Kindle Oasis
Amazon unveiled its waterproof Kindle Oasis e-reader. (Amazon Photo)

Amazon has unveiled its first waterproof Kindle Oasis e-reader, which takes its place on the top end of the Kindle spectrum with a list price starting at $249.99.

The upgraded Oasis boasts a 7-inch illuminated screen, a long-life battery that can take on a full charge in less than two hours, and IPX8-level waterproofing that’s designed to protect the device even if it’s dunked in a bathtub or a lake.

The device is rated to survive immersion in up to 6 feet (2 meters) of fresh water for up to 60 minutes.

Amazon is also highlighting the 7-ounce (194-gram) device’s slim profile, tapering to a 3.4mm display, and the fact that it has a built-in Audible app that lets you listen to audiobooks over Bluetooth headphones or speakers.

“Its thin, light, and waterproof design allows readers to stay engaged in the author’s world in even more places than ever before,” Dave Limp, senior vice president for Amazon Devices and Services, said today in a news release.

Amazon’s other Kindle e-readers include the basic 6-inch Kindle ($79.99), Paperwhite ($119.99) and Voyage ($199.99). Some of those models can be made waterproof with third-party covers or other add-ons, but the new version of the Oasis has that feature from the get-go.

Kindle Oasis is available for pre-order from Amazon starting today, with shipping due to start on Oct. 31. The 8GB version is $249.99, a 32GB model is $279.99, and 32GB with free cellular connectivity is priced at $349.99.

The price tag comes in below the $290 that last year’s non-waterproof Oasis went for when it was introduced last year.

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