The Kindle Paperwhite is the most popular and best-selling e-book reader in Amazon’s Kindle lineup. It offers a bigger and better display than the base Kindle while also borrowing some of the premium features from the top-of-the-shelf Kindle Oasis. Last year, Amazon introduced the Kindle Paperwhite 11th Gen, bringing a revamped design, a bigger display, USB-C port, and faster performance.
Whether you pick up the newer model or, the older one, we highly recommend putting your precious Paperwhite in a protective case. While the Paperwhite is more durable than the base model due to its IPX8 rating, its plastic body and display can still pick up scratches fairly easily.
The best Kindle Paperwhite cases are lightweight, made from durable material, and feature cool designs. Most cases offer a smart wake/sleep feature, while some also have a built-in stand for hands-free reading. Here are the best cases for the Paperwhite 11th Gen and Paperwhite 10th Gen.
The Kindle Paperwhite 11th Gen and it’s predecessor 10th Gen have different dimensions, and hence, use different cases. Please ensure you pick the case that matches your product.
A lightweight fabric cover that features soft interior to protect display. The magnetic clasp keeps the lid securely closed, while precise cutouts let you charge the device without taking off the cover. Comes in a range of bright and fun colors.
This case from CoBak has waterproof PU leather exterior and anti-scratch microfiber interior. It also adds a smart wake/sleep feature and comes in a wide selection of colors, designs and finishes
This case comes with a built-in origami stand that lets you prop up your Paperwhite into landscape or portrait orientation for hands-free viewing. It has textured outer shell and comes in multiple color options
This lightweight case features splash-prooof PU leather and microfiber interior. It als offers a built-in kickstand and a hand strap for secure and comfortable hand grip.
If you don’t like bulky folio cases, perhaps this clear silicone case might interest you. While not as robust as other cases, It will protect your Kindle against drops and falls and keep the back panel scratch-free. Note that this cover doesn’t protect the front/display
The official fabric case for the Paperwhite is slim and lightweight and feels nice to touch. It provides ample protection against scratches and drops and has a magnetic lock to keep the lid securely closed.
Amazon’s official leather case features textured natural leather cover that feels great in hand. It has magnetic clasp and supports the auto wake/sleep feature.
Give your Paperwhite 11th Gen a vintage look with the Fintie stand case. The case is made out of premium synthetic leather and features a soft microfiber interior. It also has an auto wake/sleep feature, a built-in kickstand and a hand strap.
This case form Huarisu comes in a variety of cool prints and features durable faux leather. It doesnt add unnecessary weight and provides full body protection against drops and scratches.
These are the best cases for the Kindle Paperwhite 10th Gen and Paperwhite 11tth Gen. If you want full-body protection, go for the official fabric case or Fintie Slimshell case. The CoBack case is also a great option, and it comes with a waterproof exterior. For a basic level of protection, Deteck’s clear case should be sufficient. We also have some fancy options in the form of Huasiru and MoKo. Before you hit the buy button, be sure you check the compatibility with your model as the Paperwhite 10th and 11th Gen have different dimensions, and thus a case made for one model won’t fit the other.
We have also rounded up the best cases for the Kindle 10th Gen and Kindle Oasis. Looking to upgrade your Kindle? These are the best Kindle e-readers to buy in 2022.
Xiaomi’s line of fitness trackers has gone through several minor name changes over the years, from Mi Smart Band to Mi Band, to now, Smart Band, but the appeal remains the same — it’s a very affordable fitness tracker that can provide accurate fitness and health tracking, with data immediately viewable on a screen that, in recent years, has gotten larger and more vibrant. We now have the Xiaomi Smart Band 7, and it promises to do more of the same.
Considering that these bands can do almost the same fitness tracking as an Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch at a fraction of the price, it’s no wonder that these have been selling very well. This newest model sees a slight price hike — it’s $60 now — but it’s still a far cheaper option than say a Fitbit Charge 5. While it may not be as flashy or attention-grabbing as a smartwatch or a large-display fitness tracker, the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 is proof that a practical product will still find itself a market when it is priced right. It does what it says on the box, and most people buying this will be happy with that.
The Xiaomi Smart Band 7 is an affordable fitness tracker that does a good job of keeping track of steps, heart rate and sleep, with a large and vibrant screen too.
