eReader that fulfills the essential requirements of individuals seeking a digitalized library. Although its Android foundation may need some improvements, Onyx's consistent delivery of firmware updates should address all major obstacles encountered along the journey.
The Onyx Boox Poke 5 is a commendable replacement for the worn-out paperbacks that overcrowd your bookshelves, scoring a solid 7 out of 10. Though not flawless, it compensates for its minor flaws with an impressive collection of titles and other notable attributes.
$170 at Best Buy $170 at B&H Photo Video $170 at Walmart
