If you’re looking for a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift that your loved one can get regular use out of, the best digital picture frames make it easy to display photos so you can share your favorite memories. Unlike traditional frames that require you to print out your favorite photo, a digital picture frame allows you to transfer photos directly from your phone, camera or computer and then display them—either one at a time or as part of an animated slideshow. Our overall favorite is the Aura Walden Digital Photo Frame, but we included a variety of options for all budgets and uses.
The best digital picture frames, like this one from Aura, make showcasing family photos a breeze.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILER
Our editors put dozens of frames to the test and recommended some of their favorites below. Whether you’re searching for yourself, or as a gift for a non-tech-savvy relative who wants to see the latest photos of family and friends, you’re in the right place. These are our top 9 recommendations for the best digital photo frames of 2024. And if you’re in need of a better camera for capturing meaningful photos, we also reviewed the best cameras and the best Polaroid cameras.
Frame display size: 15-inch | Display resolution: 1600 x 1200 pixels | Cloud service compatibility: Aura | Photo orientation: Horizontal and vertical
Best for: Showcasing your photos in an elegantly designed frame.
Pros:
Elegant and timeless design
Sharp, 2K display
Free and unlimited cloud storage
Cons:
No memory card storage or internal storage
The Aura Walden digital photo frame has a timeless design and a crisp 2K, 15-inch display. Like other Aura frames, the Walden has no internal storage or memory card slot. Instead, the frame uses Aura’s unlimited and free cloud storage. Simply select the photos you want to display using the Aura mobile app and transfer them to your frame’s cloud account. You can also invite others to share both photos and video clips, making it great for families who want to enjoy moments from afar. Because it’s all cloud-based, there’s no limit to the number of photos or video clips you can add to a slideshow that runs continuously on the frame.
The app lets you adjust the speed photos cycle through as well as whether to show photos in chronological or random order. For video clips, the frame has a built-in speaker so you can hear audio from the video clips if you want, but you can also mute if you just want photos. Best of all, you can mount this frame and get a crisp, gorgeous picture, no matter the time of day.
What our experts say: Tech editor Rebecca Isaacs tested the Aura Walden frame and loved how vibrant photos looked on-screen. “The Walden frame gave me a crisp picture and a wide viewing angle, making it great for large living spaces. I also loved how I could easily add photos via the app. Another perk is that if I didn’t like how a photo looked on-screen, I could go in and adjust the crop to my preference. The classic design makes it great for any living space, too.”
Best for: Displaying digital images stored on a USB flash drive or on an SD memory card.
Pros:
8-inch 1080p display
Extremely affordable
Uncommon features
Cons:
All images must be stored on an SD memory card or USB drive
No internet connectivity
The Atatat Digital Photo Frame offers a 1080p display at a bargain price. Thus, it makes photos look detailed and vibrant. The frame has a variety of slideshow modes, so you can select your favorite transition effect, for example. And it has a remote control you can use to adjust the screen’s brightness. One great feature: You can add your favorite tunes to the memory card with your images, and then use those tunes to play in the background with slideshows.
This affordable digital picture frame can stand on a flat surface, or it can hang on a wall. In addition to showcasing photos, the frame can serve as an alarm clock, digital clock and display upcoming events from your calendar. It can also turn itself on or off at specific times.
Best Digital Picture Frame On Amazon
A Giftable Frame With 2-Day Prime Shipping
Amazon
Frameo Digital Frame
Frame display size: 10.1-inch | Display resolution: 1280 x 800 pixels | Cloud service compatibility: Frameo | Photo orientation: Horizontal and vertical
Best for: Budget-minded shoppers and those in need of a last-minute gift.
Pros:
Affordable; $50 when on sale
Ships via Amazon Prime
Easy to set up and use
Cons:
Deleting photos and videos can be tricky
Display lacks the high resolution of other options
If you’re looking for a convenient option, like with most things, we recommend shopping on Amazon. And the Frameo Digital Frame is one of Amazon’s best sellers, with hundreds of positive reviews touting how easy it is for everyone in the family use. Plug it in and download the Frameo app, and then it’s ready to go. Everyone can send pictures to the frame once they download the app and type in their family code. “I sent my grandma pictures of my vacation in London, while my cousin shared pictures of his new puppy. Thanks to its unlimited cloud storage, there’s plenty of room to store treasured family memories,” says tech updates writer Alexandra Garrett.
The Frameo Frame can be oriented horizontally or vertically or it can be hang up on a wall. Plus, Prime members can get it delivered to their door with 2-day shipping, making it a great option for a last-minute gift.
