The new Kindle is here – called Oasis, this is a thinner, more powerful, albeit significantly pricier than its older brothers, Kindle Paperwhite and Voyage.

What’s new?

• Ergonomic design – the new Kindle Oasis features a handgrip on one side so that the weight of the device is near your palm, just like when you’re holding a book. The display also rotates so it doesn’t matter whether you’re right handed or left handed – the grip will sit comfortably in your hands.
• It is the lightest Kindle at 131 to 133 g, thats around 50 g lighter than Voyage. It might be small, but this matters, especially when you like to read while lying down. This is also the smallest Kindle in terms of dimension, but it still keeps the 6″ display as with older models.
• Page turn buttons are back. Personally, I prefer this over the touch screen in the older versions of Kindle.
• You get 10 LEDs for a better reading experience in the dark.
• Apart from the battery built within the Kindle itself, you also get significantly additional battery life from the cover. Amazon puts battery life at “months”, but according to other sources, this could last up to over 2 months (TechCrunch).

Is it worth the higher price tag? Well, if you read a lot of books – this could be worth it. The smaller size and lighter weight makes it easier to carry the device around in a small bag. Also, the extended battery life (using the charging cover) is a big advantage for those who are always out and about. Although you can already get a tablet at this price and you can do more with a tablet – those can hurt your eyes if you read a lot. Nothing beats the paper-like display of E-readers. If you’re just a casual reader who reads every now and then, I don’t recommend upgrading. You can stick to the older and cheaper models or use your smartphones/tablet.

Personally, I am tempted to replace my (very old) Kindle Keyboard, but since I don’t also get to use it as much as I want to, I’d probably just waste my money upgrading.

For those of you who want to get this latest Kindle, head on over to Amazon and pre-order the device. They will start shipping April 27, which is quite soon. For those in the Philippines, unfortunately, they don’t ship here yet. But, fortunately, you can use LBC’s Shipping Cart and they will be the ones to make sure you get your device to your doorstep the soonest possible time.