It's been over 10 years since I gave up reading on paper books in favor of an e-reader! For some, taking the plunge is unthinkable, in my case, I have never read as much as since I started reading eBooks! I must say that I really appreciate the reading comfort of such an object: the e-reader is the possibility of carrying dozens of books in a device that weighs less than a paper book... It is also the possibility of reading anywhere and especially in the dark!
So when BOOX offered me to test their latest model, the BOOX Go Color 7, I didn't hesitate for a moment. Especially since I was about to go on vacation and therefore had a long reading window ahead of me to thoroughly test this e-reader with its very attractive features!
The advantages of an e-reader
Before going any further, let's go back over the main advantages that make me prefer the e-reader to the paper book.
- Read with one hand: I like to read when I take the subway. But during rush hour, it's hard to sit down. So it's often necessary to hold on to the bar to avoid falling... and using an e-reader is a real pleasure in this type of situation. One hand is enough to hold the device, but also to turn the pages.
- Not heavy: On average a paperback book weighs between 200 and 400 grams. Most e-readers are lighter than that (192 grams for the Go Color 7).
- Not bulky: An e-reader takes up less space than a single paperback book… But it is possible to store hundreds of books in an e-reader… so it replaces an entire library. It is a really practical device for long trips or for holidays!
- Backlight: If you read in bed, it is an ideal tool to not disturb your other half, since you can read in the dark in a very comfortable way.
But that's not all, we can mention other advantages of e-readers such as accessibility (for the visually impaired), reading comfort or autonomy.
A quick overview of the BOOX Go Color 7 e-reader
La BOOX Go Color 7 e-reader comes in the form of a small rectangle (almost square) measuring 15,6 cm by 13,7 cm for a very reduced thickness of 6,4 mm and a featherweight of 192 grams. On one of the edges of the device, there is a 2,3 cm strip on which are positioned two buttons allowing, depending on the case, to turn the pages, to adjust the volume… or quite a few other functions configurable in the settings of the device. These buttons can be customized differently depending on the applications.
The e-reader is equipped with a 3-inch diagonal (7cm) Kaleido 17.8 ePaper screen offering 4 colors. This screen, in addition to classic books, therefore allows you to view images and read manga in color quite comfortably. The screen is touch sensitive and offers plenty of configurable gesture possibilities.
The Go Color 7 is also equipped on the edge with a small speaker, a microphone, a USB-C port for charging and connecting accessories, a standby button and a microSD slot to increase the memory of the device. This is also 64 GB (not bad for storing a nice eBook library) for 4 GB of RAM.
Finally, the BOOX Go Color 7 welcomes a 2,4 GHz octa-core processor allowing to rotate Android 12 . The whole thing is powered and ensured by a 2mAh lithium-ion polymer battery.
In the box :
- the reader
- a USB-A to USB-C cable for charging and transfers from a computer
- a manual
- a small utensil to open the SD card slot
Autonomy
On such a device it is really difficult to judge autonomy. E-readers in general are known and recognized for their battery life which can last several weeks. This is explained by the ePaper screen technology which only consumes when it is refreshed (usually changing pages). With this, it is of course necessary to take into account the backlight which consumes as soon as the screen is on. But in the case of the BOOX Go Color 7, the battery life is a little more complicated to gauge.
And for good reason, This device, beyond an e-reader, behaves like a real tablet whose screen would be a screen with eInk. Its connectivity (WiFi, Bluetooth, etc.) and its ability to run real mobile applications are real "gasps" of autonomy. Consequently, it is difficult to compare its autonomy to that of a Kindle whose sole mission will be to allow you to read books.
I tested this e-reader with a first charge during which I was content to use it only (or almost only) for reading, cutting off WiFi and Bluetooth and with a screen brightness less than half of what is possible. During this period, I read about 1 hour per day, and the e-reader lasted 2 and a half weeks (18 days). I was hoping for better given the low energy consumption I made of it.
For the 2nd charge, I was much less rigorous about energy consumption. I sometimes used WiFi (without leaving it permanently activated), I put more brightness and I played two games (crosswords) while continuing to read about 1 hour per day. The autonomy has of course decreased, but less than what I imagined. I thus lasted about ten days.
In the end, even if the autonomy is very satisfactory for a tablet, it seems to me a bit weak for an e-reader. The constraint of having to recharge the device from time to time is felt, where on my Kindle, I had the impression of never recharging it (at least at the beginning).
