Boox Tab Mini C - Two Months Later
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- čas přidán 23. 07. 2024
- I had a lot of good things to say about the Boox Tab Mini C in the beginning of July, but has the device still held up in actual usage? I'll talk about that here.
0:00 Two Month's Later . . .
1:40 How I actually Use the Device
3:46 What I'm not Using the Device For
6:04 Quick Thought On Battery Life
7:16 A Potential Con
9:48 An Actual Con
14:10 Overall, Front Lighting Remains Solid
15:11 The End
One thing I neglected to mention in the video is around notetaking. I prefer 10" devices for that, so I generally do not use the Mini C in that regard. It's not a criticism, it's just how I roll. - Věda a technologie
I returned this device because the background was just too grey, providing poor contrast with black lettering, when compared to something like the Paperwhite or Bigme (S6, black and white). I suspect the overlay that provides the color on the MIni C filters some reflected light and, so, darkens the background such that contrast is noticeably worse than on black and white screens. To approximate the contrast I get with the Paperwhite, I had to turn on the backlight... which kills the battery. So I switched to the Bigme S6 b&w, which is a very good e-reader (with text contrast as good as on the Paperwhite). It is also an outstanding notetaker with an excellent stylus and apps. I don't do much reading that truly requires color, so I just don't miss color nearly as much as I appreciate high contrast text.
That seems to be a common thing. There are two groups, one that loves color and doesn't mind the darker screen, and one where the darker screen is a complete deal breaker.
Hi! I got my Tab Mini C about a month ago. So far, I'm loving it (more than hating it, at least). I use it for reading and research every day, so much that I have to charge it once a day (I can never get it to reach 1-2 weeks like I heard a few others have... maybe because I always have the frontlight on at 80 or 90 percent).
I have to say the ghosting is well-handled, especially compared to the Nova Air C. But it mildly irks me that I still have to refresh often when scrolling through images (the ghosting fades over time thanks to the GPU but I think only for simple images and text).
I think the responsiveness to touch is much better than the Nova Air C's (with the Nova I had to have the NaviBall or bottom Nav bar enabled all the time just to do the actions that the swipe gestures should have taken care of, but with the Tab Mini I've been able to disable the NaviBall altogether without experiencing any difficulties).
There are definitely still a few things that need work, but those are mostly minor UI issues that don't affect overall performance-just ease of use.
Also, I dislike how GLIDY the screen is compared to the Nova Air. I wasn't expecting that, but I understand that the Tab devices are generally like this. I was able to improve things a lot by using the Healing Shield paperlike screen protector specifically made for Boox Novas/Tab Minis. I was pleasantly surprised because everyone goes on about Doodroo for Boox tablets and I literally never heard of Healing Shield until I searched for a Boox-specific screen protector on Amazon. I took a shot and it was so worth it! The degradation of the display clarity is minimal (I questioned whether there was any at all, but I'm sure there is at least a little bit, as is always the case), and it feels like I'm writing with a pencil. Controlling my handwriting and highlights is so much easier, and that scratchy, pencil-on-paper sound it makes is just a pleasant bonus.
Another minor nitpicky thing is the edge of the bezel: it has a lip, but that's not the annoying part. Because of the lip, particles get stuck in the crevice made by the lip and the built-in screen protector of the Boox device itself (I think it is a screen protector applied by the manufacturer-it definitely looks like a screen protector-like film is stuck onto the screen because it doesn't seamlessly meld with the edge). The particles are easily taken out with a pointy tool, but they can be a nuisance.
I downloaded the latest firmware update (I think it is still in beta), which made things a bit worse, but Boox quickly remedied the reported issues-impressively fast, actually. They are also so responsive to my feedback and queries that I don't mind the beta glitches since I know they are continuously working to fix them. The added features like "Fill" in the Notes app and the option to highlight in NeoReader without the annotation pop-up coming up every time sound minor but are my favorite additions that came with the update.
Thanks for all your Boox videos! I'm an avid watcher of them. Definitely one of the best sources of info for choosing one of their devices.
Great to hear from you again! And I appreciate the thoughtful review. To you point about adding a screen layer, I think I have the same thoughts you do. Other people complain that they make the screen worse, and conceptual the screen should make it worse by adding that layer of depth, but I struggle to actually see the difference. I just wonder if some folks are more visually attuned to pick up on those differences where I am not. I recently put a DooDroo screen on the Tab Ultra C, and the biggest change by far was the feel of the screen, which came as a surprise to me. Still a bit torn on using one at all, but screen fidelity loss is not on that list of issues for me.
@@jeffreymoss How do you find the texture of Doodroo? Honestly would've gotten that if it were easier/cheaper to order and ship to my country but since the one I got works well I'm not complaining :) But I am still curious about the Doodroo protectors, glare-wise and texture-wise.
@@thexshatteredIt feels rough when you touch it. You are very aware it's there. I like the sound of writing with a normal nib, it's a bit harsher with a titanium nib, but not bad. I don't notice any difference in the viewing experience.
Thanks for the the follow up!
I got it recently and am pleasently surprised. Dont mind the greyness and weight.
