Kindle Oasis Discontinued: Is a Color Kindle on the Horizon?
A few weeks ago, the Kindle Oasis was removed from the Kindle comparison charts on the U.S. Amazon website, and shortly afterward, the more affordable 8 GB version was no longer available there.
Now the same has happened in Germany: the Kindle Oasis is no longer available on Amazon.de. Whether the Oasis model line will be continued or whether Amazon will discontinue it without a replacement remains unclear at this time. However, prospects for a Kindle with a color display are looking quite promising.
Video Report (English)
Below is a summary of the article in the form of an English-language video report:
A Brief Look Back at the Kindle Oasis Series
Kindle Oasis 1 with battery cover
With the Kindle Oasis 1, Amazon introduced in 2016 an especially compact and asymmetrical e-reader designed for maximum lightness. To accomplish this, the device’s battery was significantly reduced compared to other Kindle models and was partially relocated to the magnetically attached cover.
However, this split-battery design did not last long, as already the following year, the second Kindle Oasis integrated the battery fully back into the e-reader. The display increased to 7 inches, and the device was upgraded with a high-quality aluminum back and a scratch-resistant, flat front.
The Kindle Oasis 2 went on to popularize the asymmetrical design in this size segment.
With the third generation in 2019, the now discontinued Kindle Oasis 3 was released, featuring, for the first time in an Amazon e-reader, an adjustable color temperature front light.
Despite its higher starting price, the entire series was especially popular among avid digital readers for its high-contrast, evenly illuminated display, ergonomic design, and premium feel.
Will the Oasis Series Be Re-Released with a Color Display?
It is not unusual for Amazon to phase out a popular line. This already occurred with the Kindle Voyage, for which a successor long seemed expected, but ultimately never appeared.
Nevertheless, the Voyage did receive a sort of replacement, as the Oasis series effectively succeeded it in the premium e-reader segment.
Accordingly, I believe there is a strong possibility that Amazon has a successor planned for the Kindle Oasis as well. One could argue that the 10.2-inch Kindle Scribe has already taken on this role, which is indeed possible.
Comic in color on the Kobo Libra Colour
However, there is one factor arguing against Amazon treating the Scribe as the Oasis successor: Kobo, Amazon’s biggest global competitor, recently introduced two e-readers with E Ink Kaleido 3 color displays (the Kobo Clara Colour and the Kobo Libra Colour).
The likelihood that Amazon will not respond to this is extremely low. Therefore, a Kindle with color now seems to be the next logical step.
Improved E-Ink Gallery 3 Technology Available Soon
Recently, in its 2023 Annual Report (published March 31, 2024), E Ink Holdings included a very interesting passage indicating that Gallery 3 will appear in an improved version in 2024:
“E Ink released the 8-inch advanced color ePaper (Gallery™ 3) in 2022 to enhance the experience of using color e-readers. In 2024, we will provide an upgraded version of the 8-inch advanced color
ePaper (Gallery™ 3), aiming to deliver optimized performance and enhanced visual experience for customers.”
E-Ink Gallery 3 is the company’s second color e-paper technology that, instead of using an RGB sub-pixel matrix (like E-Ink Kaleido 3), relies on colored ink particles (CMYK). This method does not darken the display and is regarded as a key development goal for e-readers.
The only E-Ink Gallery 3 device so far is from Bigme and was produced in small quantities
Of course, there is no guarantee that Amazon will adopt this technology, but the timing of the launch of this new, improved Gallery 3 would align well with the discontinuation of the Kindle Oasis—and would correspond with other market developments.
It is also conceivable that Amazon might secure exclusive rights to this new technology, just as it most likely did with the high-resolution 300 ppi, 10.2-inch display used in the Kindle Scribe. For a long time, no Amazon competitor offered a similarly high-resolution 300 ppi display in this size category.
As recently as December 2022, E Ink Holdings listed several manufacturers in a press release who would launch an E-Ink Gallery 3 device the following year. The absence of an equivalent public announcement this time and the mention of the improved Gallery 3 only in the annual report may indicate either a lack of buyers, or that buyers have agreed to confidentiality.
Whatever the outcome, it is likely time to say goodbye to the Kindle Oasis 3 at this point.
