Adding Qi Wireless Charging to the Kindle Oasis, for under $8
Amazon released an updated model of its premiere Kindle Oasis e-reader this summer (2019). This third-generation Oasis is nearly identical to the second-generation model from 2017, except for a new feature that allows the reader to change the color temperature of the display, which is especially useful for night reading.
Unfortunately, this means that the new Kindle Oasis does not come with an upgraded charging port, and instead still uses the outdated micro USB port (which many are already complaining about). A much better option would be the modern USB-C port, or even better: wireless charging!
To fix this, you can easily retrofit your own Kindle Oasis (or any other Kindle model) with wireless charging capability.
All you will need to add wireless charging are 1) a case for your Kindle Oasis, and 2) a wireless charging receiver. Cases (like mine) can be found for $15 and up, and the wireless charger receiver costs less than $8! (If you aren’t yet ready to commit to a case, you can buy only the receiver and keep it secured to the kindle with tape, if you’d like.)
Buy a very narrow receiver: one that is narrower than the width of the Kindle Oasis’s bump, which my measurements show to be around 1.75". I recommend the narrowest receiver that I could find, which is listed at a width of 1.38", and costs less than $8 at the time of writing: IGOUKJ Ultra Slim Portable Wireless Charging Receiver (Positive Direction Type A Receiver). Amazon sells many types of these receivers from a large variety of sellers. Feel free to choose whichever you’d like, but aim for as narrow a width as possible.
The height of the receiver will not matter much, as the Oasis is a tall enough device. The existing micro USB port on the Oasis has the narrow side up (sometimes called positive direction, or type A), so be sure to buy a receiver that supports that style of micro USB.
Plug the receiver into the micro USB port of your Kindle, and place the Kindle into your case, making sure that the receiver sits properly and comfortably under the device’s bump.
Once your case is secured, you’re ready for wireless charging!
Note that the Kindle Oasis’s shape is not as convenient for wireless charging as those of the other Kindle models are, due to its bump. It may take some time with your wireless charger to find the right position and balance to get the device to charge. Once it starts to charge, it will continue to charge even if the Kindle Oasis’s bump is not completely touching the wireless charger (just like it’s doing in the title picture of this article). I promise — it’s still worth it, and certainly beats the inconvenience of micro USB and wired charging! A larger wireless charging pad with a greater number of coils has an increased available surface area, and will be more forgiving to an inexact placement of your Kindle (but any wireless charger should still work just fine). I recommend something like this: CHOETECH 5 Coils Qi Dual Wireless Charger.
If you ever need to fall back to the original micro USB port for charging (e.g. if you’re traveling and don’t have access to a Qi Wireless Charger), you can simply unplug the wireless charging receiver temporarily and use the micro USB port normally.