What our experts say: “My family and I picked out this frame for my grandma, and she loves it,” says Alexandra Garrett. “She has a gallery of family photos on her walls, and now, instead of going through the process of printing them out, I can send pictures directly to her frame with ease right after we take them.”
Best Digital Picture Frame For Grandparents
Email Images To This Frame And They’ll Display Almost Instantly
Editor’s Pick
Amazon
Skylight 10-Inch Frame
Frame display size: 10-inch touchscreen | Display resolution: 1280 x 800 pixels | Storage capacity: 8GB | Cloud service compatibility: Skylight | Photo orientation: Horizontal and vertical
Best for: Emailing images to the frame from anywhere, so they can automatically be displayed as a slideshow.
Pros:
A great gift for non-tech savvy people
10-inch touchscreen display
Very quick and easy setup
Cons:
Display lacks the higher resolution of competitors
The 10-inch Skylight Frame is very easy to operate. Simply plug it into any electrical outlet and link it with your home’s Wi-Fi. Then, using the frame’s own unique email address, start sending it photos and short video clips to display as an animated slideshow from your own computers and mobile devices. You can share its email address friends and family, so they can also send pictures to the frame.
This approach is great if you have an elderly parent or grandparent who isn’t tech-savvy nor active on social media. Just set up the Skylight frame in their home and then send photos to it from anywhere via email. The Skylight mobile app lets you customize how the frame displays images and remotely manage the up to 8GB of images stored onboard. Plus, it’s offered in a 15-inch frame now for those that want a larger screen to showcase their photos.
What our experts say: “Once it was set up, I loved how easy it was to email photos to the frame. Once they were sent, they would display moments later. During my testing, I felt it was a great option for grandparents who still wanted to see photos of grandchildren but weren’t connected to social media, as they could see photos essentially in real time,” says Isaacs.
Best Digital Picture Frame For Videos
A 10.1-Inch Frame With A Touchscreen
Amazon
Nixplay 10.1-Inch Touchscreen
Frame display size: 10.1-inch touchscreen | Display resolution: 1,280 x 800 pixels | Storage capacity: 8GB | Cloud service compatibility: 10GB Nixplay cloud storage, Google Photos, Facebook, Instagram, Dropbox | Photo orientation: Horizontal and vertical
Best for: Displaying images stored online or within the frame via a customizable slideshow.
Pros:
Displays both pictures and video clips
10.1-inch touchscreen display
Multiple frame finish options
Cons:
No memory card slots
Nixplay cloud storage is just 10GB (unless you pay an extra fee)
The Nixplay 10.1-Inch Touchscreen Photo Frame can display still images as a slideshow and mix them with video clips (up to 15 seconds long). The frame has two built-in speakers for use with video clips. You can customize the slideshow experience and rotate the frame between landscape and portrait mode. The Nixplay frame adjusts the images accordingly, a handy convenience.
Nixplay has six frame finish options, including black, wood, white and polished steel. And while you can store thousands of images within the frame’s internal storage, you can also store images on either Nixplay’s own cloud service or on popular services like Google Photos, Facebook, Instagram or Dropbox. This is a versatile frame that’s offered at an attractive price. The Nixplay mobile app makes it easy to set up and manage the frame and its contents. For an optional monthly fee of $5, you can enable extra features like the ability to display videos up to two minutes long.
What our experts say: “I’ve had a Nixplay frame in my living room for several years, and love its simplicity,” says executive editor Dave Johnson. “I can upload photos using the mobile app while friends and family can email pictures directly to the frame—or sync photos directly from Google Photos. The frame looks great; photos are bright and sharp, and it uses a motion sensor so it’s not running when there’s no one around to appreciate it.”
Best Digital Picture Frame For Wall Mounting
A Frame You Can Hang Horizontally Or Vertically
Amazon
Cozyla Digital Frame
Frame display size: 10.1-inch | Display resolution: 1280 x 800 pixels| Cloud service compatibility: Google photos, Instagram or Cozyla app | Photo orientation: Horizontal and vertical
Best for: Hanging on the wall or gifting to loved ones of any age.
Pros:
Includes a gift mode with option to preload a greeting without opening box
Fitted with horizontal and vertical wall mounts
Affordable
Cons:
Screen isn’t as high quality as other options
If you’re searching for a digital frame to hang up on your wall, we recommend the Cozyla Frame. It’s fitted with two mount options, one horizontal and one vertical, so you can decide what configuration works best for your space. Wall mounting aside, the Cozyla Frame is a great frame that can display photos and videos up to 10 minutes long. It comes with unlimited cloud storage and a sleek design. As an added bonus for gift givers, it features a remote gift mode that lets you preload a greeting message and picture without opening the box.
