BOOX Go 6 Gen II: pocket e-reader notebook

The second-generation model keeps that general idea but adds a more practical twist. With handwriting support, it becomes less of a pure reading device and more of a compact paper replacement for people who want one small gadget for reading and quick note-taking.

All the insides 

It is a small change that could matter. Many 6-inch e-readers are great for books but less useful once you want to annotate, scribble, plan, or capture a passing thought. Larger E Ink tablets already do that well, but they are not always the thing you want to carry on a train or slip into a small bag. BOOX is clearly leaning into that gap here.

The Go 6 (Gen II) works with the InkSense Plus stylus, which is sold separately. Through the native notes app, users can write handwritten notes, create reminders, make to-do lists, underline passages and mark up books. BOOX describes it as a “small but mighty pocket tool”, which, to be fair, is pretty much the brief.

The redesign also takes the travel theme literally. BOOX says the new device has a suitcase-inspired form factor, with a back shell that uses tactile grooves and subtle curves. It comes in four colours: Plum, Stone, Shell and Custard.

The Go 6 (Gen II) remains firmly in pocket-reader territory, but the point is not simply that it is small. It is designed to be the e-reader that users can always bring along, now with enough writing support to make it more useful on a commute, trip or quick café stop.

Its monochrome ePaper screen keeps the printed-paper look and glare-free appeal that make E Ink devices easier on the eyes than phones or tablets, while the adjustable front light helps it work across different lighting conditions. Inside, the upgraded processor and extra memory should make reading, note-taking and app switching feel smoother, though this is still not trying to replace a larger productivity tablet. It is a compact reader that now has a better excuse to double as a pocket notebook.

The device runs Android 11 with an Open SDK. It also supports Wi-Fi on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, Bluetooth 5.0, and USB Type-C. The spec sheet lists a 1,500mAh Polymer Li-on battery, a microphone, no speaker, and package contents that include a USB-C cable, card tray eject tool, quick start guide, warranty card and gift box.

The specs are as follows:

Compared with the first Go 6, the new model is still an iterative update rather than a total rethink. The core e-reader fundamentals remain familiar: a 6-inch monochrome ePaper screen, 1448 x 1072 resolution, 32GB storage, microSD expansion, Android 11 and dual-band Wi-Fi. The real upgrades are handwriting support, the native notes app, InkSense Plus compatibility, 3GB of RAM and the refreshed travel-friendly design.

The trade-off is that the Go 6 (Gen II) is slightly larger and heavier than the original, and it costs more. Still, the added handwriting support gives it a clearer reason to exist. The original Go 6 was mainly a compact Android reader. The Gen II model is now a tiny reader that can also work as a pocket notebook.

That also changes who the Go 6 (Gen II) is for.

The original Go 6 made sense for people who wanted a small, open Android e-reader. The Gen II version makes more sense for travellers, students, commuters and list-makers who want to read and write on the same compact device. It is for the person who reads on the train, underlines a passage, writes down a reminder, then throws the device back into a bag without thinking too much about it.

In other words, BOOX has not made the Go 6 (Gen II) bigger or flashier. It has made it more useful.

And for a travel e-reader, that might be the right move.

Pricing and availability

The Go 6 (Gen II) is available for pre-order through the official BOOX Shop and Amazon at US$199.99. BOOX says shipping will begin on a date to be confirmed. We’ve reached out to them for local pricing and availability and will update this article when we receive more information.