Useful apps and features…
The BOOX Go Color 7 is a bit of a hybrid device. While it is primarily an e-reader with an ePaper screen and therefore particularly dedicated to reading, it does have many advantages that could allow it to replace other devices by making it look like a slightly simplified tablet (ePaper screen required) in some respects.
Reading on the BOOX Go Color 7
As an e-reader, I'll start by talking about its e-reader function... Indeed, in my opinion, the rest of the features and applications are just bonuses! First of all, what we expect from the BOOX Go Color 7 is to offer a good quality reading experience! What about it?
Before I could start reading comfortably on this e-reader, I spent some time configuring the display of books: font, font thickness and size, line spacing, character spacing, etc. The configuration possibilities are very numerous and allow you to do a lot of things. But this makes things a bit complex... there is almost too much freedom left to the user. I would have appreciated having some default configurations (beyond the factory configuration). It is also difficult to find a font which I like… but I’m a bit picky about that!
Once the configuration was done, I was able to start reading several books on this e-reader. Without being a big reader, I like to read and I am a big believer in electronic reading on an e-reader (my last paper book was years ago).
Result: Once I got used to my font settings, I quickly enjoyed reading on this device. The screen is nice and it is possible to adjust the backlight and the "warmth" of the latter for a reading that suits you. The letters are displayed very well and clearly. When you turn the pages, the refresh is done very quickly and there is no ghosting (trace of the previous page that persists on the screen).
Finally, while I was a little doubtful at first, I really appreciate the presence of buttons to change pages.. They are very well placed and allow the e-reader to be held very comfortably in one hand. Being used to holding my e-reader in my left hand (but sometimes alternating when my arm gets tired), I also really liked the presence ofan accelerometer to automatically orient the screen (in all 4 directions). In short, for me it is a real determining element and one that I greatly appreciate on this tablet compared to my Kindle. Note that beyond the buttons, the screen being tactile, it is also possible to turn the pages by touching the screen.
In terms of screen settings, the backlight is quite effective and offers a range from "very bright" to "no backlight". A second slider allows you to adjust the warmth of the backlight.
Small downside however, I find that the background of the screen is a little too gray… I would have appreciated a tone closer to white, closer to paper. Moreover, in an effort to recall the paper, BOOX has voluntarily given the back of the e-reader a texture reminiscent of paper, pleasant to the touch and allowing a better grip.
Read a comic or a manga
One of the notable points of the BOOX Go Color 7 is its color screen. Since this is an ePaper screen with eInk, the colors are of course not as vibrant as on paper or a tablet. However, it is a real pleasure to be able to find colors on book illustrations or comics.
So, this e-reader seems particularly suited to reading comics and manga, but what about in practice?
For comics, I have to say that I have a little trouble adapting. The A4 format of comic pages remains really big for such a device. So of course, it is possible to zoom in to display only half a page and scroll from half a page to half a page, but this becomes problematic when panels of the story are cut in 2 in the middle of the page. However, for some comics with little text and relatively large writing, this is no problem and it is possible to display the work in full page… and there it is super effective!
Finally, with paperback format pages, Mangas are particularly suitable for reading on such an e-reader.. If you are a fan of the genre (and you are not a collector), this e-reader will save you a lot of space on your shelves and you will be able to take your library everywhere with you!
However, the colours lack a little brightness even with the backlight turned up to the max. So yes, we are on an ePaper screen… but it is difficult to find a good balance of configuration to highlight the colors on the screen.
To conclude on reading, another element that I like about this e-reader is that it offers a reading statistics page allowing you to display the number of books read, the total reading time, your weekly or monthly average and a reading time curve per day... It's silly, but I like it a lot and I find it stimulating to try to read even more!
Internet browser and RSS reader
Even if the Internet browser seems a bit of a gadget to me, because the browsing comfort of an e-reader is still considerably reduced compared to a smartphone or a tablet, its native existence on the Go Color 7 can prove very useful.
Specially designed for BOOX devices, NeoBrowser will try to improve the web experience on an ePaper screen as much as possible. Very simple to use, it works well and is quite effective given the screen refresh limitations of such a device.
The BOOX Go Color 7 is also natively equipped with a RSS feed reader which allows you to subscribe to any feed to receive the latest articles from your favorite sites at any time (the Byothe.fr RSS feed for example!). This feature is very useful since an e-reader is particularly suited to reading articles or news… especially if they arrive on your e-reader as they go!
