Aura’s 10-inch color E Ink frame costs $349

The frame is available in the US and uses a 10-inch E Ink Spectra 6 panel with a black frame and matching mat board. Its 200ppi resolution compares with 150ppi on the 13-inch version. Aura worked with E Ink to add off-white, mustard yellow and orange base colors, aiming to improve skin tones, texture and gradients through its dithering algorithm.

Those changes bring modest improvements rather than a dramatic leap. E Ink estimates Spectra 6 can reproduce around 65,000 colors, potentially more with Aura’s enhancements, while LCDs can display millions. Bright blues, greens and reds can stand out, but skin tones may look too warm or cool, and one reviewer found a sunny-day photo of a bright-yellow water taxi disappointingly subdued. The colored-dot patterns remain visible up close.

The frame’s rechargeable battery lets it hang without a power cord. Aura estimates it needs charging every three months if the image changes once each night; users can set up to 12 automatic refreshes a day or change photos manually with buttons on the back. Each image change takes about 30 seconds, with colors rippling and flickering across the screen. An included detachable stand supports horizontal or vertical placement.

Aura’s app offers free, unlimited cloud storage, shared albums and compatibility with Google Photos and Apple Photos. Photos can also be sent by text or email. The Ink 10 is aimed at people who prefer a printed-photo look to a glowing screen, though Aura’s LCD frames remain cheaper: 10-inch models start at $149.