Skylight vs Aura: Which Digital Frame Should You Buy?

Skylight and Aura are two of the most popular digital frame brands. They take very different approaches. Skylight focuses on simplicity. Aura focuses on screen quality and smart features. Here is how they compare.

Price

The Skylight Frame 10 costs $160. The Aura Mason Luxe costs $180. At the 15-inch size, the Skylight 15 costs $250, while the Aura Walden costs $150. Aura is actually cheaper at the larger size.

But Skylight has a paid Plus plan at $39 per year that adds Google Photos sync, video playback, and Alexa support. Without Plus, you are limited to email and the basic app. Aura never charges extra for any feature.

Screen Quality

Aura wins here. The Mason Luxe has a 2048 by 1536 resolution at 9.7 inches. That is about 264 pixels per inch. Photos look almost like prints. The Skylight 10 has a 1280 by 800 screen, which is good but noticeably less sharp when you compare them side by side.

At 15 inches, the Skylight 15 has a 1920 by 1080 Full HD screen, which looks great. The Aura Walden matches it at the same resolution. At this size, the screens are close. For a deeper look at screen specs, see our resolution guide.

Ease of Use

Skylight wins on simplicity. The killer feature is email sharing. Each Skylight frame has an email address. Attach photos to an email, send it, and the photos appear on the frame. No app needed on the sender's side. This is the best option for elderly users and people who do not like apps.

Aura requires the Aura app for everything. The app is well-designed, but it is still an extra step. Every person who wants to send photos must download and set up the app.

Storage

Aura gives you unlimited free cloud storage. No cap, no fees, forever. Upload as many photos as you want. If the frame breaks, your photos are safe in the cloud.

Skylight stores photos on the frame's internal memory (about 8 GB) plus its servers. The free plan works fine for most users. The Plus plan at $39 per year adds Google Photos sync and expanded features.

Photo Sources

Aura connects to Google Photos and iCloud through its app. This means your frame can automatically pull new photos from your cloud albums. It is a smooth, set-it-and-forget-it experience.

Skylight connects to Google Photos only with the paid Plus plan. Without it, you use email or the Skylight app. The email method is simple but manual. You send each photo individually.

Video

Aura does not support video playback. At all. This is its biggest weakness.

Skylight plays video but only on the Plus plan ($39/year). Without Plus, it is photo-only. If video clips matter to you, Skylight with Plus is the better choice between these two. Or consider Nixplay which plays video on every model without a subscription.

Touchscreen

Skylight has a touchscreen. You can swipe through photos and tap a heart button to react. This is great for interactive use.

Aura does not have a touchscreen. You control everything through the app or a small touch-sensitive bar on the top of the frame. Most people manage the frame from their phone and never touch the frame itself.

Design

Both brands make attractive frames. Aura frames have a premium, minimal look with slim bezels. Skylight frames have a clean white or black design with a slightly larger bezel. Both look good on a shelf or wall.

Who Should Buy Skylight?

• Buying a gift for elderly parents or grandparents
• Want email sharing so no app is needed
• Want a touchscreen for swiping through photos
• Willing to pay $39/year for Google Photos and video

Who Should Buy Aura?

• Want the sharpest screen on the market
• Want unlimited free storage with no fees ever
• Use Google Photos or iCloud and want automatic syncing
• Everyone in the family is comfortable using an app

The Verdict

Skylight is the easiest frame to use. Aura is the best-looking frame with the best screen. If the person receiving the frame is not tech-savvy, go with Skylight. If screen quality and free storage matter most, go with Aura. Both are excellent choices. You cannot go wrong with either one.