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Tablet Comparison

Onyx Boox Note Air vs Apple iPad Air Comparison

A detailed, side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right tablet.
Onyx Boox Note Air
Onyx
Onyx Boox Note Air
8.1 / 10
Compass Score
From 7 critic reviews
Full review →
Apple iPad Air
Apple
Apple iPad Air
9.0 / 10
Compass Score
From 46 critic reviews
Full review →
Verdict

Pros & cons

Boox Note Air

If you’re looking for a tablet that’s designed more for learning or work, the Onyx Boox Note Air is an excellent middle-ground between full-featured tablets like Apple’s iPads and the more pared-back features of e-readers. It checks all of the boxes for what a professional or a student might need when reading, writing and note-taking, even including the availability of installing the Google Play store. It’s a great tablet and very well rounded.

+
Good
+ Premium design
+ Nice pen with magnetic storage
+ Suitable format and app support
−
Not
− Not waterproof
− So-so third-party app support for pen
− Low refresh rate means no second monitor use

iPad Air

+
Good
+ Fast performance
+ High-quality design
+ MIMO support
+ Beautiful display
+ Plenty of model options
−
Not
− Price
− Lack of Touch ID
− Mediocre camera
Spec data

How they compare

Boox Note Air
iPad Air
Price (MSRP)
—
Price (MSRP)
—
OS
Android
OS
iOS
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 Octa-core
Processor
Apple A7 Dual core
Camera zoom
—
Camera zoom
—
Battery life
—
Battery life
—
Wired charging
—
Wired charging
—
Wireless charging
—
Wireless charging
—
Display
Grayscale
Display
Color
Software support
—
Software support
—
Repairability
—
Repairability
—
Weight
420g (14.8 oz)
Weight
478g (16.9 oz)
Fingerprint
No
Fingerprint
No
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.
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Physical comparison

Size & weight

Footprint · to scale
Boox Note Air
9" × 7.7"
iPad Air
9.4" × 6.6"
Thickness · to scale
Boox Note Air
0.2"
iPad Air
0.3"
Height
9" (229.4 mm)
Height
9.4" (239 mm)
Width
7.7" (195.4 mm)
Width
6.6" (168 mm)
Depth
0.2" (5.8 mm)
Depth
0.3" (7 mm)
Weight
420g (14.8 oz)
Weight
478g (16.9 oz)
Screen
10.3"
Screen
9.7"

Dimensions shown in inches (mm). Silhouettes are proportionally scaled for visual comparison.

Common questions

Boox Note Air vs iPad Air: FAQ

Which is better, the Boox Note Air or iPad Air?
Based on aggregated critic reviews, the iPad Air earns a Compass Score of 9.0 compared to 8.1 for the Boox Note Air. That 0.9-point gap reflects stronger reviews across the board, though individual priorities like camera quality, battery life, or price could tip the scales the other way. Scores aggregate dozens of expert opinions, so they are a useful starting point, not the final word.

Specifications sourced from manufacturers and third-party databases. Last updated October 2026. Suggest a correction →