BOOX Go 6 Gen II

Arriving in mid-2026 as a targeted update of the original Go 6, the new model features an additional gigabyte of RAM, a revised design with a ribbed texture on the back, new color options, and the main highlight: compatibility with the InkSense Plus digital stylus. The price rises to €199.99. Weighing 160 grams and measuring 7.7 mm thick, it is positioned as the most compact Android e-reader in Onyx's catalog, designed for those seeking a pocket-sized device with the flexibility of Android.

Index:

• Design and Build
• Technical Specifications
• Display
• Software and Performance
• Battery Life and Accessories
• Price and Final Considerations

Design and Build

The Go 6 Gen II maintains the form factor of its predecessor: 154.4 × 107 mm in dimensions and 7.7 mm thick. It easily fits into a pocket and can be held in one hand for hours without strain, resembling the proportion of a pocket library book more than any other device in the Boox range. The claimed weight is confirmed by the sensation during use: substantial but never tiring.

The main aesthetic novelty is the vertical ribbed back panel, available in three colors: Stone (light gray), Shell (off-white), and Plum, a dark violet that appears almost black in normal lighting conditions but reveals its true color outdoors. The side edges have been slightly rounded compared to the first generation, improving comfort during extended reading sessions. The construction feels solid: no creaks under pressure, no noticeable play between components.

The power button is on the top edge; USB-C, microSD slot, and microphone hole are grouped on the bottom edge. The sides lack any physical controls: there are no page-turn buttons, a choice that simplifies the profile but necessitates reliance on screen taps or an optional Bluetooth page-turner like the Boox Tappy.

Paradoxically, the ribbed texture visually suggests improved grip, but in practice, the Gen II's plastic is slightly more slippery than the rubberized finish of the first model. This is not a safety issue during normal use, but those coming from the first generation will notice the difference. After a few days of use, the surface acquires a bit of natural grip; in any case, the recommended optional case fully resolves the issue.

Technical Specifications

The Go 6 Gen II is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor, an octa-core chip that was released in 2019 and is now outdated, but is well-calibrated for the tasks it needs to handle. Reading eBooks, annotating PDFs, light web browsing: the 665 handles everything without hesitation and rarely draws attention to itself during use.

The 3 GB of RAM (one more than Gen I) help make transitions between apps smoother and reduce loading times during busier sessions. The internal memory is 32 GB, expandable up to 1 TB via the microSD slot.

The operating system is Android 11. This is a choice that deserves an honest assessment: Android 11 was released in September 2020 and received its last official security update in 2024, rendering it currently out of support. Most reading apps work perfectly, but some applications requiring advanced security features already need Android 12 or higher. Other devices in the Boox Go range have reached Android 13 or 15. For a product marketed in mid-2026, the choice not to update the operating system is questionable: it does not compromise daily use as an e-reader, but raises a question about long-term application longevity.

Technical Specifications - BOOX Go 6 Gen II

• Operating System: Android 11
• SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 665, octa-core 2.0 GHz
• RAM / Storage: 3 GB / 32 GB + microSD slot (up to 1 TB)
• Display: 6" monochrome E Ink, 1448×1072 px, 300 PPI
• Frontlight: 28 brightness levels + adjustable warm light
• Stylus: BOOX InkSense Plus (capacitive USI, 4096 pressure levels, USB-C charging)
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C
• Battery: 1500 mAh, charged via USB-C
• Dimensions / Weight: 154.4 × 107 × 7.7 mm / 160 g
• Colors: Stone, Shell, Plum
• Price: €199.99

Display

The six-inch panel, with a resolution of 1448×1072 pixels and a density of 300 PPI, is a monochrome E Ink display. The text rendering is sharp and precise: at 300 PPI, the individual dots are not distinguishable at normal reading distance, and the contrast, even with the front light off, is comfortable in full ambient light. The panel does not suffer from significant ghosting, unlike what has been observed on other models in the same range with recent firmware: the screen refresh is well-calibrated for the specific hardware of the Go 6 Gen II.

The front light, useful only when ambient light decreases, covers 28 levels of intensity, and it can also activate an adjustable warm light that introduces a progressive reddish tint, helpful for reducing eye strain during evening sessions. As with any front-lit panel, there is a small physical gap between the touch surface and the plane where the electronic ink forms: noticeable to expert eyes, but entirely irrelevant in regular reading.

