Introducing the BOOX Go 10.3 Gen II - Organizing for Change

<script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-Q2MC6HHGTH"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-Q2MC6HHGTH'); </script><script id="Cookiebot" src="https://consent.cookiebot.com/uc.js" data-cbid="9a575506-32c3-4ed2-8123-3527a9a1f3a7" type="text/javascript" async></script> ![[Pasted image 20260315024522.png]] ***Image provided by Onyx BOOX, March 2026*** # Introduction BOOX has just introduced the second generation of one of their most popular tablets, sure to be met with fanfare, surprise, and even some skepticism. In this article, we will explore the similarities and differences between the first and second generation, as well as the introduction of a front lit model and an active stylus. While I do not have the device in hand as of this writing, I am expecting a review unit from BOOX so I will be able to bring you even more content. In the interest of full disclosure, I was sent information in advance of the launch and have been subject to a communication embargo until the official launch date (standard practice with new products). That being said, the views expressed in this blog are my own and other than the restriction of disclosing information prior to the official product launch, BOOX has not required any specific content be shared but was kind enough to send informational materials. You can be confident that if I am using specific language from those communications, I will quote it appropriately. As always, my content is my own and there is no sponsorship agreement. Now, let's get into it. # The Devices The original [Go 10.3](https://shop.boox.com/products/go103?ref=change1820) was released in June, 2024 and was one of the first 10-11 inch e-ink devices to include a 300 PPI screen. The very low price point at the time made it one of the best values for in the digital paper market. Even today, the current price of $409.99 (with the stylus, tips and case included) is an exceptional value. The standout features of the device were its light weight nature, exceptional build quality, vibrant contrast, and lack of a front light. Many considered it the ideal device for those looking to maximize the digital notetaking experience, although the lack of a front light was a deal-breaker for some. In this latest generation, BOOX has decided to offer two different models with some shared common components, and the introduction of a front light option. BOOX is employing the slogan "Ideas that travel light" for this product and propose the tablet is "designed for focused reading, structured thinking, and light productivity in mobile environments." Below is their vision for the product as outlined in their communication with me: > **Light, clear, all-day focus. Wander far, think deep.** > Designed for digital nomads and mobile professionals, the BOOX Go10.3(Gen II) series supports focused thinking across changing environments. > - **Sunlight-readable / Excellent screen readability** > - Optimized for natural light environments and reduced glare. > - **Work-life integration** > - Enables seamless transition between work, reading, and personal reflection across environments, rather than separating work and life into rigid boundaries. > - **Lightweight and Paper-like** > - Ultra thin design with a writing surface engineered for tactile feedback and sustained note taking. > - **All-day focus, long battery life** > - 3700 mAh battery combined with EInk efficiency supports extended sessions without recharge. > - **The Anti-burnout tool** > - Reduces screen glare, notification overload, and digital fatigue associated with traditional LCD-based devices. Ok, as I mentioned in the introduction, I am not here to just copy and paste BOOX materials. However, I did want to give you a sense of their stated vision behind the products. While you or I may not agree with every stated component of that vision (and a lot will be determined in using the device), this is what they are targeting. Let's dive a little deeper into each device. ## Go 10.3 (Gen II) ![[Go 10.3.jpg]] ***Image provided by Onyx BOOX, March 2026*** The [Go 10.3 (Gen II)](https://shop.boox.com/products/go103gen2?ref=change1820) is the direct successor to the original Go 10.3, so much so that they just put the generation in parenthesis and don't even bother to rename