Onyx has unveiled a new monochrome e-reader in China, and it’s turning heads for one big reason: its design. Called the Boox Leaf5+, the device leans into a sleek, premium look that strongly echoes the beloved wedge-style ergonomics people associated with the now-discontinued Kindle Oasis. Add modern internals, stylus input, and physical page-turn buttons, and it’s easy to see why the Leaf5+ could appeal to readers who miss that particular form factor.
A thin body with a built-in grip for better handling
The Boox Leaf5+ is impressively slim at its thinnest point, coming in at about 4mm. But it doesn’t try to be uniformly thin. Instead, it uses a raised ridge along part of the back, boosting thickness in that area by an additional 4.5mm. The goal is simple: give your hand a natural place to rest so it feels secure during long reading sessions, especially one-handed.
Onyx also departs from the usual minimalist black-and-white e-reader palette by finishing the Leaf5+ in a sky blue color. It’s a refreshing change visually, though there’s one practical omission compared to some premium competitors: Onyx hasn’t included an official IP dust or water resistance rating, which may matter if you like reading by the pool, in the bath, or outdoors.
7-inch Carta 1300 display with crisp 300ppi and adjustable front light
Up front, the Boox Leaf5+ features a 7-inch E Ink Carta 1300 display at 300ppi, a sweet spot for portability while still looking sharp for text-heavy reading. The screen sits flush with the front and is covered by etched tempered glass, a choice that can help cut down reflections while maintaining a clean, premium look.
On the right side of the display is a thicker bezel that houses two dedicated page-turn buttons—an increasingly rare but highly requested feature among e-reader fans. The Leaf5+ is also said to include a new front light system with a color temperature range from 3000K to 5500K, giving you more flexibility to adjust from warm evening tones to cooler daylight settings.
Stylus support adds an extra dimension
One of the Leaf5+’s standout features is stylus support. With an optional stylus, users can write and draw, giving the device more versatility than a typical reading-only e-reader. For anyone who likes annotating documents, jotting down thoughts while reading, or sketching quick ideas, stylus input can be a meaningful upgrade.
Snappy hardware, expandable storage, and Android-based software
Powering the Boox Leaf5+ is an unnamed octa-core Snapdragon processor clocked at up to 2.0GHz, paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. If that’s not enough, there’s also a microSD card slot supporting cards up to 2TB—great for large libraries, PDFs, and comics.
Connectivity includes dual-band Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth 5.0, along with USB‑C for charging and data. The battery is rated at 2,000mAh. While that’s on the smaller side compared to some other models, e-ink devices are generally efficient, and real-world battery life will depend on lighting usage, Wi‑Fi, and how heavily you use stylus features.
Software-wise, the Leaf5+ ships with Boox OS 4.2 based on Android 13, which typically means broader app flexibility and more customization than closed e-reader platforms—particularly appealing to users who want more control over reading apps, file handling, and workflows.
Price and availability
In China, the Onyx Boox Leaf5+ launched at CNY 1,899 (around $278 / €238). It also appeared at a limited-time introductory price of CNY 1,749 (around $256 / €219). For now, Onyx hasn’t shared details about a global release, so readers outside China may need to wait for further announcements.
For anyone looking for a modern 7-inch e-reader with physical page buttons, a more ergonomic grip-focused design, and stylus capability, the Boox Leaf5+ is shaping up to be an intriguing newcomer—especially for those who’ve been hoping for an Oasis-like alternative with updated features.
