GoKawiilFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
There's nothing like laying out a new planner with to-do lists and goals at the start of a new year. In the past, I would buy a new planner every year, but would eventually abandon filling it out by April.
For me to stick with a planner for the whole year, it has to offer fully customizable note-taking features and let me break down my priorities. Well, I think I've finally cracked the code to the perfect planner.
Also: I wasn't looking to replace my Kindle, but this Android e-reader made it easy
The latest Boox Note Air5 C is an e-ink tablet that allows you to create page after page of notes and templates in one single device, all optimized with features like AI-powered Smart Scribe tools powered by Android 15.
Digital paper tablets are getting more and more attention with brands like Kindle and ReMarkable, and there's even research to back up why. According to a 2025 study, participants who worked on digital paper tablets had 35% lower stress levels while completing their tasks, as well as a 30% reduction in cognitive load, compared to those who worked on computers.
What makes this particular Boox digital paper tablet stand out from older models is how it writes. I am a pen-to-paper person, and the combination of the Pen3 stylus and this tablet's screen makes it a true paperlike writing experience. That's because the pen has an improved surface texture with 4,096 pressure levels and ultra-low latency, so it feels like you are writing on actual paper with a real ballpoint pen.
Also: The best digital notebooks you can buy
However, for those who prefer typing over writing, or who may have messier handwriting, you can get an attachable keyboard cover for even easier note-taking (sold separately for $110).
Aside from the note-taking aspect of the Boox Note Air5 C, it is a productivity machine. The side-by-side feature isn't anything new, but the Android 15 makes it faster and easier to navigate back and forth between different apps than other Boox products I've tested.
... continue reading