Kindle Oasis (2019) review: Top Kindle e-reader approaches pricey perfection

The color temperature adjustable light isn't an e-reader first. Last year's Kobo Carta HD e-reader included one. That model has a 6-inch screen and lists for $130. The idea behind it is that by shifting to a more amber-colored screen at night, you won't be exposed to as much blue light. In theory, that will help you sleep better. I personally don't have a problem with the whole blue-light phenomenon -- at least when it comes to sleep. I conk out reading my iPhone or iPad's screen. But some people are apparently sensitive to it and, for them, the Oasis' new lighting scheme is a plus. 

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An Amazon rep confirmed that the processor in the new Oasis is unchanged from the previous version, but the company is pledging that the new model offers somewhat faster performance. "The new Kindle Oasis introduces the next and improved generation of E Ink, which is faster in common customer scenarios such as getting back into your favorite book from Home or Library, looking up a word and launching Settings, among others."

It does seem ever so slightly zippier, but it's not a huge difference. E Ink is an inherently sluggish technology and even today's entry-level iPad is markedly faster. However, the great thing about E Ink displays are that they don't get washed out in direct sunlight and they're very energy efficient. You can get weeks of battery life from the new Oasis so long as you don't leave the Wi-Fi on.       

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As I said about the previous Oasis, this is a great e-reader -- and the small improvements make the 2019 version slightly better. There's still Bluetooth for connecting a pair of wireless headphones (or a Bluetooth speaker) to listen to Audible audiobooks (that's the only reason you'd want the 32GB model). And Amazon keeps tweaking the interface and adding new e-reading features, most of which make the overall experience slightly better. Amazon's e-reading ecosystem remains the best, with the widest selection of content and the best deals. (If you're a Prime subscriber, you can download a number of Prime-enabled titles for free -- some are decent reads, some aren't.) 

Unless you pay $20 to remove them, you'll still be greeted with Amazon's special offers on the lock screen and the main menu page. I don't find them to be too much of a nuisance -- they never intrude into the books themselves -- and a few catch my interest. But if you want a totally ad-free experience, you'll have to pay a bit more.

I would have liked to have seen USB-C charging added (it still charges via Micro-USB) and the price come down a bit. But the Oasis remains the Porsche of e-readers -- a premium model that's a little more luxurious and has a touch more zip to it. If you're heavy into e-reading, it's arguably the best e-reader out there. But the Paperwhite, which can be had for $90 or less during Amazon's sporadic sales, is clearly the better value. It's basically got the same engine and while it's missing the new lighting scheme, it's still a nice ride. That's why we gave the Paperwhite -- not the Oasis -- an Editors' Choice award despite the slightly higher rating on the Oasis.