Boox Note Air 5C vs 4C Differences: Should You Upgrade?

Choosing between two nearly identical color e-ink tablets sounds simple until you realize a $30 price gap separates them. 

The Boox Note Air 5C and 4C share the same core DNA. They run on identical processors, pack the same amount of RAM and storage, and feature the same 10.3-inch Kaleido 3 display. Yet Boox released the 5C less than a year after the 4C launched. Here’s what actually changed and who benefits from the extra spending.​

Quick Specs Comparison

What Actually Changed

The Note Air 5C brings Android 15 instead of Android 13. That means longer app compatibility and security updates stretching roughly seven years, according to Boox’s European registration filings. Apps will support Android 15 far longer than older versions, making this tablet more future-proof.

Pogo pins now live on the back of the 5C. These magnetic connectors let you attach Boox’s official keyboard cover for laptop-style productivity. The 4C lacks these pins entirely, forcing you to use Bluetooth keyboards instead. That magnetic keyboard costs $109.99 extra, but it transforms how you interact with the device.

The Pen 3 replaces the Pen Plus. This redesigned stylus features improved materials, a premium matte finish, and a hidden nib storage compartment. Writing latency dropped to 16 milliseconds from roughly 20 milliseconds. That’s a 20% improvement you’ll notice during fast note-taking sessions.

Frontlight brightness jumped dramatically. The 5C peaks at 101 nits, compared to the 4C’s maximum of 65-70 nits. This matters because Kaleido 3 screens appear darker than monochrome e-ink. You’ll need that brightness indoors, where most people actually use these tablets.

Physical volume buttons arrived on the 5C. You can program these clicky buttons for page turns or custom actions. The 4C has no physical buttons beyond the power key. Some people might appreciate this tactile control, while others may find it unnecessary.

Display Technology: Identical Cores, Different Brightness

Both tablets use the same 10.3-inch Kaleido 3 Carta 1200 display. This technology layers an RGB color filter over traditional black-and-white e-ink particles. The result displays 4,096 colors but with pastel saturation rather than LCD vibrancy.

Resolution stays identical across both models. You get 300 PPI sharpness for monochrome content and 150 PPI for color. That dual-resolution system means text looks crisp while colored images appear softer. Comics, textbooks with diagrams, and PDF annotations benefit from color even if it’s muted.

The 5C’s brighter frontlight makes the biggest visual difference. At maximum brightness, colors appear more vibrant, and the background resembles paper white. The 4C requires turning brightness to 80-100% indoors, while the 5C works comfortably at 60-70%. That extra headroom is particularly helpful in dim lighting situations.

Ghosting improved slightly on the 5C. Both tablets show some image retention when flipping pages with color content, but the 5C handles it better out of the box. The 4C needs more manual tweaking of refresh modes. For reading color comics or magazines, this reduction matters.

Both screens work beautifully outdoors. Direct sunlight actually makes Kaleido 3 colors look more saturated since external light compensates for the darker display. Reading on a sunny patio beats indoor viewing for color vibrancy.

Writing Experience: Faster Feels Better

Writing on both tablets feels natural thanks to Wacom EMR technology and paper-like screen texture. The textured film creates friction similar to that of felt-tip pens on paper. You hear a satisfying scratch sound during note-taking that digital devices usually lack.

The 5C writes faster. At 16 milliseconds of latency, strokes appear nearly instantly under the stylus tip. The 4C’s 20-millisecond lag rarely bothers most users, but speed demons scribbling quick notes will appreciate the improvement. Both tablets easily outperform most iPad stylus experiences.

Pen 3 brings better ergonomics. The matte finish prevents slipping during long writing sessions. The hidden nib compartment stores five spare tips, so you won’t scramble searching for replacements. The 4C’s Pen Plus feels cheaper with its ribbed plastic and lacks an eraser button.

