Aura’s Aspen Digital Photo Frame: Bigger Screen, Higher Price, But Is It Worth It?

Aura’s new Aspen digital photo frame offers a larger, higher-resolution screen and flexible orientation options, but comes at a higher price point than its predecessors.

Let me tell you something about digital photo frames. Most of them are about as useful as a chocolate teapot. But Aura? They’re the exception. Their frames are well-designed, with screens that don’t make your eyes bleed, and software that doesn’t require a PhD to operate. No sneaky subscription nonsense either. Now, they’ve gone and added a new member to their family – the Aspen frame. It’s sitting pretty between the 10-inch Carver and the 15-inch Walden.

This Aspen thing has an 11.8-inch screen with a resolution of 1,600 x 1,200. That’s bigger and sharper than the Carver Mat, which I reckon is the best out there right now. It’s got these light sensors that adjust the brightness so it doesn’t feel like you’re staring at a computer screen. Plus, the stand comes off, so you can set it up portrait or landscape. The Carver’s stuck in landscape because of its chunky base. The Aspen’s thinner and lighter than I expected, which is a nice touch.

Now, don’t go thinking that because it’s slim, it’s flimsy. I’ve seen frames with removable stands that wobble like a drunk at closing time. Not the Aspen. Its stand is solid, like it’s been engineered by someone who actually cares. And it’s got two touch bars for flipping through photos, so you’re covered no matter how you set it up.

Getting your photos on there is a breeze with Aura’s app. It’s the best one I’ve used. You can sync pics from your phone or even email them to the frame. There’s some new tricks too, like adding captions to your photos and filtering by people. All the face stuff happens on the frame, not in some cloud, which is good for privacy.

The Aspen’s going for $229, which is a bit more than the Carver Mat’s $179. But for the bigger, better screen and the flexibility, it might just be worth the extra cash. It comes in black or white, both with a nice textured mat around the picture.