It started last fall when the Kindle Oasis started to periodically show up as “currently unavailable” on Amazon’s website, and then by December it was no longer available to purchase in the US, with some exceptions when a few would show up again occasionally.
Then in February Amazon started actively removing the Kindle Oasis from their Kindle pages, as well as the Kindle comparison tables, search results, and other Kindle product pages.
Up until recently, Amazon still had pictures of the Kindle Oasis on the main Kindle landing page alongside other Kindles, but now the Kindle Oasis has been edited out of the Kindle family pictures, so the process is complete.
The Kindle family picture now looks unbalanced without the Kindle Oasis in the lineup, and it feels like an important part of the Kindle lineup is gone for good.
Now the only premium model is the Kindle Scribe, and a lot of people think it’s simply too large to carry around and use for basic reading.
Hopefully Amazon will release a new Kindle at some point this year to fill the void left by the Kindle Oasis, a model that has been in the Kindle lineup since 2016. Before that, the Kindle Voyage was the premium Kindle, and it was released back in 2014, so this is the first time in the past decade where there isn’t a premium Kindle available to purchase.
At the very least, you’d think Amazon would release a smaller version of the Kindle Scribe, like a Kindle Scribe Mini, if they’re going to go this route. Going from a 6.8″ screen on the Kindle Paperwhite all the way up to 10.2″ on the Scribe is a massive jump; all other ereader companies offer something in between those sizes.
Speaking of size, I can’t help but notice the Kindle Scribe now looks majorly out of proportion in the new picture. It’s barely larger than the Kindle Paperwhite. In reality, the screen alone is about twice the size of the Paperwhite’s screen, but it doesn’t look like that at all in the new picture.
Be nice if they added a mid-size 8″ reader. However, Kobo came out with the Aura One (7.8″) in 2016 and here we are in 2024 with no answer to that wonderful screen size from Amazon. Presumably they feel it is too niche. Sort of like older readers who might really appreciate being able to adjust their margins smaller to take advantage of what screen space is available on their Kindle.
Needless to say, I’m not holding MY breath!
I read on my Oasis 2 some still, in a pinch, but the experience is so superior on my Kobo Sage, it’s not even close. More often now, if I get a Kindle book on a sale or a double points day, I just download it, deDRM it, convert and transfer to my Kobo.
Still, I hope my Oasis 2 and hubby’s also, hold on for a good while to come.
Have noticed a lot of Kindle owners being rather pleased with their switch to Kobo Colour devices. I’ve seen a lot of positive posts. So Amazon’s loss of a reader with page-turn buttons seems to be Kobo’s gain.
The Oasis is still available for next day delivery in Mexico at full price but no Scribe yet. I guess they want to sell off all the Oasis units before offering the Scribe? That would be messed up if that is what they are doing. They do offer a Scribe in Spanish in Spain. They are missing out on sales of the Scribe. in a huge market here. I’m willing to bet a lot of students would love to get the scribe here.
I’ve decided to buy a new 8 inch e-book reader in order to ensure that Amazon releases one that is better than the one I decided to buy. Hopefully this will occur during the return.period the one I get.
I like to see an 8 inch Kindle with an indented screen premium version. But the real problem with Kindle in my opinion is the way it renders books. Fonts are not crisp or sharp enough, book layout is not as good as Kobo in my opinion. Until they handle the software side and improve it, it really doesn’t matter what they release. They need to improve font sizes, line spacing, and proper margins. This is the real issue Amazon has, more so than eReader sizes.
Totaly agree. Plus font weight setting is the most missing thing for me. For example very popular Amazon font Bookerly is super heavy (bold) on Oasis 3 and it’s horrible to use, while it’s thin on iPhone or even Onyx ereaders and then it’s really nice. I would love to be able to change it.
In Italy the Kindle Oasis 8GB model is still on sale in Italy at € 249.99, while the 32GB is unavailable
I can’t tell you how angry I am. the new “For You’ is and abomination for older readers.
Want to check your downloads? I puts up 11 TINY covers I have use a magnifying glass to see… Literally
I have over 290 books.. To see them I have to go to a computer where they take up 40 pages!!
I used to be able to go to my Library and with a flick of my finger scan down to find one to re read.
I guess those millennial coders at Amazon never heard of Macular Degeneration.
My Kindle is central to my life being I can’t read small print library books.
Can we PLEASE have the option to go back to the old Library function? PLEASE !!!!
I’m in Canada and we still have the Oasis (for now). The 8gb model keeps coming in and out and stock.
Honestly I own too many ereaders but my go tos are the Oasis 3 and the Scribe, I got the scribe on sale and love it way more than I thought I would! It has such a beautiful screen (contrast, etc).
The oasis still had nicer lighting to me and way more comfortable than the Paperwhite 5. I seem to like the more expensive models, like my Voyage is still so nice but it doesn’t have that warm light so I’ve lightly retired it
Lou Sevens here- as always Nathan, great job with the site, I think I have now had various Kindles since 2011.
I really enjoyed the page turning button on the Oasis, but was plagued by a bad battery life. However, I did like the indented assymetrical shape.
In my opinion, this would be an opportunity for them to have a larger format kindle, although those will say the Scribe could fit that mold better.