Family organization just got supersized. Skylight's new 27-inch Calendar Max promises to replace your kitchen whiteboard with a wall-mounted digital command center, but WIRED's hands-on review reveals a harsh truth: even the smartest calendar can't organize families who aren't already disciplined about planning.
The war on paper planners just escalated. Skylight is betting that families will swap their kitchen whiteboards for a 27-inch digital command center, and based on WIRED's Chris Haslam's exhaustive testing, they might be onto something - if you're already the organized type.
The Calendar Max represents Skylight's ambitious push into the smart home planning space, where it's competing against Amazon's Echo Show lineup and a growing field of digital calendar specialists. At $500, it's not cheap, but for families drowning in school pickups, meal planning, and work schedules, the promise of centralized digital organization sounds like salvation.
Haslam's review reveals the device's impressive technical specs: a 2560 × 1440 QHD touchscreen with anti-glare coating and ambient light sensors that adjust brightness automatically. The 27 x 16 x 1.5-inch display can mount in portrait or landscape orientation, with decorative frames designed to blend into home decor rather than scream "tech gadget."
What sets Skylight apart is its calendar-first approach. While Amazon's Echo Show devices try to be everything - video calls, streaming, smart home controls - the Calendar Max focuses solely on family scheduling. The setup process impressed Haslam, with seamless integration across Google, Outlook, Apple, Yahoo, and Cozi calendars. Multiple family members can sync their individual schedules, creating a unified view of everyone's commitments.
But here's where reality hits: "It won't make you organized if you aren't already," according to WIRED's assessment. The device excels at displaying information and syncing across platforms, but it can't force chaotic families to actually use it consistently.
The competition is heating up fast. Amazon offers Echo Show devices in 15- and 21-inch sizes that bundle calendar features with Alexa voice control and video streaming. Cozyla has entered the market with displays ranging from 15 to 32 inches, starting at $350. The wooden-framed Hearth Display commands $699 but targets design-conscious households.
Skylight itself hedges bets with a smaller 15-inch model at $279, recognizing that not every family has wall space for a 27-inch display. The size question matters more than specs - larger screens show more information at once but demand prime real estate in busy kitchens or family rooms.
