I just upgraded from a Kindle Voyage I bought in 2014, and so far I'm loving my Oasis! It seems like Amazon has finally worked out the Kindle screen quality control issues, because the new Oasis I received has a perfectly evenly lit screen (no color gradient like on the Voyage). I'll admit, I wasn't 100% sure I was going to keep the new Oasis due to the price point when I preordered it, but I wanted to give it a try because of the new features like waterproofing, 7 inch screen, and physical page turn buttons. I've had a couple days to try it out now and I'm sold! The larger screen and page turn buttons really help me stay immersed in what I'm reading. I haven't had a chance to test out the waterproofing yet, but it's nice to know that I don't have to worry about my Kindle getting wet anymore.
Design
I'm still getting used to the tapered Oasis design, but I'm liking it so far for the weight distribution. I've been reading with the case off for the most part, since it's pretty comfortable that way. I would probably prefer for the device to be just a bit smaller and lighter, because my hands are very tiny, but I'm sure the sizing would be perfect for anyone with "normal-size" hands. So far it's been pretty comfortable to hold, but I think the "hump" on the back of the device is just a little bit too big for my hand to curl around it just right..
Screen
Like I mentioned above, the screen is PERFECT. It's evenly lit and there are no spots of light bleed through (little blue dots) like I had on several of Voyages that I had to have replaced. I love the larger 7 inch screen; it can fit so much more text on the page, so it requires much fewer page turns. I would have liked to have an option for a warmer light for nighttime reading, but the ability to invert the text/background colors (i.e. switching to black background and white text) makes up for that for the most part; it's very easy on the eyes at night.
Battery
I can't comment too much on the battery life yet, as I've only fully charged the device once. So far it seems like it'll be about on par with my Voyage, but I'll update this review if anything changes.
Official Nylon Water Safe Case
On a side note, I'm not a huge fan of the official Nylon water safe case. It looks really nice (I went with Indigo), but the magnets that attach it to the back of the device seem to be kind of weak. When I try to use the standing feature of the case and prop it up on a table, the case pulls itself out of place a bit. I'm hoping this works itself out over time as the creased flap of the case loosens up (it's a little stiff to begin with). So far I prefer the Voyage's origami case to this one, at least for the purpose of propping up the device, which I like to do at lunch time so I can read while I eat. I'll update my review at a later point if my opinion of the case changes, or if I decide to return it for another one.
Summary
Overall, I think the new Oasis is going to be a great device for people like me who do a TON of reading. If you're a more casual reader, I'd recommend the Paperwhite just because of the cheaper price point. But if you love the feel of a premium device and do a lot of reading, I think it's worth the high price. It would be nice if it was a little bit lighter and smaller because of my small hands, but I'm sure that won't be an issue for most people. I'm going to try to update my review later on with some comparison pictures with my Voyage and new Oasis side by side, and to attempt to demonstrate my concerns with the official Nylon case.
Update 11/9/17: I've decided to return my new Oasis, because it's really just not for me. I can't get used to the cold metal of the aluminum backing, and the raised side is really just too big for me to comfortably wrap my hand around. It was hard giving up the nice 7 inch screen, but I can't justify the cost if I wasn't in love with it. It's still a great device, so I'm leaving my review at 5 stars, since my issues might be specific to my preferences. Back to my Voyage for now though!
Reviews with images
Paperwhite vs. waterproof Oasis.
I've been using the 300 dpi Paperwhite for over two years and decided to spoil myself with the new 32 GB WiFi Kindle Oasis E-reader. I'm an avid reader with over 500 books just on Amazon.The Kindle Oasis arrived well-packaged in an attractive sealed black box. The first thing I noticed was the sleek glassy surface and thin asymmetrical aluminum construction. Unfortunately, while the Oasis is lighter, the larger size makes it awkward to carry or slip in a pocket. The first thing I did was to buy a MoKo Case to avoid dropping and trashing my expensive new toy. The smaller Paperwhite sports a rubberized exterior providing a far more secure grip.The Oasis already had a half charge on it so it was good to go right out of the box. But there is no charger! Let me repeat that--my $300 ultra-luxury E-reader came without the standard ten dollar charger, only a short USB cord.It took five minutes to link up to my WiFi and Amazon account, adjust the local time and resurrect my library. The only instructions are on the device itself, but it's a no-brainer. Amazon had a software update available that only took a few minutes to download and reboot.The display on the Oasis has a slightly creamy tone when compared to the bright white Paperwhite. The Oasis display is perfectly even across the entire screen; the Paperwhite has a very slight "shadow" at the bottom. The 7-inch screen is significantly larger than the 6-inch Paperwhite screen. I examined the typeface through a loupe and the letters themselves appear identical on both devices.I bought my Oasis with the "special offers," but I quickly found them annoying. I removed the special offers by linking to my on-line Amazon account and coughing up an additional $20.Reading is a joy on the new Oasis. The larger screen and physical page-turn buttons allow you to read one handed and avoid the usual screen taps. The software is almost identical on both devices, though the Oasis allows you to (finally!) access audio books though Bluetooth. I couldn't get my earbuds to link, but Bluetooth is kinda touchy and I'll try it on other stuff, especially my car.One HUGE improvement is that the Oasis is waterproof! This is key for me as I read even while soaking in the tub (TMI). The Paperwhite hates even a droplet of water. One workaround for the Paperwhite is the tough Meritcase Waterproof Case, though it makes screen operation a bit clunky.IN CONCLUSION:Both the 300 dpi Paperwhite and new Kindle Oasis are terrific E-readers. If you have some "stupid money" to throw around, the Oasis is the Rolls Royce of the e-reader world, sporting an elegant waterproof construction and Bluetooth connectivity. But for normal folks, the 300 dpi Paperwhite is an excellent purchase, nearly as good with some superior features at a fraction of the price. I'm dinging the Oasis one star for the over-the-top price tag, mediocre battery life and not including a charger.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2017
Color: GraphiteConnectivity Technology: Wi-FiConfiguration: With Special OffersVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2019
Color: GraphiteConnectivity Technology: Wi-FiConfiguration: With Special OffersVerified Purchase
