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New Onyx Boox N96CML: Android 4.0, Capacitive Touch, Frontlight (video)

Onyx has just released an updated version of its Boox N96 ebook reader, a popular 9.7″ model.

The new model is the Boox N96CML, and is available from Chinese retailer Banggood for $360 and from eReader-Store.de for 360 euros. this is the third N96 model released in the past year, and here is what it looks like in comparison to the Kindle.

The Boox N96CML has a 9.7″ E-ink display with a screen resolution of 1200 x 825. It features both a Capacitive touchscreen and an electroMagnetic stylus as well as a frontLight (hence the C, M, and L in the model name).

It runs Android 4.0 on a 1GHz CPU with 1GB RAM, 16 GB internal storage, and a microSD card slot. In terms of connectivity, it has Wifi and Bluetooth. And that’s not all; it also has a speaker, headphone jack, and a microphone.

It doesn’t come with Google Play, but you can install apps. Between that, and the hardware specs, this could be a great E-ink tablet – if it had a better CPU (and ran Android 5.0).

But as it is, the Boox N96CML is limited by the weak CPU and old OS. Onyx can keep slapping on the hardware upgrades but until they do something about the CPU they are basically putting lipstick on a pig.

eReader-Store.deBanggood

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Comments


fabrizio venerandi February 24, 2017 um 2:25 am

"It doesn’t come with Google Play"
Are you sure? I see it in the video.

Nate Hoffelder February 24, 2017 um 3:07 am

I didn’t see a mention of Google Play in the product listing – but I did see that it had both a stylus and a capacitive touchscreen.

Edit: No. I was wrong and you were right.

Fabrizio Venerandi February 24, 2017 um 8:20 am

Thank you for the answer. To be honest, it seems strange to me that this firmware does not handle the Play Store as my M96. I think they didn’t write in product listing, but it has to be installed.


Fabrizio Venerandi February 24, 2017 um 2:31 am

…and I think the CML version has not the stylus, only hand.


user February 24, 2017 um 5:42 am

I see a LOT of frustration between hard finger presses trying to register the click and waiting for the device to response and come all the action.
It’s time to say goodbye to M/N/96/97 tech.

Fabrizio Venerandi February 24, 2017 um 8:21 am

It is really slow in video. More slow than my M96… maybe in the video he is accessing a SD external memory?


Ed February 25, 2017 um 7:39 am

I’ve been waiting for a large format (8-10 inch), high ppi (250 ppi+), Android 5.0+ reader for the last 2 years…and one with an EM stylus (for annotations and marginalia). The hardware just hasn’t appeared yet, as far as I can tell.

The M96 / N96 in its various flavors are steps in the right direction (in size and stylus), as is the i86 (in screen resolution). But all have critical hardware failings which provide compelling reasons NOT to waste my money.

However, I continue to scan this and other internet sites with hope, ready to plunk down credit as soon as an appropriate model appears


Robin February 28, 2017 um 10:12 am

So~o tempting but hard to justify me paying that much just for my ebooks, manga, and maybe pdfs? Sadly it also seems really, really slow!


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