The Xiaomi Smart Band 7 is available now worldwide — including the elusive North American market — via Amazon and other online retailers. It will also be sold in Xiaomi’s physical stores for those who live near one. The official price is $62, but on Amazon, the price varies between $58 to $66.
Xiaomi Smart Band 7: Specifications
Specs
Xiaomi Smart Band 7
Size and weight
46.5 x 20.7 x 12.25mm
13.5g
Materials
Polycarbonate
Wristband
Silicone
Compatibility
Android, iPhone
Display
1.62-inch AMOLED (152 x 486)
500 nits brightness
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.2
GPS
No
Sensors
PPG Heart rate sensor
3-axis accelerometer
3-axis gyroscope
Barometer
Proximity sensor
NFC payments
No
Battery
180 mAh
Water resistance
5ATM or 50m up to 10 minutes
About this review: Xiaomi sent me a Smart Band 7 for review. This article was written after nine days of wearing the device. Xiaomi did not have any input in this review.
Xiaomi Smart Band 7: Hardware and Design
Like its Mi Band 6 predecessor, the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 is in fact a tiny oval-shaped device that is entirely detachable from its rubbery band. The little pod-shaped core measures just a hair more than 12.2 mm thick (thinner than the Band 6’s 12.7mm) and weighs an inconsequential 13g. Even with the strap, the weight jumps to 16g only. It’s so dainty and petite that I’ve had the device (without the strap) in my pant pocket and forgot it was there for an entire day.
The 1.62-inch OLED screen is the largest it's ever been
The 1.62-inch OLED screen is the largest it’s ever been, a small bump from last year’s 1.56-inch and a huge jump from the 1.1-inch from the Xiaomi Band 5. The display size increase mostly stretches horizontally, which means the Smart Band 7 has a wider screen (instead of longer) than last year’s Band 6. Maximum screen brightness has been bumped up to 500 nits, still not quite enough to see easily in direct harsh sunlight, but the screen looks great everywhere else.
On the back of the device are sensors for heart rate and blood-oxygen levels, along with a magnetic pin space for the proprietary charger. I can confirm the Band 6’s charger still works with the Smart Band 7, though I am not sure the Band 5’s charger will (because I don’t have one to test).
This little pod slips into the rubber strap snugly. There are no switches or buttons to deal with, the rubber strap just wraps around it like a rubber band and the fit is secure.
One of the selling points of Xiaomi’s band series is the replacement bands, which Xiaomi sells in vibrant colors such as “neon green,” “khacki green,” and orange. If you find these options lacking, third-party sellers will soon pop up, giving access to many more options in different styles and colors. There will be a bit of a dearth of “premium” bands, but considering what this fitness tracker lineup has been historically, you will be very content at the selection of bands.
Personally, I am not a fan of rubber straps, they feel sticky and “slimy” when I sweat (I always buy a third-party leather strap if available). But considering its two-digit pricing, I have no issue with the rubber strap being the included band. This isn’t like Apple or Samsung giving us rubbery straps for wearables that cost over $300. At this price, this is great, and you can always plop down a few dollars and get something else if you need to.
The strap fits comfortably around my wrist, with enough notches for incremental size adjustments. The wearable is rated 5ATM, which means it can be submerged in water up to 50 meters for up to 10 minutes. This number is a safe estimate — I’ve worn the Band 6 (also rated 5ATM) underwater for well over 20 minutes without issues.
There’s a 180 mAh battery inside, which is enough to power the Smart Band 7 for up to two full weeks depending on settings. More on battery performance in the performance section. While the China version of this band features NFC, the global version (the one I’m reviewing) does not. There’s also no GPS so you need to have your phone with you to track runs. Again, these are acceptable compromises for the price in my opinion.
Xiaomi Smart Band 7: Software and Features
Navigating through the Xiaomi Band 7 is done entirely via swipes and taps, as there is no physical button. This is fine for the most part, but sometimes when the display screen is wet, or if my finger is wet, it may take more than one tap to get the desired action. It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes I’d try to wake the screen, and it takes two to three taps. Perhaps a physical button would be helpful. There is a raise-to-wake feature that works well, by the way. I’d say 98% of the time I have been able to navigate through the band’s UI fine.
The UX is pretty standard for wearables: swipe down from the top to see notifications, swipe up from the bottom to access a set of features that you can customize in the companion app. Horizontal swipes cycle through all the various features like music player, exercise tracking, etc.
