Here’s something I’ll never understand: We all snap zillions of photos on our phones, but the only place we ever see most of those photos is… on our phones. That’s crazy! And it’s why I’ll go to my grave championing digital photo frames, which display these precious memories as a running slideshow on a stylish screen. I can’t tell you how much joy my wife and I get from catching glimpses of friends and family, past vacations and special moments. Where a photo album must be hauled out and paged through, a photo frame is full-time. You might notice it as you pass by throughout the day; you might sit and look at it during breakfast.
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However a frame weaves itself into your life, I consider it an unrivaled source of happiness — and, consequently, a great gift, especially for parents and grandparents. This is a product category I’m especially passionate about; for me it’s right up there with TV soundbars.
By the way, if you tried one of these years ago and it left a bad taste in your mouth, I’m not surprised. Early-generation frames were small, expensive and a pain to use. But trust me: They’re way better now, and way more affordable, too. It’s time to free your photos from the tiny confines of your phone. Below you’ll find my picks for the best digital photo frames you can buy right now.
The best overall digital picture frame
Other top digital picture frames we recommend for 2024
Other digital photo frames we’re testing
Lexar Pexar: Lexar is best known for making storage devices; this is the company’s first foray into photo frames. Available in 10- and 11.1-inch sizes (with larger options coming soon), the Pexar — points for rhyming! — features a high-resolution touchscreen and a surprisingly good … box? (Wait for our review to learn more.) It relies on the widely used Frameo app (see the YunQiDeer, above), which is easy to use but doesn’t indicate which photos you’ve already sent — a real shortcoming.
Pix-Star Lux 17: The company’s largest frame to date also brings a much-needed UI refresh. The Lux 17 looks lovely and includes unlimited cloud storage at no additional charge. An excellent instruction manual makes this a solid pick for novices, too. However, the screen resolution is a bit low given the size, and the UI still feels a little dated. So we’ll have to wait and see if this earns a spot in our best-list.
Factors to consider when choosing a digital photo frame
With prices for digital picture frames ranging from as low as $50 and rocketing up to nearly $300, there’s a lot of choice. You can also get super-splurgy if you want something really big, like an art TV.
But with a price range so wide, what’s really important when considering which digital photo frame is the best one for you? Here are the key features to consider when choosing a frame:
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Size: The average photo frame measures about 10 inches diagonally, roughly the same as an entry-level iPad. I’d consider that the minimum size; anything smaller will make it hard to view photos from a distance. In my experience, when it comes to photo frames, bigger is almost always better.
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Resolution: Similarly, the higher the frame’s resolution display, the sharper your pictures will look. Don’t settle for anything lower than 1,280 x 800 pixels. If you have the budget, I recommend looking for 1,920 x 1,080 or higher for the best clarity.
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Aspect ratio: Although most modern phones can snap 1:1 (square) or 16:9 (wide) photos, the default setting tends to be 4:3. Some frames, however, have 16:9 screens, meaning you’ll end up with black bars or similar cropping on some pictures. If you want the best chance of filling the screen from edge to edge, look for a frame with a 4:3 aspect ratio.
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Wi-Fi: Sure, you can buy a frame for as little as $40, but it won’t have Wi-Fi — meaning you’ll have to manually add photos via your PC, a memory card or a USB stick. That’s a huge hassle and, based on my testing, just not worth it. I definitely recommend choosing a frame that has Wi-Fi so you can easily add photos from your digital camera or phone (which is where most of them are kept anyway, right?).
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Storage: Most frames come with at least 16GB of internal storage, which is enough to hold a couple thousand photos. If you think you’ll need more space, look for one that’s expandable (usually in the form of an SD card or microSD memory card) or offers cloud storage.
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Dedicated email address: I’m a big fan of this option, which makes it easy for friends and loved ones to send their favorite photos to your frame remotely. Some models use an app for this instead, but then your peeps have to install that app, learn to use it, etc. I like the email option better for its ease of use. Many frames can also directly import pictures from social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Google Photos, so look for that option if you have albums parked there that you’d like to upload.
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Smart features: The best frames have smart-home features and can be set to go on and off at certain times of day (no sense running them at night when you’re sleeping), while others have sensors that detect motion: They’ll switch into a low-power standby mode until there’s movement nearby. I also recommend frames that will automatically detect if they’re positioned vertically or horizontally and adjust the viewing angles accordingly.
