Kindle Oasis Review
The Kindle Oasis was, for years, the Kindle for people who wanted the best and did not care what it cost. Metal body, page-turn buttons, a 7 inch screen and an ergonomic grip made it feel like a luxury object. It has since been quietly discontinued, but it still turns up used and still gets searched for, so the real question now is whether it is worth chasing one down. Mostly, the answer is no, and here is the honest reason why.
Specifications
| Screen | 7" |
|---|---|
| PPI | 300 |
| Colour | No |
| Frontlight | Yes |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Stylus | No |
| Storage | 8 GB |
| Weight | 188 g |
| Price | $249 |
Verdict
The Kindle Oasis was a wonderful device that the rest of the range has quietly caught up with and passed. Its metal build and page-turn buttons still charm, but micro-USB charging, winding-down support and an inflated used price make it hard to recommend in 2026. Buy one only if you specifically crave a metal, button-equipped Kindle and find it cheap. Otherwise a Paperwhite or a Kobo Libra Colour is the better use of your money.
What we like
- Premium metal body with a comfortable ergonomic grip
- Physical page-turn buttons, rare on a Kindle
- Sharp, waterproof 7 inch 300 ppi screen with warm light
- Auto-adjusting frontlight on later models
Worth noting
- Discontinued, with software support winding down
- Still uses old micro-USB, not USB-C
- Used prices are inflated for the screen you get
- The current Paperwhite matches it for far less
What Made It Special
The Oasis got the ergonomics right before any other Kindle. A tapered aluminium body with a fat grip on one side put physical page-turn buttons under your thumb, so one-handed reading was effortless. The 7 inch 300 ppi screen was excellent, it was waterproof, and later models added a warm-adjustable frontlight and an auto-brightness sensor. In its day it felt genuinely premium.
That premium feel is the main reason people still want one. If you love metal and buttons and hate the plastic slabs, the Oasis scratches an itch nothing in Amazon's current line-up quite does.
Why It No Longer Makes Sense
Time has not been kind. The Oasis still charges over the ancient micro-USB rather than USB-C, its software support is winding down, and it launched at a price far above what its screen now justifies. The current Paperwhite matches or beats it on screen quality and adds USB-C for a fraction of the used-Oasis asking price.
You are essentially paying a collector's premium for the metal body and the buttons. That is a real thing to want, but it is a nostalgia purchase, not a value one.
Who Should Still Consider It
If physical page-turn buttons are non-negotiable and you specifically want them in a Kindle, the Oasis is one of the only ways to get them, and a well-priced used unit can be a joy to hold.
For almost everyone else, a current Paperwhite is the smarter buy, and if you want buttons in a modern device, the Kobo Libra Colour delivers them with a newer screen, USB-C and colour.
Frequently asked
Is the Kindle Oasis still worth buying?
Only if you specifically want a metal Kindle with physical page-turn buttons and can find one cheap. For most readers a current Paperwhite is better value, with a newer screen and USB-C charging.
Does the Kindle Oasis have page-turn buttons?
Yes, that was its signature feature. It is one of the only Kindles with physical page-turn buttons, which is a big part of why it still has fans.
Why was the Kindle Oasis discontinued?
Amazon streamlined its line-up as the Paperwhite and newer models caught up on screen quality and added USB-C, leaving the pricier, older Oasis with less reason to exist.
What is a good alternative with buttons?
The Kobo Libra Colour offers physical page-turn buttons in a modern device, with a newer screen, colour, waterproofing and USB-C charging.