There’s virtually no app ecosystem to speak of, meaning everything you can do with the band is already present out of the box, and you can’t go and download more things to do. While this sounds like a shortcoming compared to other Android smartwatches, the reality is all non-Apple Watch smartwatch platforms, whether it’s Google’s own WearOS, Samsung’s Tizen, Huawei’s HarmonyOS, or Fitbit’s OS, have anemic third-party app support anyway. If we compared the Smart Band 7 to an Apple Watch, sure, then the Apple Watch can do a lot more things, like access a digital assistant or control Spotify playlists or open up a digital boarding pass (for North American airlines, at least). But compared to, say, a Huawei Watch GT 3 or Fitbit Sense? The Xiaomi Smart Band 7 can do virtually everything those pricier smartwatches can do.
The band pairs to your smartphone via Xiaomi’s Mi Fitness app which is available for Android and iOS. I paired my Smart Band 7 with a Xiaomi smartphone, and then with a Galaxy S22 Ultra, and everything worked fine. There are no features exclusive and limited to Xiaomi smartphones like there are with Huawei’s wearables, so you can use this very flexibly across Android without any OEM lock-in.
You can check your current day’s health data — steps walked, heart rate, workouts completed, sleep time — directly on the wearable. But if you want to check older data you have to jump into the Mi Fitness app which offers a rather typical overview. By typical, I mean it’s fine, it isn’t any more or less insightful than what a Fitbit or Apple Watch shows me. For workouts, for example, I can see a detailed map of my heart rate during the entire session. For sleep, I can see when I was in deep sleep or REM.
The Mi Fitness app also has dozens of watch faces to choose from, and they’re quite aesthetically pleasing — much better than the options in Samsung’s or Huawei’s wearable store, in my opinion. The community has figured out ways to create custom watch faces too, so there’s plenty of room to explore here.
Changing watch faces also takes just 10-30 seconds (you have to download the watch face first), unlike Fitbit, which almost always takes five to ten minutes (this is a bug of Fitbit’s app, one that hasn’t been fixed for years).
Some of these watch faces even support complications, though it’s quite limited (you can assign a complication to show you heart rate or steps or weather, for example). This is nowhere close to the variety of useful complications you get on an Apple Watch watch face, but still much better than, again, any Fitbit or Huawei watch faces that support zero complications.
Have you noticed the trend in this review yet? Any shortcoming or nitpick I have with this $60 band is when I compare it against the Apple Watch which costs a minimum of $199. Otherwise, this band often keeps up or even surpasses the performance of other wearables from everyone else.
Xiaomi Smart Band 7: Performance and Battery Life
As a fitness tracker, the Smart Band 7 gets the job done. I wore the band alongside an Apple Watch 7 for a series of walks and workouts, and the numbers were comparable. Sleep tracking also seemed reasonably accurate, as the band was smart enough to not think of my constant tossing and turning was me “waking up.”
In addition to tracking expected things like blood-oxygen level, and heart rate, the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 can also track menstruation cycles, and breathing, though the latter is in beta stage.
I wore the band alongside an Apple Watch 7 and for a series of walks and workouts, and the numbers were comparable
The Xiaomi Smart Band 7 doesn’t automatically detect workouts and begins tracking the way pricier fitness trackers do, so you will have to manually log the exercise. There are an overwhelming number of workout modes, ranging from the basics like cycling to yoga to the obscure like fishing and parkour. I always take these fitness modes with a grain of salt — I mean, can a wrist-worn device really accurately tell the difference between badminton and tennis? Fishing or tai chi? This isn’t a Xiaomi problem, I’m skeptical about whether the Apple Watch can tell too. My advice is to just pick a workout close enough to what you’re doing. When I’m at the gym, I can just pick “freestyle workout,” or “strength training,” I don’t need to differentiate between walking on an inclined treadmill or on the stair climber. It’s a waste of time in my opinion.
One gripe I have with the band is that the band can only mirror notifications from my smartphone in static form. I can’t interact with the notifications at all. But again, this problem exists on virtually 99% of fitness bands and most Android smartwatches too. So I’m not even sure if this is a reasonable complaint if $300 Android smartwatches also won’t let me respond to notifications.
