Amazon's most expensive Kindle, Oasis

Amazon's most expensive Kindle, Oasis, launched

Amazon has launched its latest Kindle e-reader Oasis in India. The all-new Kindle, priced at Rs 23,999 for the Wi-Fi model and Rs 27,999 for the Wi-Fi-plus 3G model, is available on the company's India website.

Kindle Oasis is the company's eighth device in the series, with a charger that is built into its cover. Amazon claims Kindle Oasis is its thinnest and lightest reader.

To get that lighter weight, Amazon's engineers equipped the new e-reader with a "featherweight" polymer frame plated with metal structural electroplating that adds rigidity. Also, the internal battery and electronics have been scrunched into an ergonomic hump on the backside of the device that allows you to hold the e-reader comfortably in your hand. The hump shifts the weight of the device so it's better balanced and feels more like you're holding a book with a spine. It does feel really light.

The other significant change is to the lighting scheme. Amazon says the built-in front light has 60 percent more LEDs and they're embedded in the side of the display, not the bottom. I didn't get a chance to formally compare the Oasis to the Voyage, but the light does appear a little brighter and splays more uniformly across the screen. I wouldn't call it a huge upgrade, but it's an upgrade nonetheless.

The text on the touchscreen e-ink display looks very close to what you get with the Kindle Paperwhite and Voyage. There's the same sharp 300 ppi resolution and similar contrast. You can turn pages by touching the screen or press the physical page turn buttons on the side of the device.

The battery cover, which comes in three color options, is pretty slim but obviously adds some weight to the device. It adheres magnetically and is easy to remove and slip back on, so you can easily take it off when you don't need the extra protection. Amazon says the Oasis gets over 2 weeks of battery life on its own, and over 9 weeks when combined with cover.

It all adds up to the nicest e-ink e-reader that Amazon's ever produced.But the price is too high for such smaal upgrades.

  Kindle Oasis' key specs:

• > 4.6 ounces and 3.4 mm at its thinnest point
• > Latest-generation high-resolution 300 ppi Paperwhite 6-inch touch-screen display
• > Redesigned front light features 60 percent more LEDs and better uniformity
• 4GB of built-in storage (stores thousands of e-books)
• > Included leather charging cover sticks magnetically to Kindle
• > 1GHz processor
• > 2 weeks of battery life on its own, over 9 weeks when combined with cover
• > Read with either hand
• > Battery cover comes in three color options
• > 3G + Wi-Fi option is more expensive at $360(Rs 27,999) or £330(Rs 23999)