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Design: Nearly all these gadgets look like actual picture frames, which makes them a much nicer addition to your decor than, say, a tablet or smart display (see below). Thus you’ll see color options like white, wood grain, stone and even metallic. If you’re thinking of wall-mounting it, keep in mind the power cord that’ll need to run down (or through) the wall.
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Subscription: I strongly prefer frames that offer full functionality without any kind of subscription. Skylight, for example, makes a very popular model but limits various features unless you pay for Skylight Plus ($39 per year). Nixplay also has a subscription model, though it feels a lot more optional, adding nonessential perks like extra storage, product discounts and support for multiple frames connected to a single account.
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Photo retrieval: Over time your frame may absorb photos from not just you, but also friends and family members. That results in a wholly unique album, a eclectic collection that you might like to back up — or migrate to another frame somewhere down the road. Unfortunately, not many frames let you download your photos, which I find frustrating.
How we tested
Most of these frames are pretty easy to use: Plug them in, install the companion app on your phone, get connected to Wi-Fi, start uploading photos. But clear, illustrated instructions are important, so that was the first thing I looked for in my testing.
From there I evaluated overall screen quality based on metrics like brightness, sharpness, viewing angle, etc., as well as the appearance of the frame itself. Did it seem modern or old-fashioned? Would it suit any decor? Does it look like something you’d actually want to display in your home?
I also paid special attention to each frame’s app, because that’s likely to be your primary tool for uploading photos. Some are easier to use than others; some are smart enough to flag photos you’ve already uploaded, the better to avoid duplicates. I’m not saying that feature is essential, but it certainly is useful.
I also considered factors like screen size, screen resolution and whether or not the frame came with a dedicated email address to more easily allow friends and family members to upload their own pictures.
FAQs
What’s the difference between a dedicated digital photo frame and a TV, tablet or smart screen?
Great question; why not use the screen you already have? Can’t you use a tablet, smart screen or even the TV as a digital frame? The answer is yes, but you’ll want to be aware of some considerations and limitations.
As noted above, dedicated frames have the added perk of looking like real picture frames. A tablet looks like, well, a tablet, which isn’t as aesthetically pleasing to see sitting on a side table or a bookcase. A tablet is also going to have limited slideshow capabilities. There are apps that can help, so this could be worth trying out if you’ve got an old tablet lying around, but be prepared for some hoop-jumping.
As for smart screens like the Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub, these products have photo-slideshow capabilities that you can set to be the fallback mode when the screen is idle. For me, the challenge lies in choosing what photos you actually want to display because the default is usually “everything” or “everything in a particular album,” and then figuring out how best to add new photos. Looping in friends and family for the latter can be a struggle.
It’s a similar story with TVs. Models from Amazon, Hisense, Roku, Samsung and the like all have a photo-slideshow mode that can be used as a screensaver, effectively turning the big screen into a picture frame when you’re not watching The Diplomat. But as with smart screens, it’s challenging to queue up exactly the photos you want, add new ones and invite others to contribute new photos. Plus, big televisions consume considerably more electricity than digital frames, something to consider if you’re leaving it on all day.
All that being said, there’s no harm in experimenting with the screens and options you already have. After all, it’s more sustainable to use the gadget you have lying around the house than to buy a brand new one. I remain a fan of the dedicated photo frame, but in the end, the goal is to see your snapshots once in a while — and a tablet, TV or smart screen can definitely help you do that.
Do digital photo frames need Wi-Fi?
All modern photo frames have Wi-Fi, which is necessary for receiving photos from your phone, your friends and, in some cases, cloud services like Google Photos.
A better question is whether they need Wi-Fi full-time. Some models store your photos locally — on the frame itself — so if they’re disconnected from the Internet, they can still display pictures. Others rely primarily on cloud storage, meaning if that connection is lost, you’ll see only a few photos or none at all.
Be sure to check the specs on the frame you’re buying if this is a concern.
How do I transfer photos from my phone to a digital picture frame?
There are several ways to do this, the main one being the frame’s companion app. Just choose the photos you want (from your phone’s photo library), then tap to upload them.
Some frames also have a dedicated email address, meaning you (and others) can email photos directly to them. (There’s one, the Loop, that has its own phone number, for texting photos instead of emailing.)
If you’re looking to transfer a large batch of photos, you may be able to do so via a USB connection or memory card. Some frames also have web portals for uploading from your computer.
