Is Kindle Oasis Worth Buying? [Complete Review!]

The Kindle Oasis is considered the premium version of the Kindle. It offers a few additional features than the other Kindle variants, but it also costs higher than the other Kindle models. But, does the higher price justify the additional features that you get with Kindle Oasis? Is Kindle Oasis even worth buying?

In general, the Kindle Oasis is worth buying only if you don’t have a budget constraint or if you read a lot during city commute. The high price of the Kindle Oasis means that it does not offer the most value for money. Kindle Paperwhite is a better option to get the best bang for your buck.

In this article, we will do a complete first-hand review of the Kindle Oasis. I will share my experience of using Kindle Oasis for several months. I’ll also share with you some of the pros and cons of using this device.

Plus, in the end, we’ll discuss who is Kindle Oasis best suited for, what are you alternatives and why. So, let’s get started!

Kindle Lineup: An Overview

If this is the first time you are considering purchasing a Kindle, then perhaps it is best to at least know the various Kindle models offered by Amazon.

Primarily, the Kindle lineup consists of four different options. These are as follows:

1. Basic Kindle
2. Kindle Paperwhite
3. Kindle Oasis
4. Kindle Scribe

The basic Kindle is the simplest, most basic variant in the Kindle lineup. It offers the least number of features. It also costs the least amongst all the Kindle models.

Kindle Paperwhite has traditionally offered better reading experience with a few added features. It also comes at a higher price than the basic Kindle. The difference in the tech specifications between the basic Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite is vast making Kindle Paperwhite a popular choice.

However, with the all new basic Kindle 2022 model, things have changed a bit. More on that later in the article.

The Kindle Paperwhite also comes with a Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition with a minor variance.

The Kindle Oasis is the more premium category Kindle. It comes with a better form factor, and features that are quite unique to the Kindle Oasis model. This variant of the Kindle also comes at a premium price tag.

The Kindle Scribe is the latest addition to the Kindle lineup by Amazon. It comes with the biggest screen size, a stylus-type pen and annotation capabilites, and caters to a completely different target audience. It is the most expensive variant of the Kindle product line.

There are also the Kindle Fire Tablet series that comes with color display instead of the e-ink screen, and the Kindle Kids range targeted specifically towards kids.

With so many different Kindle options, it is often easy to confuse which Kindle is best suited for your needs. Thus, I created a complete article that highlights the exact Kindle you should use based on your needs! Make sure to check out that article before you buy a Kindle!

In this article, we shall be focusing on the Kindle Oasis model.

Kindle Oasis Features and Specifications

There are several best-in-class features that come with the Kindle Oasis. In fact, some of the features are very specific to just the Kindle Oasis and are not found on any other Kindle model!

So, let’s take a look at some of the key features that come with the Kindle Oasis:

1. Screen Size and Display

The Kindle Oasis comes with a 7 inch glare-free display. The display resolution of the screen is 300 ppi which makes the text look crisp and clear.

Although the overall screen size is just 7-inch, the panel on the right for physical buttons adds a few extra inches to the overall size. This, unfortunately, makes the Kindle Oasis a bit big in size and difficult to store for vacations and general travel purposes.

However, the extra panel also makes it easier to read books on your Kindle in one-handed mode! This is perfect if you like to read on your Kindle while commuting in a bus or a train as it allows you hold the Kindle in one hand while using your other hand to grab onto the handrail.

Additionally, the display also comes with 25 LEDs in the front light. This is great for outdoor reading or reading under direct sunlight!

2. Battery Life

Amazon claims that the battery of the Kindle Oasis can last up to 6 weeks on a single charge. At the time of the launch, this was considered a decent battery life. However, the Kindle Oasis was last upgraded in 2019, and it hasn’t received any major upgrade yet. And, in 2023, this battery capacity feels a bit outdated.

What’s worse is that the 6 weeks mentioned by Amazon is mostly in lab conditions. In the real-world scenario, you get even lesser than 6 weeks!

3. Device Storage

The Kindle Oasis comes with two storage options i.e. 8 GB and 32 GB variant. The 32 GB variant costs $30 more than the 8 GB variant. If you are planning on purchasing the Kindle Oasis then I’d highly recommend choosing the 32 GB variant even if it costs more.

4. Adjustable Warm Light

The adjustable warm light feature is definitely great! The fact that you can adjust the tone of the warm light from yellow to white makes a big difference especially when reading in the dark or at bed time.

