We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Home Home Decor Ideas The 5 Best Digital Picture Frames Of 2024, Tested And Reviewed Instantly transfer favorite photos from phone to frame. By Rebecca Jones Rebecca Jones Rebecca Jones is known for her work in the education, personal finance, and commerce writing fields. With over 15 years experience in writing coaching and education, she expertly shares her knowledge in a teacher/learner format to help readers and learners save time, gain insight, and grow their own knowledge of subject content. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on January 10, 2024 In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews The Bottom Line Our Testing Process Tips for Choosing More to Consider Questions and Answers Why Trust Southern Living Southern Living / Laura Miller We love capturing memories on our phones, sharing them with others, and seeing them in frames in our homes. While traditional picture frames have their rightful nostalgic and decorative place in our homes, the arrival of digital picture frames has allowed us to showcase multiple photos on a single frame, which certainly has its benefits. With such a wide variety of digital picture frame options on the market today, it’s understandable that it might be hard to know where to start and what to look for when purchasing one for yourself or as a gift. Thankfully, technology for these frames has vastly improved since their arrival a few decades ago, but how do you pick an ideal picture frame for yourself or a loved one? To begin with, consider the price point of the frames and how much you intend to spend. “Just like with anything else, and maybe even more so when it comes to technology, you get what you pay for. I wouldn’t recommend any under $60,” says Mark Steinberg, senior technologist at B&H Photo Video. To curate this list, we tested 12 frames in our homes over several weeks. We evaluated each of them based on ease of setup, aesthetic design, clarity of display, and additional features. The good news is that we’re sharing all our findings to help you in your research. Our Top Picks Best Overall Picture Frame: Aura Carver Digital Picture Frame at Nordstrom ($150) Jump to Review Best Budget Digital Picture Frame: Aeezo Wi-Fi Digital Picture Frame at Amazon ($100) Jump to Review Best Splurge Digital Picture Frame: Aura Mason Digital Picture Frame at Nordstrom ($200) Jump to Review Best Touchscreen Digital Picture Frame: Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) at Amazon ($130) Jump to Review Best Features: Pix-Star Digital Picture Frame at Amazon ($140) Jump to Review Best Overall Picture Frame Aura Carver Digital Picture Frame Amazon View On Nordstrom $150 View On Walmart $145 View On Bloomingdales $149 Our Ratings Setup 5/5 Design 4.8/5 Display 5/5 Features 5/5 Value 4.8/5 What’s Great About It You can preload images to a link, which is especially useful if you’re giving it as a gift. What Could Be Better This frame cannot be mounted to the wall. The Aura Carver earned our top spot for various reasons, including aesthetics and extra functions. Setting up the Aura frame was easy and only took at most 15 minutes. The interface was user-friendly and accessible. It works with the Aura app, and the photo upload process was over Wi-Fi. If you’re gifting it, you can upload photos with the app through a link to preload the pictures onto the frame. That way, when your loved one opens the package, the images are readily accessible. The process of adding and removing photos with the app ahead of time was convenient and user-friendly. Video uploading is an option with this frame as well. The images and video have clarity, and the resolution looks strong on the display. The frame's construction was sturdy, with a thick base preventing it from falling over. While this is a landscape frame, portrait photos can be displayed in a side-by-side layout. Images and videos appear bright, robust, and high-definition without the graininess of lower-quality frames. When considering the price point for this frame, we felt it was well worth the price, earning our top spot as best overall digital frame. Screen Size: 10.1 inches | Resolution: 1280 x 800 | Storage: Unlimited cloud storage in the app | Photo Sharing: Aura app Best Budget Digital Picture Frame Aeezo Wi-Fi Digital Picture Frame Amazon View On Amazon $100 View On Aeezo.com Our Ratings Setup 5/5 Design 4.8/5 Display 4.6/5 Features 5/5 Value 5/5 What’s Great About It You can send an app code link to loved ones, who can send photos whenever they like. What Could Be Better The zoom feature only enlarges and concentrates on the center of the photo, and it doesn't save the changes made when the image loops back around. The Aeezo Digital Picture Frame earned high marks as a budget-friendly frame with a touchscreen display to boot. The wood-like frame gives the feel of a traditional decorative photo frame and gives the photos a matted, non-techy appearance. Plus, the black cord is designed for easy concealment, and it plugs into the back in a way that makes it easy to hide behind the frame and furniture. This frame can be hung vertically or horizontally, and it automatically senses when the orientation is switched from landscape to portrait mode, changing the photo direction for you. While the display is in fact clear, we did note that the image resolution when viewed up close is not quite as sharp as on a high-end smartphone, but