Boox Note Max review: A 13.3-inch E Ink tablet that helps you focus on productivity

The Boox Note Max E Ink tablet with a spacious 13.3-inch display for maxium performance and minimum distractions. Pictures: Boox.

E Ink tablets with pen support offer a rare kind of freedom: large-screen productivity without the endless distractions of OLED or LCD devices. The Boox Note Max, with its expansive 13.3-inch display, takes this to the next level.

Design and build

The Boox Note Max feels like it was designed for professionals who don’t want to compromise. At just 4.6mm thick, it’s surprisingly slim for such a large device, with clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic that makes it look far more premium than many tablets in this category.

I’ll admit, the 13.3-inch size makes it a little unwieldy on the move. This isn’t something you casually slip into a small bag like you would a Kindle. Still, for desk-based work or carrying alongside a laptop, it’s lightweight enough to avoid feeling cumbersome.

Display

The Carta 1300 E Ink display is excellent. Compared to earlier E Ink iterations, text and graphics look sharper and more defined, with 300 PPI delivering true paper-like clarity. I found reading lengthy PDFs far easier on my eyes than on an LCD tablet. 

There’s no front light here, which some might see as a limitation and even a deal-breaker for others. For me, it helped keep the experience closer to working with real paper, and it certainly reduced eye fatigue, but on rare occasions, while working in a dim room late at night, I did miss the option.

Features

Underneath the minimalist exterior is serious hardware: a 2.8GHz octa-core processor paired with 6GB of RAM. Combined with Boox’s Super Refresh (BSR) technology, this allows surprisingly smooth performance for an ePaper device. 

Switching between apps, annotating PDFs, or even sketching in note-taking apps felt responsive, without the stutter I’ve seen on lesser e-ink devices. Running Android 13 with Google Play Store access, the Note Max isn’t locked into a walled garden; you can install anything from note-taking apps to productivity suites, which expands its potential far beyond simple e-reading.

The optional €170 magnetic keyboard cover transforms the device into a more traditional productivity tool. While it can’t fully replicate the typing feel of a laptop, it does create a distraction-free environment ideal for writing and note-taking. I also paired it with a standard Bluetooth keyboard, which worked just as well, giving users plenty of flexibility.

Performance

Day-to-day, the Note Max delivered consistent reliability. From reviewing documents to sketching and note-taking, it kept pace without slowing me down. E Ink refresh rates will never feel as snappy as those of an iPad Pro or Samsung Galaxy Tab, but here, performance is optimised for focus.

Without the demands of a standard screen, I was able to go days without needing to charge, which is a massive bonus. While the Note Max is not on par with more powerful tablets, its performance feels snappy for an E Ink device, and you won’t be tempted to spend hours scrolling through social feeds or dive into the rabbit hole of shorts on YouTube.

Real-world uses

Where the Boox Note Max shines is in specialist use cases. Reviewing lengthy PDFs is a dream on a display this size, as is marking up blueprints or musical scores. As someone who enjoys sketching ideas during planning sessions, the stylus input is natural and responsive, making brainstorming far more enjoyable than on smaller screens.

But what really sets the Note Max apart is what it doesn’t do. There are no constant social notifications or distractions from video streaming apps pulling you away from your work. It’s a device built for focus, and that’s refreshing in a world of always-on screens.

Verdict

The Boox Note Max isn’t for everyone. Its large size and specialist focus limit its mass appeal. But for creatives, professionals, and anyone who values a distraction-free workspace, it’s an excellent tool that can boost productivity.

€700 Boox Note Max