E-reading on the go – BOOX Go 6 e-reader review

If you're looking for a quality e-reader, you don't have to stick with Amazon's selection – the BOOX Go 6 might be ideal for you. While there's no shortage of excellent Kindles to choose from, the Go 6 offers an alternate style and approach to being an e-reader.

The most notable feature of the Go 6 compared to Kindles and other e-readers is its small build. E-readers are often designed to be highly portable, but the Go 6 excels more so than others. It's very lightweight and sports a respectable battery life, so it should be no trouble to pack it in a bag and take it with you on the go.

While the enhanced portability is great, and the other features are appreciated, it's understandable if you're apprehensive about trying out an e-reader that isn't a Kindle. They tend to be consistently great, so the Go 6 likely has a lot to prove for potential buyers. To help you decide if the Go 6 is right for you, we've got hands-on with it to find out what it's really like to use.

We've had one of our tech writers, Kyle Purves, test the BOOX Go 6. They've used it for a few weeks, becoming familiar with the ins and outs of using the e-reader. From the performance and settings to the apps and value, they've developed a solid sense of the Go 6's strengths and weaknesses and are here to share their findings.

Verdict: The BOOX Go 6 has plenty of charm, but it's also rough around the edges. While the portability, battery life, and settings are certainly great, it's hard to ignore the downsides. The performance is noticeably slow, and it feels especially bad for this price point. Although it's hard to say whether the Go 6 is worth your money compared to a Kindle, it does enough on its own to be worth considering.

What's good?

As can be expected of an e-reader with "Go" in its name, this is an e-reader that cares about portability, and that's very apparent in its build. At just six inches, the BOOX Go 6 fits comfortably in just one of my hands, and it's lightweight enough that I can tuck it away in a pocket and not be bothered. One of the benefits of using e-readers over regular books is that they tend to be more convenient to carry, and that's certainly the case here.

I was initially apprehensive about the Go 6's screen size, but it didn't bother me in practice. It's comparable to that of a standard modern smartphone, being a bit shorter than your typical 6.67-inch design but also wider so as to keep reading feeling natural.

The battery life is also great. An e-reader needs to hold charge fairly well, as there's no point in a device that can only last a couple of chapters. Thankfully, the Go 6 is safe in this regard, as its charge retention is superb. Throughout my time with it, I rarely had to charge it, and even when I did, it was only for a short top-up. I feel confident I could take it with me out for a day at even 50 per cent and not need to worry about it running low.

My personal favourite aspect of this e-reader is its lighting options. Reading in bed just before going to sleep is a delight, but the harsh light from devices like our phones is well-known to not be the best for us. But the BOOX Go 6 allows you to adjust how the light comes out, going between different levels of stark white and a soft yellow glow. Not only do these remind me of actual book pages, but the yellow is kind on the eyes and doesn't impact my sleep quality the same way other devices do. It's a cosy feeling that this e-reader does best.

What's okay?

While not amazing, the set of apps included is more than enough for most users. Audible may be a notable omission for some, but it's not wholly unsurprising that an e-reader is missing it. I personally preferred to transfer files manually from my laptop, but the pre-installed eBook apps are easy to navigate.

I used the browser a lot because I wanted to see how well Go 6 worked for web articles. While it was a little slower than my other devices, it wasn't noticeable enough to be a complaint. If you like the idea of leaving your phone and social media in your bag so you can relax while browsing the internet, the Go 6 is solid enough.

Another aspect of this device that's worth mentioning is its colour display, or rather the lack thereof. This is a monochrome device, so you won't be seeing any shades of red, blue and beyond with it. While some might find this an off-putting thing to exclude, I find it to be quite charming. It imitates the often monochrome style of a regular book, with the white or yellow glow mimicking the most frequent shade of pages. It's not for everyone, and I can't blame anyone for finding it gimmicky, but I don't think it's a downside at all for me.

Any negatives?

There's no ignoring the critical flaw of the BOOX Go 6, and that's its performance. It feels sluggish and slow to use, with swapping sections on the homepage or scrolling down a website being noticeably subpar.

In all due fairness, a device like this doesn't need to be speedy. It's a portable option first and foremost, and so one should expect it to perform less well than a more refined model. Still, I can't ignore how often it feels bad.

That said, the silver lining is that the performance never felt like an obstacle when actually reading. It never bothered my immersion or got in my way when turning a page. If you plan on using this e-reader almost exclusively for reading, then the performance should suffice.

The other major flaw of the BOOX Go 6 is its price. While it's not too much more than other e-reader models, you can find plenty of more powerful and versatile options at a better price. It's hard to say that the Go 6's portability and other positives outweigh its lacklustre performance enough to justify its price tag.

More items to consider

Who tested it?

Kyle Purves is one of our tech writers and is well-experienced in testing electronics. From speakers and headphones to keyboards and mice, they're familiar with what to look out for when reviewing tech products.

How was it tested?

The BOOX Go 6 is an e-reader designed with portability in mind, so I made sure to take it with me when out and about. Although I preferred to use it for a bit of light reading before going to sleep, I did take it along to a cafe multiple times to get a sense of how convenient it truly is.

Why should you trust us?

At What's The Best, our mission is to provide accurate and reliable reviews, ensuring our readers receive honest and transparent information about the best technology products available. Anything less would undermine our commitment to being a trusted source of unbiased product information.

Our dedicated in-house writing team comprises experts with extensive experience and a genuine passion for technology. Collectively, we have spent decades testing and writing about tech, leveraging our expertise in all our articles, advice pieces and reviews.

We maintain complete editorial independence and do not accept payment for product reviews. Our writers have full control over their content, ensuring that products are selected based solely on the needs of our readers. While we may earn commissions or other compensation from links on our website, this never affects our product choices. These links enable us to continue offering valuable consumer advice, without compromising the integrity of our reviews.

Read more about why you should trust us.

How we test products at What's The Best

Real people, real reviews and trusted buying advice.

Tired of confusing tech reviews? At What's The Best, we cut through the jargon with down-to-earth product evaluations. Our team of experienced reviewers puts everyday gadgets to the test, using them just like you would. We don't waste time on unrealistic scenarios; instead, we focus on real-world performance that matters to consumers.

This means unbiased buying advice you can trust. We only review products that are significant and relevant, so you can be sure you're getting the latest insights. Haven't seen a review for what you're looking for? Don't worry, we're constantly adding new products to our growing catalogue.

For in-depth details on our testing process, visit our dedicated tech and electronics how we test page.

Kyle Purves is a Tech Writer and Reviewer for What's The Best, with an avid interest in all things gaming and tech.

They're well-versed in reviewing a variety of tech products, with a soft spot for speakers and earphones. They're also no stranger to hunting down the best savings, always wanting to get the best deal possible. Outside of work, they can often be found playing through an RPG, listening to Japanese noise rock, or trying to catch up with their ever-expanding list of shows and anime to watch. If possible, they try to play Dungeons and Dragons a couple of times a week, but getting six adults to be free at the same time is easier said than done.

Subscribe to the What's The Best Newsletter to keep up to date with more of the latest reviews and recommendations from the rest of the What's The Best team.