for displaying photos from a distance, it more than suffices. There is a zoom-in button that allows for expanding the images during the slideshow, but one issue we noticed was that when the image loops back around on the slideshow, it is the original smaller photo again, so the zoom feature, unfortunately, doesn’t save the changes made. Also, the center of focus on the zoom is limited to enlarging and concentrating on the center of the photo only. Despite the two zoom issues, this frame does have a wide range of functional features, including touchscreen, video playback with sound, notifications for new photos, and customizable settings for time, weather, brightness, and photo captions. The videos display clearly, with a resolution similar to the photos, and the frame automatically plays video sound unless it is muted. For its ease of use, straightforward setup process, and variety of functional features, compared to all the others, the price point was more than fair for this touchscreen digital photo frame. Screen Size: 9 inches | Resolution: 1280 x 800 | Storage: 16 GB | Photo Sharing: Frameo app or SD card Southern Living / Cara Milhaven Best Splurge Digital Picture Frame Aura Mason Digital Picture Frame Amazon View On Nordstrom $200 View On Walmart $200 View On Kohls.com $200 Our Ratings Setup 5/5 Design 4.8/5 Display 5/5 Features 4.8/5 Value 4.5/5 What’s Great About It The design of this frame gives it an upscale look. What Could Be Better It doesn’t come with a touchscreen display. This frame came packaged very nicely in a giftable box. The frame looks high-end and is only slightly deeper than a standard picture frame. Given that it looks like a traditional frame without the tech-like appearance that other digital picture frames may have, we appreciated the aesthetics of the Aura Mason. The Aura Mason frame—like the Aura Carver—was easy to set up by downloading the Aura app and setting up an account. The app verifies if the frame is for yourself or for someone else to allow you to pre-load photos, which is a convenient feature if you are gifting it. The Aura Mason also boasts, like the Aura Carver, unlimited storage. There are additional perks of the Aura Mason, however. This frame has a higher-resolution display (1600 x 1200) that gives the pictures a crisper display, so if you appreciate more clarity, then this slightly higher-priced frame is worth the additional cost. Also, with the slightly smaller screen size of the Aura Mason (9-inch screen), it tends to fit better on a desk, bookcase, or tighter space than the 10-inch Aura Carver. Additionally, the Aura Mason frame can be used in landscape and portrait orientations. The photos are well-cropped, and we were especially fond of the smart features, including an auto-off in dark rooms, an activity feed for social interaction, and customizable slideshow timings. Two improvements we would like to see include a manual on/off volume switch for automatic sound settings and an album-creating feature. Unfortunately, each time a video played, we had to manually turn the volume on for playback. It also lacks an album-creating feature that, we felt, could streamline the process of selecting photos for display. Screen Size: 9 inches | Resolution: 1600 x 1200 | Storage: Unlimited free storage | Photo Sharing: Aura app Southern Living / Laura Miller Best Touchscreen Digital Picture Frame Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) Amazon View On Amazon $130 View On Kohls.com $60 View On Shoppremiumoutlets.com Our Ratings Setup 4.2/5 Design 4.8/5 Display 5/5 Features 5/5 Value 5/5 What’s Great About It In addition to displaying photos, this smart display functions as a speaker, camera, streaming device, and more. What Could Be Better The initial setup process, particularly for the photo frame feature, could be challenging for those who are not tech-savvy. Smart displays like the Echo Show offer more functionality than your standard digital picture frame. The Echo Show 8 smart display has a touchscreen, voice command functionalities, an attached speaker that the Echo sits on, and a camera (great for spying on pets while you’re away). Essentially, the Echo Show comes with more bells and whistles than a regular digital picture frame. We did find, however, that the initial setup process of the Echo Show was slightly more technologically involved. During setup, you must download two apps, including the Amazon Alexa app and the Amazon Photos app, set up your voice with Alexa, and sign into your Amazon account. Initially, we found that the photo app took off without us and began to download all 19k videos and photos from our phone. Thankfully, we were able to halt that process and add photos manually through the app. Furthermore, there was some troubleshooting involved with adding and removing photos, so it might be challenging for someone who is not skilled in using technology regularly. One convenient feature we found was that you can make calls with the screen. The quality of the pictures on the display was consistent from phone transfer to the Echo, and the images had good clarity and quality resolution. The videos we played had a clear presentation, whether they were uploaded or videos from the apps accessible on the Echo, including Prime, Netflix, and Hulu. One drawback we found was that the frame can only be used in landscape mode and cannot be displayed vertically. Note: We tested the 2nd generation version of this