My 2-year-old son thinks all photo frames are digital. He reaches up to the still frames in my parents’ house to swipe to the next photo. While in some ways this sounds a little dystopian, I also find myself a little impressed. The Aura frame in my living room, however, has completely convinced my son that it’s an analog picture frame. I can’t even convince him to take a bath.
Aura’s range of digital picture frames is the best out there. The Aura Carver ($149) and Walden ($299) are both top picks in our guide for a reason, thanks to their impressive design and matte screens that don’t feel like just an iPad set up to flash photos at you. As of today, there’s a new kid on the block: the Aura Aspen.
The Aspen sits right in between the Carver and Walden when it comes to size and price, and it packs the 4:3 ratio that’s perfect for smartphone photographers. It’s a great addition to the lineup, and if you’re usually taking photos with your phone—especially if those photos tend to be vertical—this is the frame for you.
Frame Job
Photograph: Nena Farrell
The biggest difference from the rest of Aura’s lineup is the size. The Aspen has an 11.8-inch screen—larger than the Carver’s 10.1 inches but smaller than the gargantuan 15-inch Walden frame. It packs the same anti-glare display you’ll find in the Aspen and Walden, along with a 4:3 ratio and 1,600 x 1,200 HD display. That ratio matches most smartphone cameras, making it a great choice for your daily photos. Otherwise, the software inside is the same you’ll find on all of Aura’s displays, and you’ll use the same app to control it.
The Aspen also has dual orientation, meaning it can sit in either portrait or landscape mode. This is similar to the Mason ($192) (which Aura is actually sunsetting this year), though you’ll need to reach around the back to switch the stand’s position in order to change the orientation. It only takes a few seconds to do this, though I think most people will pick a single orientation and focus on uploading photos to match it.
I chose vertical mode, since I usually take pictures in this orientation. For the few landscape shots I added, the frame included the entire photo with black bars above and below. If you’re more of a landscape photographer, it’s easy to put the frame in landscape mode instead to best suit your pictures. It’s also a nice size for large rooms, like open floor spaces or large living rooms, so you can still see and enjoy the photo from various spots around the room. My parents have the 10-inch Carver frame at their house, and while I like it, it’s much easier to enjoy my photos on the Aspen from across the room with the larger screen.
Photograph: Nena Farrell
