Last year Amazon released a new entry-level Kindle with a 300 ppi E Ink screen and then at the end of November they released the Kindle Scribe with a 10.2-inch screen and notetaking capabilities.
In fall of 2021 Amazon released the 6.8-inch Kindle Paperwhite. Then they started selling a 16GB version in 2022, and now they just added a couple of new color choices for the Kindle Paperwhite yesterday.
And yet, Amazon hasn’t upgraded the Kindle Oasis since 2019, and that was just a minor upgrade to add a warm frontlight. The design of the current Kindle Oasis actually dates back to 2017 when the Kindle Oasis 2 was released.
At this point in 2023, the Kindle Oasis just doesn’t make any sense in its current form compared to the other newer Kindles, especially since Amazon is still selling the Oasis at full price.
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition has several upgrades over the more expensive Oasis, and even the newer entry-level Kindle that sells for only $99 has a couple of advantages over the Oasis, like having a USB-C port and coming with twice as much storage space as the base Kindle Oasis.
I know some people are still holding out hope that Amazon will release a new Kindle Oasis soon, but at this point it’s starting to look pretty doubtful. We’re now going on year six since the last Kindle Oasis redesign. If they were going to upgrade it you’d think they would’ve done so by now.
But on the flip side, it’s very unlikely that Amazon is going to release a new Paperwhite, Scribe, or basic Kindle in 2023. If they’re going to release a new Kindle at all in 2023 it’s likely going to be a new Oasis or perhaps something entirely different with a new name.
It was surprising how many people were disappointed that Amazon didn’t release a new Kindle Oasis in 2022, especially after the Kindle Scribe was announced. A lot of people really like having a Kindle with page-turn buttons. Hopefully the Kindle Oasis 3 won’t be the last Kindle to have them.
I don’t like the shape of the Oasis, would prefer a new and updated Voyage.
A new Voyage would be great. I’ve got two Oases, first gen & second gen, and the Voyage is still hands above them.
But I’m guessing a new Voyage will never happen. 🙁
I totally agree! I’d buy a 6.8 Voyage with the haptic buttons. (Or any new Kindle with real buttons but a symmetrical shape.) 🙂 A bonus would be wireless charging as I do like that with my Signature PW.
Yes, I too would prefer a Voyage 2.
Or a Paperwhite with the option to have page turn buttons.
But I would rather have an Oasis than no page turn buttons at all.
I switched to Kobo instead of waiting. Oasis 3 is kinda good, but nothing special. The display is very blurry, so the reading experience is mediocre at best and the lack of USB-C meant Oasis 3 was my last device with micro-USB and I didn’t want to bring extra cable everywhere just for Kindle. The battery life also wasn’t great and I know it’s stupid but the fact that it wasn’t able to charge to more than 98% kinda triggered my OCD 😀 Also I hate their UI full of commercials. Never again even if they release Oasis 4. First they would have to let me see mostly my content on my device, not their trash books from Kindle Unlimited that I will never read. Also the fact that send to kindle was constantly broken (lack of thumbnails or no author name showing) didn’t add to a good experience. I just wish it didn’t take me 10 years to change brand 😀
Hm, my Oasis certainly wasn‘t „very blurry“, nor is my Scribe, but I fully agree about then „Prime“ and „Kindle unlimited“ recommendations on the start page. They are, without exception, utter trash, and cheapen the experience. Amazon‘s algorithms should be smart enough by now to realize I’d never touch any of these books with a barge pole.
I didn’t realize how blurry the screen is until I got Kobo Libra 2 and had the comparison. It’s a really huge difference when you don’t have the glass layer on top of the screen with Kobo. Since then I simply can’t force myself to read on Kindle.
And yes, Kindle Unlimited pushes absolute garbage on us instead of rocommending some quality literature I might actually concider downloding or buying. And the volume of stuff they recommend is just aweful. If they recommended let’s say 10 books instead of 100, but carefuly selected by good algorithm, I might actually be interested, but not like this :)))
Which Kobo are you using?
Kobo Libra 2 and it’s the best reader I have (Kindle 3 Keyboard, Kindle Paperwhite 4, Kindle Oasis 3, PocketBook InkPad 3 Pro, Kobo Libra 2).
I currently have a newer Oasis. I really love page turn buttons which the main attraction of the Oasis in my mind. I’d wouldn’t mind seeing a smaller Oasis. I recently picked up a refurbished 8th generation so I’d have one to put in my jacket pocket. I would grab 6 inch Kindle with page turn buttons as soon as I could.
Like many others, I have been hopeful, too. I have been hoping for an updated Kindle Voyage for a long time or for an updated Oasis. However, I recently ordered a Kobo Sage because of the larger screen and the physical buttons.
If Amazon ever comes up with a new device I like, I may get it. The Scribe was not my cup of tea.
I love my Oasis and want a slightly larger version, maybe 8”, with page turn buttons. The Scribe is too big to use one handed and there are no page turn buttons.
I only see ads on my splash screen so that doesn’t bother me at all.
I’d like to see improvements in X-ray and the various lookup features.
I’m hoping they upgrade the Oasis, as I see no reason to buy any of the other Kindles. None of them are significantly better than the Oasis, as far as I can see.
