Aura’s 10-inch e-ink frame adds color and costs $349

The new model builds on E Ink’s Spectra 6 technology, which renders six colors. Aura worked with E Ink to add three proprietary colors—off white, mustard and orange—and uses a dithering algorithm to blend the limited palette into patterns that appear smoother to the eye.

Aura co-founder and CTO Eric Jensen said the additional colors smooth edges and help avoid jarring transitions, such as white next to red in a face. The company has also calibrated both Ink frames with particular attention to skin tones, given their use for family photos. Even with the changes, the 10-inch display does not reproduce a photograph exactly, and its colors look less saturated than a print.

The frame comes in one design: a black border with a dark grey, linen-textured mat. Jensen said Aura chose the darker finish to reduce contrast with the e-ink display. The frame works with Aura’s app, which lets owners invite family and friends to add images to a shared album. Jensen said an average of about four people share photos to each frame.

Aura recommends setting the frame to update once a day because changing images uses battery power. The package includes hanging hardware, a stand and a USB-C charging cable. Aura claims the 10-inch frame lasts three months per charge. The article’s reviewer said their 13-inch Ink frame lasted about a month, possibly because its location meant the front light was on more often.