Dictionary and lexicon
The e-reader has a dictionary application. This works online by default, so you will need to be connected to WiFi to make it work.
However, it is also possible to install a dictionary or lexicon locally that allows you to access definitions or translations even when you are offline. To do this, you will need to have a dictionary and install it on the device. It is also possible to install multiple dictionaries.
In use, I found that the dictionary system integrated into the e-reader was quite sluggish (in comparison with the Kindle system) and that BOOX leaves you a bit on your own to find, download and install your own dictionaries...
However, having a translation dictionary is particularly useful if you like reading books in other languages and don't have all the vocabulary!
Google Play Store
Running on Android 12, the Go Color 7 integrates the Google Play Store by default. Its presence will allow you to add applications to add features to your e-reader… Of course, you will have to opt for relatively basic applications given the specificities of the device and in particular its ePaper screen.
For my part I added some games (I suggest a selection of games for e-readers here), including a holiday crossword game and a picross-type game, two games that do not require high-quality graphics or constant screen refreshes.
Several methods to transfer your books
One of the big strengths of this e-reader is the fairly large number of methods for transferring or downloading books (and other files: images, sound, etc.).
I won't go into the technical details of these methods, but here are a few:
- BOOXDrop : this is the home option for transferring files. It requires the reader to be connected to the same WiFi network as your computer or smartphone.
- send2book : another home option, which allows you to send files even if the two devices are not connected to the same network.
- Wired connection : by connecting the e-reader to your computer with a USB cable, you have access to all its content and you can directly drop files onto it.
- Caliber : If you are a user of the Calibre eBook management software, the Go Color 7 is fully supported by the software.
- BOOX Assistant App for Smartphone: works similar to BOOXDrop and send2boox but directly in an app on your phone.
- Third-party storage application : by connecting an application of cloud storage (Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Baidu Cloud, NutStore, NextCloud… and other applications working in WebDAV) directly on the e-reader.
In short, this leaves a lot of possibilities…
…and other things a little more gadgety
A voice synthesis
I classify the BOOX Go Color 7 e-reader's text-to-speech functionality as a bit of a gimmick. In fact, for me, offering text-to-speech is not the point of using an e-reader.
However, this option works pretty well.. I was a little worried that the reading would seem really "robotic" and incapable of making you want to listen to a text, but I must admit that the Go Color 7 does not do too badly thanks to the Google engine (it is possible to use the Baidu engine if the text is in Chinese or English). Of course, it is far from an audio book, recorded by a talented actor... The reading is not natural, but it is fluid and has many options. It is thus possible to add a timer or to tell it to read the current chapter. It is also possible to specify the reading speed and to adjust the cadence and tone of the voice synthesis.
This voice synthesis is capable of reading proper names correctly (including Anglo-Saxon proper names in a French text), but will have the unfortunate tendency to read the footnote numbers in addition to the text.
Text-to-speech uses the e-reader's built-in speaker, but you can also plug a headset into the device's USB-C port or via Bluetooth so as not to disturb those around you.
A music player
Among the pre-installed apps on the BOOX Go Color 7 is a music player. In my opinion, such an app has no place on an e-reader, but that said, if you enjoy reading while listening to music and don't want to carry around a bunch of different devices, this app should please you!
Adding music is pretty simple and uses the same channels as adding books. It can be done in any of the ways listed above.
Since the BOOX Go Color 7 is equipped with a speaker, it is of course possible to listen to your music directly with the device. The sound is relatively good, at least enough so that it is not annoying and allows a sufficient listening volume for someone who would be using the device. Don't expect to use it to start a wild party in your living room! On the other hand, you always have the option of connecting the e-reader to headphones or a Bluetooth speaker... for probably more comfortable use.
The music app itself is very basic and has few settings.
An AI assistant
And yes, nowadays, artificial intelligence has to be everywhere… but is it really useful on an e-reader? Honestly, I don’t think so!
This assistant, which uses the power of Azure-GPT3, will be able to answer all your questions, directly on your tablet. Ask him for the recipe for a Mojito or to tell you about the next book you want to read. He will have an answer to everything. He will also be able to recommend other books to read based on your tastes… but does not have access to your library.
The interest of such an assistant on an e-reader remains in my opinion very limited at a time when AI models like ChatGPT, Claude or others are available almost everywhere.
