Onyx Boox Poke 5 Review: A Pocket Sized Powerhouse

From eReader experts Onyx, the Boox Poke 5 is a palm-sized 6-inch design that’s perfect for travel. While light on features, this hearty digital device allows you to enjoy ebooks, audiobooks, and other digital content in one compact device—as well as install any Android apps you want.

Onyx Boox Poke 5

The Onyx Boox Poke 5 provides pocket-sized entertainment for fans of ebooks and audiobooks. It is one of the best eReaders for those who wish to carry their books with them daily. 

Brand

Onyx

Screen

E Ink Carta Plus

Resolution

300dpi

Storage

32GB

Connectivity

WiFi, Bluetooth, USB-C

Front Light

Moon Light 2

OS

Android 11

Battery

Polymer Li-on, 1500mAh

Weight

160g

Dimensions

148 × 108 × 6.8mm

RAM

2GB

Document Formats

TXT, HTML, RTF, FB2, FB2.zip, DOC, DOCX, PRC, MOBI, CHM, EPUB, JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, PDF, DjVu, WAV, CBR, CBZ

Audio Formats

MP3

Screen Size

6-inch

Ports

USB-C

Pros

• Third party apps supported
• Pocket sized, perfect to carry in a back pocket or purse
• Compatibility with many apps allow for free ebook resources

Cons

• Not waterproof
• High price point, especially considering shipping fees
• Can be complicated for new users

Onyx Boox Poke 5: What’s in the Box?

The Onyx Boox Poke 5 eReader comes with everything needed to get started right away. The package includes the Poke 5 eReader, and a USB-C charging cord. Equipped with a quad-core CPU, 300 PPI eInk Carta Plus display, dual-band Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0, the Poke 5 also boasts USB-C and MicroSD compatibility. This makes for expandable storage up to 1TB—though 10GB of free cloud storage is also included.

Features and Expandable Storage

Things to consider when purchasing an eReader include compatibility, features, storage, and digital formats supported by the device. The Boox Poke 5 excels in these categories.

It supports a multitude of ebook, audiobook, image, and media formats such as TXT, HTML, RTF, FB2, FB2.zip, DOC, DOCX, PRC, MOBI, CHM, EPUB, JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, PDF, DjVu, MP3, WAV, CBR, and CBZ. So Onyx customers have the ability to download content from various sources to enjoy on their devices. Considering the MicroSD slot and the cloud storage, you have room to download a ton of content and enjoy it on the go.

The Boox Poke 5 can also be used to enjoy audiobooks or music through headphones with Bluetooth connectivity. Additionally, you can connect a Bluetooth speaker to the device. Additionally, the eReader features a capacitive screen for the ability to annotate and highlight as you read.

The Poke 5 is Google Play Store-compatible and can be personalized with third-party apps as it runs Android 11. This means you can download a variety of third-party apps to your Boox Poke 5 device, and further expand the usefulness of the device. An excellent example of this is the use of a third-party note-taking app, which can be paired with a Bluetooth keyboard if long-form note-taking is desired.

If you like to read in a reclined position, the Boox Poke 5 offers both landscape and portrait modes for ultimate comfort. This feature isn’t offered by many other popular eReaders, and illustrates Onyx’s focus on user comfort within the design of the device.

A Comfortable and Customizable User Experience

One of the primary ways in which the Boox Poke 5 outshines its competitors is through its focus on providing customers with an outstanding user experience. Unlike other popular eReaders, such as the Amazon Kindle, the Poke 5 does not show on-screen ads at any price point. For this reason, there is no need for consumers to pay a higher price to not be bothered by unwanted ads displayed on their devices. This small change provides an advantage over the powerhouse that is the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, one of the Boox Poke 5’s biggest competitors.

Beyond the lack of upselling, the Boox Poke 5 also takes the time to address concerns about the user’s sleep wellness and eye strain.

