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Boyue Likebook Mars Features an Octacore CPU

It looks like the next device from Chinese ereader maker Boyue has leaked on Youtube.

The Boyue Likebook Mars is a 7.8″ very similar to last year’s Likebook Plus, only with double the RAM, a color-shifting frontlight, and possibly running a newer version of Android.

The Likebook Mars has a 7.8″, 300 ppi Carta E-ink screen with frontlight and capacitive touchscreen. According to the description on Youtube, it runs Likebook OS on an octa-core Rockchip CPU with 2GB RAM and 16GB storage.

Edit: Boyue told me that Likebook OS is based on Android 6.0.1.

Weighing in at 290 grams, the Likebook Mars has a 2.8Ah battery and measures a mere 9.3mm thin. It also has Wifi, BT, a microSD card slot, and a headphone jack.

All in all this is almost the same ereader as the Likebook Plus, but there are a couple subtle improvements. The description says the Likebook Mars has twice the RAM, and a color-changing frontlight similar to what you can find on Kobo’s ereaders.

That second detail was confirmed by another Youtube video:

There’s no word yet on when the Likebook mars will be released.

via MobileRead

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Comments


Steve H. September 4, 2018 um 10:58 am

Interesting device. So far it looks like Amazon is one of the few device manufacturers without a color control model. Will that change for 2018?


Vicente September 4, 2018 um 12:19 pm

Likebook OS? Is it a layer over Android?

Nate Hoffelder September 4, 2018 um 2:45 pm

that is my guess

Nate Hoffelder September 5, 2018 um 12:23 pm

I was just told that it’s based on Andorid 6.0.1

Vicente September 5, 2018 um 12:56 pm

No word on price too?

Nate Hoffelder September 5, 2018 um 4:37 pm

It’s only available in China, but no, they didn’t tell me the price.

Vicente September 6, 2018 um 12:49 pm

But now it’s not available yet, I guess it will be…


mocarey September 7, 2018 um 12:06 am

So, I saw this selling on Amazon by a seller named BESP, shipping from Nevada at a cost of $239.

Nate Hoffelder September 7, 2018 um 5:49 am

Thanks!

edit: here’s the link
https://amzn.to/2oQfTvD


Mark Nolette September 12, 2018 um 8:10 am

Does anyone know if this device has Play Store? The Boyue T63 didn’t – thus, my question!

Nate Hoffelder September 12, 2018 um 8:30 am

I have a review unit, and the answer is no.


Mo Carey September 12, 2018 um 11:22 am

Did the review unit come with a case?

Nate Hoffelder September 12, 2018 um 12:20 pm

As a separate retail item, yes.


Mark Nolette September 12, 2018 um 11:43 am

Thanks! Not a deal-breaker, but good to know ahead of time. Apps can be sideloaded, I presume. Not having Play Store could help battery life.


Mark Nolette September 12, 2018 um 11:46 am

Strangely enough, in the video above, I see a Play Store icon!

Nate Hoffelder September 12, 2018 um 12:21 pm

I think they showed a hacked unit in the video, and knew they couldn’t ship it.


Mark Nolette September 12, 2018 um 1:32 pm

Gotcha. Perhaps the device can be rooted, but it might not be worth the bother. If I buy this device and then load what apps I want on it, I’m done and ready to go. Of course, I have an e-reader or two already, so I don’t need this one. But we all know how that goes!


Mark Nolette September 13, 2018 um 1:22 pm

I asked a question of the Amazon seller, and got a reply this morning. They said that there will be w firmware update next month which will support Play Store & other Google apps. Here is the reply in full: "Our product features are still in the process of being improved. We will release a new firmware version next month, which will support the google play store and automatically update the firmware when it is available."

Mike Cane October 1, 2018 um 4:06 pm

Amazon Question reply:
>As of 29 Sept., it does not [have Play Store], nor does this device support many non-original apps; the Amazon app store and the ES File Manager alike, as unfortunate examples, do not work well on this device.

Mo Carey October 1, 2018 um 7:51 pm

A new device is being shipped to me by the seller (to replace my prior device where I broke the screen). They indicated in the note to me, that the new device comes with the Google Play Store, so I’m guessing the updates to the existing device should be pretty soon.
Also, this ereader is listed on aliexpress ranging from 226 to 229 USD, much cheaper than the current Amazon price of 269USD.

Mike Cane October 1, 2018 um 8:01 pm

You got it at $239 from the Azn seller, no? Ali ordering means a long wait and doesn’t it also require shipping oosts?


Mo Carey October 1, 2018 um 9:12 pm

The Amazon price is currently 269USD. When I purchased, the price was 239USD on Amazon and was shipped from China, and it took about a week to get to me.
The AliExpress listings for this item indicate free shipping and delivery within 6-13 days. It took about 2 weeks for me to get a case that I ordered for the device from one of these AliExpress sellers.

Mike Cane October 2, 2018 um 8:42 am

Thanks for the tip! This is the first eInk device since the Nook Simple Touch that has really grabbed my interest.


Bran December 30, 2018 um 8:56 pm

New 7.8-inch Likebook Mars E-reader
The North America Amazon store. https://amzn.to/2oQfTvD
Welcome to order.


Craig Mason March 10, 2019 um 2:21 pm

Bought one for GearBest which lets you use Paypal Credit. $224.00


Boyue Likebook Mars is an eReader with an octa-core processor – Liliputing November 5, 2019 um 1:50 pm

[…] The Digital Reader reports that the operating system is based on Android 6.0.1. It also looks like a rabranded Boyue Likebook Mars will be sold for 268 Euros in Europe as the […]


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