Hundreds of readers bought this E Ink tablet - and I highly recommend it

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Close Home Tech Computing Tablets Hundreds of readers bought this E Ink tablet - and I highly recommend it ZDNET readers love this E Ink tablet, thanks to its paper-to-pen writing experience and versatile uses. allison-murray

Written by Allison Murray, Senior EditorSenior Editor May 7, 2026 at 10:04 a.m. PT

Boox Note Air5 C next to a keyboard — Allison Murray/ZDNET

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Instead of buying several blank notebooks and getting confused about which one is for lists, which one is a gratitude journal, and which one is your personal planner, I've found one device that replaces them all: the Boox Note Air5 C.

Also: The best note-taking tablets you can buy

And it appears ZDNET readers have found this E Ink tablet just as useful, as it is the second-most-bought tablet they have purchased so far this year, after the base model iPad. We gathered this data via links in ZDNET reviews, buying guides, and deals (don't worry, your privacy is protected -- we only have access to aggregate data from our user base, and there is no way for us to identify individual people's purchases).

Book Note Air5 C E Ink Tablet

$529.99 at Amazon

What makes this particular Boox digital paper tablet stand out from others is how it writes. The combination of the Pen3 stylus and this tablet's screen makes it a true paperlike writing experience. That's because the pen has an improved surface texture with 4,096 pressure levels and ultra-low latency, so it feels like you are writing on actual paper with a real ballpoint pen, instead of a stylus on a screen.

There are dozens of templates to use, audio recording, color-coding, and the ability to insert links and attachments into notes. Plus, built-in artificial intelligence enables text recognition, shape correction, and a strike-through erase feature that makes erasing much easier.

Review: I've tested dozens of E Ink tablets, but this Android checks the most boxes for me

Aside from the note-taking aspect of the Boox Note Air5 C, it is a productivity machine. The side-by-side feature isn't anything new, but Android 15 makes it faster and easier to navigate back and forth between different apps than other Boox products I've tested.

Weighing just under a pound, it's also my pick for the best lightweight note-taking tablet I've tested.

I use my Boox Note Air5 C for everything from reading books and magazines to taking notes to filling out my monthly calendar and even tracking my workouts. It has become a game-changer for me, as someone who loves writing things down but only wants to keep track of one notebook rather than several, and I'd highly recommend it.