Battery life is very good. If you leave the always-on display off, you can get up to 14-day battery life. I haven’t used this band for 14 days yet, but after nine days of use at the time of this writing, my band still has 38% battery left so it seems like it will surpass the 14-day mark. If you leave the always-on display on, Xiaomi says battery life drops down to about a week. That’s still pretty good.
Should you buy the Xiaomi Smart Band 7?
You should buy the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 if:
You want an affordable fitness band to keep track of fitness data
You want a thin and lightweight wearable that won’t get in the way of long-sleeved shirts, sleeping, or other activities
You should not buy the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 if:
You already own the Xiaomi Smart Band 6
You don’t mind paying much more for a more capable overall wearable like the Galaxy Watch 4 or Apple Watch
Even with a slight price bump, the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 is an easy recommendation for those looking for a good value fitness tracker. At $60, the product more than lives up to what it claims to do, and offers a larger, more vibrant screen and better watch faces than other trackers at this price range. However, the Smart Band 7 just isn’t a big step up from the Band 6 (the only improvements are better battery life and a larger screen), so those who own last year’s wearable already need not upgrade.
Until recently, I didn’t really find myself in need of a docking station all that frequently, but even some of the best laptops today a very limited selection of ports, and even if you don’t have a ton of accessories, having a compact dock with some ports can be extremely helpful. That’s the market DockCase seems to be focused on with the USB-C Visual Smart Hub 7-in-1, and it does a good job at what it sets out to do.
DockCase makes a few of these docks that have a screen and while there isn’t necessarily a ton of uses for that screen, it does make it easy to see more information about the peripherals connected to your PC. There are cheaper options out there, but the display is what helps this one stand out, plus it has really solid build quality. With a solid mix of ports and support for up to 100W of power delivery (technically maxing out at 95W), this is a great option if you need to connect some peripherals to your laptop, whether that’s at your office or during a trip.
The DockCase Visual Smart Hub 7-in-1 comes in two versions, one with a detachable cable and one with an integrated cable. They’re functionally the same, so it’s up to your preference. The detachable model means you can try to get your own cable if you want a longer one, which is a plus. That’s the only version available on Amazon right now, and it’s much cheaper there. Buying directly from DockCase’s website is more expensive.
DockCase USB-C Visual Smart Hub 7-in-1: Pricing and availability
The DockCase USB-C Smart Visual Hub 7-in-1 costs $64.99 on Amazon, but only the version with a detachable cable is available
The model with an integrated cable is available directly from DockCase’s website
The DockCase USB-C Visual Smart Hub is available to buy right now, but while it comes in two versions, only one is available on Amazon. That’s the model with a detachable cable, and if you buy from Amazon, it costs just $64.99.
Both versions are available to buy on DockCase’s website, but they cost $99.99 there, at least officially. If you’re outside the US, though, this might be your best option, since Amazon won’t ship it everywhere.
DockCase USB-C Visual Smart Hub 7-in-1: Specs
Size (WxDxH)
121 x 39 x 15 mm (4.76 x 1.54 x 0.59 in) excluding cable
The DockCase USB-C Visual Smart Hub has three USB Type-A ports, HDMI, and both full-size and microSD card readers
It can also deliver up to 95W of power to your laptop to keep it charged
There’s only so much you can say about a dock like this, and we’ll get right to what’s important – the ports. Regardless of whether you choose the version with a detachable or an integrated cable, the dock has three ports on the front and four on the back. Up front, we get one USB Type-A port, along with full-size SD and microSD card readers.
On the back, there are two more USB Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port for AC input, and an HDMI port, allowing you to connect to an external display. When you have only seven ports in total, there’s only so much you can do, but this is probably the most ideal setup for this size. Having an HDMI 2.0 port means you can connect a 4K display at 60Hz, which is pretty nice. My monitor is a Full HD 144Hz panel, and the hub can drive it just fine, too.
One thing I like is that all the USB ports are USB 3.0, so you can get 5Gbps speeds out of any of them. Of course, the hub itself only supports 10Gbps, so you can’t use the full bandwidth of all three ports at the same time, but that’s going to be the case with any hub like this.
If you get the version with a detachable cable, there is another USB Type-C port on the side, which is used to connect to the host computer. It supports 10Gbps of bandwidth and 100W of power, or at least that’s the advertising claim. In reality, the dock can only deliver up to 95W of power, and truth be told, that’s such a minute difference that it will work just as well. This is also the case for any other USB-C dock like this, so this doesn’t mean you need to look for another option. It’s worth noting that this isn’t a docking station, so it doesn’t have its own power adapter, it just supports passthrough charging.
