What it is
What the Boox Note Air 2 Plus is in 2026
The Boox Note Air 2 Plus is the 2022-era mono Boox that the Note Air 4C eventually replaced. 10.3-inch Carta 1200 E Ink panel at 227 PPI, Snapdragon 662 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, Android 11 (updateable to a newer build through Boox’s update channel), pen included. The form factor and writing experience are still recognisably “Boox”: Android with Play Store access, native Notes app for handwriting, file manager that handles PDF/EPUB sideloading directly. The device was Boox’s flagship mono for about 18 months before the colour Note Air 3C and then the Note Air 4C took over the lineup.
The Note Air 2 Plus is technically discontinued by Boox direct (the shop page redirects to the 4C in most regions) but third-party resellers still stock it. Street price in 2026 lands around $430, down from the $480 launch. The honest review question is whether a 2026 buyer should pick up the older device for $70 less, or stretch to the current Note Air 4C at $500 with colour and current-generation internals.
The trade-off shape: Note Air 2 Plus saves $70 and gives you longer battery; Note Air 4C adds colour, sharper mono resolution (300 vs 227 PPI), current processor + RAM, current Android. For most 2026 buyers the 4C is the better deal even at the higher price; the 2 Plus is the refurb pick for budget-focused note-takers who don’t need colour.
Writing
Boox Note Air 2 Plus review: writing experience holds up
The writing experience on the Note Air 2 Plus is the area where the device’s age matters least. The Carta 1200 panel has the slight paper-feel texture Boox has used across the Note Air lineup; Marker latency lands around 25-30 ms in the native Notes app, which is competitive with current mono e-ink devices. The included pen has a felt-tip-style nib and a smooth ink flow that most reviewers describe as “very close to paper, not paper”. For handwriting-heavy workflows the device still delivers what Boox owners have come to expect.
Where the writing experience does show its age is in third-party apps. Writing in Notion, OneNote, or Notability on the Note Air 2 Plus is noticeably slower than on the Note Air 4C because the Snapdragon 662 processor is two generations behind and the Android 11 OS imposes some app limitations. For users whose writing workflow stays in Boox’s native Notes app, the gap doesn’t matter; for users who write inside cross-platform apps, the newer 4C is a clearer pick.
Aging
Where the Note Air 2 Plus is showing its age
Three areas where the Note Air 2 Plus has aged less gracefully than the writing surface. First, the Android version: the device shipped with Android 11 and Boox provided update paths to a newer build, but the base OS limits which Play Store apps install cleanly. Apps that require Android 12+ APIs don’t run, and security updates from Google stopped on Android 11 a while back. For most users this is invisible; for users who run sensitive apps (banking, work tools), it’s a real consideration.
Second, the processor. Snapdragon 662 was already mid-tier when the Note Air 2 Plus shipped in 2022; in 2026 it lands two generations behind current Boox hardware. The practical impact is app launch times, third-party drawing app latency, and PDF rendering speed on large documents. Native Notes feels snappy; the experience degrades the further you get from native. Third, the lack of colour. The Note Air 2 Plus is mono only; if your workflow benefits from colour highlights, colour-coded categories, or illustrated PDFs, the device cannot serve those use cases at all.
| Axis | Still good | Showing age |
|---|---|---|
| Writing surface | Carta 1200 panel, felt-tip pen feel | |
| Native Notes app | Snappy, low latency | |
| Third-party apps | Snapdragon 662 trails current chips by 2 gen | |
| Android OS | Android 11 base; newer apps may not install | |
| Display | Mono renders sharp | No colour panel option |
| Battery | ~2 weeks, better than 4C | |
| Software support | Boox still pushes some updates | Primary focus is now the 4C |
Read the table as a workflow filter. Mono note-takers who write mostly in Boox’s native Notes app get a still-excellent device. Users who lean heavily on third-party apps, need current-Android features, or want colour are choosing against the device’s strengths and should pick a current Boox instead.
The Boox Note Air 2 Plus in 2026 is a mono note-taking device that still writes as well as anything in its class. What it stops being is a general-purpose Android e-ink tablet; the OS and processor are too far behind for that role to feel current.Aging section
Verdict
Boox Note Air 2 Plus review: the verdict
The Boox Note Air 2 Plus review verdict in 2026 is conditional. For users who specifically want a mono Boox writing tablet, will use the native Notes app primarily, and prioritise battery and the $70 saving over current-generation internals, the device still holds up. The writing surface is excellent, the Android Play Store still works for most apps, and Boox continues to push some updates even though the focus has shifted to the 4C. For users who want a single device to last the next four years, the Note Air 4C is the clearer pick.
If you’ve used a Note Air 2 Plus alongside a newer Boox or have run the device for 18+ months, drop the take in the comments. The day-one review is one thing; the patterns owners develop after a year of daily use are the parts the verdict above can only estimate.
FAQ
Common questions, answered briefly
Is the Boox Note Air 2 Plus worth buying in 2026?
Note Air 2 Plus vs Note Air 4C: which is better?
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