Kindle Paperwhite vs 2019 Kindle Oasis: Which E-Reader Is A Better Buy?

Updated on

Amazon is the most powerful player in the e-reader market. The latest Kindle Paperwhite, which was introduced in November 2018, borrowed some high-end features from Kindle Oasis, such as Audible integration for audiobooks and a waterproof design. Amazon has announced the 2019 Kindle Oasis, and it is already up for pre-order. It will go on sale on July 24th. Let’s check out how the Kindle Paperwhite stacks up against the upcoming Kindle Oasis in terms of features, specs, and pricing.

Design

The Kindle Oasis is Amazon’s premium e-reader with a high-end design. It has an aluminum chassis while the Paperwhite has a plastic design. The 2019 Kindle Oasis measures 159 x 141 x 3.4-8.4 mm. Despite its size, the Oasis weighs just 188g. With a thin and light ergonomic design, it feels like a more premium e-reader.

The 2019 Kindle Oasis comes with physical page turn buttons. Users can hold the device in either hand. You can also turn pages by tapping on the screen. Both e-readers have the same IPX8 rating for waterproofing, meaning they can withstand being submerged in up to two meters deep water for 60 minutes.

Despite having a smaller display, Kindle Paperwhite measures 167 x 116 x 8.18 mm and weighs 191g. Its backlit touchscreen lies flush with the bezels, just like Kindle Oasis. Its sleek and modern design is praiseworthy considering the price point.

Display

One of the biggest highlights of the 2019 Kindle Oasis is the new “adjustable warm light,” which helps reduce strain on your eyes when reading at night. It has a large 7-inch Paperwhite touchscreen display with 300ppi of pixel density. The adjustable warm light coupled with 12 LED lights offers a richer, glare-free reading experience in every lighting condition. Amazon claims it reads like “real paper.”

While the Oasis has a 12-LED array, the Paperwhite gets only five LEDs. It means its lighting scheme and brightness is not as uniform as the Oasis. The Kindle Paperwhite has a smaller 6-inch display with the same 300ppi of pixel density, which ensures similar contrast and sharpness on both devices. The Paperwhite also has built-in adjustable lighting to let users read indoors and outdoors, during day and night.

Specifications

They are both fully wireless, meaning they don’t require a computer to download content. Both of them are offered in two storage options of 8GB and 32GB. The 8GB version can hold thousands of books and up to three dozen audiobooks. The 32GB model also holds thousands of books, but it can store more than 150 Audible audiobooks.

Both Kindle Paperwhite and Oasis get free cloud storage for all Amazon content. Both of them come with Audible integration, meaning you can listen to audiobooks on the go. Users can easily switch between reading and listening. Both of them support private and public WiFi networks and hotspots. Amazon offers accessibility features like VoiceView screen reader on both e-readers.

Battery life

Amazon claims the 2019 Kindle Oasis would offer up to six weeks of battery life on a single charge, meaning its battery life is the same as Kindle Paperwhite. It takes about three hours to fully charge. Of course, the battery life depends on a number of factors such as wireless and Bluetooth usage, light settings, and whether you are listening to audiobooks.

Pricing

The 2018 Kindle Paperwhite costs $130 for the 8GB version and $170 for the 32GB storage variant. You get three months of free Kindle Unlimited subscription, which costs $10 per month if you buy separately. Kindle Oasis is a premium e-reader, costing $270 for the 8GB variant and $300 for the 32GB version.

Conclusion

The Kindle Paperwhite has many of the same features as its more expensive sibling. You get the same display pixel density, same Audible integration, same storage, and a bunch of other same features for roughly half the price. For most people, it’s better value for money. But if you want a premium design with adjustable warm light and a bigger screen, you can go for the 2019 Kindle Oasis.

Leave a Comment