BOOX vs. reMarkable — Which E-Ink Device is Better for Reading PDFs and EPUBs? (2026)
BOOX (by ONYX) and reMarkable are the two leading premium e-ink devices beyond Kindle and Kobo. Both have large screens, stylus support, and are popular with researchers, students, and heavy readers. But they have very different philosophies: BOOX is an Android tablet with e-ink display, while reMarkable is a focused writing and reading device. Here's how they compare for reading PDFs and EPUBs.
Quick comparison
| Feature | BOOX (Note Air 3 / Tab Ultra) | reMarkable 2 / Paper Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Android 11/12 | Custom Linux (reMarkable OS) |
| App support | Any Android app | reMarkable apps only |
| PDF reading | NeoReader + any PDF app | Native PDF reading |
| EPUB reading | NeoReader, KOReader, Moon+ etc. | Native EPUB support (2023+) |
| PDF reflow | Built-in + KOReader reflow | Limited (EPUB conversion recommended) |
| Handwriting feel | Good — varies by model | Excellent — paper-like |
| Annotation sync | Multiple cloud options | reMarkable cloud (subscription for features) |
| Price range | $350–$600 | $350–$600 |
| Best for | Flexible reading + productivity | Writing-first with good reading |
PDF reading: which is better?
BOOX wins on flexibility. You can use NeoReader (built-in), KOReader (open-source, designed for e-ink), or any other Android PDF reader. KOReader on BOOX has exceptional PDF reflow, two-page spread mode, and column detection. BOOX's built-in "Reflow" mode works reasonably well for simple PDFs.
reMarkable's PDF reading is clean and distraction-free. The page-turn experience is excellent. But reMarkable's PDF reflow is limited — for two-column academic papers, the experience is much better after converting to EPUB first.
Recommendation: For both devices, converting academic PDFs to EPUB at pdf2epub.toolkit.bot before transferring gives the best reading experience. After conversion, both devices handle EPUB well.
EPUB reading after conversion
Converting a two-column academic PDF to EPUB and reading the EPUB is excellent on both devices. The main differences:
- BOOX: More app choices, more typography control (KOReader especially). Can sync via Calibre Wi-Fi.
- reMarkable: Simpler, cleaner interface. EPUB appears in your library like any other document. Less configurability but works without setup.
Who should choose which
Choose BOOX if: You want app flexibility, use multiple file formats, want KOReader or other advanced readers, do tasks beyond reading/writing (browser, email), or want more control over your device.
Choose reMarkable if: Handwriting and note-taking are your primary use, you want the best paper-like writing feel, you prefer a focused device without Android distractions, and you're willing to convert PDFs to EPUB for the best reading experience.
Frequently asked questions
Can both BOOX and reMarkable read EPUB files?
Yes, both support EPUB. BOOX reads EPUB natively in NeoReader or any installed Android EPUB app. reMarkable 2 added EPUB support in a 2023 firmware update — EPUBs render with reflowable text and adjustable font size on reMarkable, which is a significant reading improvement over PDF. Both devices benefit from converting PDFs to EPUB before transfer.
Which is better for annotating academic papers?
reMarkable is better for handwritten annotation — its felt-tip stylus and paper-like surface are specifically designed for handwriting. Annotations sync to the reMarkable app on your phone/computer. BOOX also supports stylus annotation (on models with a stylus, like the Note Air series) and has more annotation features (OCR of handwritten notes, text highlighting in EPUB/PDF), but the writing feel is generally considered slightly less natural than reMarkable. For academics who mainly highlight and take typed notes, BOOX is more flexible. For those who write margin notes or derive equations, reMarkable wins on feel.
Which is better for reading converted EPUBs from academic PDFs?
Both work well for EPUB reading after conversion. BOOX has the advantage of more reader app choices (NeoReader, KOReader, Moon+) and more typography control. reMarkable's EPUB reading is clean and distraction-free but has fewer customization options. For pure reading, the difference is minor — the quality of the conversion matters more than which device you read on.
Can I install apps on reMarkable?
reMarkable runs a custom Linux-based OS, not Android. You cannot install arbitrary apps from a store. There is a growing community of third-party software (desktop companion apps, sideloading tools), but nothing like the Android app ecosystem on BOOX. BOOX runs Android 11/12 and can install apps from the BOOX App Store or via APK sideloading.
Which device has better battery life?
Both have excellent battery life for e-ink devices — weeks of reading on a charge. reMarkable claims up to 2 weeks. BOOX battery varies by model and workload (Android background processes drain faster). For pure reading, both will last many days. If you use BOOX with many Android apps or Wi-Fi, battery life is shorter than reMarkable's more locked-down OS.