In the realm of digital reading devices, Amazon’s Kindle line is a name synonymous with quality and experience, and the Kindle Oasis 8Gb is no exception. This e-reader, though sharing its name with its higher-capacity sibling, presents itself as a more affordable alternative without compromising on the features that make the Kindle Oasis line stand out. Priced at £229.99, it continues to provide a high-tier reading experience, which we will explore in this detailed review.
Design & Build
Visually, the Kindle Oasis is an impressive piece of hardware. Available in a Grey or Gold finish, it caters to the style preferences of a broad range of consumers. The design is both sleek and sturdy, weighing 188g and measuring 8.4mm in thickness. The device is not just about looks though. With its waterproof capabilities, it promises durability and protection, making it ideal for reading at the beach, by the pool, or even in a relaxing bath.
Display & Readability
When it comes to readability, the Kindle Oasis shines. The device features a 7″ display, slightly larger than the standard 6″ found in most e-readers. This extra inch provides more room for text, reducing the frequency of page turns and creating a more comfortable reading experience.
With its flush screen design, the device looks elegant and contemporary. It also boasts a 300ppi resolution, ensuring that text is crisp and images are clear, almost giving the feel of reading from a printed page.
The device’s innovative lighting features, including frontlight and warmlight, allow for customised reading in various lighting conditions. The auto-brightness feature adjusts to ambient lighting, reducing strain on your eyes during extended reading sessions.
Operating System & Compatibility
The Kindle Oasis operates on the KindleOS, an operating system designed with the reading experience at its core. Although it does not support the Google Play Store, Amazon’s vast library of ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines more than compensates.
In terms of file compatibility, the Oasis supports a wide range of formats. From standard ebook formats like KFX, EPUB, PDF, AZW, AZW3, MOBI, to more diverse file types like DOC, DOCX, HTML, RTF, and TXT, the device can handle it all. It even supports image files such as JPG, PNG, GIF, and BMP.
Storage & Connectivity
The Kindle Oasis 8Gb version comes with a built-in storage capacity of 8Gb, which, while smaller than its 32Gb counterpart, can still hold thousands of ebooks. Though the device lacks a Micro-SD slot, the generous onboard storage should cater to most readers’ needs.
The device also comes equipped with Bluetooth connectivity, allowing users to connect headphones or speakers. This feature is particularly useful for enjoying audiobooks or taking advantage of the text-to-speech function.
There is also a version of the Oasis that supports connectivity over the mobile network, however, this is only available in certain countries.
Additional Features
Beyond its main functions, the Kindle Oasis offers several additional features to enhance the reading experience. The presence of physical page-turn buttons provides an intuitive and comfortable way to navigate through your books, while the auto-rotation feature ensures a seamless reading experience, regardless of your reading orientation.
The absence of wireless charging and mobile connectivity might be a drawback for some, but the device makes up for it with other advanced features such as text-to-speech and waterproofing.
Conclusion
To sum it up, the Kindle Oasis 8Gb is a reliable, high-quality e-reader that offers a range of impressive features. Despite its smaller storage capacity, it doesn’t compromise on the core strengths that the Oasis line is known for.
The Kindle Oasis 8Gb version provides a luxurious and comfortable reading experience, bringing together state-of-the
-art technology and Amazon’s vast library of content. Whether you’re a casual reader or a bookworm, the Oasis caters to your needs, transforming reading into an experience rather than a chore.
For those looking for a premium e-reader at a slightly more accessible price point, the Kindle Oasis 8Gb offers a solid proposition. The balance of affordability and functionality it provides is hard to match, making it a worthy contender in the e-reader market.
Check out our fully searchable e-reader comparison table here.
Full Specs
Product The name of the product/model | Kindle Oasis |
---|---|
Version The version of the product | 8Gb |
Buy Click on the button to buy | |
Image A picture of the product | ![]() |
Price The price of the product (in USD) | $269.99 |
Brand The brand/manufacturer of the product | Kindle |
Screen size The size of the screen (measured diagonally) | 7" |
PPI The number of pixels per inch (PPI) NOTE: on colour devices, this is the monochrome PPI | 300ppi |
Storage capacity The storage space of the e-reader | 8Gb |
Operating System Which O/S the device runs by default | KindleOS |
Writing Whether the e-reader has writing/note-taking capabilities | ⨯ |
Frontlight Whether the product has a frontlight | ✓ |
Warmlight Whether there is temperature control for the frontlight | ✓ |
Auto brightness Whether the brightness of the e-reader changes automatically based on the exterior ambient light | ✓ |
Bluetooth Whether the e-reader support audio via Bluetooth headphones/speaker | ✓ |
Speakers Whether the e-reader support audio via an onboard speaker | ⨯ |
Touchscreen Whether the e-reader has a capacitive touchscreen | ✓ |
Waterproof Whether the e-reader is waterproof to IPX8 rating | ✓ |
Play store Whether you can install apps from the Google Play Store (e.g. Kindle, Koreader etc.) | ⨯ |
Flush screen Whether the screen is flush with the casing of the e-reader | ✓ |
Page-turn buttons Whether the e-reader has physical buttons for turning pages | ✓ |
Auto-rotation Whether the e-reader automatically changes the screen orientation | ✓ |
Text-to-speech Whether the e-reader can convert text to speech | ✓ |
Micro-SD slot Whether the e-reader has a slot for a MicroSD card | ⨯ |
Colour screen Whether the e-reader has a colour screen | ⨯ |
Ads Whether the e-reader shows ads on the sleep screen | ⨯ |
Wireless charging Whether the e-reader supports wireless charging | ⨯ |
Mobile connectivity Whether the e-reader can connect to the cloud over the cellular network | ⨯ |
Weight The weight of the product | 188g |
Thickness The thickness of the e-reader | 8.4mm |
Height The height of the e-reader | 159mm |
Width The width of the e-reader | 141mm |
File formats The file formats that are supported | KFX, EPUB, PDF, AZW, AZW3, MOBI, DOC, DOCX, HTML, RTF, TXT, JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, AAX |
Colours Which colours this e-reader is available in | Grey, Gold |
Buy Click on the button to buy |