What our experts say: “I gifted the Cozyla to my partner’s family and they LOVE it,” says home updates writer Fran Sales. “I like that it is a lot more affordable than other popular picks but still offers clear pictures, unlimited cloud storage and has a touchscreen. His family found it very easy to set up and use and it looks nice and elegant on their countertop next to their coffee maker and bar set.”
Best Google Smart Display
Responds To Commands And Displays Photos
Good Value
Best Buy
Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)
Frame display size: 7-inch touchscreen | Display resolution: 1,024 x 600 pixels | Cloud service compatibility: Google Photos | Photo orientation: Horizontal
Best for: A multipurpose smart display that shows photos.
Pros:
Works with Google Photos to acquire and display images
Supports Google Assistant
Can also stream music and video content
Cons:
No internal storage
Only works with Google Photos for images
Requires Google account
The Google Nest Hub is a versatile smart home assistant with a 7-inch touchscreen display and built-in Google Assistant. You can ask the Nest Hub questions, control your smart home, have the hub display steaming video content, stream music on-demand plus handle a wide range of other tasks.
The Nest Hub can also display your favorite photos when you’re not using it for other tasks. You can set up the screensaver to display a slideshow of your favorite photos stored in a Google Photos folder.
What our experts say: “We love having a slideshow of photos appear on our Google hub,” says contributor Melissa Perenson. “It’s easy to share a Google Photos folder via the Google Home app.”
Best Amazon Smart Display
Hang This Large Echo On A Wall To Showcase Photos And More
Best for: Using a large Alexa smart displays a slideshow of your favorite images.
Pros:
Stunning, roomy 1080p
Supports a variety of content streaming services
Works for video calls
Cons:
Handheld remote control sold separately
Must remain connected to Wi-Fi
Table mount sold separately
The Amazon Echo Show 15 is a versatile smart home hub with a stunning 15.6-inch touchscreen display. It can stand horizontally or vertically, and it can hang on a wall as well. It has a 5-megapixel camera for video calls, and two one-inch speakers and a three-inch subwoofer for audio. The Echo Show supports streaming video (including TV shows and movies) and music from a wide range of sources.
You can also use the Echo Show 15 as an interactive calendar and scheduling tool for the entire family. Of course, it also responds to Amazon Alexa verbal commands and questions. When the screen is not otherwise in use, it can display your favorite collection of digital photos as an animated slideshow. The Amazon Echo Show pulls images from your online Amazon Photos albums or Facebook; if you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber, you get unlimited online storage for your photos. Amazon sells the handheld remote separately, though. And for the Echo Show 15 to work, you need to stay connected to the internet.
What our experts say: “I have the smaller, 5-inch Echo Show in my living room and its versatility has made it a control hub for my apartment,” says Garrett. “I use it most often to video chat family, set reminders and alarms, adjust my thermostat and turn off the lights during movie nights when I don’t feel like leaving the couch.”
Best Large Digital Picture Frame
Doubles As A Smart TV
Samsung
Samsung 32-Inch The Frame TV
Frame display size: 32-inch | Display resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 pixels | Cloud service compatibility: Yes | Photo orientation: Horizontal
Best for: Transforming the smart TV that hangs on a wall into a digital frame that can display your photos or famous works of art in high resolution.
Pros:
32-inch matte display with an ultra-thin bezel (just 1 inch thick)
Utilize as a smart TV or digital photo frame
Photos are transferred to the TV via the cloud and managed by a mobile app
Cons:
Samsung Art Store subscription costs extra
Unlike other smart TVs, The Frame has a 1-inch thin chassis that’s optimized for hanging on a wall. Its design resembles a picture frame, so it looks like any other picture frame in your home. Whenever you’re not watching your favorite shows or movies, the TV transforms into a high-resolution digital picture frame that displays either your own digital photos and video clips, or famous works of art (it comes with 100 art images onboard, additional images cost extra via the Samsung Art Store). The Frame uses a mobile app to transfer photos and art to the TV via the cloud. Out of the many sizes The Frame comes in, the 32-inch 1080p QLED TV was the first to get refreshed for 2023.
This smart TV has a matte display, so there’s no screen reflection even in the presence of bright light. And to match the decor of your home, you can choose from several outer bezel (frame) colors and designs. There’s even a motion sensor that will turn on the TV and showcase your photos or artwork only when people are in the room. It will then automatically turn off when the room is empty. The smart TV aspect of The Frame uses the Tizen OS, so it’s ready to stream content from all of your favorite services.
