Aura Walden: Reliving Memories Made Effortless with the Ultimate Digital Frame

Some Noticeable Information

The Aura Walden digital picture frame has a sleek and modern design, with a black frame, white matting, and HD resolution.

The Walden frame, with its 15-inch size, may not be suitable for all rooms, but it is ideal for spacious common areas. However, its visual appeal and convenience are compromised when wall-mounted due to the visible power cord and the requirement of a nearby outlet.

The Aura Walden, featuring a sleek black frame, a white matting, and impeccable HD resolution, may not be suitable for every home or room, just as there isn't a single perfect style or size for digital picture frames. However, for those spaces that can accommodate it, this 15-inch frame truly showcases images, making them look absolutely stunning.

Aura Walden

Send your phone photos to Walden, a Wi-Fi-enabled frame that seamlessly transitions from tabletop to wall. Relish in viewing all your cherished moments on Walden's immersive 15-inch Full HD display, which can be positioned vertically or horizontally. Benefit from unlimited cloud storage and easily connect to Wi-Fi networks operating on either 2.4 or 5GHz frequencies.

High-resolution screen with matte finish

Wall-hangable

Unlimited photo uploads

Cons Hanging on a wall requires visible cord and outlet nearby

Large, 15-inch, size might not fit every room

$299 at Aura

The Style and Design of the Aura Walden

Tyler Hayes

Aura’s digital Wi-Fi frames have always displayed elegance, but the Walden takes it to another level with its sleek and modern design. Personally, I find it to be the best design offered by the company so far. Its 15-inch (diagonal) size is perfect for my living area, and the matte finish display gives it a more authentic and integrated look with the decor.

Although it may not completely fool someone into thinking it's a printed picture, it still looks more like a screen than anything else. With a resolution of 1,600 x 1,200 and 133 pixels per inch, it does justice to the photos displayed. However, the brightness is the giveaway. Despite the auto-brightness feature adjusting to the room's light, the glow is still noticeable.

The Walden frame features a 4:3 landscape aspect ratio that aligns with the default sizing of the iPhone camera. This ensures that the photos you capture on your phone, while holding it horizontally, will effortlessly fit the screen of the Walden frame. On the other hand, you can adjust the frame's orientation to a vertical position, allowing portrait photos to be displayed without any cropping of important elements.

Given that there is no one-size-fits-all aspect ratio, it is common for images displayed on different digital frames to appear distorted. However, after using the Walden frame, I believe that Aura made the wise decision to embrace the way iPhones capture photos instead of going against the norm.

Tyler Hayes was captured in both portrait and landscape orientations, leaving me torn between which one I preferred. In the end, my choice boiled down to the frame's placement within my room and the table's available space.

The Walden frame offers more than just static images- it can also play videos. By default, the videos will play once and then pause on the opening frame. However, there are options available to modify this behavior. Located at the back of the frame, a speaker enables audio playback. By tapping the touch strips on the top or side, you can access various options, such as replaying the video. When a video is replayed, its audio will be emitted. Additionally, swiping the touch strip will navigate to the next image, while multiple taps will trigger a shower of hearts from the bottom, indicating your liking of the content. This data is then sent back to the app and notifies the uploader.

Tyler Hayes There are small touch strips positioned along two sides of the frame. These strips serve the purpose of controlling settings when tapped and facilitating picture changes when swiped.

Walden Can Hang on a Wall

Tyler Hayes

Aura promotes the 15-inch Walden as wall-mountable, but its visual appeal is diminished by the hanging power cord, and it is limited by its requirement to be located close to an outlet. Despite these drawbacks, I was impressed by its lightweight of approximately 3.5 pounds, which did not necessitate a large support hook. (The package includes two nails and one hook.)

Considering that the frame lacks a battery, it must be connected to a power outlet using its thick, cloth-covered cable. This made it unsuitable for both my wife and me. However, I temporarily connected it to better grasp its functionality. Although I was not fond of its appearance, the more significant concern was the lack of flexibility in hanging it anywhere. I had to locate a wall with a nearby outlet.

The wall-mounting process was a breeze, taking me just a minute, thanks to the included nail and hook. Surprisingly, due to its lightweight nature, the frame doesn't require a stud or substantial support. Aura has definitely simplified the hanging process, although I find it difficult to envision that the majority of individuals will opt for this approach.

Tyler Hayes

Solving the problem of having a power cord can be a bit tricky. One potential solution for the future could be a removable, magnetic charge cable for frames with batteries that can last for multiple days between charges. However, for now, the choice is yours whether you're okay with having a cable or if there's an outlet conveniently nearby.

If you're really interested in a wall-mounted digital frame, another primary option is the Meural frame from Netgear. I personally have the 27-inch and 15-inch frames, and while they have been reliable, the software quality has declined over the years. Recently, I haven't noticed much effort from the company either. The 21-inch or 27-inch Meural frames are better suited for hanging on a wall, but I would be cautious about spending $600 or $700 on those products in 2023. If your wall can accommodate a 32-inch display, Samsung's The Frame could be an alternative worth considering.