product, but Amazon has since released the 3rd generation, which features a centered, front-facing camera for video calls as well as improved audio quality. Screen Size: 8 inches | Resolution: 1200 x 800 | Storage: 8 GB | Photo Sharing: Amazon Photo app Southern Living / Dera Burreson Best Features Pix-Star Digital Picture Frame Amazon View On Amazon $140 View On Walmart $155 View On Pix-star.com Our Ratings Setup 4.5/5 Design 4.8/5 Display 5/5 Features 4.8/5 Value 4/5 What’s Great About It Besides showcasing photos, you can use the frame to set up reminders, play games, listen to music, and more. What Could Be Better With no touchscreen, it can become time-consuming only to have the option of using the remote. With the look of a traditional black photo frame, we felt this digital photo frame would fit well in any room throughout the house. The setup of this frame was easy, although one detail that took a little time is that you do have to create a dedicated email address to transfer photos. After creating the dedicated email address, there are a few different ways to transfer photos, including downloading an app and uploading from there like other frames we tested. Additionally, you can import pictures from current albums on providers like Facebook and Google Drive. When displaying photos, the screen was crisp and clear as long as we used the original image size. However, anything smaller does not render great on the frame. When displaying the video on the frame, it did appear to be high-resolution and was consistent with all the videos we uploaded. The frame has many additional features that we didn’t anticipate. The clock and calendar can display on the frame while the photos are showing, and we were able to control this simply by using the remote and selecting the display mode for the clock and calendar. There are several different display options, or you can hide this feature altogether. You can also set up reminders on the frame that will alert you. Eight games come with the frame, and you can play the games by using the remote. Last, we could listen to web radio through the frame, although some of the stations didn’t work when we tried out this feature. We liked the smart motion detector this particular frame has. As you walk by the frame, it will start displaying photos, but if there is no motion, it will go into sleep mode. Unfortunately, this frame cannot be hung on a wall, and the price point is on the higher end of a digital frame that is not touchscreen and relies on a remote to control the screen. Screen Size: 10 inches | Resolution: 1024 x 768 | Storage: 8 GB | Photo Sharing: Email or Pix-Star app Southern Living / Cathy Fallone The Bottom Line The Aura Carver digital picture frame easily made it to the top of our list out of all the digital picture frames we tested for the sturdy construction of the frame, ease of setup with the Aura app, versatility with displaying landscape and portrait photos, the clear and bright resolution of the display, and the automatic cropping feature of photos and video. An additional feature that we found useful was the fact that this frame has an automatic turn-off feature at night. With the ability to pre-load pictures before gifting the frame, as well as unlimited storage, we found that the price point of the frame was well worth every penny. Alternatively, as a more budget-friendly digital frame, the Aeezo 10.1 inch Digital Picture Frame earned top marks from us for its touchscreen capabilities, customizable settings, ease of setup with the app, and wood-like style similar to a traditional photo frame. The price of this frame was fair for the features included—we might even be willing to pay a little more for this frame. Our Testing Process Over several weeks, we put 12 digital frames through a rigorous testing process. We started by unpackaging the frame and analyzed its initial setup process, the ease of transferring photos and videos to the frame, and the time involved with each of these processes. We then looked at the aesthetic appeal of the frame, the style of the frame itself, the ability to hang the frame on a wall, and the blending of the frame with home decor. We compared the functions and display options available on each and continued to analyze each frame over several weeks for its overall ease of use. We tested and rated these frames based on the display of images, videos, resolution, clarity, and sound. We rated their features based on their touchscreen capabilities, adjustable brightness, sound and music capabilities, clock, calendar, and weather. Additionally, we made price comparisons of the value of each frame with its price point. Ultimately, we charted our personal experiences with each frame, our likes and dislikes, and compared them to frames with which we’ve had past experiences. Southern Living / Cathy Fallone Tips for Choosing the Right Digital Picture Frame Screen Size Digital picture frame screens can typically vary from 8 to 12 inches, but some frames boast a 27-inch screen size. When considering the size of the frame, just think about where or how you plan to display it. Some can be mounted to the wall, but others can only be placed on a flat surface with no wall mounting capabilities. Resolution You will want to be sure to consider the resolution of the digital picture frame before you purchase. “A 1920 x 1080 resolution is closest to what we are used to on televisions,” explains Steinberg. You will undoubtedly