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The best digital photo frames you can buy: Expert tested
While a picture is worth a thousand words, you probably have more than one meaningful photo you want to showcase in your home or office. Instead of just placing one or two photos in a frame, a digital photo frame cycles through all of your photos, so you can relive your most memorable moments every day.
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Digital photo frames have been around for a while, and they've had time to get better and smarter. And there are plenty to choose from, especially when it comes to choosing a gift.
What is the best digital photo frame right now?
ZDNET experts have tested some of the top digital frames available (both Wi-Fi and non-Wi-Fi) and consulted professional photographers to help you pick the best one for you or the person you're gifting. Our pick for the best digital photo frame is the Nixplay Touch 10 for its vivid picture quality, its ability to print photos from the app, and the chance for people to customize photo and video playlists.
The best digital photo frames of 2024
- Vivid picture quality
- Print photos right from the Nixplay app
- Friends and family can add photos or videos to your playlists
- Horizontal or square photos appear less clear and in focus
Nixplay Touch 10 features: Screen size: 10.1-inch touchscreen | Resolution: 720p | Wi-Fi connectivity: Yes | Orientation: Dual| Memory: 8 GB
The Nixplay Touch 10 Smart Frame is easy to set up, and the accompanying app gives you unlimited photo storage, the ability to upload photos and videos from your smartphone or through a cloud service like Google Photos, and the ability to invite your friends and family to add photos to your playlists.
Review: Nixplay Touch 10 Smart Frame
I was able to go hands-on with the Nixplay Touch, and was impressed by the easy set up and customizable "playlists" that rotate through your photos. I also like how you can invite friends or family to add photos to your playlist, even if they don't own a Nixplay frame.
One bonus is that this digital frame also has a motion sensor that wakes up the frame when you are in the room and turns it off when you're not. In addition, the company promises all your data is encrypted, so your photos and videos are secured.
Customers who have purchased this digital photo frame say that it'd be a great gift for grandparents, new parents, or anyone who appreciates family memories. They also add that the appearance is sleek, whether you choose the matte finish or the wood frame.
- Large display
- Vibrant images
- Easy to use
- Need subscription to unlock all capabilities
- 15-inch is expensive
Skylight Frame features: Screen size: 10-inches or 15-inches | Resolution: 1280x800 or 1920x1080 | Wi-Fi connectivity: No | Orientation: Dual | Memory: 8 GB
The Skylight Frame is a beautiful option if you're looking for a stylish, captivating, sleek design. The 15-inch is a splurge-worthy buy at $300, though the 10-inch version is competitively priced at $160 and no less compelling.
Images on the Skylight Frame display vibrant colors and beautiful quality, as the screen stays true to captured contrasts, and customers who have bought the frame praise this feature in their reviews. The Skylight app lets you send pictures that appear displayed on your Frame within a minute, and you can also have friends and family email photos to your personalized Skylight email address to be displayed on your Frame.
ZDNET's smart home expert, Maria Diaz recommends the Skylight Frame for its responsiveness. "The Frame features a touchscreen that lets you zoom in or out on images, pause and resume slide shows, and more," she wrote. "It can be set up vertically or horizontally, and the Frame will automatically rotate the images to accommodate the orientation."
The frame can be wall-mounted or set up with an included stand like a traditional photo frame, in portrait or landscape orientation. You can add a Skylight Plus subscription to display videos and create slideshows, albums, and more to unlock more capabilities.
- Smart display can act as an assistant or display favorite photos
- Auto-framing camera keeps you centered in the frame
- Adaptive color for photos
- Need to have Amazon Photos or Facebook to use photo display feature (or Prime)
Amazon Echo Show 8 features: Screen size: 8-inch touchscreen | Resolution: 1280 x 800 | Wi-Fi connectivity: Yes | Orientation: Horizontal | Camera: 13 MP with built-in shutter and auto-framing
If you prefer a digital picture frame with more bells and whistles, the latest Amazon Echo Show 8 is the perfect all-in-one display. It is a smart home assistant, a way to make video calls, a smart home hub, and a digital frame to show off your favorite photos. It has an adaptive color display to show your photos in their true colors, and Amazon Prime members even get unlimited cloud photo storage.
