Buzz
The Boox Poke 3 stands as Onyx's smallest e-reader that I've ever laid my hands on. Despite its compact size, the device maintains a square and sturdy overall design. Importantly, its features rival those of larger-sized e-readers, offering a compelling reading experience.
This is the Special Edition variant of the Poke 3, featuring a distinctive black and white color scheme that sets it apart from the regular Poke 3 version.Compact and Snug Design
The product offers a compact, flexible, and lightweight reading experience that you can take with you anywhere. Weighing only 150g, it comes with a 6-inch screen for easy portability.
Accompanying this version is a plastic-covered case that complements the device's overall aesthetic. Personally, I find this leather cover both stylish and convenient; when not in use, just fold it to protect the screen. The cover includes a magnetic piece to securely hold the device in place, ensuring stability when placed in a bag.
I highly appreciate a e-reader that packs all the features in a compact form for convenient one-handed use, portable enough to slip into pockets and pouches effortlessly.
The device boasts consistent edges, not excessively slim but just right for my reading experience. It features a white chin section, providing a comfortable grip without encroaching on the screen.
The gently curved back is made of a matte, non-reflective plastic that minimizes fingerprints and sweat stains.Compact Screen, Yet Comfortable Reading Experience
The screen offers excellent contrast, sharp content, and, importantly, it doesn't strain the eyes during extended reading sessions—a set of experiences that the Boox Poke 3 promises for its users.
With this screen and the quality of ink display, it feels close to the print of real ink on paper.
If you observe closely, you may notice occasional spots and blurry characters due to uneven ink distribution. Interestingly, this phenomenon, intentional or not, gives the sensation of approaching a page from a real book while reading.
Initially, the small screen size didn't bother me much, as we can easily adjust text size, layout, and formatting. The advantage of a small reading screen is the ability to scale text for a spacious layout. I prefer avoiding overly crowded pages with too many characters. Clear, large text allows me to contemplate each word, making it less challenging for quick reading and avoiding a cramped feeling.
You can actively adjust the sharpness of displayed text, brightness, and boldness. If there are black and white images or videos, you can customize the contrast, differentiating between light and dark areas to suit your viewing preferences.
The backlight has two main colors for day and night - a cool blue and warm yellow. In both backlight options, you can also fine-tune the brightness from high to low to adapt to different environmental settings when using the device for reading.Customizable Touch Controls
Firstly, the touchscreen is multi-point, allowing for pinch-to-zoom, scanning, and swiping—quite reminiscent of mobile phone interactions.
Furthermore, this device offers customization in settings for adjusting screen scanning speed and manual interactions. With 4 different options, the slowest setting provides a deliberate page-turning experience, simulating the gradual feel of flipping through physical pages. It aims to provide options for readers who prefer the familiar sensation of reading on a technological device.
Lastly, common touch gestures like swiping up from the bottom to return to the main screen, swiping left to turn pages, having multitasking gesture buttons, etc., are all user-friendly for those accustomed to touchscreen operations on mobile devices.Diverse Source of Books
Despite its compact size, it boasts an extensive library of literary works.
Almost all your book-finding needs can be fulfilled within the built-in store app or by downloading additional favorites directly onto this device.
The device runs on a Snapdragon 636 chip, equipped with 2GB RAM and 32GB storage, allowing you to store numerous books for simultaneous reading. Additionally, it provides servers for choosing between English and Vietnamese book sources, categorized for easy selection.
Read all types of e-books on the Poke3, while the reading statistics feature summarizes all your reading activities. It also includes tools to help you manage your reading time more efficiently.
The USB Type-C port facilitates easy charging, using the same port as other Type-C devices, and allows seamless file transfers.More Than Just Reading
Firstly, the translation feature directly on the text while you're reading books or articles is noteworthy.
Consider it as an English learning tool; you can also download dictionaries for other languages such as Russian, Chinese, Spanish, etc., to facilitate translation.
The device runs on Android 10, allowing you to install various third-party reading apps on your Poke3, such as Kindle. In the app store section, you can also download additional apps for reading BBC or NYT, task management apps like Trello and Evernote, calculator, music player, etc., making it more than just a reading device.
Audiobooks are convenient with Bluetooth 5.0 and WiFi support. You can connect wireless headphones to enjoy your audiobooks.
The price for this Special Edition is 5,690,000 VND for a compact, multifunctional, and portable device. For book lovers and avid readers, it's a must-have. However, if you desire a larger screen and external speakers, you might want to consider the Boox Leaf, also from Onyx, with a larger screen and built-in speakers.