see resolutions that are lower than that on digital frame options. “The smaller screens will typically have a smaller resolution, but 1280 x 800 is a good baseline when choosing a frame,” adds Steinberg. Storage Most digital frames typically have a small memory built into it, with many beginning at about 4 gigabytes. “An 8 GB memory card can hold approximately 1800, 14 MP .jpeg images,” Steinberg explains. Understand that this number can vary, depending on the camera type and file format used. “It’s always best to check the specifications of your device to get a more accurate estimate,” he says. Photo Sharing Most advanced digital picture frames work with an app or Wi-Fi, and some allow you to upload from your social media platforms, iCloud, or email. Some, however, do not have Wi-Fi capability, and you must use a USB or SD card. Other Features Many digital picture frames have additional useful features, such as the ability to hang the frame on a wall, a clock or calendar display, and speaker options. There are some differences to note when shopping for a smart display vs. a standard digital picture frame. If you’re looking for a simple way to showcase multiple photos of your family and friends, along with a few minor functions, then a digital picture frame will be best for that particular goal. But if you’re looking for more features than just a photo display, such as video calling, voice command, and camera functionalities, a smart display might be the better option for you. More Digital Picture Frames to Consider Atatat Digital Picture Frame: This model frame is on the larger side at 15.6 inches, but the photos we transferred did not display as clearly as the original image, and they needed to be expanded to fit the screen. There is a unique feature where the date and time are displayed at the bottom of the screen while the photos are scrolling. Another positive aspect was that videos were easy to play and the sound was great, but similar to the pictures, the resolution of the videos is not as great as the clarity on an iPhone. Nixplay 9.7 inch Smart Digital Photo Frame: This frame’s display and clarity were excellent if a high-quality photo was displayed. We could set up the clock in the frame settings and set up the shuffle, the sleep schedule, the volume, and the brightness, but there was no calendar feature. Although this frame has an app and a remote to adjust the frame, it does not have touchscreen capabilities. It does seem to lack some features that some less expensive options have, although it did have a general ease of use, and the quality of the display was excellent. Southern Living / Megan Pearlman Questions and Answers What is a good resolution for a digital picture frame? There can be a range of different resolutions with different digital picture frames. “I don’t like to recommend anything that is less than 1280 x 800 resolution,” says Steinberg. There are smaller screen resolutions out there, and they cost less. “You will see lower resolution listings, but I tend to stay away from those,” he says. After all, you want the resolution and clarity to be sharp enough for it to be seen when it’s mounted on the wall or sitting out on a bookcase, countertop, or desk. How much do digital picture frames cost? There can certainly be various price points with frames with many different functions, sizes, and resolutions from one frame to the next. “I prefer to recommend a frame at least 10 inches in size,” says Steinberg. So, when it comes to price, the bigger frames may cost more, but the goal with the picture frame is for your photos to be seen and enjoyed, so the size can make a difference and be well worth the price. “If you have a hard stop at only spending $70 or $80 for a digital picture frame, then consider an 8-inch screen,” he says. As the frame price increases, the size increases along with features such as speakers, video capability, display options, and more. How many photos can digital picture frames hold? Because photos and videos can come in a variety of different file sizes, it is difficult to assess precisely how many images a frame can store. To figure out a rough estimate of how many pictures a frame will hold, check the image sizes on your device. “The best way to get a good idea of how many images you’ll be able to fit on a card is to randomly check the properties of a few of the photos on your camera and look at the files’ size,” he says. Image file size is measured in megabytes (MB). There are 1,000 MB in each gigabyte (GB). So 16 GB would equal 16,000 MB. Steinberg suggests using a little bit of simple math to estimate the number of pictures a digital frame can hold, and it depends on the file size of the pictures you intend to upload to the frame. “Divide 16,000 by the average size of an image file on your camera, and you’ll have a reasonable estimate of how many photos you can fit on the camera,” he says. Why Trust Southern Living This article was written by Rebecca Jones, a freelance shopping, education, personal finance, and parenting writer. To compile this list of the best digital photo frames, we tested a total of 12 frames over several weeks, evaluating them on resolution, aesthetic appeal, ease of setup, and functionality. For expert tips on details to look for when choosing a digital picture frame, we spoke with Mark Steinberg, senior technologist at B&H Photo Video. Was this page helpful? 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