ConsFirst / Digital photo frames / Compare
Aura Aspen (12-inch) vs Skylight Frame 2 (10-inch)
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Aura Aspen (12-inch) ranks higher (#2 vs #4 of 8) and scores better on screen quality, app & sharing, easy setup (for older relatives), no hidden costs. Skylight Frame 2 (10-inch) wins on reliability.
The biggest complaint about the Aura Aspen (12-inch) is no manual brightness or picture controls; for the Skylight Frame 2 (10-inch) it's skylight plus paywall. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Aura Aspen (12-inch) | Skylight Frame 2 (10-inch) | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in digital photo frames | #2 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$ | $$ |
| Type | Wi-Fi app frame | Wi-Fi app frame |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 5% | 4% |
| Overall score | 4.6 | 3.6 |
| Screen quality | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| App & sharing | 4.5 | 3.0 |
| Easy setup (for older relatives) | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| No hidden costs | 5.0 | 2.5 |
| Reliability | 3.5 | 4.0 |
Price tiers: $ under $100 · $$ $100–250 · $$$ over $250. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Aura Aspen (12-inch)
- No manual brightness or picture controls
PCMag says there are no brightness, color or framing controls on the frame. Brightness is fully automatic and the screen switches off in a dark room, which PCMag calls a nuisance.
Source: PCMag review - Needs Wi-Fi and the cloud
PCMag and Wirecutter both note it relies entirely on cloud storage and won't work without an internet connection. Amazon's summary for Aura frames calls reliability mixed, with some units stopping working.
- Cropping and app quirks
Off-ratio photos are cropped automatically, and you must set each one individually to show the whole image (PCMag, Wirecutter). PCMag's Google Photos albums didn't appear in the app, videos are trimmed to 30 seconds, and the frame has no wall-hanging hardware.
Source: PCMag review, Wirecutter (NYT)
Skylight Frame 2 (10-inch)
- Skylight Plus paywall
A highly rated Amazon review calls the Skylight Plus fee a hidden cost: without $39 a year, the frame is basically an email photo viewer, and app uploads, videos and captions need the plan. Wirecutter, testing the original Frame, says it prompts you to upgrade at nearly every step. ZDNET lists 'need subscription to unlock all capabilities' as a con.
- Pillarboxing and a bulky frame (original model)
Wirecutter found the original 10-inch Skylight landscape-only, with big black bars on portrait photos and a frame that brings it to 14 inches overall. PCMag says the Frame 2 improves resolution and design, but Wirecutter hasn't retested it.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT), PCMag - Price feels high to some
Amazon's review summary says some owners consider it overpriced. One 1-star Walmart review of the Frame 2 says manual brightness changes blanked the screen until it was tapped.
Who should pick which
Pick the Aura Aspen (12-inch) if
The most print-like picture
Portrait photos from phones (4:3 screen)
Tabletop or shelf display
Skip it if: You want to adjust brightness manually; You want to hang it on a wall; The home has no Wi-Fi
Pick the Skylight Frame 2 (10-inch) if
Grandparents who like a touchscreen
Emailing photos straight to the frame
Matching room decor with swappable frames
Skip it if: You don't want an annual add-on fee; You show many portrait photos on a landscape frame; You want the most compact frame
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