Credit:
Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
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Credit:
Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
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The Nixplay digital picture frame is a dream to use. Images and videos appear sharp, vibrant, and realistic. Read More
Images have surprising depth and vibrancy, on par with a frame that costs twice as much. Read More
This frame is a top performer: High resolution images look close to lifelike, while maintaining balance and depth, even in black-and-white. Read More
This easy-to-use frame offers a 15-inch anti-glare screen, delivering vivid colors and great image clarity. The app can be a little finicky, however. Read More
The frame itself has potential, but the user experience is severely lacking, unless you have deep pockets to get beyond the many paywalls. Read More
The best digital picture frames can store thousands of images in just one frame, replacing the clutter that comes with traditional frames and photo albums. Better yet, unlike their tactile cousins, the electronic versions play videos, so not only can you think back fondly on your memories, you can literally see them being played out on screen.
After researching the best-selling digital picture frames on the market, our favorite was the Nixplay 10.1-Inch Digital Picture Frame. It is sharply designed, easy to use, and most importantly, it makes the images and videos you choose to display look great. If our top choice is out of your budget, the Bsimb 10-Inch Wi-Fi Digital Picture Frame earned our Best Value award for serving up high-quality images at a lower price point.
The Nixplay 10.1" Digital Picture Frame is the best digital frame we tested.
If you're looking for value, the Bsimb 10" Wi-Fi Digital Picture Frame is a great choice.
Solid picture quality
Easy to upload photos
Supports .HEIC
Need subscription to upload videos
Can't upload photos via USB
Black-and-white photos appear dull
Stunning display
Quality construction and materials
Unlimited cloud storage
App is buggy
Slow to upload and view photos
High photo quality
App is easy to use
Quick to upload photos
Can’t upload videos manually
Can’t email content
Doesn’t support .HEIC
Quick and easy to upload photos from USB
Colors are balanced
Images could be clearer
Requires a “binding” process
Doesn’t support .HEIC
Frame looks nice
Color photos are well-balanced and deep
Confusing to use
Subpar videos and black-and-white photos
Frame rests uneasily on stand
We’ve tested a wide variety of digital picture frames, though some of the products in this guide were added after our initial round of tests based on factors like user reviews, features, price point, and product specifications. For frames we’ve had hands-on time with, we pulled out each one individually, downloaded each app, and used them one at a time. We then set them all out side-by-side to compare the same images and test the same features. Each frame was put on a coffee table and a fireplace mantle to observe how the difference in height affected the viewing angle. We tested each item’s slideshow feature, cycling back and forth through photos with the touchscreen or remote, changing the frame’s orientation, and adjusting the screen’s brightness.
Uploads were divided into three waves, if possible. The first was a manual upload by flash drive or microSD with a batch of 50 photos and one 20-second MP4 video. The second was five photos and a 15-second video sent via the frame’s app. The final wave was emailed to the frame with a final five photos and five-second video. Care was taken to send a mix of JPG and HEIC photos taken by phone and DSLR camera, in color and black-and-white, and in landscape and portrait orientations.
Most digital picture frames can stand both horizontally and vertically to best serve your taste and the types of images you upload.
Digital photo frames are great gifts for friends and family members alike. Whether you intend to purchase one for yourself or for someone else, keep in mind that whatever you buy should be user-friendly for you (or the people you’re giving it to).
Below are some things to consider when choosing the best digital picture frame.
Digital picture frames can be pricey, but they are a great way to display a lot of photos in a single frame. However, you don’t have to break the bank on your purchase. Our Best Value pick, the Bsimb 10" Wi-Fi Digital Picture Frame, vibrantly displayed photos and has great video playback.
Spending more might get you more features and storage, but it’s important to consider whether those are necessary, especially if the picture frame is being purchased as a gift.
While most of the best digital frames we tested for this roundup were about 10 inches x 7 inches, there are frames that are larger, some of which are big enough to be used as wall art. However, those will cost more.
If you want to display your photo collections on a fireplace mantle, coffee table, or end table, you may want to consider one of the frames we reviewed. Each of the frames we tested have their own stand and most are wall-mountable with the addition of a wall mounting kit.
They may hold thousands of images, but digital picture frames can blend in with their traditional counterparts around your home.
Most baseline digital picture frames have up to 16 GB of internal storage. That means a frame can store over 2,000 JPG photos or up to two hours of MP4 videos.
But not all frames need physical storage. Many consumers opt to play photos and videos from a flash drive or SD card plugged into the back of the frame. Advanced frames just stream those same files from the cloud, so make sure whichever one you choose has enough storage capacity for what you want to show.
The best digital picture frames work by storing photos that you choose to upload through media, such as phone apps, to display them in a slideshow. Since these photos are stored in the frame, you can choose the photos you want displayed while offline. You can even choose how fast the photos switch in the slideshow and the order in which you want them to show.
The easiest way to upload photos from your iPhone to a digital picture frame is through the frame’s app or designated email address. With a Wi-Fi connection, simply upload your selected photos to the cloud through the app or just send them to your frame's email address. For best results, you’ll want to purchase a frame that’s fully compatible with the HEIC file format.
Alex Kane is a senior editor at USA Today’s Reviewed and the author of the Boss Fight Books volume on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. He has written for Fangoria, PC Gamer, Polygon, Rolling Stone, StarWars.com, and Variety. He lives in west-central Illinois.
Nick Bove is a journalist and broadcaster based out of Boston. He's currently a public address announcer at Boston University, Harvard, and Northeastern, and is breaking into the voiceover industry. He's also lent his voice as a professional hockey broadcaster and news anchor for NBC News Radio. When he isn't speaking into a microphone, he's probably on a long hike or daydreaming of being the next Bob Costas.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
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