As no new Voyage is currently available, my last eInk-readers bought where mid-level:
Tolino Vision 6 and a Kindle Paperwhite Signature.
Both have USB-C ports, allowing for better charging and also not too much fumbeling when connecting to the cable.
Both have the same display, Tolino with a bezel, and asymmetrical form factor.
The Tolino is fast – way faster on waking from sleep and restarting/-booting.
It also has real page-turn buttons, and a turn-sensor, you get prompted and can use the buttons on the right side and on the left side. This is pleasant and practical for holding it in one hand.
Energie is not great, the batterie-life is way shorter when on the Kindle!
USB-C port is one the side, which is not too great. And it is also when connected not a storage device, but the newer protocol, which requires software to work (using a m1 Mac here). Calibre should work, but it does currently not for me, I use a paid for Commander Clone with the protocol integrated. Or I simply upload books to the Tolino cloud which is easy.
Kindle Signature (!) has a flat display and very small border, making it difficult to hold with one hand, also the power button is placed so I (maybe others don’t?) tend to press it accidentally qu a lot, sometimes getting the menu, sometime sending it to sleep. It also has wireless Qi-loading, but that is rarely used, as I do not have to charge it that often.
Liking both readers I tend to strip DRM (as long, as it is still possible) and converting all books to for both readers.
The Tolino is based on Kobo, but during the Tolino days one of the developers said, that they used a different cpu and other hardware (which is maybe one of the reasons for the high energy consumptio? just guessing here).
Regarding the Oasis: the asymmetrical shape should be tested before dismissing it, I just think, the price is way to high, and now it is missing features the Kindle Paperwhite Signature offers.
„ Regarding the Oasis: the asymmetrical shape should be tested before dismissing it“
I actually find it hard to understand how people still want a symmetrical design. I find the Oasis‘ shape obviously, significantly superior.
I also think it looks better, more, book-like, but of course that’s subjective.
I agree the asymmetrical shape is a winner. It makes the Oasis much easier to hold in one hand. I would like to see an updated Oasis with a more responsive screen and better screen quality
I find they weight balance of the oasis very easy to hold.
Very comfortable, especially reading in bed with one either hand.
I have a new Paperwhite which I find very tiresome to hold for any length of time.
I too would love to see a new Oasis released. I have the newest version now, but I used to have the 8th generation Oasis. I actually preferred the smaller size because it was so lightweight and easily fit in my purse. I also preferred the plastic on the smaller Oasis because it didn’t get cold like the metal back on the newer Oasis.
I purchased a rubberized backing to help with the uncomfortable feeling from holding the metal back without adding too much weight to the device.
If the battery hadn’t gone on my older Oasis I would have kept it. If another Kindle is released that has page turn buttons, I would definitely consider upgrading.
I’m in that group of wanting a new Oasis. I love my 2017 Oasis but don’t see a reason to upgrade to the 2019. What I really like is the way the Oasis holds and I use the page turn buttons almost always. I have looked at the PW but holding it is an issue for me. My thumb either hits the screen turning pages or I have to have my thumb right at the bottom which I don’t find comfortable.
Also really hoping for wireless charging in an Oasis.
The 2019 Oasis is great because of a few features which at the time were not available with the other Kindle models: the third Oasis version was the first water-tight Kindle, and it’s warm light and the 7-inch screen were a revelation back then. I also got used quickly to the assymetric shape. When I lost my Oasis, I immediately replaced it because I didn’t want to compromise. But now I found out that the newest Paperwhite has some of these features, too, but it is significantly less expensive! I will definitely check it out, and if I like the Paperwhite Signature, I might return my new Oasis.
It’s possible that Amazon will abandon the Oasis soon because most customers will choose the new Paperwhite instead of the Oasis.
Just a minor correction, the Oasis 2 from 2017 was also waterproof. All they did was add a warm light to the 2019 model.
I also had a bit of a problem with the older version of the Paperwhite and then with the Voyage, too, because there wasn’t a lot of space for holding the device without turning the pages involuntarily. I really like the assymetrical shape, the warm light and the mechanical page-turn buttons of the 2019 Oasis. But I will check out if the new upgraded Paperwhite is an option. It has many of the advantages of the Oasis, but it’s less expensive.
I have the nagging suspicion that Amazon will abandon the Kindle Oasis sooner or later. I am not sure if it’s unique shape and it’s page-turn buttons will persuade many customers to buy a very expensive Oasis instead of a Signature Paperwhite.
I have a 2017 Oasis, and would update immediately if a new Oasis came out that was faster/better than what I have. I’d also enjoy the warm light, but that’s not enough to get me to update. I really like the size of the Oasis, slightly bigger than the others, but not as big as the Scribe.
I have a 9th gen Oasis… I guess thats the 2019 version. I love it, but the battery life is abysmal. I had a paperwhite before that lasted weeks. The Oasis lasts maybe 4 to 5 days of light use. An hour and half a day… maybe. And when it warns you that the battery is dead… it will last maybe 30 minutes and just die. It’s quite annoying. I still use it daily, just have to have an old mini usb plug nearby… Would love a new version with better battery life. I may go back try to go back to a newer paperwhite again, IDK
I would also love an updated Oasis. I have the 2017 version and love the weight, balance and page turn buttons . As others have said, I’d love the new Oasis to have USB C or wireless charging and better battery life.