"My Echo Shows all display photos from my Prime photo storage when not in use," ZDNET managing editor Alyson Windsor said of using the Amazon Echo Show 8 to rotate family photos in her home. "I like that I can customize which photos each device shows based on folders I create."
Also: I tested the Amazon Echo Show 8 for a week. These are its best features (and misses)
You can also get calendar reminders and traffic updates, set timers, or even enjoy your favorite playlist via Spotify. There is even access to streaming services like Prime Video and Netflix. And as an Alexa device, the Echo Show can control other smart devices in your home.
Overall, 98% of Best Buy customers would recommend this device to others, and give it an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5.
- Inexpensive price
- Included remote
- Can add music to slideshows
- Resolution isn't as crisp as other options
- No photo rotation -- best for horizontal photos
Aluratek features: Screen size: 8 inches | Resolution: 1024 x 600 | Wi-Fi connectivity: No | Orientation: Horizontal | Memory: 4GB
For a more budget-friendly price at just $90, this digital picture frame still has great features like a built-in clock and calendar and the ability to add music to your photo slideshow. It can display photos in 1024 x 600 resolution on its 8-inch screen.
If you're especially concerned about privacy, this frame also forgoes Wi-Fi and allows you to add photos via a USB flash drive or an SD card up to 32GB. However, while it has true digital LCD panels to display your favorite memories, Amazon customers who have purchased this frame say that the resolution isn't as crisp as its pricier competitors.
- Crystal clear picture quality
- Touchscreen display
- Unlimited photo storage at no extra cost
- Expensive
- No touchscreen
Aura Mason features: Screen size: 9-inches | Resolution: 1600 x 1200 | Wi-Fi connectivity: Yes | Orientation: Dual
If you want a more stylish design, the Aura Mason is carved from natural stone like white quartz or graphite. It has a resolution of 1600 x 1200 with 224 pixels per inch, making your photos look sharp and detailed.
Professional photographer Kevin Mercier said this frame stands above other digital photo frames he has used to display his work. "I found the 4:3 screen aspect display perfect for adding some color to my room with my photos and getting an up-close look at them as well," he said. "The color is natural-looking and well-saturated as well, so I can be sure that I see a fair representation of the photos that I fling its way.
Like other digital photo frames on this list, you can invite friends and family to send photos to the frame. "Everyone in this inner Aura circle can like and comment on the photos, creating a cozy and private social network," Mercier added.
Verified customers also note standout features like the ability to add captions, metadata, and audio clips to your photos. Plus, with unlimited storage, you can store endless amounts of memories on the Aura Mason frame.
What is the best digital picture frame?
The Nixplay Touch 10 Smart Frame is my top pick for the best digital photo frame. It's turned me into a fan of digital picture frames, and I love how easy it is to use and add photos to. However, I spoke to a few photographers and experts to come up with fantastic alternative options for you to consider.
Digital frame | ZDNET's take | Price | Resolution | Size | Touchscreen |
Nixplay Touch 10 | Best digital photo frame overall | $150 | 1280x800 | 10 inches | Yes |
Skylight Frame | Best large digital photo frame | $160 | 1920x1080 | 15 inches | Yes |
Amazon Echo Show 8 | Best smart digital photo frame | $105 | 1280x800 | 8 inches | Yes |
Aluratek | Best budget digital photo frame | $70 | 800x600 | 8 inches | No |
Aura Mason | Best splurge digital photo frame | $179 | 1600x1200 | 9 inches | No |
*Lowest price at the time of writing. Please note that prices may vary based on retailer and available promotions, sales, or discounts.
Which digital picture frame is right for you?