I feel the need to bring this up, though, because I have an Asus laptop (a 2021 ROG Flow X13), and it supports 100W charging. But there’s also a feature in Asus’ Armoury Crate software that lets you disable the discrete GPU when on battery power, and if the laptop is receiving less than 100W of power, that still disables the GPU. That’s relatively easy to work around, but it’s something to keep in mind.
I’ve found the port selection overall to be nearly perfect for my usual needs. There have been times when the USB ports weren’t enough for all my peripherals, but I’d argue most people buying a small dock like this don’t need as many peripherals as I do. You also only get one HDMI port, which might not be enough for users with more complex setups, though I was fine with it since I only have one monitor anyway. Another thing that’s missing is a headphone jack, though to be fair, most laptops still have one of those.
One problem I’ve sometimes had is that the dock fails to detect the connected display, and you might either have to reconnect the display or the dock itself. Hopefully this is something that can be fixed with a firmware update, which the dock does support.
Aside from that, the dock is built to feel solid. It has quite a bit of heft to it, and most of the unit is a solid piece of metal, with the exception of the top where the display is. There’s a small hole on the back (below one of the USB ports) that hides a button, and you need a SIM ejection tool to use it. We’ll get into that in a bit.
Display: It can show some useful information
The display on the hub can show various information about connected peripherals
It can also be used to change certain settings for the dock, such as how much power is reserved for peripherals
What really helps the DockCase USB-C Smart Visual Hub stand out is the display that’s built into the dock. This is a fairly basic display specs-wise, but t’s actually pretty sharp and it works perfectly for displaying the information you need to see on it. In its idle state, it’ll display general information about all your connected devices, including how much power is being delivered to your laptop, the resolution and refresh rate of your screen, and the supported USB speeds of your peripherals. The screen actually allowed me to learn that one of the laptops I have lying around can only receive 60W of power over USB-C, which was an interesting find. The screen also shows the internal temperature of the hub, so you can keep an eye on it.
The dock also responds whenever you plug in a display or power adapter. When you plug in a power adapter, you’ll briefly see how much power the dock is receiving and how much is being delivered to the laptop. When you plug in a monitor, you can see all sorts of information including resolution, size, manufacturer, and refresh rate. It’s really neat. One problem I’ve noticed is that the dock won’t update the refresh rate information when you change it in Windows. You need to unplug the display and plug it back in to see the updated value.
You can change the orientation of the display by inserting a SIM ejection tool into the small hole on back. Pressing the hidden button once will rotate the display 90 degrees, and you can choose whatever orientation is most convenient to you.
But the most interesting thing is the ability to change certain dock settings directly on the dock thanks to that display. When you press and hold the hidden button, you start seeing various options appear, including the control panel, where you can see various settings for the dock. These let you change things like the minimum temperature at which the internal fan should start cooling the dock, ow how much power the dock itself can use.
That last one can be important if you’re using high-speed data transfers via USB, as you might need to reserve more power for the USB ports, but that comes at the cost of slower charging for your laptop. It’s great that you can choose what your priorities are, though. Other settings include the screen time-out threshold, and a handful of other options that aren’t meant for most users to mess with. Navigating this UI can be a little clunky, but you basically press once to move to the next option on the page, and press and hold to select. The screen shows an indicator of how long you need to press to confirm a choice, so you can get the hang of it fairly quickly.
Who should buy the DockCase USB-C Smart Visual Hub?
All things considered, the DockCase USB-C Smart Visual Hub offers a solid range of connectivity, and for the $65 price tag on Amazon, it’s actually very nice and versatile. The display can also be useful to learn more information about the peripherals and power adapter you’re using.
You should buy the DockCase USB-C Smart Visual Hub if:
You want to connect a few peripherals to your laptop
You find the display useful for monitoring your peripherals
You shouldn’t buy the DockCase USB-C Smart Visual Hub if:
Your laptop requires more than 100W of power
You have a complex setup with multiple displays or lots of USB peripherals
You need a headphone jack
I’d say the biggest thing to look out for with this dock is that issue where the connected display may not detect a signal when the host PC wakes up from sleep, but it doesn’t happen all the time and it’s relatively easy to fix. You should also know that this dock isn’t meant for very complex professional setups with multiple displays, so you might want to look at more high-end options if that’s what you need.
