Aura has launched a second-generation e-ink photo frame, a 10-inch model priced at $349, $150 below the 13-inch original's $499.
The new Aura Ink raises resolution from 150 to 200 ppi (pixels per inch), which should mean less grain. It also blends nine base colors instead of six to approximate the hues in a photo. The animation between photos has changed too, now closer to waves of color than a series of flashes. Joel Cunningham, who reviewed the original and tested the new frame, wrote that he could see the sharpness improvement side by side, though it is hard to capture in a photograph.
The trade-offs of e-ink have not gone away. Switching photos takes about 45 seconds, so Aura recommends no more than 12 swaps a day to protect battery life, which lasts months between charges. E-ink also uses dithering, a technique that mixes tiny dots to fake intermediate colors, so close up the image looks grainy and dimmer than it does on a phone. Aura says the screen can show "millions" of colors, which is the company's claim, not a measurement. A built-in light compensates for color e-ink's poor reflectivity. Photos can now be texted directly to the frame.
The price cut is about 30 percent, and it comes with a smaller screen. That matters because the frame still costs roughly twice as much as the 10.1-inch Aura Carver, an LCD model that starts about $200 lower and is Aura's most popular. The Carver is brighter, flips photos instantly, and can play video, but it stays plugged in and glows like a tablet.
That leaves the Ink as a frame bought for looks, not features. Aura has not made e-ink compete with LCD on function, and Cunningham's verdict is that it suits people who want a print-like photo on a wall without a cord. The open question is how many of those buyers will pay double for it, even at the lower price.