Reading on your phone is a trap, but this $200 BOOX is my escape hatch
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Reading on your phone is a trap, but this $200 BOOX is my escape hatch
Nov 5, 2026 — 5:30 AM ET
If you’re like me, you struggle to find the quiet time you need to read during the day. We’re constantly bombarded with alerts, notifications, and phone calls, so it feels almost impossible to steal a few minutes to sit down and absorb something. I’ve struggled with solutions for years, but the problem only seems to get worse.
I’ve written quite a bit about my love of e-Ink tablets, especially the BOOX lineup. I love the combination of outstanding battery life and a full Android experience on my BOOX Go 10.3 Gen II. I carry it around with me often, but it’s not always the most convenient option. Fortunately, there’s a smaller alternative. The BOOX Go 6 Gen II is a massive improvement over the original, and paired with a handy Android app, it’s gone a long way toward solving my reading problem.
Would you ever carry around a second device just for reading?
Instapaper solves the same problem TiVo did 25 years ago
It seems like such a simple concept, but the Instapaper app on my BOOX Go 6 makes it much easier to read the content I want to read. I install the Instapaper extension in Chrome on my desktop and use the Instapaper app’s share option on my phone, link everything to my account, and I’m ready to go. I don’t know how many times I found something I was interested in on Google Discover, only to forget about it or not have time in the moment to read it. Instapaper takes care of that. I can save it and have it ready for me later. It was a revelation when I found out I could record live TV shows to watch later with TiVo, and Instapaper offers much the same convenience more than 25 years later.
It doesn’t matter how awesome a particular device is at complementing my smartphone if I don’t have it with me.
It’s a fantastic feeling to slide into bed at the end of the day and have a full list of interesting articles to read waiting for me on my BOOX Go 6. It gives me a chance to catch up on a few of my hobbies I never have time for during the day. You’ll also be amazed at how much more you retain, as I’ve found my brain has quieted to the point that I can actually digest what I’m reading. Of course, sometimes you just need to read something during the day, and that’s where the BOOX Go 6 excels over other devices.
Reading on my phone is more of a hassle than anything
I know it might seem counterintuitive to carry yet another device around for reading when we have our smartphones with us 24/7. However, it doesn’t take long to realize how inferior our phones are for reading. It’s tolerable for a short article or two, but serious reading on even the best OLED panels can strain your eyes. There are also constant distractions. I can’t get through even a two-minute read without a notification from something or someone. It’s not always something pressing from work or family that causes the split attention. One minute I’m reading about why the Knicks are off to a slow start, and the next, Uber Eats decides it’s the perfect time to remind me to add a Crunchwrap Supreme to my Taco Bell order.
A device like the BOOX Go 6 Gen II makes that easy. Sure, it runs full Android (Android 11, with the Play Store), and you can fill it with the same nagging apps if you want, but it’s a choose-your-own-adventure. I keep mine stripped down so I only have the programs I need. I can get through multiple articles, emails, and longer PDFs without having my attention pulled away.
It makes a bigger difference than you’d think, and like a frog in boiling water, I don’t think many of us realize just how distracted we become during the day. The BOOX tablet’s 6-inch HD ePaper display also offers a much better reading experience. I can sit for a few hours, whether using the backlight or not, and my eyes don’t cry out for a break. Once you get some time reading on an ePaper display, you’ll have a hard time looking at your phone the same way.
The best ability is availability
It doesn’t matter how awesome a particular device is at complementing my smartphone if I don’t have it with me. Smartphones often win out for reading just because of sheer convenience. They’re already in our pockets, so why not just deal with a less pleasant experience in the name of expediency? I run into that problem with my BOOX Go 10.3. It’s not a huge tablet, but it’s still a commitment to carry it if I’m not carrying my messenger bag.
The Go 6 Gen II can technically fit in a pocket, but even when it doesn’t, it’s not the burden or commitment of a larger tablet. I also like the changes BOOX made. The first-generation Go 6 was portable, and I liked the idea, but it was too slow. Input lag was constant, and I found myself more frustrated than anything. Thankfully, BOOX has fixed that in this generation, helped by a bump to 3GB of RAM (the processor is unchanged). The new model is snappier, and I can navigate between apps quickly. It’s turned a frustrating experience into one that I believe is worth the $200 price of admission, especially with the benefits I’ve been enjoying. It’s not easy to find quiet when we are always connected, but devices like the Go 6 Gen II help me reclaim a little solace, and I can’t put a price on that.
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