Perks of an Aura Digital Frame

Temporarily set aside the Walden's 15-inch dimensions. The true appeal lies in the software capabilities provided by Aura, which are present in the majority of the company's digital frames. This makes the choice between the Walden and its counterparts all the more enticing.

One of the most enticing features of Aura's frames is their ability to upload an infinite number of photos and videos for no charge. There are no fees or subscriptions required for Aura's frames, which is truly amazing. However, it seems unlikely that Aura can sustain this financially over the long term. Perhaps people don't actually upload as many pictures per frame, and the profits from selling the hardware can help offset the cost. I'm not certain about this, but what I do know is that I and my extended family have been using Aura frames for several years without any connectivity or storage issues.

After having the frame set up in the entryway for a few days, I asked my wife if she thought it was worth the price of $299. Although she liked the frame, she found the price to be quite high. When I mentioned that it included unlimited photo storage and no subscription fees, she suggested that the free storage alone might justify the price. This is purely anecdotal, but I believe many people might share a similar sentiment.

Another advantage

Using the Aura App

was the seamless automatic cropping feature offered by Aura. While it excelled at this task, there were still instances where manual cropping was required using the company's app. Nonetheless, the app proved to be highly efficient, allowing me to effortlessly crop or adjust the positioning of a photo for the Walden frame. These modifications were instantly reflected and the result was visually satisfying. After enhancing a select dozen or so photos, in addition to countless others uploaded, I could enjoy an endless loop of randomly displayed images.

The Aura app serves as the foundation of the Walden, and it is accessible on both Android and iPhone devices. Essentially, the app bears resemblance to Instagram, presenting a stream of photos that are contributed to the frame, either by you or by individuals whom you have granted sharing privileges. Any approved users can then engage with the photos by liking or leaving comments, which will be visible to everyone within the group.

By fostering collaboration, the app transforms each frame into a private social network. Even individuals who do not possess their own frame can be invited to employ the app, enabling them to upload photos, view photos uploaded by other group members, and participate in discussions by leaving comments.

Navigating and understanding the app was effortless, despite its extensive range of features.

Aura has the capability to automatically crop or resize images when left untouched. However, users also have the option to manually adjust photos by selecting a specific image and accessing the available editing controls. Additionally, Aura employs AI technology to recognize faces for photo uploads, although the exact method of implementation remains unclear. I did not observe any visible indications of this functionality during my testing period.

Aura Walden: Price and Availability

Priced at $299, the Aura Walden digital frame boasts a 15-inch display size, making it the largest option offered by the company. This model joins a range of frames that vary in size from 9 inches to 10.1 inches, with prices for Aura frames ranging from $149 to $399.

Should You Buy the Aura Walden?

Tyler Hayes

In the past, digital photo frames were complicated and difficult to use. However, the Aura Walden frame offers a nearly perfect solution, requiring minimal interaction from users. It boasts a high resolution for optimal picture display, and its aspect ratio and frame size are ideal for larger, common living spaces. The user-friendly app makes it suitable for people of all ages. Additionally, it offers the convenience of dual orientations and a wall-mounted option.

The only drawback is that the wall-mounted option disrupts the digital experience. The bulky cloth cable is visible in all scenarios and challenging to conceal. While this may not be an issue for some, it is unlikely that many people would prefer to have a visible cable.

This frame serves as a stunning enhancement for various areas such as a living room, spacious common area, or luxurious master bedroom, elegantly displayed on a piece of furniture. In this particular setting, it exudes a sense of its high-end value, beautifully complemented by a remarkable app.

Aura Walden

Send your photos from your phone to Walden, the Wi-Fi-connected frame that seamlessly transitions from tabletop to wall. Relish in all your cherished moments on Walden's stunning 15-inch Full HD dual-orientation display. Available at Aura for $299.

Editor's P/S

As a hard fan of digital photo frames, I am always on the lookout for the latest and greatest models on the market. The Aura Walden has caught my eye as a stunning digital frame that effortlessly displays cherished memories. With its sleek and modern design, the Walden frame is a perfect addition to any home. The 15-inch HD display is crystal clear and shows off photos beautifully. I love that the frame can be positioned vertically or horizontally, making it easy to find the perfect spot for it in my home.

Another great feature of the Aura Walden is the unlimited cloud storage. This means that I can upload as many photos as I want without worrying about running out of space. The Aura app also makes it easy to control the frame from anywhere in the world. I can add new photos, create playlists, and even share photos with friends and family.

Overall, I am very impressed with the Aura Walden digital photo frame. It is a beautiful and functional way to display my cherished memories. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a high-quality digital photo frame.