It’s the world’s best E Ink picture frame, but you’ll need Monet money to make the most of it.My InkPoster isn’t the only one of its kind. The Aura Ink, priced at $449, is a 13-inch alternative with comparable screen specifications. Meanwhile, smart home company SwitchBot has adopted a unique approach by incorporating automation and AI image generation into their 7.3-, 13.3-, and 31.5-inch displays, with prices starting at a mere $149. Although neither of these options feels as mature or art-centric as the InkPoster, it’s evident that E Ink panels can be produced inexpensively, potentially heralding the next wave of home display technology.
Photograph: Chris Haslam/WIRED
Smart Paper
The InkPoster utilizes a Spectra 6 E Ink panel, backed by a Sharp IGZO backplane, and operates at 2160 x 3060 across 28.5 inches. Its 131 dots per inch may not seem particularly sharp compared to the latest OLED panels, but it’s more than adequate when viewed from a typical distance. Importantly, from a display standpoint, the panel isn’t backlit at all. Instead of emitting light, it appears to absorb it, significantly altering how your eye perceives the image. Consequently, color tones are more subdued than on a backlit display, with whites resembling a warm gray. The contrast is also minimal, which is why it excels at displaying artworks and can struggle with photography.
When fed the right material, the Tela 28.5 looks stunning. Posters, illustrations, and classic artwork all translate beautifully. The texture is well-represented, colors feel balanced, and the overall effect is more akin to printed paper than a screen. Select your artwork from the InkPoster digital gallery—each piece has been color corrected to optimize the display—and the quality truly shines.
If you plan to upload your own images, it’s worth adjusting the picture’s contrast and color saturation beforehand. I experimented with a variety of images featuring different reflections, shadows, and textures, and found that elements that often enhance a photo—a glint in an eye, bright lights, a reflection off the sea—can appear dull and uninteresting on this display. However, if a photograph boasts a strong color palette and composition, it can translate well, and a slight reduction in photo-realism can lend even my iPhone photos an artistic flair.
Wall Art
Mounting the Tela 28.5 on the wall requires a bit of courage as it weighs 16.5 pounds and measures— including the mount and aluminum frame—35 x 28 x 0.98 inches. It’s a two-person task to hang it correctly, and you’ll need a power drill, but InkPoster has thoughtfully included a clever rubber mounting bracket to simplify the process.
This bracket is affixed to the wall, and the frame is then mounted onto it for a completely flush fit. It took me half an hour to unbox, power on, connect to the app, and hang the display, with roughly half of that time spent double-checking my 11-year-old assistant’s tape measurements.