The performance in PDFs is functional but with some physiological limitations: an A4 document on six inches is too small to be comfortably read vertically. The native app, NeoReader, offers a half-page view mode in horizontal orientation, making the experience practical. For EPUB eBooks, the issue does not arise: the reflowable text fits perfectly on the available surface, and legibility is excellent.

Software and Performance

NeoReader, Boox's proprietary reading app, is one of the most comprehensive in the industry for configuration depth. It supports EPUB, PDF, MOBI, CBZ, and many other formats, with extensive typographic customization options (font, line spacing, margins, spacing, justification) and selectable screen refresh modes for each installed app.

The quick control panel at the bottom allows switching between refresh modes (HD, Standard, Deep, Speed, Custom) without exiting reading.

Android 11 is a full layer: the Google Play Store is pre-installed and allows installing any app compatible with that version. This is the main structural advantage of the Go 6 Gen II over closed ecosystems like Kindle or Kobo: one can install library loan apps (Libby, Borrowbox, Hoopla), alternative reading apps, or use NeoBrowser for web navigation. A flexibility that dedicated readers cannot offer.

The Snapdragon 665 with 3 GB of RAM manages reading app performance well. Multitasking between two or three light apps presents no significant issues. Heavier apps and intense multitasking sessions expose the limits of the chip—and, of course, the monochrome display—but this is not the domain of a six-inch e-reader: the hardware is appropriately sized for what the device needs to do.

Web browsing on informational sites flows reasonably well, with the inevitable refresh artifacts typical of E Ink panels.

Battery Life and Accessories

The 1500 mAh battery provides an autonomy that heavily depends on the usage profile. In evening reading sessions with the front light set to low intensity, the Go 6 Gen II easily lasts up to a week of usage without recharging. Those who use it more intensively, with active web browsing, app installations, and frequent screen refreshes, will notice significantly lower autonomy compared to a Kindle or Kobo with a larger battery.

This is the physiological cost of having Android running in the background: system processes consume energy even in standby, unlike the closed and optimized firmware of traditional readers.

The InkSense Plus stylus is the most pronounced new element compared to its predecessor. A capacitive stylus based on the USI protocol with 4096 pressure levels, rechargeable via USB-C: on paper, a complete proposition. In practice, the panel's surface lacking textured coating offers a slippery feel unlike paper, and the six-inch size objectively limits the available writing space.

For short PDF annotations or digital signatures, it is a useful tool; for extended note-taking sessions, a 10-inch panel provides a qualitatively superior experience both in available surface area and gesture stability.

It is worth noting that the stylus has no integrated housing solution in the device: it does not magnetically attach or fit into any compartment. It needs to be carried separately, which partly diminishes the portability advantage that the Go 6 Gen II emphasizes. The optional case is recommended not only to protect the device but also to improve grip: anyone choosing the Go 6 Gen II will likely not use it for long without a cover.

Price and Final Considerations

The BOOX Go 6 (Gen2) 6" Monochrome ePaper Reader is priced at €199.99. At this price point, the Go 6 Gen II is positioned in a bracket that puts pressure on its value proposition. The direct comparison with the more affordable Kindle Paperwhite (a closed ecosystem but with superior autonomy and optimization) and with mid-range Kobo models requires a clear response: the reason to choose the Go 6 Gen II is the Android flexibility with Google Play and the microSD slot.

Anyone needing Libby, a specific reading app not available on Kindle or Kobo, or an e-reader that works with any service or third-party app has here the most compact and pocketable response on the market.

The Go 6 Gen II is not the right choice for those seeking maximum autonomy, a simplified ecosystem, or a device for extensive note-taking. The six-inch format is ideal for reading, not for writing, and the stylus should be considered a complementary accessory, not a primary strength. The choice of Android 11 is a dissonant note that weighs on the overall assessment: an operating system from 2020 on hardware marketed in 2026 is a concession that Boox could have avoided, especially considering that other devices in the same range have received more recent updates.

For those starting from scratch and looking for a compact Android e-reader, the Go 6 Gen II is a solid, well-built product that narratively aligns with its identity. For those already owning a Go 6 Gen I, the upgrade is not urgent: the additional gigabyte of RAM improves fluidity, but does not significantly enhance the reading experience.