While all of these digital picture frames are great, it ultimately comes down to how you want to upload your photos, the amount of storage you want, and what you're willing to spend.
Choose this digital picture frame.. | If you want... |
Nixplay Touch 10 | The best overall option, complete with an attractive design. It features a touchscreen for ease of use, and you can even print photos from the app. |
Skylight Frame | A large digital photo frame with a beautiful touch display. Its imposing form factor makes it a great addition to any home. |
Amazon Echo Show 8 | An all-in-one smart home device that can display your photos. It even has an adaptive color display to show your photos in their true colors. |
Aluratek | A digital picture frame that is budget-friendly. You can add photos via a USB flash drive or an SD card up to 32GB. |
Aura Mason | A digital picture frame that is budget-friendly. You can add photos via a USB flash drive or an SD card up to 32GB. |
Factors to consider when choosing the best digital photo frames:
When narrowing down our top picks for the best digital frames, it ultimately came to the following features.
- Storage: Whether you are gifting the frame or buying one for yourself, make sure you consider how much storage (a.k.a how many images you can showcase in your frame). Throughout this list, we included frames with various storage capacities to meet different needs.
- Photo resolution: The quality of a display is crucial when determining the best digital picture frames. Blurry images and color inaccuracies will detract from the experience of reliving your fondest memories. Look for photo frames with at least 800 x 600 or 800 x 480 pixels; all the ones we included on this list are 1200 x 800 pixels or above.
- Pricing: Digital photo frames are great gifts for just about anyone, but ultimately, how much you spend on a frame depends on who it is for. That's why we included various top-quality digital photo frames, so you can find a suitable option that meets your budget without compromising features.
How did we test these digital picture frames?
When choosing the best digital photo frames, ZDNET editors considered our own experiences testing and using some of these digital picture frames. ZDNET does extensive hands-on testing of digital picture frames, including ease of use/setup, display, and more.
For products we have not gone hands-on with, we do in-depth research into different products and brands, taking into consideration user reviews (both good and bad), competitor analysis, and more. We also spoke to professional photographers for their takes on which digital photo frames are best and what features are most important to them.
What features to look for in a digital photo frame?
Photographers like Mercier agree that display quality is perhaps the No. 1 most important feature for digital photo frames. Mercier said that frames with an IPS (In-Plane Switching) display are ideal, allowing for wider viewing angles and more accurate colors.
"If you plan to use the frame in a bright room or in direct sunlight, look for one with a high luminance rating to ensure that your photos are visible," Adam Khan, a photographer and founder of his company, WeShootYou, told ZDNET.
Other important features include image format support, frame size, and how easy the frame and accompanying app are to use and add photos.
What is the ideal aspect ratio for a digital photo frame?
The ideal aspect range for a digital photo frame varies depending on your intended use. Mercier said that an aspect ratio of 4:3 is ideal for most people for digital photo frames.
"Most digital cameras and smartphones capture photos in a 3:2 or 4:3 aspect ratio, while some newer devices have a 16:9 aspect ratio," he said. "I believe a 4:3 aspect ratio frame is ideal, as it displays most photos without any distortion or cropping, while a 16:9 frame might require some cropping of photos taken in the 4:3 aspect ratio."
However, Kahn adds that a 16:9 ratio is good if you're looking to use a mix of video content and photography.
Do you need Wi-Fi to use a digital picture frame?
Although most digital picture frames require Wi-Fi to connect to services like Google Photos or Dropbox, some products available that don't need Wi-Fi. Instead, they use a USB or an SD card to showcase photos and videos.
The non-Wi-Fi digital photo frames on this list are the Loop and Aluratek frames.
Can I use Google Photos with a digital picture frame?
Not all frames are compatible with Google Photos, but on this list, the Nixplay and the Aura frames can be synced with your Google Photos albums.
Are there alternative digital picture frames worth considering?
There are a lot of digital picture frames available on the market today. While I think the above are the best digital photo frames, here are a few other options to look into so you can display photos.