It features a dual-tone illumination system. This system boasts both warm and cold adjustable light tones combined with adjustable brightness for optimal eye strain-reducing capabilities. These customizable settings make a large difference in the length of time one can read comfortably, especially within a low-light environment.

The page-turning speed while enjoying ebooks is paced well and does not feel laggy over the course of long-term use.

The Boox Poke 5 offers easy access to free digital entertainment through its compatibility with common library apps such as Libby, Overdrive, and Hoopla. Apps like the Libby Library App allow library members to check out digital resources, including ebooks and audiobooks, and send them directly to the Boox Poke 5 to enjoy. By connecting directly to these vast resources, Onyx allows its users a simple pathway to content that is free of charge.

One of the most impressive features of the Boox Poke 5 compared to marketplace competitors is its magnetic cover. While not included in the box with the device, the cover is worth the investment ($30) as it protects both the back and front of the device.

By magnetically securing to the back of the eReader, the cover stays in place easily and securely. The slightly less strong magnetic front cover closes and opens with ease to protect the device screen when not in use, and puts the Poke 5 into sleep mode automatically when closed. This cover protects the Poke 5, while also providing a sleek and minimalist aesthetic.

The battery life of the Boox Poke 5 is adequate. The 1,500mAh battery provided a substantial number of hours of usage before needing to be recharged using the included USB-C cable. Exact times varied based on usage type and screen brightness, but on average a fully charged battery provided 10 hours of active usage time. When the device was in sleep mode, with the cover on, there was next to no battery drainage noted.

For an average eReader consumer, the Boox Poke 5 would most likely only need to be recharged once every week or two.

A Few Drawbacks and a Confusing Interface

The Onyx Boox Poke 5 is an impressive device; however, it is not without its drawbacks. Most notably, the device is not waterproof. For those wishing to read in the pool or bath, that’s a dealbreaker.

Additionally, the operating system could potentially be confusing for some users. While its customizable composition and compatibility with many third-party apps allow for a tailored experience, it can also become daunting for those who prefer a simpler interface.

Using the device is not as intuitive as some of the simpler eReaders on the market. For this reason, for those who enjoy simplicity and dislike taking the time to learn and customize many details, other devices on the market may be a better fit.

It is important to note that the smaller screen of the Boox Poke 5, at 6 inches, does not allow for as many words to appear on each page when reading an ebook. For this reason, users may need to turn the page more frequently compared to other popular devices such as the Rakuten Kobo Elcipsea or the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite series. This issue can be mitigated by adjusting the size of the type to suit the preferences of the user.

One of the first things most consider when making a purchase is the price point of a device. The Onyx Boox Poke 5 is priced at $170 compared to the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, which is priced at $139. While not the most affordable eReader on the market, the Boox Poke 5 is offered at a fair price for the device’s capabilities, which surpass that of the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite.

However, should a customer order for delivery to the United States, it is important to note that an additional $40 shipping fee will apply, thus making the cost for the device $210. In the age of fast and free delivery options that competitors such as Amazon offer, Onyx’s shipping charges are a significant drawback when purchasing a Boox Poke 5.

When choosing the Boox Poke 5 for its compatibility with third-party apps, it is important to note that currently, the applications do not run as fast as they may on other devices. It appears that Onyx is aware of this issue, and improvements, along with new features, are expected with firmware updates at later dates.

Should You Buy the Onyx Boox Poke 5?

Overall, the Onyx Boox Poke 5 is an excellent eReader for those who wish to take their reading on the go. It is incredibly compact and fits easily into most purses and even some back pockets. The optional cover is one of the most sleek and durable on the market.

The slightly heavier weight of this eReader compared to popular competitors on the market, paired with the high-quality cover, makes for a luxurious feel when reading the Poke 5.

Onyx Boox Poke 5

The Onyx Boox Poke 5 provides pocket-sized entertainment for fans of ebooks and audiobooks. It is one of the best eReaders for those who wish to carry their books with them daily.