Aura Ink Review (2025): Newspaper-Style Realism

Aura has been trying to mount our frames for years. Aura’s first frame in 2017, the Aura Classic, was wall-mountable, and then Aura’s latest frames, such as Aura AspenHas a flat, wall-mountable design. But the downside was that all of these models had cords running underneath it, which took away from the clean gallery-wall design it would otherwise suit, and limited the positions it could be hung.

Now, with Aura Ink’s truly cordless design, it’s possible to hang it up without any cord clutter. The 13-inch screen makes it a bit larger than the 12-inch Aura Aspen but smaller than the 15-inch Walden, and a nice size for hanging around. The Ink comes with a small mounting kit of two nails and a small hook that clicks into the digital frame and easily clicks back to charge it (the charging port is on the side if your hanging space is near an outlet). I was able to hang it on my existing pushpin without issue and the frame easily blended into my existing gallery wall.

Overall, it’s an impressive feat of technology, though I wouldn’t call it perfect. I’d like to see the front light a little brighter. It is much more expensive than other digital photo frames. But as I look at it on my gallery wall, I have to say that if you didn’t already know it was digital, you probably had no idea. If you are looking for such a frame for your home, this is it.