Amazon Kindle Oasis E-Reader Review: E-Readers Welcome Their New King!
Amazon has kept the world on its feet with its recent releases, rolling out several smart devices like the Alexa-supported Echo Speakers, 4k HDR TV dongles and Amazon Fire tablets. However, it left out the final piece of the puzzle – the Amazon Kindle Oasis e-reader.
The brand made upgrades on its devices to surpass their competition and since the Amazon kindle hasn’t yet found its match, it is okay to say that they enjoy a form of dominance in this aspect. The company has taken a different route for its kindle and is against making changes to their budget options. The brand has sparked a new flame with the release of a high-end e-reader – the Amazon Kindle Oasis e-reader.
From its design, it is obvious that the Amazon Kindle Oasis e-reader was produced for die-hard readers that need some class. Basically, the Oasis hasn’t completely lived up to the hype; it even falls short in a couple of areas with regards to functionality. But one thing cannot be taken from it, its exquisite look. Regardless of the areas in functionality where it comes up short, the Oasis isn’t projected to be a good sell.
FEATURES
- Review Price: $279.99
- 7-inch 300ppi display
- Waterproof
- 6 week battery life
- Physical page-turning buttons
- Audible integration
DISCUSSION
The Amazon Kindle Oasis e-reader is indeed a king in terms of the sleek design, all-metallic body and water-resistance ability. However, in the aspect of functionality, it has not lived up to our expectations. The 2nd gen Amazon Kindle Oasis e-reader is a major upgrade from the preceding version. The latest version does not only fix the numerous errors in the first, but it also comes with brand new features, exclusive to it alone.
The design of the entire Oasis series is quite distinct from the regular kindles. The Amazon Kindle Oasis e-reader comes with a sleek screen which is positioned right beside two visible page-turning buttons. Just below the display is a small round projection in the rear which plays home to the battery as well as other components and also provides a very comfortable grip for users.
The all-new design of the Amazon Kindle Oasis e-reader would take some time to get familiar with, particularly for kindle users that are used to the normal design. The sleek design leaves no space for your second hand, so it’d be quite uncomfortable to use it that way unless you get your hands on a case.
Personally, I fancy the one-hand mode which the Amazon Kindle Oasis e-reader presents, but in terms of the feel, I’d still pick the Kindle Voyage and Paperwhite. However, you’d get used to the new design of the Oasis after a while.
The pricing of the Kindle Oasis starts from $249.99 for the 8GB version of the e-reader. The 32GB model is 3G accessorized and sells for $279. The US version of the Amazon Kindle Oasis e-reader displays lock screen ads, while the UK version seems to be ad-free.
The new design of the Oasis is a major build-up from the first – it now has a built-in battery and according to Amazon, it would last for weeks. The previous version was equipped with a mini-battery and had a separate but bigger battery integrated in the case. This was a great idea but the only con was the limited options with the case.
Some touch-ups were made on the rear, the soft-touch plastic rear has been replaced with aluminum. Although this is a great look for an e-reader of this caliber, it rids the Kindle of its soft and comfortable feel. Yes, it looks great but for a lot of people, their comfort is paramount.
Besides the sleek design, the Amazon Kindle Oasis e-reader enjoys a water-resistant feature. At last, we have a kindle that can be used in the shower or beside the pool without fear of damage. Owed to its IPX8 rating, the Oasis would keep working even after two long hours in water. Most high-end phones won’t last that long.
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The Amazon Kindle Oasis e-reader does not have a headphone jack, so all audio outputs can be played with a Bluetooth speaker. The pairing process is seamless, so connecting to Bluetooth speakers is usually a breeze. Though when I tried to connect to my airpods, I experienced some difficulties.
As far as software, not too much changed. The user interface is similar to the traditional kindle’s interface, but they’re limited ads on the Oasis. A lot of what you see are recommended reads available in the Kindle store, unless you’re one that’s always looking for a bypass.
The Oasis enjoys a bigger 7-inch screen, as against the 6-inch display in the first gen. A noticeable addition is the auto-brightness which was first used in the Kindle Voyage. The screen is equipped with more LEDs, so it is better lit than the previous version.
CONCLUSION
The Amazon Kindle Oasis e-reader has broken grounds with everything, from its design to the water-resistant ability and the integration of Audible. Though some of the tweaks in the design would be quite selective, it’s a pricey e-reader that would only get the attention of die-hards.
