Aura Ink Becomes First Cord-Free E-Paper Frame to Earn Platinum Calm Tech Certification

Calm Tech Institute is excited to announce Platinum Certification of Aura Ink, a cordless digital e-paper frame. 

Most homes have walls adorned with framed photos of loved ones. While digital frames have made it easier to display and share more memories than could ever be printed, cords and outlets limit how they are used. Most require constant power from outlets, tethering them to walls and limiting where they can live in a space. 

Aura Ink leverages E Ink Spectra™ 6 technology, which allows for a low-power color display that can appear in the background without drawing the attention that typical screens do. 

Platinum Tier is the Institute's highest level of recognition, reserved for products that meet the strictest requirements for creating technology that supports human well-being.

E-paper makes for a different experience than a traditional digital frame. First, it is not back-lit, ensuring circadian rhythms are not disrupted before bed. Second, Aura Ink can be used completely cord-free, running up to three months on a single charge—eliminating the tether to outlets that limits where frames can be placed. This makes it feel far more like a traditional photo frame than a device.

Rechargeable and Cord-free

Ink’s rechargeable battery lasts up to three months on a full charge, about four charges a year*. Cord-free operation eliminates dependence on outlets.

Craft & Design

With a graphite-inspired bezel, paper-textured mat, and glossy glass front, Ink blends seamlessly into interiors as home decor rather than technology.

Eye-Friendly LightAura designed Ink with photo quality top of mind while also optimizing for battery life. Because e-paper displays rely on ambient light, which can sometimes make images appear dim, Aura engineered a subtle front light—just one-eighth the brightness of an LCD backlight—that enhances contrast and makes photos look their best in any room.

Using motion and light sensors, Ink adjusts its front light throughout the day—adding gentle vibrancy when needed, turning off at night, and conserving power when no one is home. For added control, users can also schedule the light to turn on and off at set times.

Dithering & Display

Aura’s proprietary dithering algorithm, which utilizes error diffusion, combines six different ink colors—white, black, red, yellow, green, and blue—to give the illusion of the millions of colors needed for photos. Each pixel color is chosen relative to its neighboring pixels, creating the appearance of a full color photo when viewed at a distance.

Photo Updates 

By default, the frame updates once a day overnight, but users can set a custom schedule in the app to display more photos. This approach not only delivers months of battery life on a single charge, but also invites lingering on each image—creating a more intentional, cord-free photo-sharing experience.

Features of Aura Ink

Cord-free

• Up to three months of battery life*

• Charges overnight via USB-C

E-paper display 

• E Ink Spectra™ 6 e-paper display 

• Auto-adjusting front light

• Portrait or landscape

• Cordless, sturdy, and lightweight, Ink comes with a wall hook and stand, allowing the 0.6 inch thick frame to sit flush on the wall or elegantly on a tabletop. 

Connectivity 

• Seamless set-up with the Aura Frames app

• Wifi-connected

App

• Unlimited photo storage without subscription

• Shared access for friends and family to add their own photos.

Calm Tech, Moving Forward

Aura Ink’s Calm Tech Certification™ shows that it's possible to build devices that align with human needs, not the other way around.

Aura Ink can be purchased for $499 USD at auraframes.com 

Looking for a classic Aura frame? For vibrant, high-resolution displays, Aura’s HD LCD frames remain an excellent choice for buyers. Read about Calm Tech Certification for Aura’s Aspen and Carver Frames from Calm Tech Institute and on the Aura Frames website.

ABOUT AURA

Aura is the leading brand and innovator in digital picture frames, with a top-rated line-up of premium digital frames, Aura consistently delivers quality through unique, home-inspired frame designs, meticulous photo display calibration, and an easy-to-use photo sharing app that connects families around the world to the memories and moments that matter to them most. Aura frames are loved by a growing number of more than six million global app customers, with each frame spurring small networks of loved ones adding and enjoying unlimited memories in the Aura Frames app. 

Aura is headquartered in New York City, with products available on auraframes.com and through partner retailers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. Learn more at auraframes.com. Press Contact: press@auraframes.com 

ABOUT CALM TECH INSTITUTE

Launched in May 2024, Calm Tech Institute is dedicated to redefining technologies that enhance human life without causing stress or distraction. Calm Tech Certified™ rewards products that respect human attention and enhance life without overwhelming it. Founded on principles of ambient computing and human-centered design, the Institute provides certification for products that embody these values. Learn more at calmtech.institute. 

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*Up to three months of battery life when changing one photo per day. Battery life will vary and depends on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the frequency of image updates, app and button usage, the light level in the room where the frame is located, the amount of time per day the front light is illuminated, the location of the frame and whether it is in a high-traffic area, and environmental factors (e.g., WiFi strength and room temperature).