One of the aspects I truly enjoy about my job is the chance to experiment with innovative technology and push my boundaries. When undertaking a review, I strive to seamlessly incorporate the device into my routine, never knowing precisely how it will affect my workflow.
I never anticipated becoming a digital calendar enthusiast. While I rely heavily on Google Calendar, the thought of having a dedicated digital display just for my schedule had never crossed my mind until I tried the first version of Skylight’s calendar about a year ago (SlashGear also reviewed the Skylight Calendar (2025)).
After experimenting with several alternatives, I consistently found myself returning to Skylight. From a complete feature perspective, it manages to hit the sweet spot—offering just the right capabilities without attempting to stretch itself too thin.
One common shortcoming of new tech platforms is the urge to overload with features, which I saw happen with some other calendars I tested. However, Skylight efficiently sticks to its core functions while providing some basic and more sophisticated options. For the past two weeks, I’ve been assessing a Skylight Calendar 2 review sample provided by the company, and here are my thoughts.
Two steps forward and one step back
Currently, Skylight offers two models—the Calendar 2 and the Calendar Max. While I have the latter mounted on my kitchen wall, this review will primarily focus on the former. The Calendar 2 serves as an upgraded version of its predecessor, featuring enhancements along with one minor drawback. In terms of hardware, the Calendar 2 boasts a quicker, brighter, and more responsive display compared to the earlier model.
The stand for the tabletop use has seen improvements too. The previous model had a heavy, solid metal stand that felt overly engineered. The new design is lighter yet still sturdy, although it now only supports landscape orientation, which is the drawback I mentioned. My previous Skylight calendar was positioned upright on a shelf, but the Calendar 2 required me to relocate it, as it wouldn’t fit in portrait orientation.
It’s unclear why Skylight made this design choice. Perhaps the aim was to streamline the stand’s functionality at the expense of allowing both orientations. Regardless, I’m a bit disappointed, though it remains a minor issue since the calendar can still be wall-mounted in either direction.
Another enhancement includes a magnetic, interchangeable frame, although new frame options won’t be available for another month. The default black frame works well, but you’ll need to wait for more color choices to add a personalized touch.
Embracing a digital calendar
Initially, the concept of a digital calendar didn’t really resonate with me, but that changed once I had the opportunity to use one. My family relies on Google Calendar for managing various activities including work and school schedules. While accessing this information through a smartphone or browser is undoubtedly convenient, having a digital calendar displayed on the wall that continuously shows upcoming events is remarkably handy—much like a traditional paper calendar.
With just a glance, you can see what’s on the horizon. Adding an event is as simple as tapping the plus icon, and the Calendar 2’s responsiveness is a significant upgrade from last year’s version. Entering a new event prompts a customizable virtual keyboard, revealing its Android-based operating system.
You’ll receive a notification tone for upcoming events accompanied by an “OK” button, which is useful until you find it difficult to reach the dismiss button. A countdown timer for the dismiss button would make things even smoother, but overall, the calendar proves to be both functional and accessible.
More Than Just a Calendar
Aside from its core calendar functions, Skylight integrates additional smart features, primarily controlled through an app I installed on my iPhone 17 Pro Max. This digital canvas syncs with calendar services like Google, Outlook, Apple, and Yahoo, while also enabling users to set reminders and recurring tasks. Among its most intriguing offerings is a meal planning feature, which adds a unique twist.
As cringe-worthy as it may sound, this feature offers genuine assistance—using AI to simplify meal planning! Picture coming home after a tiring day and frantically trying to decide what to have for dinner. Fortunately, Skylight can alleviate some of that burden with AI support that surprisingly has a good grasp of meal ideas!
Your Personal Assistant
The AI component, dubbed Sidekick, is a useful tool enabling you to accomplish various tasks. One of its functions includes capturing event details from a flyer or sign, allowing it to extract the date, time, and title to automatically create an entry. While this has become quite commonplace for AI capabilities, perhaps more impressively, Sidekick can also generate meal plans.
For instance, I noted specific dietary requirements for my family, such as catering to a diabetic member and focusing on protein while minimizing sugar intake. From this input, Sidekick generated a week-long dinner plan complete with recipes and corresponding shopping list items.
The only downside here is that these items were added to Skylight’s internal List feature, which isn’t integrated with the shopping app my family prefers. While I recognize the logistical challenges of catering to specific apps, it would be beneficial for Skylight to explore such compatibility in the future.
Near Perfection
When I initially approached the digital calendar experience, I did not anticipate it to be transformative, yet it truly has been. Traditional paper calendars certainly serve their purpose, but transitioning to a digital format is a game-changer. Having your schedule constantly displayed in your environment is incredibly beneficial. Compared to other digital calendars I’ve explored, Skylight is undeniably ahead of the curve, though there’s still potential for enhancement and some important points to note.
A notable caveat is that features such as meal planning and automatic import are locked behind the Plus Plan, which costs $79 annually. While this isn’t prohibitive, the prevalence of subscription models can be somewhat off-putting.
Additionally, the Plus Plan allows you to utilize your calendar as a digital photo frame during idle periods. Given Skylight’s origins in the digital photo frame market, this makes sense, but I personally find this feature counterproductive to the purpose of having a dedicated calendar. To disable the frame, you must tap the screen, which detracts from the ease of simply glancing at the calendar for important upcoming events.
Pricing, Availability, and Conclusion
The Skylight Calendar 2 retails for $299 directly from Skylight’s website, with plans to distribute through additional retailers in the near future.
While this price point might seem steep, I genuinely believe in the value of this digital calendar. It could be worth the investment, especially if you opt for the Plus Plan (which provides an extra $20 discount on the purchase) and fully embrace the Skylight ecosystem. Skylight also offers a generous four-month return policy, allowing you to fully experience the device and verify its fit for your lifestyle.
Ultimately, the convenience of having your digital life readily available on your wall is undeniably appealing. Once set up and functional, you’ll likely find yourself quickly overlooking any initial price concerns in favor of its inherent utility.
