Reflection Frame Review: ePaper Art That Stole My Heart

You’ve heard of digital picture frames, but how about a digital art frame? Something that can show photos but is really meant to enrich your life with works of creativity and beauty? Surely we could all use more of that.

The Reflection Frame is such a beast. I’ve been test-driving the new 10-inch model — a smaller, more affordable version of the 13.3-inch Reflection Frame I reviewed earlier this year — and really, really like it. It’s not perfect, but let me make the case for why you might want to consider one for your home or office.

How is an art frame different from a photo frame?

It’s all about the screen. Traditional photo frames employ LCDs, not unlike those used in TVs and monitors. An art frame relies on an ePaper (a.k.a. E Ink) screen, much like the ones found in Kindles and other e-readers. Because those screens require very little power, the frame can run on a rechargeable battery. That means you can hang it on a wall or place it on an end table, no unsightly power cord wrecking the decor.

In fact, the Reflection Frame can last for up to two years on a charge.

The flipside is that ePaper screens aren’t backlit, so they’re not nearly as bright as their LCD counterparts. In fact, you’ll want to put this someplace where there’s plenty of ambient light. That’s a shortcoming, no question, but consider that any actual painting (or printed photo) also requires light to be visible.

Another consideration: ePaper colors don’t pop the way they do on a LCD, but they also look more realistic, more natural — more like paint.

The other big difference is in how you use the frame. Whereas LCDs typically run slideshows that frequently change the image — every 10 seconds, two minutes, or the like — an art frame isn’t meant for that kind of frequency. Indeed, you might keep the same artwork or photo in place for days or even weeks.

That said, one unfortunate limitation of the Reflection Frame is that it doesn’t support slideshows. Nor can it automatically change the image at scheduled times. Whenever you want to upload different art, you have to do so manually. It’s super-easy, as outlined below, but the lack of any kind of automation is frustrating.

Using the Reflection Frame

This is a remarkably simple product to use. After you perform an initial charge (via USB-C cable), all you have to do is install the Reflection Frame app on your phone. That’s it; there’s no additional setup required. No Bluetooth pairing, no Wi-Fi network to connect.

So how do artworks get from your phone to the frame? By way of NFC, the same wireless technology your phone uses to make payments. All you do is gently tap the top of the phone to the center of the screen and presto: The image gets “printed” to the frame. (Needless to say, make sure your phone supports NFC. Most modern ones do; a few budget models might not.)

Just note that the transfer isn’t instantaneous; the app first needs to process the image, and then the frame needs time to refresh its screen — a process that involves some odd-looking flashes and test-patterns that might leave you thinking there’s a problem. But after about a minute from that initial tap, the image appears.

Speaking of the app, it’s divided into two sections: My Photos and Reflection Library. The latter includes a modest library of art across four categories: Western Fine Art, AI, Photograph, and Eastern Fine. There’s some great stuff in here, but it’s not organized beyond those main headings; you basically have to scroll an endless set of thumbnails to find something you like. (You can also search by artist or subject matter, such as “flowers.”)

Annoyingly, the app doesn't show any information about an image except for the artist's name, and that appears only when you send it to the frame. (Also annoying: You can’t get any information about the frame itself, including its current battery status, until you start the tap-to-print process.)

If you opt to download an image before sending it, you can switch over to the photo library and access the app’s various editing tools: draw on the image, add text or emojis, apply filters, adjust brightness, and so on. It’s interesting how robust this toolset is given how limited the app is elsewhere.

Because this 10-inch screen has the same 1,200 x 1,600 resolution as its 13.3-inch sibling, the pixels are packed more closely together, and therefore images look sharper. Indeed, at the larger size, some art can appear a bit grainy; that’s less of an issue here.

Should you buy the Reflection Frame?

The 10-inch Reflection Frame is available in walnut and white; at this writing, only the latter is available from Amazon. If you want the walnut one, you’ll have to order it from the company (where it’s currently selling at an introductory price of $199). Personally, I find walnut the more attractive of the two, but ultimately it’s down to personal preference.

As noted above, I really like this thing, notwithstanding its screen limitations and app shortcomings. (It’s unfortunate that the company hasn’t addressed any of the latter; the app has seen zero improvement since I first reviewed it over six months ago.)

Art frames aren’t for everyone; a digital photo frame is certainly more versatile, even if it’s not nearly as wall-friendly. But if you want realistic-looking framed art that you can change on a whim with a simple tap of your phone, the Reflection Frame delivers. Here’s hoping that very tempting, very reasonable $199 price becomes permanent.

Reflection Frame 10”

PROS:

• Good color and great viewing angles
• No subscription or other added costs
• Simple NFC-powered image transfer from phone to frame
• Battery good for up two years on a charge
• Frame can hang on a wall or stand on a table
• App provides good set of image-editing tools

CONS:

• Not backlit, and therefore requires ample ambient lighting
• Doesn’t support playlists or scheduling
• Small art library
• No onboard storage

💡 VERDICT: If you want art and photos that look like the real thing, this digital-ink frame delivers — and it’s completely cord-free, so you can hang it just about anywhere.