Neither pen includes a top eraser. You must manually switch to eraser mode in the software. The optional Pen 2 Pro works with both tablets and adds that missing eraser button. Consider upgrading to the Pen 2 Pro regardless of which tablet you choose.

Pressure sensitivity matches at 4,096 levels. Both tablets detect how hard you press for variable line thickness. This works great for sketching, mind mapping, and artistic annotations. The Wacom technology responds consistently across the entire screen.

Keyboard Support: The 5C’s Secret Weapon

Pogo pins transform the Boox Note Air 5C into a laptop replacement. The magnetic keyboard cover snaps onto the back using those connector pins. No Bluetooth pairing, no charging cables, no wireless lag. You get instant connectivity the moment you attach it. However, the keyboard costs $109.99 separately. 

Laptop-style workflows become possible. You can type meeting notes, draft emails, edit documents, and handle spreadsheets. The split-screen feature lets you reference materials on one side while typing on the other. Professionals and students benefit most from this setup.

The 4C requires Bluetooth keyboards. You’ll need to pair them, keep them charged, and deal with occasional connection hiccups. Any Bluetooth keyboard works, giving you more choice, but the experience lacks the seamless integration of pogo pins. The 4C still functions well for keyboard users, just less elegantly.

Voice-to-text offers another input method. Both tablets include Android’s speech recognition. Speaking your notes works surprisingly well for hands-free capture, though you’ll need to edit afterwards. The built-in microphone picks up voice clearly in quiet environments.

Performance: Nearly Identical Speed

Both models feature an octa-core CPU. The 4C uses a Snapdragon 690 chip. The 5C uses the Snapdragon 750G, though another source mentions the 690. Regardless of the specific chip variant listed, the hardware is essentially identical to the 4C.

Real-world performance feels virtually identical for typical e-ink tasks. Apps launch quickly, pages turn instantly, and multitasking works smoothly.

Both devices have six gigabytes of RAM. That’s more than enough for running multiple apps simultaneously. You can keep several books open, switch between note-taking and PDF annotation, and browse the web without slowdowns. Memory management rarely causes issues.

Storage capacity technically matches 64GB internal. The 5C offers 46GB usable storage compared to the 4C’s 37GB after accounting for the operating system. That extra 9GB fits roughly 4,500 more ebooks or 90 more typical PDFs. Both support microSD cards up to 2TB for massive libraries.

Super Refresh Technology performs identically. Boox’s BSR chip lets you adjust screen refresh rates for different apps. HD mode delivers sharp text, while speed mode enables video playback and web browsing. The customization works the same across both tablets.

App loading shows minimal differences. In some cases,  the 5C occasionally lags slightly on certain PDF operations compared to the 4C. These differences measure in fractions of a second and rarely impact daily use. Both tablets feel responsive for e-ink devices.

Software: Android 15 Changes Everything

Android 15 on the 5C represents the biggest long-term advantage. Apps will continue to support this OS version for many years, while support for Android 13 gradually fades. Productivity and reading apps all maintain compatibility longer with newer Android versions.

Boox confirmed roughly seven years of software support for the 5C through European regulatory filings. The 4C receives standard updates without that extended commitment. Seven years means buying in 2025 gets you support potentially through 2032. That’s remarkable longevity for any tablet.

The user interface looks nearly identical. Both tablets run Boox’s heavily customized version of Android, with e-ink optimizations. The learning curve stays the same whether you choose the 5C or 4C. Split-screen mode, Super Refresh Technology, and app compatibility work identically.

Google Play Store access opens both tablets to thousands of apps. Kindle, Microsoft Office, Evernote, and OneNote all run smoothly. The e-ink screen limits video playback and gaming, but productivity and reading apps excel. You’re buying a whole Android device, not a locked-down e-reader.

Security patches matter more than most realize. The 5C ships with October 2025 security updates. The 4C launched with the October 2024 patches. Regular security updates protect against vulnerabilities, especially for devices connecting to public Wi-Fi and handling sensitive documents.