Tech editor Rebecca Isaacs is an industry veteran who’s covered consumer technology for over four years. Isaacs recommended several of the frames on this list after testing them herself.
Forbes contributor Jason Rich is also a photography expert in his own right who’s covered everything from the best ring lights to top-rated mirrorless cameras. He’s also the author of an iPhone photography book, and has tested and reviewed everything from drones to portable monitors.
Because the tech market is constantly evolving, we regularly update this guide to ensure our recommendations are still the best. It was last updated in April 2024 to answer common questions about buying a digital picture frame.
How We Chose The Best Digital Picture Frames
We first identified reputable brands like Aura, Amazon and others, and evaluated each brand’s most popular models by the following factors: design, display size, resolution, cloud service compatibility, photo orientation and overall performance.
We tapped our team for their experience with digital picture frames, and compiled their favorites in this guide.
Customer reviews needed to be overwhelmingly positive with no less than 4 out of 5 stars.
To accommodate different needs and budgets, we included a variety of digital picture frames in our final list.
What To Look For In A Digital Picture Frame
The newest digital photo frames come in a wide variety of styles, at varying prices. Here are important points to consider.
When choosing the best digital picture frame for your home, you'll want to consider a few features ... [+] including display orientation, size and more. Pictured here is the Skylight 10-inch frame.
Skylight
Size: What Sizes Does A Digital Picture Frame Come In?
Digital picture frames can range in size from 7 to 32 inches. The best option for you depends on your space and personal size preferences. Some digital frames can hang on a wall. Others include stands and software so you can position the frame in either portrait or landscape mode—and the frame adjusts your images accordingly.
Resolution: What Is A Good Resolution For A Digital Picture Frame?
A digital picture frame’s resolution determines how much detail you see within each image. It can also affect the clarity and vibrancy of each photo’s colors. In general, the higher the resolution the more pixels on the display—and the better the image can appear.
Price: How Much Does A Digital Picture Frame Cost?
Pricing for digital photo frames continues to drop as the technology improves. For between $50 and $200, you can be confident that you’ll be able to purchase a really good quality digital photo frame, from a recognizable brand, that will make your favorite photos look great.
Storage: How Many Photos Can A Digital Frame Hold?
Some frames store your photos locally, some rely on external storage and some access your images from cloud services. If the frame uses internal storage, how much do you get? Keep in mind, 8GB of internal storage is enough to hold thousands of JPEG digital images or hundreds of brief video clips. A frame with 16GB or 32GB of internal storage will hold considerably more content. If the frame does not have its own internal storage, it may have a USB port for a flash drive, or a built-in memory card slot for an SD card. Either option allows you to bring images to the frame by copying them external media.
If the frame connects to your home’s Wi-Fi, it can stream images from a cloud service such as Google Photos, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox or the frame’s own cloud service. Look for frames that support the cloud services you already subscribe to, or for frames that have a free cloud service (as the Aura digital photo frames do).
Some digital picture frames, like the Aura Walden, feature a removable stand so you can display it ... [+] on a table or hang it on a wall.
Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes
Style: What Should I Look For When Buying A Digital Photo Frame?
As with anything related to style, the right look for you comes down to individual preference. Consider the frame’s style and whether it will complement your existing furniture and decor. Some frames come in a variety of color options, while others stick to a generic black or silver frame for a simple, yet modern design.
Brightness: How Much Power Does A Digital Photo Frame Use?
Although the exact number of watts consumed will vary depending on its size, most 8-inch digital frames use 7 watts of power after a year of use.
What Is The Best Brand Of Digital Picture Frame?
The best brands for digital picture frames use frames that complement your display, offer a high enough resolution to make your photos vibrant and come with ample (or in some instances, unlimited) storage, so you can showcase as many photos as you like. Some of our favorite digital picture frame brands are Aura, Amazon, Skylight, Google and Samsung. These brands all offer quality frames that are easy to set up and use.
What Is The Best Digital Picture Frame To Give As A Gift This Mother’s Day?
If you’re on the hunt for a meaningful Mother’s Day gift, you can’t go wrong with the Aura Walden. Its elegant design and crisp display makes for a thoughtful gift. However, if $300 is more than you’re hoping to spend, the Atatat Frame and Frameo Frame offer a similar experience for a fraction of the cost. The latter is also a good option for last-minute Mother’s Day shoppers, as it’s eligible for Amazon Prime 2-Day shipping.