My only concern is app support in a few years because of android11.
I'm hoping they upgrade soon, but don't actually know if that will occur or not. It's a good call out.
Do these Android tablets work with Lineage OS or other custom ROMs, or are you completely at the mercy of the manufacturer for firmware to keep the screen working?
Hey hows the device doing? Is is still good? And how often do you use it? Ty
It's holding up fine, but I have moved on to the Bigme S6 Color+ Lite. That device doesn't blow the Mini C away, but I do like it a little bit better, so it's my current go-to.
If the battery is getting broken, is there any seller that sold its battery?
I'm not aware of a way to replace the battery. In time, in response to EU regulations, these devices will feature replaceable batteries. But for now, it's an issue if the battery is a concern.
Your reviews are really good. I am waiting for the fall Onyx Boox announcement as I hope there will be an A4 13.3" sized device much like the Tab Ultra C but without the camera. I use a magnifying glass even with a 30" screen that I am typing this on. I also like the idea of the replaceable batteries that the upcoming X2 series that the supernotes will have and therefore I might get the A4X2 when available jut because lots of reviewers including you like the features of supernote. But I will need an Onyx Book in order to have back lighting and voice to text dictation and other features. I agree with your comments before that having a few devices for various uses is helpful.
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So can you make some comments about the new EU law that says all cell phones and tablets must have the ability to replace batteries by 2027. Since batteries can only be recharged a limited number of times and one google search told me about 500 times, so if you have to recharge it about 2 times a week that means if minimally used the mini C might last about 5 years. A device that is larger, like Tab Ultra C, that gets more use would die out sooner and by the time the people need to buy replacements the new replaceable battery versions will have to be on the market.
The EU law is super interesting, especially as it impacts cell phone makers like Apple. Samsung has a history of offering removeable batteries, so they shouldn't have any trouble adapting. But back to Eink devices, it's been historically unusual to have a removable battery, so that's going to change eReaders and eNotetakers dramatically. If I understand the EU law correctly, you have to be able to remove the battery without any special tools. I'm not sure if that eliminates standard screws or not. Ultimately, I think companies like Amazon, Kobo, and Boox will adapt and just add this feature going forward, likely in all markets to keep production simple. The device that really gets impacted is the Remarkable 2, because it's so thin, they will likely have to drop that particular form factor in future device updates. Anyway, that's my initial thoughts . . . .
Isn't this device too heavy for long periods of reading? It sounds heavy to me.
When I read with it, I pull it out of its case. That way, I'm holding 310g, which I find comfortable. They do a good job with the curves and back to make it easy to grip, so that helps.
It’s here. I agree that 10.3 is the suitable size for both reading and note taking, at least in my case.
Kobo app has a page counter (like a progress bar) which is a seemingly trivial feature but I highly appreciate so I could track my time (two hours can quickly pass by).
Hopefully, the second version (if there is) of Tab Mini C will address some issues you’ve mentioned.
Thanks for the updates. Your channel always reminds me of Tab Mini C and excalibur 😊.
That's why I like the Kobo app as well! Based on some of my testing, the Kobo app on Android seems to have less battery drain than the Kindle app. That's a bit of an anecdotal observation, but it's what I've noted thus far.
Great to hear about the long term use.
I was wondering, do you read with the front light in bed, or do you have a reading lamp?
And is the device comfortable to hold in your hand for a long time?
What about note taking? Do you use it for that too? Or only the Supernote?
If you had to choose only 1 device to carry in your backpack, what would it be? The Tab Mini C, the Supernote, the Android tablet or something else? And why?
I have a lamp, but the front lighting is way better so I rely on that. I can definitely hold the device with one hand for a good period of time. I don't use it for notetaking because I think an 8" screen is just too small. I might jot down an idea or two, but that is about it. If I was forced to one device, I'd probably pick the Tab Ultra C. It's the best all-around device with a screen that's good for both reading and notetaking. I find it better to have a dedicated reader and a dedicated notetaker for work, but if I could only have one it would be that one.
I returned this tablet because it is too grey and because with a Mac, it is not easy at all to transfer files! It don t mount as a kobo like a disk . And using android transfer is a pain in the ass . But everything else is good , and the speakers are not bad for audiobooks !
That's good to know, regarding Mac connectivity.
Where did you buy yours?
@@Election-sv6ok I bought mine directly from Boox. I knew I wouldn't be returning the device. If I wasn't so sure, I would have waited and gotten mine from Amazon where returns are a much easier process.
Using Mini C without using a stylus pen is a expensive overkill, imo.
The expensive nature of color Eink screens in undeniable.
DON'T BUY FROM BOOX
After 2 months of having my Mini Tab C the screen breaks. After talking to customer service they claimed there was some external force that caused it and it wouldn't be covered under warranty. This was in their case in a bookbag with other sensitive electronic none of which had an issue like this. They said I can pay another $270 to fix it. I think I'll just take the loss of $400 before it ends up being a loss of $670.
I've never had any problems with Boox devices, but I agree that the prudent move is to buy from a retailer with good return policies like Amazon. That's what I've recommended for a while now.