At the time of launch of the Kindle Oasis in 2019, this feature was unique to this model. However, the latest Kindle Paperwhite also now comes with the option of adjusting the warm light.

That said, the Kindle Oasis is still the only variant that has the auto-adjusting warm lights. This means, you don’t have to manually keep adjusting the to the lights in your reading environment.

The only drawback is that the auto-adjusting lights sometimes behave quite funky and seem to change the warm light even when there is no change in the environment light. This may be a bug in the system or specifically in the device that I got. Either way, it is a point to note.

5. Automatic Page Orientation

The Kindle Oasis also comes with a feature that is unique to this model i.e. automatically adjusting the orientation of the page of the book in the position that you are holding the Kindle.

This means, if you rotate the Kindle by 90 degree, the page orientation will automatically adjust to your rotation and you will always be able to read the book.

This feature comes in really handy as it helps reading books on your Kindle with just one hand. And, when you are tired holding the Kindle in your one hand, you can easily switch it to your other hand and continue reading!

6. Cellular Connectivity

Cellular connectivity on the Kindle is yet another feature that is unique to the Kindle Oasis.

With Kindle Oasis, you get free cellular connectivity on your device. This means, you can download the books to your Kindle even when you don’t have access to a wifi network! You don’t have to pay any monthly fee or add the connectivity to your mobile data.

Furthermore, the cellular connectivity is available in over 80 countries (mostly USA and Europe). However, you won’t be able to browse the internet using the cellular connectivity (who does that on a Kindle anyway!). It can only be used for download books and syncing your library.

In addition to the above features, here’s a list of all the technical specifications of the Kindle Paperwhite:

Kindle Oasis Pros and Cons

While there are several differentiating features that you get with the Kindle Oasis, there are also quite a few things that can be improved in this model.

Let’s take a loot at some of the pros and cons of the Kindle Oasis:

What You Will Love About the Kindle Oasis

There are several things to love about the Kindle Oasis.

For starters, this Kindle variant is waterproof making it great for reading at a beach, poolside or even in the bath! Furthermore, the ability to hold and read the Kindle with one-hand especially when I’m commuting to work is fantastic! The physical buttons are great although not as responsive as the touch.

Additionally, 25 LEDs in the front light is really effective when reading books outdoors. The text on the screen looks really crisp and bright. Add to that the ability to adjust the warm light is perfect for bedtime reading without disturbing your partner.

The free cellular connectivity is a bonus. None of the other Kindle variants have this option making it a perfect travel companion! Get the 32 GB on board storage for maximum benefit from your Kindle Oasis.

What You May Dislike About the Kindle Oasis

My biggest disappointment with the Kindle Oasis is the battery life. You barely get a good enough battery life out of a premium product. The Kindle Paperwhite gets a far better battery life than the Kindle Oasis and costs almost a $100 less!

Heck, even the basic Kindle’s battery lasts almost the same as the “premium” Kindle Oasis! That, to me, doesn’t make any sense.

Other than that, the Kindle Oasis hasn’t really received any update since its launch in 2019. This point screams at you when you realize that this Kindle variant comes with just a USB 2.0 (micro-USB) charging cable. It doesn’t get the USB-C port! (a must have in 2023)

Not having a USB-C port means I have to lug around an extra charging cable that I’m inclined to lose or forget at a hotel (knowing me, that’s a mishap just waiting to happen!)

The overall size of the Kindle Oasis is perhaps just a tad too big for most people even though the actual reading real estate is just 7 inches. This means many of you will have to carry the Kindle in the laptop bag and may even need a cover for device to protect it from additional potential damage.

Finally, a high price tag means this Kindle is not meant for everyone. But, does this price tag justify the unique features that the Kindle Oasis comes with?

Verdict: Is the Kindle Oasis Worth Buying?

Overall, the high price of the Kindle Oasis in addition to the lack of any major upgrades from 2019 make the Kindle Oasis a secondary choice. I’d recommend considering the upgraded mid-range Kindle i.e. the Kindle Paperwhite over the Kindle Oasis.

It is true that the Kindle Oasis does have a few additional features. However, you can get a great reading experience and almost all the same feature (baring a few) even on the Kindle Paperwhite which comes at almost half the price!

In my personal opinion, if budget is not a constraint for you, then perhaps it is worth considering the Kindle Oasis. In fact, even then I’d recommend you to consider the latest Kindle Scribe over the Kindle Oasis as it comes with a stylus like pen and more premium features!

Credit to Tatsuo Yamamoto for the featured image of this article.