it. Personally, I think there is good reason for this. As mentioned earlier, the Go 10.3 was a disruptor to the market and is a widely acclaimed device. Capitalizing on that goodwill seems important. While a complete list of specifications is below, here are some of the primary differences: - Qualcomm Octa-Core Processor (previous generation does not specify the manufacturer) - Carta 1200 screen (previously HD ePaper glass) - Regal Resolution (unclear, but assumed part of the contrast with the screen upgrade) - InkSense Active Stylus (some may not see this as an upgrade) - Bluetooth 5.1 - Android 15 - Different Document Types Supported (Including Adobe DRM) - Color Options (Pale Blue or Cream) Although the list may not seem like a huge improvement over the previous generation, they are meaningful. Moving from Android 12 to Android 15 means continued support for Google Play, a mainstay feature of the BOOX platform. Additionally, adding in Digital Rights Management support and upgrading to Carta 1200 are welcome improvements, although some may wonder why they did not go to the latest generation of Carta 1300. Of course, the choice to move away from Wacom EMR technology to an active stylus will be concerning to many folks out there, especially those wanting to continue to using their compatible pens. ## Go 10.3 (Gen II) Lumi ![[P1.jpg]] ***Image provided by Onyx BOOX, March 2026*** There is not a lot to talk about with the Go 10.3 Lumi (which is what I am going to call it instead of adding Gen II), other than the addition of a front light and almost a nostalgic callback to the [Max Lumi](https://shop.boox.com/products/maxlumi?srsltid=AfmBOors8f_uWIftEld7_9pjQxPwBzCIl9vsR1jIlpVU_IXLYSH6yVKA&variant=43201866727654) that was I believe BOOX's initial 13.3 inch device. Again, they are banking on devices that were received well in the past and hoping to find a throughline that will get customers engaged (at least that is my perception). While the two devices are virtually identical from a hardware perspective, the addition of a dual temperature front light is a big deal for many. It will be the only device this size in the BOOX lineup (or from most manufacturers) that has a front light and is not Kaleido 3. # Specifications & Comparisons ![[P3.jpg]] ***Image provided by Onyx BOOX, March 2026*** Now that we have talked about each model, let's get down to what makes them unique. Below is a comparison table between the three devices (major differences are highlighted). It will be interesting to see how the specs present themselves in reviews. | Specification | Go 10.3 | Go 10.3 (Gen II) | Go 10.3 Lumi | | --------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | CPU | 2.4Ghz Octa-core | ==Qualcomm Octa-core (6350)== | ==Qualcomm Octa-core (6350)== | | RAM | 4GB | 4GB | 4GB | | Memory | 64GB | 64GB | 64GB | | Display | 10.3" HD ePaper glass screen with flat cover-lens | 10.3" ==Carta1200 glass screen== | 10.3" ==Carta1200 glass screen== | | Resolution | 2480x1860 (300 ppi) | 2480 x 1860 (300 ppi) ==/Regal== | 2480 x 1860 (300 ppi) ==/Regal== | | Dual Touch | BOOX stylus touch (4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity) + capacitive touch | Capacitive touch + ==BOOX InkSense Plus Active Stylus== | Capacitive touch + ==BOOX InkSense Plus Active Stylus== | | Light | No | No | ==Yes== | | Wireless Connection | Wi-Fi (2.4GHz + 5GHz) | WiFi (2.4GHz + 5GHz) | WiFi (2.4GHz + 5GHz) | | Bluetooth | BT 5.0 | ==BT 5.1== | ==BT 5.1== | | Battery | 3700mAh Polymer Li-on | 3700mAh Polymer Li-on | 3700mAh Polymer Li-on | | Buttons | power button without fingerprint recognition | power button without fingerprint recognition | power button without fingerprint recognition | | Slot | USB-C Port (Supports OTG or use as an audio jack) | USB-C (support OTG) | USB-C (support OTG) | | Speaker | Dual speakers | Dual speakers | Dual speakers | | Mic | Yes | Yes | Yes | | G-Sensor | Yes | Yes | Yes | | OS | Android 12 | ==Android 15== | ==Android 15== | | Format | PDF, CAJ, DJVU, CBR, CBZ, EPUB, AZW3, MOBI, TXT, DOC, DOCX, FB2, CHM, RTF, HTML, ZIP, PRC, PPT, PPTX, EPUB3 PNG, JPG, BMP, TIFF WAV, MP3 | ==pdf (reflowable), epub, Adobe DRM, txt, rtf, html, chm, doc, fb2== png, jpg, tiff, gif, bmp wav, mp3 | ==pdf (reflowable), epub, Adobe DRM, txt, rtf, html, chm, doc, fb2== png, jpg, tiff, gif, bmp wav, mp3 | | Features | TTS, Notes, Scribble, Dictionary, Calendar | TTS, Notes, Scribble, Dictionary, Calendar | TTS, Notes, Scribble, Dictionary, Calendar | | Multi-languages | All languages with Android 12 | All languages with ==Android 15== | All languages with ==Android 15== | | Firmware update | OTA update or Locally update | OTA update or Locally update | OTA update or Locally update | | dimension | 235x183x4.6mm | 235x183x4.6m | ==235x183x4.8mm== | | weight | approximate 375g | ==approximate 365g== | ==approximate 365g== | | Color | Cream (warm white) | ==Mist (pale blue)== Cream (warm white) | ==Mist (pale blue)== Cream (warm white) | | Accessories | USB-C cable BOOX InkSense Plus Quick Start Guide Warranty card protective case (optional) 5V/3A Charger (optional) | USB-C cable BOOX InkSense Plus Quick Start Guide Warranty card protective case (optional) 5V/3A Charger (optional) | USB-C cable BOOX InkSense Plus Quick Start Guide Warranty card protective case (optional) 5V/3A Charger (optional) | | Package | gift box | gift box | gift box | As I mentioned earlier, the specifications do not look that big on paper (or in a table), but they are functionally game changing. The jump in Android version and the option of a front light are huge. The elimination of EMR compatibility is confusing, and a lot of this will rely on whether there is a significant price increase. # Conclusions & Final Thoughts ![[Copy of 2400-1350 1.jpg]] ***Image provided by Onyx BOOX, March 2026*** Alright, so there is a lot of information here. Not only is BOOX updating one of their most iconic devices (yes, less than two years old, but a real market disruptor), but they are doing so in both welcome and controversial ways. I will not know for sure until I have a chance to test the device to see how it compares with the original Go 10.3. However, here is a summary of my initial thoughts: - **Android 15** - This is a great and welcome upgrade. It should help to future-proof the device for several years. - [**InkSense Plus Stylus**](https://shop.boox.com/collections/accessories/products/boox-inksense-plus-stylus?ref=change1820) - I really don't get this one, but at least it is a stylus already in circulation and does work fairly well with the [Palma 2 Pro](https://shop.boox.com/products/palma2pro?ref=change1820). One does wonder why they did not go with the [InkSpire](https://shop.boox.com/collections/accessories/products/boox-inkspire-stylus?ref=change1820&variant=46501160419558) that is on the [Tab XC](https://shop.boox.com/products/tabxc?ref=change1820). Losing cross-compatibility could really hurt, in addition to the sometime lackluster quality of active styli. - **Carta 1200** - This could be a pro or con depending on why the decision was made. Carta 1300 in the Note Max and Supernote has had some issues with ghosting and might have been a cost consideration. Considering you are still getting 300 PPI, it will be interesting to see how the display quality is improved. - **Color Choices** - This is actually fun. While I don't have control over which version I will receive for review, I almost hope BOOX sends me a blue one to test. It seems that they have mainly stuck with black, white, and cream for most devices. A little splash of color never hurt anyone. So, there you have it. Below, you will find a video discussing this news and I am really looking forward to sharing my impressions as soon as my review unit arrives. In the meantime, if you just can't wait to order the device or any BOOX device, see my [[Things I Use]] page for special discount codes. As always, using my affiliate links costs you nothing and may even save you a few bucks. I am also linking another video on the original Go 10.3. As always, choosing a digital notetaking device is a highly personal decision and hopefully you have found this article and my other content to be informative and helpful as you decide on the right device for your needs. ![](https://youtu.be/kJE9eiNjJoI) ![](https://youtu.be/cnGpeBPYqYQ) Until next time, thank you for visiting my site and please feel free to read other [[Blog]] articles. If you are interested in more information on the the products and services I use to create my content, visit my [[Things I Use]] page. Also check out my various videos, podcasts, and social media links below. 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