Onyx Boox Tab Mini C: Kaleido 3 and Android 11 fun !

Author: Nicolas | Last update: July 19, 2023

The Onyx Boox Tab Mini C is the first 7.8" color e-reader available with the latest generation Kaleido 3 e-ink screen. While its price may be a little steep, it does have a number of assets that could make it attractive.

The big recent innovations in e-readers come almost exclusively from Asia, and this Onyx Boox Tab Mini C is no exception.

Indeed, while classic brands such as Kindle, Kobo and Vivlio capitalize on tried-and-tested, reliable e-reader formulas, Asian manufacturers vie with each other in their ingenuity to offer ever more, even if it means sometimes going a little too fast with software that isn't always up to scratch or intuitive.

In any case, this Onyx Boox Tab Mini C is a reading device with a 7.8-inch screen featuring Kaleido 3 technology, the latest color electronic ink screen.

After months of announcements from E Ink (the company that designs these color screens), we'll finally be able to find out more and see whether or not there's a big difference with the previous generation.

But before we get to that, here's a quick look at the technical specifications of this Onyx Boox Tab Mini C e-reader:

• 7.8-inch E Ink Kaleido 3 screen
• Resolution of 1404×1872 pixels (300 PPP) in black and white and 702×936 pixels (150 PPI) in color
• Touch screen
• Illumination with color temperature adjustment (blue light filter)
• Qualcomm Octa-core processor (with BSR GPU for graphics)
• 64 GB storage
• 4 GB RAM memory
• Android 11 system (with Boox OS overlay) with Google Play Store
• Stylus supplied (Wacom technology with 4096 pressure levels)
• Bluetooth 5.0
• Wifi
• Built-in microphone
• USB-C
• 5000 mAh battery (quite substantial)
• File formats: pdf, djvu, azw, azw3, doc, docx, epub, fb2, fbz, html, mobi, odt, PRC, rtf, sxw, trc, txt, chm and ppt

This e-reader is equipped with Android 11 and Google Play. This means you can install any reading or productivity application you like.

You can therefore use the Kindle or Kobo application (for example), on this Onyx e-reader to access (and read) your ebooks already purchased on these stores (or your old e-reader).

The Onyx Boox Tab Mini C reader comes with its own ebook reader, which already supports many formats. But, if this one doesn't suit you, there's nothing to stop you using another, like Aldiko, among a selection of good reading apps for smartphones and tablets.

There's also a whole range of software that lets you take notes and export them as PDF files.

So we're on to something very classic, since a new Chinese e-reader of this type is offered almost every month (just check out the latest news on the site to find out for yourself).

We're back to what seems to make the success of these machines, which are halfway between a reading device (for reading books) and a productivity tool (stylus and note-taking system):

1. A reader with a large e-ink screen (color or not)
2. A stylus
3. An Android system for adding applications

The originality of this e-reader, however, comes from its new Kaleido 3 color screen. Fortunately, even though I wasn't able to get my hands on this e-reader, the videos available on the Internet clearly show an improvement over the previous generation of color e-readers (including the Kaleido Plus screens found in the Pocketbook InkPad color 2).

From my observations, the reading part is still limited by the color screen. Pages of text appear darker (and blander) than the text displayed on a dedicated e-reader such as the Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Libra 2 and even the Pocketbook InkPad 3 (or the version 4 also available).

In my opinion, this isn't a problem with the Onyx Boox Tab Mini C in particular. It's more a feature of the technology used here.

The good news is that color display has progressed considerably. This Kaleido 3 screen displays colors that are brighter and richer than other older-generation color readers.

So, for the time being, this color e-reader is the best option available on the market for enjoying your comics, mangas and color PDF documents.

So, if you're looking for a color e-reader and don't mind buying an Asian machine, this Onyx Boox Tab Mini C could tempt you.

But be warned, you'll have to pay a hefty price for it, and expect to pay about $450 for this Onyx Tab Mini C e-reader.

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