Aura Ink frame uses e-ink for a digital display that looks like a print

Aura has introduced the Aura Ink frame, a digital photo frame designed to overcome the common drawbacks of existing digital displays by using color e-ink technology. Unlike traditional bright LED screens, e-ink mimics the appearance of printed paper, reducing eye strain and blending more seamlessly into home decor. The technology, similar to that used in e-readers, is limited to six colors: red, blue, green, yellow, white, and black. Aura developed a proprietary dithering algorithm to create smoother gradients and more visually appealing images within this color constraint, particularly for portraits.

Photos are uploaded and managed through the Aura app, which offers user-friendly integration with various cloud photo services like iCloud and Google Photos, as well as social sharing capabilities. The frame is designed for easy setup, even for less tech-savvy users. Aura also offers a more traditional LED frame, the Aspen, which features an anti-glare screen and a paper-like matting display to enhance its premium feel.

The Aura Ink frame changes photos once daily by default, typically overnight, to maintain the illusion of a static print. Manual photo changes via the app take about a minute to process as the frame renders the image. The frame includes mounting hardware and is charged via USB-C, with a battery life of approximately one month. Priced at $499, the Aura Ink frame is positioned as a premium product, with Aura's CTO Eric Jensen highlighting the 'next level' quality of e-ink and the user perception that the display is a printed photograph rather than a digital screen.