Because of the excellent cameras in modern smartphones, it’s easier than ever to build a big photo collection of family, friends, and other fond memories. Sharing pictures on social media is one way to look back on photos, but if you’re looking for something you can display in your home, you should consider a digital photo frame.
Digital photo frames are dedicated screens that run slideshows of pictures you either load directly onto the frame or access from the internet. They were popular for a while but started to fall out of fashion as social media became a more integral outlet for sharing photos. However, some nice, artsy digital frames remain on the market and still work well.
We don’t review many dedicated digital frames these days, so we’re highlighting some promising models here based on their features and price. We’re also including a number of smart displays, tablets, and TVs we have reviewed, which make for much more versatile ways to view your digital photos.
The Amazon Echo Show 8 is a larger, more powerful version of the Echo Show 5 that’s smaller and less expensive than the Echo Show 10. This mid-sized screen gives you the same 1,280-by-800-pixel resolution, which means pictures look sharper. It also has a set of solid stereo speakers and all of the standard Echo functions, including video chat.
The Nest Hub is Google’s version of Amazon’s Echo Show 8. It costs about the same but has a slightly smaller 7-inch screen and no camera along with a few interesting extras. It uses Google Assistant instead of Alexa and supports Google Cast, which means you can stream music and videos straight from your Android phone. It also has a sensor that can help analyze your sleep. As a photo frame, it taps into your Google Photos account and works just as well as the aforementioned Amazon equivalent.
The Nest Hub Max is a larger version of the Nest Hub, like the Echo Show 10 is to the Echo Show 5 or 8. It features a 10-inch screen with a higher 1,280-by-800-pixel resolution than the Nest Hub, plus a camera for video calls. The camera also doubles as a security device when you’re out of the house.
The Echo Show 15 is one of the biggest smart displays you can buy and is meant to hang on the wall. When it isn’t cycling through art or your pictures, it can serve as a home messaging hub with information dashboards for different members of the family. It features the Fire TV smart TV platform thanks to a recent update, so you can easily stream your favorite content to it as well.
Samsung’s The Frame TV looks just as good when you aren’t watching television as it does when you are. Its Art mode shows off works of art from a collection of over 1,200 pieces or your photo library and requires less power than the TV mode. A modular bezel design lets you customize its look with a variety of frames to suit your decor. As a 4K TV, The Frame is also the highest-resolution display on this list, with a resolution of 3,840 by 2,160 pixels.
If you’re looking for the most affordable option, Aluratek’s 8-inch photo frame is a popular choice. It has only an 800-by-600-pixel resolution and you need to use a USB drive or SD card to load it with photos, but it costs just a fraction of many competitors.
This is one of the most popular digital photo frames on Amazon and it has a reasonable price. Its 1,280-by-800 resolution is a bit low for a 10-inch screen, but it features 16GB of onboard storage and supports Wi-Fi for instant photo sharing. It also automatically rotates if you want to use it in portrait orientation.
The Feelcare frame works with an app that makes it easy for you to take and send photos to it from anywhere. It’s an especially good option for sharing recent images with family members.
Nixplay’s 9.7-inch Smart Photo Frame features one of the sharpest displays on this list with a resolution of 2,048 by 1,536 pixels. This Wi-Fi-connected frame works with Dropbox, Facebook, Google Photos, Instagram, and several other services. It even responds to Alexa voice commands if you also have a compatible smart speaker (the frame doesn’t have a microphone). Its black or metal finishes and included stand make it a stylish addition to any desk or shelf.
In addition to displaying your favorite photos, the Pix-Star frame is preprogrammed with hundreds of web radio stations as well as several games. You can connect a USB stick or SD card with additional music files to play through its built-in speaker, or you can connect a portable speaker to the frame to really pump up the volume.
The PhotoShare is another frame that makes it easy to share images with friends and family by uploading photos from anywhere via an app on your phone. You can send up to 50 photos at a time from your mobile device, through email, or from a linked Facebook account.
The Skylight is a simple digital frame that promises easy setup in just 60 seconds. Once it’s up and running, you can load it with photos by emailing them directly to the frame. And if you have trouble with it or aren’t satisfied, the company provides a full refund.
Other Ways to Display Digital Photos
Amazon Echo Show 15
(Credit: Amazon)
Smart Displays
Voice assistants have come a long way. First, they appeared on smart speakers like the Amazon Echo. Then companies added a screen to the mix, creating smart displays. These countertop, desktop, and tabletop devices provide all of the voice control functionality you get from smart speakers, along with a colorful screen that can display additional media. That media includes photos, so you can turn any smart display into a digital photo frame simply by uploading photos to your favorite service and accessing them from there.
Amazon Fire HD 10
(Credit: Molly Flores)
Tablets
Your favorite tablet can serve as an excellent photo frame when it isn’t in your hand. By getting a nice stand (or finding a tablet with a built-in stand), you can simply set it down on a desk to show off your photos when you’re not using it.
Samsung Frame
(Credit: Samsung)
TVs
TVs don’t need to be dull black rectangles when they’re not in use. Several feature low-power gallery modes that can display works of art or your photos when you aren’t watching anything else. Turning your TV into a digital photo frame is as easy as linking a compatible photo service or plugging in a USB drive with your favorite pictures. Samsung’s The Frame stands out among these choices because its modular bezel design makes it look like a framed painting.
The Best Online Photo Printing Services
(Credit: Shutterfly)
Not everyone wants to display photos on a digital screen. We’ve tested, rated, and reviewed the best online photo printing services to see which offer the lowest prices, the best user experience, and the highest-quality prints.
Hits: 0
