Boox Poke5 Review

In the world of e-readers, there is a vast array of devices to choose from, each with their unique blend of features and specifications. One such device is the Boox Poke5 Standard Edition, which presents itself as a budget-friendly, yet feature-rich offering from the renowned brand Boox. This review aims to delve into the details of the Poke5, exploring its various facets, strengths, and potential areas for improvement.

Priced at an affordable £140, the Poke5 delivers an impressive range of features considering its economical positioning in the market. This e-reader boasts an understated aesthetic appeal with its classic black hue that effortlessly merges style with functionality.

Design & Build

The Boox Poke5 exhibits a sleek and lightweight design that is both visually pleasing and easy to handle. Weighing just 160g and having a thickness of 6.8mm, the Poke5 is a testament to portable convenience. Its compact dimensions of 148mm x 105mm make it a perfect travel companion, and while it lacks waterproofing, it feels sturdy and well-built.

Display & Readability

The Poke5 features a 6″ screen, a common size that works well for a wide range of content from novels to articles and comics. The screen is flush with the device, enhancing its sleek look and making it comfortable to swipe or tap. The resolution stands at a clear and sharp 300ppi, delivering crisp text and images that offer a print-like reading experience.

The device features both frontlight and warmlight capabilities, facilitating reading in various lighting conditions. However, the lack of auto-brightness might be a minor inconvenience for some users as manual adjustments may be needed based on the environmental light conditions.

Operating System & Compatibility

The Poke5 is powered by Android 11, a robust and widely-used operating system that provides access to the Google Play Store. This allows users to download a variety of apps, expanding the device’s usability beyond simple reading tasks.

Compatibility-wise, the Poke5 supports a wide range of file formats, including EPUB, PDF, AZW3, MOBI, DJVU, CBR, CBZ, FB2, DOC, DOCX, HTML, RTF, TXT, CHM, JPG, PNG, BMP, TIFF, and MP3. This vast compatibility makes it a versatile e-reader capable of handling anything from text-based files to graphics-rich content and even audio files.

Storage & Connectivity

The Poke5 comes with a decent storage capacity of 32GB, sufficient for storing a large library of books, documents, and multimedia files. In addition, the inclusion of a Micro-SD slot for additional storage is a welcome feature, giving users the freedom to expand storage as needed.

Despite the lack of mobile connectivity, the Poke5 does offer Bluetooth support, which can be especially useful for connecting headphones to listen to audiobooks or the device’s text-to-speech feature.

Additional Features

While the Poke5 lacks physical page-turn buttons, it does come with a responsive touchscreen, which should suffice for most users. The absence of auto-rotation and wireless charging could be seen as downsides for some, but these features are often found in higher-end models, such as the Paperwhite Signature Edition and may not be deal-breakers at this price point.

The Poke5 does support text-to-speech functionality, a handy feature for those who enjoy having content read aloud to them. However, given that the device doesn’t come with built-in speakers, users will need to connect headphones or external speakers via Bluetooth.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Boox Poke5 Standard Edition presents itself as an excellent budget-friendly e-reader that doesn’t compromise on features. It excels in providing an impressive reading experience with its high-resolution display, comprehensive file format support, and versatility of the Android 11 operating system.

While the lack of waterproofing, auto-brightness, and physical page-turn buttons could be viewed as drawbacks, these omissions are understandable given the Poke5’s affordable price point. Despite these minor misses, the Poke5 offers an exceptional overall package that outshines many competitors in its price range, making it a solid choice for those seeking an economical yet capable e-reader.

Check out our fully searchable e-reader comparison table here.

Full Specs