The 5 Best Digital Picture Frames of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
The days of printing out photos and assembling albums might be long behind us, but that doesn't mean images are any less valuable. To save both time and space, digital picture frames provide a convenient solution for displaying memories in the home.
“A digital photo frame cycles through a set number of photos (depending on its storage capacity), and allows the user to adjust settings like time between each photo, and transition effects,” says Kevin Gordon, former VP of AI Technologies at NexOptic and co-founder of Velora Labs.
"Digital picture frames are extremely useful for photo enthusiasts who want to display many of their pictures, but don’t necessarily want to print out hard copies," he says. "A digital frame allows users to sync it with photos stored in the cloud, or even social media, and can display pictures in real-time."
To find the best digital picture frames, we tested 12 models in real-world conditions and evaluated them on setup, display, design, features, and value. We also spoke to Gordon for his expert insight into finding the best quality digital picture frame for your home.
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This frame is easy to set up, has unlimited cloud storage, and can display videos up to 30 seconds long.
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It can only be oriented horizontally.
Aura is known for its exceptional digital picture frames, and the Aura Mason earned our best overall award for its crisp display, affordable price, and unlimited cloud storage. During testing, we found this frame incredibly easy to set up, though you should note the frame needs to be connected to Wi-Fi to upload photos. This frame received high marks for its features, including unlimited cloud storage and a free app that makes photo management (and editing) easy. You can also invite unlimited contributors to upload their own photos to your account for a collaborative photo display.
The frame permits video uploads, so long as the videos are less than 30 seconds long—you can decide whether or not to play the videos with sound or silently so they're not disruptive, but you can turn on the audio via the app or the touch bar on the screen. The Carver also has several smart features that add to its ease of use: It can automatically turn your screen on and off to save power when you're away from home or asleep, and auto-crops photos for an ideal display.
Screen Size: 10.1 inches | Resolution: 1280 x 800 | Storage: Unlimited cloud storage
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This frame has a traditional look that can blend with most decor styles.
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The resolution could be better.
If you don't need high resolution or unlimited storage, opt for this simple but efficient digital frame by Aeezo. It has 16GB of built-in storage that can hold up to 40,000 photos, which is plenty of space for most users. To add your photos, connect to Wi-Fi and upload them via an app—friends and family can upload to your account, too, and the frame will play a notification noise to let you know a new image has been added.
Once the images are uploaded, you can touch the screen directly to browse through photos, delete files, pause the slideshow display, or adjust brightness without using an app. The frame automatically fits photos to its orientation (it can be set vertically and horizontally) by shrinking the images rather than cropping them.
The 1280 x 800 resolution on the screen is good but not great—during testing, images on the frame had less clarity than on our phone. While this might be a drawback for some users, we still think it's a great option for adding to a gallery wall or bookshelf, as it looks better from a bit farther away. We also like that it allows you to upload videos, though it limits them to 15 seconds. For such an affordable option, we think this frame has solid features.
Screen Size: 10.1 inches | Resolution: 1280 x 800 | Storage: 16GB
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Wade Review / Cara Milhaven
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This frame has a built-in camera and microphone for video calls.
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The frame can only be oriented in landscape mode.
When you think of a digital picture frame, you probably imagine a simple device that displays your favorite photos. But with the Echo Show 8, your digital frame does far more. Don’t get us wrong, it’s definitely more than capable as just a traditional digital picture frame—it has a high-definition display and unlimited cloud storage for Amazon Prime members. (Note: We tested the 2nd Gen version, but a newer 2023 model was recently released.)
But it also has a built-in camera and microphone to make and receive video calls. You can connect Alexa to the Echo Show 8, allowing you to