Amazon.com, Inc.’s synonymous ebook reader the Kindle is about to get a makeover with images leaking of a new design for the paper white edition.

The images first appeared on a Chinese e-commerce site (since deleted, but posted to Reddit) and show a device called the “Kindle Oasis” which appears to have a larger bezel on one side of device which includes buttons for going forward and backward in a book, but with a thinner bezel on the other three sides.

Compared to previous models, the button section visually appears to be thicker, while the other side appears narrower, with an accelerometer making sure the page orientation is right depending on which hand the user is holding it with, making it ambidextrous.

The device itself is said to weight 131 grams, has a resolution of 300 ppi, and a thickness (indicating per the pictures) of between 3.4 mm and 8.5 mm.

Of interest another image shows a battery case which magnetically snaps into the thinner portion of the Kindle to prolong reading time, with one person on Reddit claiming that the case is included with the Kindle itself.

According to the Reddit thread the

• The case is leather and extends the Kindle’s battery life up to “several months.”
• There are 12 magnets that hold the case and Kindle together
• Amazon says the thicker-on-one-side design leads to an ergonomically streamlined grip that shifts the weight to your palm.
• When unplugged, the case can charge the Kindle’s battery. When plugged in, both batteries will be charged.

Expected

Amazon Chief Exectutive Officer Jeff Bezos announced April 4 on Twitter that a new top of the line Kindle would be announced “next week” which makes the details of the Kindle Oasis expected, be it they’ve accidently leaked a little early.

What hasn’t been included though in the leaks is any mention of waterproofing, a feature that has long been rumored; as The Verge puts it the feature “would enable worry-free reading by the pool or at the beach, is something Amazon’s customers have wanted for years now.”

Putting the lack of water proofing aside the specs look amazing on paper and depending on what Amazon prices the new device at it may well become an appealing buy for existing Kindle owners, let alone those who are yet to embrace the ebook revolution.

Image credit: Tmall/ Reddit.