While some of us couldn't think of anything worse than not reading from an actual paper book, millions of us now reap the benefits of using an e-reader to dive into our favourite books.
After getting our hands on the Kindle Oasis, Amazon's luxe e-reader, we tell you everything you need to know.
1.
Kindle Oasis
Kindle Oasis overview
Pros
• Fantastic screen
• Easy to adapt to reading preferences
Cons
• A pricey choice
• No speaker/headphone jack
One of the more premium e-readers on the market, the Kindle Oasis 2019 model is also the largest with a 7-inch 300 ppi display, sleek ergonomic design plus page-turn buttons. Amazon have also introduced an adjustable warm light for a "richer reading experience in any lighting."
The Kindle Oasis has a 4.6 star rating on Amazon.
There are two storage options when it comes to buying the Kindle Oasis: the 8GB or the 32GB version. Without Kindle Unlimited, the 8GB will cost you roughly £179.99 while the 32GB will set you back £209.99. There's also the option of the 32GB with Wi-Fi and Free mobile connectivity, costing £269.99.
Key features
• Thin and light ergonomic design with page-turn buttons
• Adjustable warm light allows you to shift screen shade from white to amber
• Is waterproof so you can read in the bath or by the pool
• Gives you instant access to millions of books, newspapers and audiobooks
• Works with Audible: just use Bluetooth headphones or speakers to switch easily between reading and listening
Testing the Kindle Oasis
The Kindle Oasis was tested for design, ease of use and value for money.
As an avid reader, I swapped to e-readers from paper books around six years ago and I haven't looked back since. While I previously owned the Kindle Paperwhite, I was intrigued by what the Kindle Oasis could offer me. I typically read in my lunch break, in the evenings or in bed at night but I love to get through a few books while I'm on holiday or spending time in the sun, one of the main reasons the Kindle appealed to me in the beginning.
Build
My immediate attention was caught by the fact that one half of the Kindle Oasis is much thicker (8.4mm) than the other (3.4mm), providing readers with a ridge to hold with one hand. Although the display is bigger than some of the other Kindles at 7 inches diagonally, I wouldn't consider it to be oversized and was pleased that it fit neatly into my compact handbag. It's lightweight too, weighing just 188g. The metal build of the Kindle Oasis adds a touch of luxury and makes the whole product feel a lot more robust.
The screen of the Kindle Oasis is backlit by 25 LEDS which is a big change from the 12 LEDs in the previous Kindle Oasis (2017) and you really can see the difference. It's really easy to change the brightness via the settings menu or you can choose for the Oasis to do this automatically to suit your surroundings.
As someone who likes to read in pitch black before they go to bed, the adjustable brightness is a really nice touch and makes reading at night a much more comfortable experience.
Performance
One of my favourite things about e-readers is how little they require charging - even with heavy use. Amazon says the Oasis will last for six weeks however I found mine needed charging at least once a month. That said, I am a frequent reader so naturally, if you read less and have the brightness lower, you can most likely charge it less. I definitely feel comfortable taking the Kindle Oasis away on holiday with me without bringing the charger along too.
Charging took a couple of hours but this didn't bother me considering how long the battery lasts and therefore how little it requires charging.
Usability
While most Kindles are touchscreen, the Kindle Oasis has two buttons on the right-hand side which you use to skip forwards or backwards through pages. Although it took me a while to get used to using them after my Paperwhite, in the end, I preferred using these over the touchscreen as my fingers were naturally in that position on the Oasis anyway when I was holding it. I also found it was quicker to use the buttons than when touching the screen to turn the page.
The Kindle Oasis is water-resistant and has been tested to withstand accidental immersion in water. So while Amazon isn't saying you should lob it into the bath or anything, it can survive being immersed in up to two metres of freshwater for around an hour. This was especially welcome news for me as I once broke an older Kindle by dropping it in the bath. Oops.
Being an Amazon product, naturally the Kindle Oasis is integrated with the Amazon store, making it easy to buy e-books to read on your device. Also easy to find, it's somewhat slow to use the Amazon store and certainly not the smoothest, especially when using the search function and typing.
How does the Kindle Oasis compare to previous versions?
How does the Kindle Oasis compare to rival products?
The closest equivalent to the Kindle Oasis would be the Kobo Forma. Just like the Oasis, it has page turn buttons. The screen is a little bigger at 8 inches although it weighs ever so slightly more at 197g. You can also read the Kobo landscape as well as portrait.
Kobo's ebook store doesn't rival Amazon's, however and it's unlikely it ever will.
Final thoughts
The Kindle Oasis would be gratefully received by anyone looking for a premium reading experience, who has switched from paper books to e-readers permanently.
At nearly £180, the Kindle Oasis is quite a jump from the £99.99 Kindle Paperwhite. Having used both, I'm not sure the steep price increase is worth it for me personally and I'd be comfortable enough with the Paperwhite which is simpler in design and build but more than adequate for the purpose.
That said, the additional features of the Oasis such as the impressive display, page-turn buttons and customisable screen options will please many.
As part of the Amazon Kindle family, as you'd expect, you can't really fault the performance of the Kindle Oasis. It's a dream to read on and smooth to adjust the settings to suit your preference, even if using the Amazon store is a bit clunky.
Full Product Specs
Size: 159 x 141 x 3.4-8.4mm
Weight: 188g
Storage: 8 or 32 GB
Battery life: A single charge lasts up to six weeks, based on half an hour of reading per day with wireless and Bluetooth off and the light setting at 13.
Charge time: Fully charges in approximately 3 hours
Warranty and Service: Kindle is sold with a limited warranty of one year provided by the manufacturer.
Waterproofing: Waterproof, tested to withstand immersion in 2 metres of fresh water for 60 minutes.
FAQs
Can you watch movies on Kindle Oasis?
Because it is an e-reader rather than a tablet, you cannot watch videos on the Kindle Oasis. You can however listen to audio versions of books via a Bluetooth device.
Can you put apps on a Kindle Oasis?
You cannot download apps onto the device but you can access the Amazon store to pick up new books. Unfortunately, this means you are not able to download any library apps to borrow books.
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