Boox Tab X C Hands-On: Big Color E Ink Finally Gets the Frontlight It Deserves
It took a while, but it’s finally here—the Boox Tab X C, a 13.3-inch Kaleido 3 color E Ink tablet with a frontlight, has officially arrived. This long-anticipated upgrade brings vibrant colors to a larger canvas, finally filling a gap left by earlier Boox devices like the Note Max. With a high-resolution black-and-white display at 300 PPI and 150 PPI in color, this is the first time we’re getting a genuinely usable, frontlit color E Ink screen in a productivity-size format.
Specs-wise, the Boox Tab X C doesn’t break new ground. It mirrors the Note Max under the hood, with a 2.8GHz octa-core processor, 6GB RAM, and 128GB of internal storage (non-expandable). It runs Android 13, supports Google Play, and is protected by an aluminum silicate scratch-resistant front glass—a big step forward from the paper-like textures of older models.
Out of the box, you’ll immediately notice its slightly thicker body (5.3mm vs. 4.6mm on the Note Max), likely to accommodate the larger 5,500mAh battery and new display. The included InkSpire Pen is a major upgrade too: thinner, newly coated, and featuring haptic feedback via a built-in vibration motor. It’s also an active pen, meaning it must be magnetically connected and charged—Boox’s answer to reMarkable’s approach.
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Unlike WACOM pens, this stylus doesn’t have an eraser tip, which is a bit of a letdown for note-takers. But the pen latency is excellent, and the adjustable feedback gives users a customizable “paper feel” on a smooth surface. Surprisingly, ghosting is significantly reduced over the Note Max, making this the most refined large-format E Ink experience Boox has offered yet.
As for the display, the color frontlight makes a world of difference. Colors remain pastel—typical of Kaleido 3—but finally being able to read full-color PDFs or graphs without eye strain makes this a game changer. The brightness is stronger than expected for such a large device, with minimal gradient shifts, and improves readability to the point where it even rivals the Note Max under certain conditions.
Design-wise, the Tab X C borrows the gray-and-orange styling from the Note Air series. It has the same high-quality metal frame, pogo pins for the keyboard cover, and similar port layout. However, there’s still no fingerprint sensor—a puzzling omission in what is arguably Boox’s most premium tablet.
The setup process includes pairing the active pen, and once inside, the familiar Boox UI runs smoothly. It ships with the March 2025 security patch, which is reassuring. Super Refresh mode returns, but with limited E Ink modes like the Note Max. Boox says this simplifies the experience, and in early use, it seems to work well enough.
From initial impressions, the Boox Tab X C could easily replace the Note Air4C as the best all-around color E Ink tablet. It offers a bigger screen, sharper design, smoother writing experience, and far better ghosting control. Unless there’s a major downside in daily use, this could very well be the new king of large-format color E Ink. Our full in-depth review is coming soon! Buy on Amazon now!!
Q&A:
Does the Boox Tab X C have a paper-like screen texture?
- No. It uses a smooth, scratch-resistant front glass instead. The new stylus simulates paper-like writing through haptic feedback.
Can you expand the storage on the Tab X C?
- Unfortunately, no. It comes with 128GB non-expandable storage, just like the Note Max.
How does the new InkSpire Pen work?
- It’s an active pen that must be magnetically attached to charge. It provides vibration-based haptic feedback to simulate writing on paper.
Is ghosting better than on the Note Max?
- Yes, significantly. Ghosting is still present—it’s E Ink after all—but it’s much more subtle and less distracting.
What’s the advantage of the frontlight on Kaleido 3?
- Color E Ink displays look dull without a frontlight. The Tab X C’s adjustable frontlight brings out vivid color detail and makes it usable in various lighting conditions. Buy on Amazon now!!
