Aura Mason is the newest smart frame from Aura, designed to look like a piece of fine art—even when it’s off. The Mason’s interface is clean: no visible buttons or branding. Instead of browsing on the frame itself, everything runs through the Aura app, which automatically curates and cycles through images based on facial recognition and user preferences.
Key Specs
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Screen Sizes: 9″ (small), 10.1″ (Mason), 15.6″ (Carver)
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Resolution: 2,000 × 1,200 (10.1″ Mason); 2,560 × 1,600 (15.6″ Carver)
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Panel Type: IPS LCD with anti-reflective coating
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Color Accuracy: 100% sRGB
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Storage: Cloud‑based (no local internal storage; relies on Wi‑Fi and Aura Cloud)
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Face Recognition: Yes—automatically prioritizes people in your life and shows their images more often
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Connectivity: Dual‑band Wi‑Fi (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz), Bluetooth LE (for initial setup)
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Frame Finishes: Slim black, white, or golden wood-style bezels (varies by model)
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Subscription: Aura Premium ($7.99/month or $79/year) unlocks advanced curation, unlimited cloud storage, and collaborative features
Why It Stands Out
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Portrait‑First Orientation: Aura is engineered around people—images featuring recognized faces display more frequently, making it perfect for family albums.
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Sleek, Discreet Design: Very narrow profile (≈0.5 in) and nearly invisible “kickstand” for tabletop use, plus a dedicated wall-mount kit that leaves almost no gap.
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AI‑Driven Curation: Automatically removes duplicates, adjusts for brightness, and ensures images look their best.
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Unlimited Cloud Storage (with Premium): You don’t need to upload via USB or worry about local storage. All images reside in Aura’s Cloud.
Pros
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Best-in-class facial recognition & curation for families
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Extremely slim (~0.5 in) and modern styling blends into décor
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Zero local storage limits (cloud‑only) means infinite personal albums
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Simple setup via Aura app; easy collaboration with multiple family members
Cons
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Monthly Subscription Feel: Although cloud storage is unlimited, free-tier is limited to 100 photos. Full features require Aura Premium.
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No In‑Frame Browsing: You must use the Aura app for everything; the frame itself has no on‑device navigation buttons.
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Battery vs. Plugged In: Mason must be plugged in constantly—no battery option.
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Price (incl. subscription):
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Mason 10.1″: $399 USD
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Carver 15.6″: $599 USD
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Aura Premium: $7.99/month or $79/year
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Approximate Pricing
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10.1″ Mason frame (screen + bezel): $399 USD
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15.6″ Carver frame (screen + bezel): $599 USD