I tested the Aura Carver, Aspen, and Walden digital photo frames, and here’s my definitive guide on which frame is the right one for you. Whether you’re giving a gift, setting up a family photo album, or just wanting to view a thousand different photos of your dog every day, there’s something in the Aura digital photo frame lineup that you’ll love.
(I’ve taken 5,000+ photos of my cat, Fern, over her lifetime, and before you ask: yes. She features prominently on not only my Aura frame, but also my parents’.)
Watch my review of the Aura digital photo frames
What is an Aura digital photo frame? Well, the Aura lineup is a range of simple, easy-to-use digital frames that look great in any room of the house. They do exactly what they advertise: display your digital photos on a screen. They’re a great way to show off your hundreds (or thousands) of smartphone photos on a screen that you’ll see every day.
Let’s dive into some similarities and key differences in my video.
Setup and ease of use: What can I do on any Aura frame?
Every Aura frame works the same way. You plug in your device, pair it with your Aura account, and use the Aura app to upload photos to your frame. You can pair an Aura account with multiple frames, and each frame with multiple accounts.
What I really like about Aura frames is that they’re so easy to set up—and pre-load. You can set up your frame to pair with your phone’s Aura app, load up some photos, and gift the frame to a loved one once you wrap it back up. Then, when they unbox the frame and plug it in, it’s already loaded with the photos you’ve selected. You can continue to add more photos as time goes on, and so can they.
I’ve reviewed the Aura Carver before, and I even gifted the Carver to my parents one Christmas. The delivery worked like a charm. My mom unboxed her Carver on Christmas morning, plugged it in, and it was already full of hundreds of photos of our family. She still uses it to this day, and it holds a prime spot on her kitchen countertop!
Where each frame differs is in its presentation. For features like increased resolution, a bigger screen, and an ultra-thin base that you can hang on a wall, you’ll pay a little more—but every user enjoys the same ability to connect with their memories.
At a glance: How do these frames compare?
The three digital photo frames that currently make up the Aura lineup are quite similar in their design and use. Let’s look at how they’re different, so you can start figuring out which one is best for you.
| Key specs and features | Aura Carver | Aura Aspen | Aura Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 10.1″ | 12″ | 15″ |
| Screen resolution | 1280 x 800 HD | 1600 x 1200 pixels | 1600 x 1200 Full HD |
| Screen orientation | Landscape | Portrait or landscape | Portrait or landscape |
| Placement | Freestanding | Freestanding | Freestanding or wall-hanging |
| Available colours | White Black Gravel (no mat board) | Clay Ink | Clay Ink |
| Key features | • Portrait photos are displayed in side-by-side duos • Small built-in speaker | • Anti-glare screen • Two multi-use touch bars • Built-in speaker | • Anti-glare screen • Two multi-use touch bars • Best quality speaker |
My experience with the Aura Carver, Aspen, and Walden
Aura frames are easy to use and set up. Setup takes about a minute for the Aspen and Walden, and about two minutes for the slightly older, slower Carver frame. Uploading photos in the app is a breeze, with multiple ways to upload and a very fast upload speed.
What I really like about Aura is that it’s a no-fees-attached service. You pay for each frame once, and that’s it. You and your loved ones’ photos are stored in the cloud with no monthly fees, and there’s no limit on how many photos you can upload to your frames.
Build quality
The build quality on all three of these frames is excellent. They feel sturdy and luxurious to me, with crisp matte finishes that don’t show fingerprints. Their swipe bar is simple and intuitive, and I appreciate that Aura went with a touch bar rather than a full touchscreen.
Display quality
All three of these frames’ displays look great. However, each one “feels” a little different.
The small Carver display is the darkest. Its photos look great, but they’re a little blurrier than the other two frames. They look very natural, and you might not notice that they’re digital images until the screen changes.
The mid-sized Aspen display is the brightest. It’s beautiful to look at, but noticeably digital. Everything looks the brightest and crispest on the Aspen, making it a great choice for people with low vision. Thanks to its brightness, you’ll notice almost no glare on the Aspen display.
The large Walden display is the most professional-looking. Its anti-glare finish looks sleek, expensive, and matte. Its photos are large and clear, without any excessive crisp edges or brightness.
Orientation and placement
Photo orientation is where these frames differ the most. The Carver is a freestanding device that only displays landscape images, or paired portrait-oriented images. It looks the most like a standard photograph frame, and works great for areas like bookshelves and desks.
The Aspen and Walden both display in either portrait or landscape orientation. They need a little more room to lean back compared to the Carver (thanks to their much bigger size), but it’s nice to be able to set them up in either orientation. I think the Aspen is a great standalone frame for something like a side table or console table, while the Walden (thanks to its large size) looks best on a wall.
Which Aura frame should you buy?
Best overall: The Aura Walden
From the entire Aura lineup, the Aura Walden is my top pick if price is no issue. This frame has it all, from an HD screen that looks great from every angle to a setup that just feels like a breeze.
What makes the Walden really stand out is its flexibility. I love that it can sit on a tabletop or shelf, hang on the wall, sit in portrait mode, or sit in landscape mode. It’s a big frame that becomes the centre of attention in any room, and it looks great doing it.
Its 15″ frame is the biggest, but I actually think it’s the best choice for small spaces. Unlike the Aura Carver and Aspen, the Aura Walden is built to be freestanding or wall-hanging.
While other Aura frames require you to sacrifice precious counter space, desk space, or shelf space, the Walden does not. Just hang it on the wall, plug it in, and enjoy. Large photos look great on the Walden, and small ones size up beautifully for it, too.
Best for the office: The Aura Carver
Looking for a photo frame for your desk? The Aura Carver is a great option.
With its smaller size and freestanding design, the Carver is the perfect addition to any desk. One digital frame does it all, and it’s easily oriented toward your chair for extra privacy. I tend to display standard 4×6″ photos, so the Carver is my personal go-to frame—but it doesn’t look as seamless unless you remember to take a lot of landscape-style photos.
Best for gifting: The Aura Aspen
If you’re gifting an Aura frame to someone else, I think the Aura Aspen is an excellent choice. It offers a large screen, multiple orientations, and Aura’s brightest, glowiest display. It’s a great choice for parents, friends, and grandparents alike. The Aspen is an excellent gift for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas, and birthdays.
I also add the Aura Carver in this category. Its small size is great for someone’s desk, but the Aspen is best for more recipients.
When should you spend a little more on your Aura frame?
You should spend a little more on your Aura frame if you want a larger screen, two orientation options, or the option to hang your frame. All three of these frames are, in my opinion, excellent. I’d select one for myself based only on where I planned to use it, and what size of frame I’d want in that spot.
Final verdict: Which Aura frame performed the best?
For the ultimate in display, size, and hanging flexibility, I think the Aura Walden performs the best of all three of these frames. The Walden an excellent digital picture frame that’s great for all users, and it especially shines in small spaces and wall hangings.
Learn more about the Aura frame online at BestBuy.ca.
