Aura Ink Review (2025): Newspaper-Style Realism

Aura has been trying to get us to mount their frames for years. The first Aura frame in 2017, the Aura Classic, was wall mountable, and then Aura’s latest frames, like the Aura Aspen, have had a flat, wall mountable design. But the downside was the cord that runs underneath for all of these models, which takes away from the sleek gallery wall design it’s otherwise well-suited for and limits where it can be hung.

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

Overall, it’s an impressive feat of technology, although I wouldn’t call it perfect. I would like to see the front light get a little brighter. It’s also considerably more expensive than other digital photo frames. But when I look at it on my gallery wall, I have to say that if you didn’t already know it was digital, you probably wouldn’t have any idea. If you are looking for a frame like this for your home, this is the one for you.