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UnReview: Boyue T62 6″ Android eReader

boyue t62Boyue might not be well-known outside of the hard-core ereader community, but in that sphere it is making a name for itself. Over the past several years it has released several ereaders, including (by mid-2015) several models which run Android.

The T62 is the second of the two Android ereaders, and it was released in September 2014 (several months after the T61). I had intended to post a review in the first few weeks but let my self be delayed by other devices, more important issues, and life in general.

Then I just put it aside, before picking it up again in May 2015.  I had planned to write a review as a way of prepping for the Onyx Boox i86ML, but then I put the T62  aside again.

As I sit here writing this post in July 2015, I’ve come to the conclusion that for some undefinable reason I don’t like this device. I can’t put it into words, but I really don’t care for it. I don’t hate it – that I would be able to express.

This is not a bad ereader. I can’t recommend buying one but if you got stuck with one then I would honestly say you could do worse.

In many ways the T62 is a much improved update to the T61 (which I liked). It is heavier and slightly larger, and it has a better frontlight and smoother design. And it runs Android 4.2 on a dual-core CPU, giving it a lot of power and the option to install 3rd-party reading apps.

But I don’t like it. I guess the best word to express my feeling would be meh, and so I am posting this incomplete unreview.

Maybe I’ll like it more after I hack it?

There’s a small community of Boyue hackers on MobileRead. They’ve put out several modified firmwares, and I’m sure there’s one for the T62.

I’m going to look into the possibility, and if I find something interesting I will post it.

 

Table of Contents

Where to Buy

Last fall you could find the Boyue T62 at Banggood (China), but it is currently out of stock. Energy Sistem (Spain) has rebranded the T62 as the eReader Pro. And I think Icarus had this model for a time before they upgraded to the next model (with a Carta E-ink screen).

Specs

  • Screen – 6″ Pearl HD E-ink Display
  • Screen Resolution – 1024 x 758
  • Frontlight, Capacitive touchscreen
  • CPU: 1GHz dual-core Rockchip
  • GPU: Mali-400MP
  • RAM: 512MB
  • OS: Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
  • Storage: 8GB (6.7GB available)
  • Wifi
  • Ports: microUSB, headphone
  • Dimensions: 160 x 123 x 8.5 mm

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Comments


Name (Required) July 4, 2015 um 5:26 pm

From what I have read Boyue T61 and T62 have problem with keeping charge. They last significantly less than non-Android readers.

Energy Sistem eReader Pro is supposed to have firmware tuned better with regard to battery performance.

I have been looking into buying one of those as a replacement for my PocketBook that I damaged.
PocketBooks ain’t what they used to be but when I am looking for a replacement I always find serious downsides on their competitors 😉

Nate Hoffelder July 4, 2015 um 6:31 pm

Perhaps the first thing I should try is to fix the battery life issue by installing a 3rd-party app.

Name (Required) July 5, 2015 um 3:07 am

Or a firmware from the Energy Sistem Pro.

Some mobilereaders had luck with installation of apps that can manage (shut down) idle programs.

Of course, step zero would be measuring of the battery performance in the "out of the box" state during normal use.

Nate Hoffelder July 5, 2015 um 6:46 am

Well, I got a week of battery life before. I thought that was enough, really.

Strumund Drang July 5, 2015 um 8:34 am

Nate, have you ever done a review on 3rd party battery apps?

Nate Hoffelder July 5, 2015 um 8:40 am

An actual review? No. But I do use them and recommend them on Android tablets; they can fix a lot of the more common battery life issues.

Nate Hoffelder July 5, 2015 um 9:51 pm

So I’ve been messing with the battery issue today.

The T62 had no battery issue after I installed Deep Sleep. It goes to sleep abd wajes up with almost no battery loss. The T61 did continue to have a problem but then I optimized the process (I told it to kill 4 apps). That fixed the T61’s battery life issue.

I don’t see why anyone was having an issue. The same solution I use for Android tablets worked on the ereaders.


Feda July 5, 2015 um 8:34 am

Android is a terrible OS for e-readers. It’s a bad OS to start with but really shows how bad it is on e-readers.

Ingo Lembcke July 5, 2015 um 9:15 am

Depends on the version and fine tuning.
From rooting my Sony PRS-T1 with Android 2.2 (or 2.3?) and disabling processes I remember that there where telephony, scheduling, Adress-Book and maybe Blue-tooth configured, and running (more or less), but that are all process which should be disabled or not even start, having not hardware for it.
This might be the same for readers with a newer Andoid Version, I guess.

Without further tweaking (file-system format for more install space) I was able to install a calculator, most other programs I wanted took too much space. But to be able to install additional programs for certain tasks (Kindle, Calculator, Notebook, Clipboard?) would be nice, so I cannot really say that Android is a bad OS for an eBook-Reader.

Nate Hoffelder July 5, 2015 um 9:53 pm

Good or bad, it’s the OS everyone is using. And having it on ereaders gives us more options.

Frank July 6, 2015 um 12:05 pm

The Kindle uses the Linux kernel and the Kindle OS.
The Fire tablets use Android.

Nate, on the topic of reviews, are you going to review the Paperwhite 3?

Nate Hoffelder July 6, 2015 um 12:13 pm

Probably not. The only difference between the 2013 and 2015 models is the screen.


Abhishek k July 5, 2015 um 11:01 am

the only terrible downside i see is jellybean, a resource hog os, if this is new device i wonder what was stopping them from using kitkat


anothername July 7, 2015 um 8:27 am

You may have to deactivate Cell Standby and Phone Idle processes. On a Nook ST, you have to do this manually (delete/freeze/rename apk). Search for it for Nook ST and battery drain. The Boyue should have this fixed out of the box. *Shrugs* A deep-sleep app will fix most of it anyway.

Nate Hoffelder July 7, 2015 um 8:32 am

Actually the T61 is still having trouble. For some reason certain apps are still able to wake themselves up. That wasn’t supposed to be possible.


Bisnis Vaksin, Sangat Potensil Di Negara Maju | Kuliah Via Blog July 17, 2015 um 3:34 am

[…] UnReview: Boyue T62 6? Android eReader […]


Bob September 5, 2015 um 6:59 pm

It’s great until you try to use it. Banggood’s product description includes this:

"The LCD screen is very fragile so that a little external force can broke it. (like key hits, someone sit on it)
Artificially damaged is not within the scope of warranty."

Mine broke in an otherwise empty backpack from being jostled on a bus. It’s a tacky company that tries to pass off their bad engineering as the consumer’s problem. Pass on this.

Nate Hoffelder September 5, 2015 um 11:17 pm

Most mobile devices will die if you sit on them, and I’m not surprised that it died alone in a bag. The bag probably hit something, and with nothing to protect the ereader …


Otro ereader más.. – otro blog más December 28, 2015 um 9:36 am

[…] primer lugar, es una desventaja: Energy Sistem (y Boyue, que es quien realmente fabrica el Boyue T62 que la compañía española personaliza ligeramente y distribuye como eReader Pro) no tiene la […]


danimal January 20, 2016 um 10:01 pm

my boyue t62+ has awful battery life too, and deep sleep or another battery management app has done really nothing to extend the life. It lasts about 3 days or less. The only solution is really to turn it off when not in use.


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