Battery Life: Same Capacity, Different Drain

Both tablets pack 3,700mAh lithium-ion batteries. That’s identical capacity, but usage patterns determine actual runtime. The 5C’s brighter frontlight creates different power consumption profiles.

Reading without the frontlight drains roughly 1% per hour on both devices. That theoretical 100-hour runtime never happens in practice because Kaleido 3 screens require a front light indoors. The darker display becomes unreadable without illumination in typical lighting conditions.

Frontlight usage dominates battery drain. At 40 nits of brightness, the Boox Note Air 4C consumes approximately 4% of its battery per hour for reading, resulting in 25 hours of use. The 5C, at a similar brightness, manages roughly 14-15 hours due to its brighter maximum output. Both lasted multiple days with moderate use.

Note-taking drains faster. Expect roughly 6-9 hours of continuous writing, depending on front light settings. The pen digitizer, screen refreshes, and the Android system all consume power. Both tablets perform similarly here since the writing workloads match.

Extreme usage kills batteries quickly. Watching YouTube videos at maximum brightness drains the 5C in about 2.5 hours and the 4C in roughly 4.5 hours. You shouldn’t buy color e-ink for video consumption, but these numbers show power-hungry task limitations.

Build Quality: Subtle Physical Differences

Both tablets share the same basic design. Aluminum-magnesium alloy construction feels premium and sturdy. The asymmetric grip area helps single-handed holding without accidentally touching the screen. Rounded edges prevent discomfort during extended reading sessions.

The Boox Note Air 5C weighs 20 grams more, at 440g, compared to 420g of 4C. You’ll notice this difference during long reading sessions. Neither tablet qualifies as heavy, but the 4C edges ahead slightly for extended one-handed use. Both measure 5.8mm thin.

Physical volume buttons distinguish the 5C. These clicky buttons let you turn pages or trigger custom actions. They rattle slightly, detracting from the premium feel. The buttons sometimes get pressed accidentally when attaching the magnetic pen. The 4C avoids this issue entirely by lacking buttons.

The USB-C port placement remains on the left edge for both models. This location causes charging awkwardness with some covers since you must open the flap to plug in. The 5C’s redesigned folio includes a charging cutout, fixing this annoyance. The 4C’s cover requires opening it completely.

The pen attachment uses magnets on both tablets. The 5C’s pen magnetically snaps to the right edge, but wants to sit higher, where it accidentally presses the volume button. The sweet spot sits lower with weaker magnets. The 4C avoids this problem but has a weaker overall magnetic hold.

Price and Value Analysis

The 5C costs $529.99. The 4C costs $499.99. That $30 difference buys you Android 15, pogo pin keyboard support, Pen 3 stylus, reduced ghosting, brighter front light, and longer software support.​

The keyboard cover costs an additional $109.99 if you want laptop-style functionality. This brings the total 5C investment to $639.98 versus $547.99 for the 4C with Pen Plus.​

Alternatives Worth Considering

The Boox Tab X C features a 13.3-inch screen, providing more workspace if needed. The reMarkable Paper Pro offers a distinct ecosystem dedicated solely to writing.​

Within the Boox lineup, the Go series provides monochrome displays at lower prices. If you don’t need color, those devices offer better battery life and crisper text.​

Final Verdict

The Boox Note Air 5C refines rather than reinvents. Android 15, pogo pin keyboard support, and reduced ghosting create a better device, but the changes feel evolutionary.​

First-time buyers should choose the 5C. The $30 premium provides future-proofing through extended software support and unlocks the keyboard accessory option. The reduced ghosting sweetens the deal for comic and magazine readers.​

Current 4C owners can stick with their devices. You’re not missing anything that demands an immediate upgrade. Save your money for the next generation when Boox hopefully adopts newer display technology.​

Both tablets deliver the best color e-ink experience you can buy today. The choice comes down to budget versus longevity. Spend the extra $30 if you value software support and keyboard flexibility. Save the money if you primarily handwrite and read text.

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