Boox Go 6 (Gen II) review: A worthy Android ereader, with some tradeoffs

All of your reading apps in one place, with stylus support. Cheyenne Mac Donald for Engadget RATING : 7.9 / 10Pros Runs Android, so you can download your preferred reading apps Stylus support Compact enough for reading anywhere Micro SD slot for additional storage Cons Runs Android 11Battery life is shorter than other ereaders Not water-resistant Kindle and Kobo may lead the ereader space, but for anyone seeking a bit more flexibility in how they read on the go, there are options like Boox. Boox's E Ink devices run Android, opening up access to Google Play and all the various apps you may use to read, buy, rent and listen to books and other documents. Its newest ereader, the $200 Go 6 (Gen II), arrived earlier this summer. With the latest model, the Go 6 gained stylus support and got a design refresh. The company went for a suitcase-inspired appearance that's gently textured on the back with columns of smooth ridges, and it looks and feels great. It comes in four soft colors: the creamy off-white Shell, pale yellow Custard, deep purple Plum and light gray Stone. The Go 6 (Gen II) works with Boox's Ink Sense Plus stylus (but not the company's other styluses) so you can directly mark up your books, take notes and draw. The $46 stylus is sold separately, or in a bundle with the ereader that saves you about $13.Aside from bumping up to 3GB of RAM versus the Gen I's 2GB, that's about it for what's different. Like the Gen I, the new Go 6 runs a version of the outdated Android 11. While that should be fine in the immediate term, it's still a choice I raise an eyebrow at in 2026. Google ended security updates for Android 11 some two years ago. Nevertheless, you shouldn't have any trouble downloading apps, and most will still be compatible with it for some time to come. The Boox Go 6 (Gen II) comes with 32GB of storage and it has a micro SD slot so it can be expanded. Using the Boox Go 6 (Gen II)The size of the Go 6 is perfect, both for reading when you're out and about and at home. Its 6-inch screen puts it on par with the entry level Kindle and the Kobo Clara BW for compactness, landing right in the Goldilocks Zone of portability and readability. It fits in my smallest bags while still having a large enough display to read comfortably. It can sit in the back pocket of most jeans and even some front pockets (barring those afflicted by Bad Designs for Women's Clothing).There is at least one limitation to consider when bringing it around, though. The Go 6 (Gen II) doesn't have an IP rating for water or dust resistance, so I'd hesitate to take it to the beach, camping or even use it poolside without a protective case. Kobo has it beat there. At roughly 160 grams, it is noticeably lighter than the other device that spends the most time in my hand, my Galaxy Z Flip 6. That makes it great for reading in bed or lying down on the couch. So does its adjustable front light, which you can dim and brighten to your likeness, and shift from cool to warm tones to prevent eye strain. Additionally, its 300PPI e Paper display is crisp and bright. Cheyenne Mac Donald for Engadget I did notice a fair amount of ghosting when switching between different apps and device menus, but Boox offers a number of refresh and color modes to cut down on this sort of thing if it bothers you. There's also the option to set how frequently the screen refreshes. I found ghosting was much less of an issue while I was actually reading and I ultimately set my Full Refresh Frequency to every 30 taps. Never is an option as well, and you can set different settings for each app to optimize them for the display. A quick-access gesture launches BOOX Eink Wise, where you can fine-tune any given app's refresh and color modes, layout, contrast and anti-flicker levels. The 1,500m Ah battery will get you several days of use if you're reading for a few hours a day and using apps moderately. You can get lots more ou...