a photo of Aura Carver Mat digital frame
Aura

Digital frames that play art, not just photos

Here comes the new 'Smart Art' trend, smart digital frames with screens that serve up some of the most famous paintings in the world, right into your living room.

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Digital photo albums are simple to find, with screens and displays that push photographs from your library to a frame in your home. Today, these screens can do more than showcase a snapshot of your last vacation; they can serve up Van Goghs, historic photographs, and contemporary art. Some displays are large enough and framed well enough to hang them on the wall and almost fool your neighbors.

Here are a few options: what they cost to buy, plus extra fees you may have to spend to get a Klimt of your own to hang in your living room. With museum visits out of the question right now, these smart art options may be one of the best ways to surround yourself with portraits and landscapes or whatever fine art speaks personally to you.

Aura Frames

a photo of Aura Carver Mat digital frameAura Carver Mat 10.1 inch digital frame Aura

Aura frames are digital photo frames that let you share photos and videos with loved ones from anywhere in the world. They're simple to set up and use, and they come with a free, unlimited storage plan so you can store all of your favorite moments. Their frames are made with high-quality materials and feature a color-calibrated HD display. They automatically adjust screen brightness, manage photo cropping, turn off automatically at night, and more. Some models even include a built-in speaker for video playback, and you can use either portrait or landscape mode.

Aura offers a variety of digital frames in different sizes to fit your needs. The 9" and 9.7" Mason frames are perfect for smaller spaces, while the Carver 10.1" and 15" frames are great for larger spaces. All Aura frames have a high-quality display and are easy to set up and use.

At GearBrain, we have tested Aura Carver Digital Frames and like how they perform. They start around $149 for the 10.1" Carver HD Digital Picture Frame and go as high as $299 for the Walden, a 15" HD Display that can display in portrait or landscape mode and be mounted on the wall or placed on a table. All frames are available on the company website and on Amazon.

Buy Aura Carver Digital Frame

GearBrain reviews the Aura Carver digital frameGearBrain helps simplify new smart connected devices for consumers. In this video, we provide a video review of Aura Carver ...


Skylight Frames

a photo of Skylight digital frameSkylight Digital Frame Amazon

Skylight digital frames are a modern way to share and enjoy your cherished memories with loved ones. They are sleek, touchscreen-enabled devices that connect to Wi-Fi, allowing you to send and receive photos and videos anywhere in the world. Key features of Skylight HD quality digital frames include effortless sharing, gift mode, offline mode, seamless setup, automatic adjustments, and a heart button. The heart button allows you to express your love and appreciation by tapping the heart button on the frame. Your loved ones will be notified, letting them know you've been thinking of them.

The company offers 10" and 15" digital frames and launched 2023 a new digital calendar frame called Skylight Calendar. The Skylight Calendar is a smart family calendar and organizer that helps you keep your family's schedule organized and everyone on the same page. It's a 15-inch touchscreen display connects to Wi-Fi and syncs with your existing calendars, such as Google Calendar, iCloud Calendar, Outlook Calendar, Cozi, and Yahoo.

Skylight Digital Picture Frames are sold on the company website and Amazon. According to the company, they are Amazon's best-selling digital picture frame brand. Here are a few Amazon links to help you see the latest pricing for their digital frames and new Skylight Calendar:



Meural Canvas

Meural CanvasThe Meural Canvas can be hung on the wall and taps into thousands of images from fine art to contemporary piecesGearBrain

We recently reviewed the Meural Canvas, a framed screen with an anti-glare matte display that mimics a painted surface. You can shift from one image to another through the Meural app or gestures. Dozens of images are free, including Johannes Vermeer's "Girl With a Pearl Earring." But to access more famous images, you need to subscribe to Meural's subscription service. You'll pay at least $549 for a screen and a subscription, which starts at a minimum of $70 a year.


Samsung The Frame

Samsung The FrameSamsung's The Frame works as both a display and a TV set as wellSamsung

Samsung's The Frame is one of the most expensive — and most highly reviewed — digital art frames you can buy today. What The Frame is, of course, is a flat-screen HD TV that is framed, optionally, in natural wood. You can also push out a curated list of more than 1,200 images from Samsung's Art Store when the TV is off. Artwork comes from famous sources, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Museo Del Prado, and the Royal Collection Trust. The Frame starts at just $599.99 for the 32-inch set and goes to $3,299.99 for the 85-inch device.


Lenovo Smart Frame

Lenovo Smart FrameLenovo's Smart Frame debuted at CES 2020Lenovo

Lenovo's Smart Frame is a 21-inch display with a matte finish and a color tone sensor that can dim and lighten depending on the light in the room. The device first launched at CES 2020, and currently, you can sign up to learn when it's formally launched. The canvas pushes out photos via Google Photos and taps into artwork that Lenovo says will also be available. The price when the Smart Frame was launched was $399.

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Amazon Echo Show 15

a photo of a Amazon Echo Show 15 on a dresserAmazon Echo Show 15 Smart Display works as our smart home hub. Amazon

The Echo Show is a great digital picture frame because it offers several features perfect for displaying your photos and videos. Depending on your size, the Echo Show offers a large, high-quality display with a high-resolution display that makes your photos and videos look stunning. The 8-inch and 10-inch models have 1280x800 resolution displays, while the 15-inch model has a 1920x1080 resolution display. The Echo Shows are also easy to use and set up, can automatically adjust the brightness and contrast of your photos, provide hands-free voice control, and are affordable. You are bound to find one in your price range and the perfect size for your wall or shelf.

We recommend the Amazon Echo Show 15 ($280) for our list if you want a wall-mounted smart digital frame with Amazon Alexa. If you plan on placing the screen on a countertop or shelf, the new Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) is the one we would recommend. It costs $249.99, but check Amazon to see the latest price. They are always running specials on their smart displays and speakers.



Google Home Displays

Nest Hub MaxThe Nest Hub Max can tap into Ambient Mode, where there is artwork available to display GearBrain

Finally, Google has an art mode for its Google Home displays, including the Nest Hub Max. It's part of the device's Ambient Mode and can pick up photos and an art gallery, which Google says includes a curated selection of artwork. The Nest Hub Max costs about $229. But the featured Art Gallery is free.


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