“I really enjoy digging through a physical bookstore and finding what I want to read.”
“I guess I’m just old-fashioned.”
These are all things that I’ve heard from people about why they prefer to read physical books instead of digital ones. They’re also people that have never tried the Amazon Kindle Oasis.
And why should they have? It’s an e-reader that starts at $249.99. When I told my friends that I bought the first one for $359 (the 3G model – it started at $289), they asked me what else it does. Unless you really enjoy reading books, and those books tend to be electronic, it’s hard to justify buying an e-reader with an E Ink display for more money than a base model iPad.
A lot of the people I talk to that still prefer physical books haven’t gone beyond the small screen on their phones to try digital books. Beyond that, some people have tried tablets. But very few of these book lovers have tried an e-reader, or more specifically, one of the Kindles that are popular on Amazon.
When I first decided to get a Kindle, I decided to get a Paperwhite. It was one step up from the base model, but I didn’t think I needed the bells and whistles of the Kindle Voyage, which was the top-tier product at the time.
I absolutely hated the Kindle Paperwhite. Unlike the first and only other Kindle that I had ever purchased – which was the Kindle 4 that was released in 2011 – the Paperwhite didn’t have physical buttons on the sides to turn pages. Remember, that old Kindle didn’t even have a touchscreen (or a frontlight), so buttons were necessary to turn the page. I found this to be a real pain point for the Paperwhite. Without those buttons and having to touch the screen to turn pages, it was nearly impossible to use the device one-handed.
I returned the Kindle Paperwhite. It wasn’t doing anything for me that I really wanted from an e-reader.
Interlude: The pros of using an e-reader
I’ve always used Kindle for my e-books because I use all platforms, and Amazon is the most open among the big ones. I’ve tried Apple, Google, Barnes and Noble Nook, and even Microsoft’s short stint in e-book sales. Amazon also has the best hardware. But ultimately, the services I use tend to be the ones that are most accessible in the most places, and for e-books, that’s Kindle.
There are lots of benefits to digital books, and I want to outline that before talking about the Kindle Oasis.
They don’t take up space: I don’t have to carry an extra item in my bag, nor do I have to keep books on a shelf. All of my books are stored on devices.
There’s no more need for bookmarks: Amazon’s Kindle books sync to your account, so no matter if you’re picking up your Kindle device, the Kindle app on your iPad, the web reader online, or the Kindle app on your phone, or anything else, it picks up where you left off. Amazon also owns Audible, which is for audiobooks, and assuming that the title is WhisperSync for Voice-ready, it will even sync your place between the Kindle book and the Audible audiobook.
You don’t have to think about lighting: With e-books, you can read in bed and not have to worry about getting the right lighting that preserves your ambiance and is still bright enough to not hurt your eyes. Kindles have their own lighting, as do tablets and phones.
All of the content is at your fingertips: Just like we can do today with music, movies, and TV shows, you can instantly access any book you want thanks to the Kindle store. This sometimes includes that out-of-print book that you’ve always wanted to get your hands on.
There are also specific benefits to an e-ink e-reader:
Battery life goes from days to weeks: With an E Ink e-reader, battery life simply isn’t something that you think about anymore.
There’s no more glare: If you’re in direct sunlight, an E Ink screen is super-easy to use. You don’t have to worry about adjusting brightness.
Cellular connectivity changes the game: I wasn’t sure which section to include this in, but I mentioned it specifically in reference to e-ink e-readers because Amazon actually offers free cellular service on Kindles, as long as you pay the premium when you buy the device. And why shouldn’t it? You’re using the service to buy its products. Of course, this also means that if you’re reading on a train or somewhere else that doesn’t have Wi-Fi, it’s going to sync your place in the book you’re reading, and you can buy new books on the go.
Introducing the Amazon Kindle Oasis
After I returned my $119 Kindle Paperwhite, I just used a tablet for my reading. The $199 Kindle Voyage didn’t seem like something that would solve my pain points, and if it did, I didn’t think it was worth trying.
Soon after, Amazon announced a new device that I had previously covered in leaks: the Kindle Oasis. I had seen the leaked design, and it seemed like a radical, weird, and frankly dumb idea. But when it was formally announced, it all made sense, and I wanted one.
