Five years later, the Kindle Oasis is still the best e-reader I’ve used – and that’s a problem

I started using the Kindle Oasis shortly after its debut in 2019, moving from the previous generation Oasis which lacked the warm light feature. Over the next five years, I used the Oasis extensively; after my monitor, it is the e-reader who spends the most time in front of a screen each week.

All this usage has taken its toll on battery life; I used to get a week of use between charges, but these days the battery barely lasts long enough to read a book. While it’s not a big problem in my house, I’m not sure how well it can handle a transatlantic flight (not that I still make those trips, but that’s another question).

The other issue I have with the Oasis is that it charges via Micro-USB. This wasn’t a problem in 2019, but today the Oasis is the only device in my daily rotation that still uses the Micro-USB port. I didn’t think much of it at the time, as I assumed Amazon would release a follow-up model with USB-C.

But it’s clear that Amazon has no intention of doing so. The 10th generation Kindle Oasis is still on sale in India at the time of writing, but it’s not available anywhere else and is unlikely to be restocked. Amazon lists international edition for only $135, and while this is a great price, it is not eligible for delivery to the United States. Given that Amazon has refreshed every other model in the series, it’s obvious that there are no plans to do so with the Oasis. It’s annoying, because even after half a decade, the Oasis continues to be the best e-reader on the market.

Much of what sets the Oasis apart is its asymmetrical design and aluminum construction; it’s simply better to hold and use than any other e-reader. But what I like most about the device – and why I continue to use it daily – are the page turning buttons. The physical page-turn buttons absolutely make a difference when reading an e-book, and the ability to change orientation and use the buttons with either hand is why I ‘use the Oasis compared to other e-readers.

The Oasis also respects the dimensions and the 7-inch screen is ideal for reading books. With a weight of 194g, it’s also not too heavy to hold with one hand. Essentially, what I’m trying to say is that the Oasis is still the best e-reader ever, and it’s frustrating that Amazon has no interest in making a new one.

Amazon is instead focusing its attention on the Kindle Scribe and the Paperwhite Signature, the latter notably taking over from the Oasis. The Paperwhite signature is more affordable at $189, charges via USB-C and the Qi standard, and features E Ink’s Carta 1200 panel with a pixel density of 300 ppi. But there are no page-turning buttons, and the plastic design isn’t as comfortable to hold as the Oasis.

If you’re a long-time Oasis user and looking for a new e-reader, the best option might be the Onyx Boox page. It also has a 7-inch E Ink Carta 1200 panel, physical page-turn buttons, and a battery life lasting several weeks. Onyx’s software also has a lot going for it – this was evident after using the Note Air 3 – and at $249, the Boox Page slots in at the same price as the Oasis. Although I haven’t used Kobo e-readers, the Libra Color seems to be a decent alternative, offering a color E Ink display as well as page turning buttons.

That said, I used Kindles exclusively for over a decade because of their convenience. Although I buy from smaller publishers today, part of my e-book library is linked to my Amazon account, and the Kindle online store – as well as Kindle Unlimited – makes it easy to buy and read e-books . But with Amazon unwilling to release a new high-end e-reader, it’s becoming increasingly clear that I’ll have to upgrade to Onyx or Kobo products once my Oasis becomes unusable.