Boox e-readers are causing quite the buzz on BookTok. As Amazon raises prices on its e-readers and discontinues support for older models, plenty of users are seeking alternatives. The Boox Go 6 (Gen II) is a particularly appealing option when hunting for an e-reader. It's like a combination of the basic Amazon Kindle and the Paperwhite. It comes with 32GB of storage and runs an open Android system, giving you access to all your favorite reading apps. That means no matter what system you're switching over from — Kindle or Kobo — you can access your library on the Boox Go 6 (Gen II).
At $199.99, it's the same price as the Kindle Paperwhite, but the Boox Go 6 promises a lot more. But all those extra features can weigh on such a small device. So, to see if it's worth the price and a worthy alternative to an Amazon Kindle, I used the Boox Go 6 (Gen II) for weeks to see if it could replace my Paperwhite.
Boox Go 6 (Gen II) at a glance
The Boox Go 6 (Gen II) is the brand's answer to Amazon's Kindle. With a 6-inch screen, it fits comfortably in your hand for hours of reading. With an open Android system, you can download any app in the Google Play Store, so you can access any book across any app, including Kindle, Rakuten Kobo, and Libby. However, it suffers from significant lag and screen response issues that make it frustrating to use.
Perfect size and shape
If the Boox Go 6 (Gen II) looks familiar, that's not surprising. It looks like a cross between an Amazon Kindle (or Kobo Clara) meshed with the Kindle Paperwhite. The screen of Boox Go 6 (Gen II) is flush to its border. When I added a PopSockets to its MagSafe case (sold separately), my hand perfectly cradled the side. The power button is on the top of the device, which I love compared to Kindles, which have the power button on the bottom.
It also features writing capabilities, making it a digital notebook on top of a library. That gives it a big boost over other e-readers of that size, which don't typically come with stylus compatibility.
While the Boox Go 6 (Gen II) is not a revolutionary design, it is well done and hyper-portable.
The Boox interface has a bit of a learning curve
Boox e-readers are nowhere near as straightforward as Kindle or Kobo. The first time I set up a Boox e-reader, I needed to do some research via YouTube and TikTok tutorials. You'll need to set up a Boox account and use a Google account to access the Google Play Store.
It takes some time to play around with the settings and get a sense of how you want your Boox set up. I prefer to use the navigation bar rather than gestures to switch between apps and the library. Other settings to adjust include auto-sleep, front light, and display darkness.
But if you're looking for an e-reader that you can start reading with right out of the box, the Boox won't be it.
Every reading app on one device
If you have books across many different digital apps, a Kindle or Kobo won't cut it since they can only handle books made for those devices or DRM-free/EPUB files. However, you can access all of those digital libraries on the Boox Go 6. Like the Durobo Krono e-reader we previously tested, the Boox Go 6 has the Google Play Store pre-installed, so any app available in the store can be installed on your Boox. That means you have access to all the reading apps, including Kindle, Kobo, Libby, Audible, and more. The only app not available is Apple Books since it is an Android device.
Having tested many e-readers means my digital libraries are spread across different devices and platforms. I'm used to having to switch between my Kindle Paperwhite for one book and a Kobo Libra for another, but having all those libraries on one device is really the dream. Using it is like getting the best of both worlds: It's as flexible as my iPad, but so much easier on my eyes, like a classic e-reader.
The downsides: A sometimes unresponsive screen and freezing
Boox asks a lot of its e-readers without giving them much computing power. I ran a Geekbench 7 test on it, as I would with a tablet or laptop. It scores very low, lower than any tablet I tested, so its performance isn't going to be at lightning speeds; in fact, it'll be a little slow.
The Boox Go 6 runs more slowly than other similar e-readers we've tested, like the Amazon Kindle and Kobo Clara. It can lag between taps, and I do worry about its screen response time. The screen can be finicky and often doesn't register when I'm trying to turn the page. When quickly tapping through pages, the Kindle app stalls on the Boox Go 6, making it unresponsive and requiring a refresh.
So, although it can do much more than a Kindle or Kobo, it is slower than both.
Is the Boox Go 6 (Gen 2) worth it?
The best part of the newest Boox, the Go 6 (Gen II), is its price. At $199.99, it's the same price as the Kindle Paperwhite (which recently saw a price increase) but comes with twice the storage and access to many more apps. The only thing that dampens its value is its performance issues. It's not quite as speedy as competitors, and it needs to refresh more often than we'd like. However, these issues do not affect the Boox Go 6's usability.
But before you commit to buying, know that it will take a little bit of commitment to adjust the Boox's settings to your liking. If that works for you, the Boox is a fantastic alternative to other e-readers. If you want a more straightforward device, go with an Amazon Kindle or Kobo Clara.