By Dan Moren
October 11, 2017 6:47 AM PT
Now you can take your waterproof Kindle Oasis to an oasis
Note: This story has not been updated for several years.
Amazon’s updated its high-end Kindle Oasis with a larger screen, bigger battery, and–perhaps most significantly–a waterproof design.
Rated at IPX8, the new Kindle Oasis will survive immersed in up to two meters of fresh water for up to 60 minutes. So if you really need to read underwater while you’re in the tub, I guess you’re in luck?
Unlike the previous Oasis, which used an external cover to boost its battery life, the new model boasts a battery that lasts for “weeks.” But it’s also larger than the previous model, with a 7-inch, 300 ppi display, instead of the 6-inch display from last year’s. It’s still got that wedge-shaped design, with a thin edge of 3.4 mm, but it’s a bit heavier than its predecessor: 6.8 oz versus 4.6 oz.1
Amazon’s also added Audible support to the Oasis, though it doesn’t sport any internal speakers. Instead you can use Bluetooth to stream Audible books to connected headphones or speakers–or, at least, you’ll be able to when Amazon releases a software update after the Oasis ships. Owners of 8th-generation Kindles and the original Oasis will also get Audible support with a free over-the-air update “in the coming months.”
The new Oasis starts a bit cheaper–just $250 for its base Wi-Fi-only model with 8GB of storage “special offers” (read: ads). Amazon’s also offering a 32GB storage tier for another $30 and without special offers for $20 on top of that. If you want cellular, you’ll need to get the top of the line 32GB model without special offers for $350. All models are available for pre-order now and ship on October 31.2
- However, adding the battery cover to the previous model brought it up to 8.4 oz, so it’s still lighter than that. ↩
- And, hey, if you’re looking for a book to go along with your new Kindle, might I humbly suggest one for you? ↩
[Dan Moren is the East Coast Bureau Chief of Six Colors. You can find him on Mastodon at @dmoren@zeppelin.flights or reach him by email at dan@sixcolors.com. His latest novel, the supernatural detective story All Souls Lost, is out now.]
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