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One of the first things you notice, after the size increase, is the total look and feel of quality:
Refined aluminum outer shell that will resist scratches.
Page turn buttons-similar to the last Oasis version.
Well balanced when in the hand.
The lighting seems to be the best that the Kindle team has put forward yet- It seems they have taken prior criticism to heart and made a focus on making the lighting as flawless as possible.
Overall fit and finish-this thing looks and feels refined. You get the same sense of quality you get when you pick up an Ipad (whether you like Apple or not).
Faster page turns.
Lighting/ Screen quality:
Amazon must have taken poor reviews on some other models to heart and focused on eliminating these issues. Now with 12 LED bulbs, the lighting is more uniform than any prior unit. Far better than the Paperwhite (while decent for the money- the Oasis is far better). I would rank the Voyage as having a more even screen than my 2016 Oasis-The 2017 OASIS HAS THE BEST SCREEN YET).
The screen has a warmer hue than the Paperwhite, Voyage or Oasis 1.
No visible light cones.
7” screen displays more text for less page flips.
Graphics look better-small print displayed better.
Inverted White/ Black option is nice change that displays less light...good for some that read in bed with partners.
The Kindle team set the reading plane lower in the device(the glass is thicker) the eliminate light cones. The addition of 2 more LED units makes for the most even lighting possible. A one inch screen size really makes a difference in the reading experience-I stopped reading on my Old Oasis and Voyage after getting this unit...ABSOLUTELY FLAWLESS! While the other Kindles are fine, when you put them side by side with the Oasis...NO COMPARISON...OASIS WINS!
Font boldness control, size options and Black /White color conversion
Kindle added more font sizes and boldness control-great for all readers-available on software update on other readers.
Black /White inversion is a neat new reading option-exclusive on the Oasis.
For the visually challenged:
THIS IS THE DEVICE FOR YOU. Large fonts look more normal on this larger screen.
Less page flips-really noticeable on larger fonts.
Bold font options….about time!
White /Black color inversion option. Great for nighttime readers with a partner.
Magazines:
This is an area that many will overlook...Magazines look better on a 7” screen than 6”
Weight
At 194 grams it is slightly lighter than the Paperwhite at 205grams and slightly heavier than the Voyage...In reality you can hardly feel the difference. It is however, significantly heavier than the prior Oasis model without the cove that only weighed 131 grams.
Page turn buttons:
Similar to last year’s model
Much better than the Voyage- you can easily feel these, even in the dark.
A slight click when the buttons are pushed leaves no doubt that the page will turn. These buttons really make it easy to stay focused on reading-no need to swipe the page, just klick the button. Once you get used to the buttons it is hard to go back to a Paperwhite.
Asymmetrical Design:
Very similar to last year’s model; they expanded the gripping area on the bezel to allow for wider thumbs that don’t overlap the screen while in use. One the Voyage, my thumb is half on, half off the device when in use.
The screen and button function auto flip when you change hands.
Well balanced and secure in the hand while holding.
Storage:
8 gigs is plenty for most ebook readers, however if you plan to use Audible or have a large library consider paying $30 more for the 32gig model(about 27 gigs in actual use)
Graphic and image heavy books can exceed 200 mg in size Examples are Manga, Comics, Cookbooks, Magazines and How to books.
My library has a little over 2000 items and does not totally fit on any other Kindle device-no problem on a 32 gig Oasis!
Audible:
Seamless switching from reading to Audible if you own the e-book and the Audible version. They offer a 32 gig option for 30 dollars more if you plan on storing a lot of Audible books.
This device does not have speakers. You need to pair it with blue tooth speakers or headphones.
PLEASE NOTE THERE IS NO TEXT TO SPEECH...No e-reader on the market has this.
Amazon E-book/Audible ecosystem:
Simply the most extensive e-book store on the planet.
Almost always the lowest price.
Audible offers membership specials that can save you money.
Kindle Unlimited -a exclusive option that seems to be best for inexpensive fiction books.
Waterproofing:
I tried this just to make sure it works – good addition.
Battery:
Seems to last about the same as the Voyage and charges in under 2 hours.
Optional cover:
Solid protection for the device. The Origami style stand is OK-not great. Consider getting a small tablet stand(Amazon carries a multitude of these).
Portability:
Definitely not a pocket device.
Quality:
10 out of 10! SIMPLY THE BEST
Cost:
Amazon does not need to apologize for cost on this one-Sure it is twice the price of the Paperwhite (and that is a fine choice in it’s price range) but simply put THIS IS THE BEST KINDLE UNIT AMAZON HAS MADE TO DATE.
For $50 dollars more than the Voyage you get a bigger screen, more storage, Audible, page turn buttons, brighter screen and better display of graphics and magazines.
$40 less than 2016’s unit.
Upgrade options:
$20 to remove adds...I did to stop seeing adds and having to swipe the device to unlock it. I read a lot and would rather see the regular screen savers. I included a photo.
$30 for 32 gig storage – I opted for this because I have a huge e-book and Audible library.
44.99 or 59.99 -Honestly I can’t recommend this-the magnets are not super secure-they hold ok...6/10 from me.
4G- In this day and age many of us have wi-fi available-just store all of your books on the device. I passed on this expense.
Pros:
Best display
Great for large font users
No compromises-high quality
Vast storage options
Audible
Page turn buttons
White /Black inversion option
Like all Kindles you get Amazon’s vast ebook ecosystem-titles you will not find elsewhere
Cons:
Portability-This device does not fit most shirt or pants pockets
Cost-still $40 less than last year’s Oasis
In short – The OASIS IS BETTER-NOT JUST BIGGER
Update:
After spending more time with the unit, I would give this device 10 out of 10 for the right user. I have owned every unit since the Kindle Keyboard and the Oasis 2 is by far the best. I stopped using my other devices after getting the Oasis-It is that much more enjoyable to read on. Let’s take a look at who this device is for:
Don’t buy if:
You want an e-reader that easily fits in your pocket-get the Paperwhite or Voyage.
You are looking for text to speech. None of the current e-readers offer this. I see poor reviews for the device because it does not have this...no current e-reader does.
Budget is a priority. The Paperwhite is a fine budget friendly option.
Do buy if:
You want the finest e-reader available. This Kindle has the reading plane set below thicker glass to eliminate most of the light cones previous models occasionally had. The lighting is phenomenal. Page turn buttons make a difference.
You want a larger reading screen that feels more like a book. E-reading immersion at it’s best.
A visually challenged reader that uses larger fonts.
You need more storage.
If you can swing it -BUY IT-IT DOES NOT GET BETTER THAN THIS