The Kindle Oasis (from the eighth-gen Kindle family) was designed for one-handed use. In fact, it didn’t appear symmetrical, one of the things that made the design seem too radical. One side, referred to as the spine, was thicker, making it easier to grip with one hand. On top of that side were two buttons for turning pages. Moreover, the Oasis was the first Kindle to have an accelerometer, so if one hand got tired, you could move it to the other hand and the screen would know to flip over. Immediately, the right-handed device could become a left-handed device.
That’s not all though, because it weighed just 4.6oz (4.7oz for the 3G model). Since the guts of the device were in the thicker spine, the rest of it – the part that included the 300ppi display – was ultra-thin. It was 0.07-0.18 inches thick, and it was amazing.
Considering that this was the thinnest and lightest Kindle ever, Amazon made battery compromises to get there. It came with a battery cover, which would keep it charged for months, according to Amazon.
It was also the most expensive Kindle ever, starting at $289.99. It wasn’t enough for me though. I spent $359.99 on the 3G model. Like I said above, spending the extra for cellular on a Kindle is a no-brainer. Why would I shell out so much money for an e-reader, only to not solve the pain point of connectivity on-the-go?
I absolutely loved this product. It’s the perfect e-reader when I’m out and about, and when I’m lying on my back in bed. This thing was designed mostly without flaws, and I use it to this day.
The one flaw came in the way of the battery case. I always had issues connecting it, and I even had mine replaced at one point. It turned out that I wasn’t the only one.
Along came the second Kindle Oasis…and the compromises
When Amazon announced its second-generation Kindle Oasis, from the ninth generation of Kindle products, I was instantly on board. The first-gen model was what I’d referred to as game-changing tech. It was something that I wasn’t sure I actually needed, and then fit into my life as something that I couldn’t live without. At the time, I’d have been willing to upgrade every year if the improvements were good enough; after all, I belong to the group of people who already have regular upgrade cycles for phones, tablets, and smartwatches.
Still 300ppi, the new Kindle Oasis boasted a bigger screen at seven inches. That sounded nice. Unfortunately, it was also heavier at 6.8oz, and thicker at 0.13-.33 inches. At that point, it wasn’t that much lighter than my 7.6oz Kindle Paperwhite that I had returned. Still, I figured the weight distribution would be mostly in the spine. I bought the 4G LTE model for $349.99.
The big change that made it thicker and heavier wasn’t just the bigger screen; it had a bigger battery, no longer using pins to connect to a battery case. I kept the product, and I enjoyed it, but eventually, I just gravitated back to the first-gen model.
Amazon stuck with this design for the third iteration of the Kindle Oasis (10th-gen), which is the current one. It’s still the best e-reader you can buy. It now has USB Type-C and has light temperature adjustments. If you buy one, you’ll absolutely love it. However, that’s also because you probably haven’t experienced the first-gen model.
How Amazon could get me to spend $350 on another Kindle Oasis
All I really want is a Kindle Oasis with the design of the first one and the upgrades that the other models have received. I’d love USB Type-C and for it to be waterproof, maybe with a spec bump for better responsiveness.
I’d also love to see 4G LTE. My original Kindle Oasis came with 3G, and as of 2021 when carriers started shutting down 3G, it doesn’t work anymore. The only way it can access the internet is via Wi-Fi.
One thing that I really don’t care about is battery life, and Amazon needs to stop fighting that battle as well. One of the big selling points of the E Ink e-reader is weeks of battery life, and I’m more than happy to sacrifice the four weeks that I’d get with a regular Kindle and turn it into one or two weeks with something that’s as thin and light as the first one. I think most would feel the same way.
When it comes to battery life, your usage and your thought process adjusts to what the capabilities of the device are. As I write this, I’m on a train and my phone’s battery is somewhat low, and there’s a low level of anxiety that comes with that. Even with just a week of battery life, charging is still something that’s not a concern on an e-reader. If you get down to charging it once every day or two, that’s when it really becomes a concern. But as long as charging remains an afterthought, it’s fine. There’s no need to push it to months of battery life.
I could be wrong. Everyone I know that has purchased the larger second- or third-gen models absolutely loves it. That’s fine too. Amazon could call this wishlist Kindle as the Kindle Oasis Mini, and I’d buy it in a heartbeat. After all, I spent $349 on the bigger and supposedly better second-gen Kindle Oasis, and the first-gen one is still the one I use.