Calculator, Calendar, Clock, Voice Recorder
These applications are quite anecdotal and that is why I am grouping them here. While they can be useful on occasion, they are not, for me, essential.
So, the Go Color 7 has a calculator that calculates, a calendar in which you can add memos that you will find by date, a clock including an alarm, a stopwatch and a timer and finally a dictaphone that will use the microphone of the e-reader.
These apps are functional and may help you out from time to time.
An e-reader full of possibilities, but complex to master
It took me a little while to tame my BOOX Go Color 7 in order to use it serenely. Indeed, the options and settings are in my opinion not very intuitive. Some settings are managed directly at the application level, others are managed at the device level, and still others work a little in both places... In short, it's not always easy to find your way around.
Furthermore, the level of customization of the various controls of the e-reader is very advanced. There are plenty of options to control the interface: touch control, buttons, interface at the bottom of the screen, on the sides, control center at the top of the screen, configurable navigation ball. There are really many, many possibilities, with a lot of redundancies (features present in two or more places). And all these controls are configurable. This therefore leaves a great deal of freedom to the user, but requires a fairly significant investment on their part to achieve a configuration that they like perfectly. It is not easy, but once the effort is made, you should have an e-reader that suits you.
A surprisingly practical magnetic case
To accompany the Go Color 7, BOOX offers, as a bundle or separately, a magnetic case which I didn't really believe in at first, but which turns out to be surprisingly practical to use!
Available in black or ivory color, theMagnetic Case for Go Color 7 attaches to the e-reader via a system of magnets that hold it in place. An opening/closing sensor allows you to turn the e-reader on/off when you open or close the case.
The big advantage of this case that protects your e-reader is that it can be removed very easily. In my use, I remove the case when I am at home, but reposition the e-reader in it when I am traveling or on the move in order to protect it as best as possible. The handling is simple and only takes a few seconds.
The magnetic system keeps the case closed, but also keeps the cover behind the book when it is open… very practical!
In short, it is a very good complement to this e-reader and above all a very good surprise.
BOOX Go Color 7 – Features
| Screen | 3" Kaleido 7 Display (4 Colors) with Carta 096 Glass | |
| Resolution | 1680 x 1264 (B/W 300 ppi, Color 150 ppi) | |
| Touchscreen | capacitive touch | |
| Processor | Octa-core 2,4 GHz | |
| RAM memory | Go 4 | |
| Storage | 64 GB, expandable with microSD card | |
| Connectivity | WiFi (2,4GHz + 5GHz) + Bluetooth 5.0 | |
| Backlight | Yes, front lighting with CTM (warm and cold) | |
| Rotation | sensor for automatic rotation | |
| Buttons | Sleep, page change (forward/backward) | |
| Ports | USB-C (charging, OTG or use as audio jack) | |
| Speaker | integrated | |
| Microphone | integrated | |
| Battery | 2 mAh Li-ion Polymer | |
| Size | 156 x 137 x 6,4 mm | |
| Weight | about 195 g |
| Operating system | Android 12 | |
| Document formats | PDF, CAJ, DJVU, CBR, CBZ, EPUB, AZW3, MOBI, TXT, DOC, DOCX, FB2, CHM, RTF, HTML, ZIP, PRC, PPT, PPTX, EPUB3 | |
| Image formats | PNG, JPG, BMP, TIFF | |
| Audio formats | WAV, MP3 |
Purchase price of the BOOX Go Color 7 e-reader
Recommended price: 279.99€
Conclusions on the BOOX Go Color 7 e-reader
Highlights
- Reading comfort
- Significant customization possibilities
- Multitude of uses
- Many options for book and document transfer
- Very good quality of finish
- Grip strip and buttons for turning pages
- Built-in RSS feed reader
Weak points
- Complicated settings
- Battery life a little low
- Dull colors
- A bit expensive
After several weeks of using the BOOX Go Color 7 e-reader, especially during my vacation, my verdict is quite clear: I really like this device ! Even if it is not perfect and has some weaknesses such as its configuration complexity, somewhat pale colors and disappointing autonomy, it nevertheless has some great assets. Indeed, this e-reader offers real reading comfort, but also a completely satisfactory user experience once the configuration and customization are over. The many uses it allows with its almost hybrid status giving it the air of an ePaper tablet, make it a very good companion for traveling and reading books or manga.
Article updated on September 2, 2024 by Byothe
