Ten years after the first Kindle made its debut, Amazon is releasing the first waterproof Kindle e-reader which is now available for pre-ordering. The new Kindle Oasis is a follow-up to the original Kindle Oasis, a premium metal-cased e-reader that was thinner and lighter than other Kindle models.
The new Kindle Oasis has a larger 7″ 300 dpi touchscreen, 8GB or 32GB of storage, and Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi plus free cellular connectivity. The Oasis’ waterproof rating is IPX8 and can be submersed up to 2 meters for 30 minutes. The back case is made of anodized aluminum and has a tapered, ergonomic design that makes one-handed reading easy and comfortable. The adaptive front light automatically adjusts brightness based on the surroundings. The optional Audible feature provides audiobook support and Bluetooth connectivity for headphones and speakers. The Kindle Oasis pricing starts at $249.99 for the 8GB Wi-Fi version.
If water exposure is a concern then paying a premium for the Oasis is a no-brainer, but how do the other features compare to other Kindle models like the Paperwhite and Voyage? The Oasis is the only Kindle with the tapered design for better one-handed reading. The Paperwhite and Voyage do not have Audible support and while the basic Kindle does, it does not offer cellular connectivity. The Oasis has a 12-LED front light while the Voyage has 6 LEDs and the Paperwhite has a 4-LED non-adaptive light. The glass used on the Oasis is said to be stronger than all other Kindles. The Oasis’ maximum storage option of 32GB is massive compared to the maximum 4GB of all other models, and even the 8GB version is a significant upgrade. Weighing in at 6.8 ounces, the new Oasis doesn’t have quite the weight advantage of the old Oasis (4.6 ounces) but it is still lighter than the others. The new Kindle Oasis is simply the best Kindle available. Even if one doesn’t anticipate using it outdoors or in the bathtub it is still worth considering for the larger screen, bigger capacity, Audible support, ergonomic design, and premium build quality.
