The best digital photo frames in 2024 | Tom's Guide

These are the best digital photo frames based on ease of use, image quality and features

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The best digital photo frames effortlessly display your latest memories. Most are connected to the internet, making them one of the best smart home devices you can buy (or gift). For example, you can snap a picture of your kid on your phone and send it to grandma's digital photo frame instantly over the cloud.

With thousands of digital photo frames to choose from, it can be a challenge to find the one that will offer you the best features and image quality for your needs. After testing dozens of models, we think the best model for most people is the Aura Mason. We loved its beautiful 9-inch display that's not too big and not too small with a crisp 1600 x 1200-pixel resolution. And, we could easily sync it with the Aura app, as well as Google Photos, so it showed all of our pictures. If you're looking for something cheaper, the PhotoSpring 10 Digital Photo Frame costs less than $100, but we still liked its display and features for the price.

Every option in this guide has been tested for picture quality, connectivity features, storage, and ease of use, so you can find the one that best fits your needs.

Best overall

The Aura Mason frame is the digital photo frame to get if you value image quality above all else. Its high-resolution display is outstanding; the colors look realistic, and the detail is precise. The swipe interface makes it easy to use too.

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Best value

The Photospring 10 offers two viewing modes, with or without the frame. The touch screen display is clear and bright, supporting videos. The Premium version gives you four hours of battery life for wireless operation.

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Best non-connected

The Atatat frame provides premium performance at a great price. It can support videos and music while the vibrant display really helps colors pop. There’s no app necessary for installation either, keeping things simple.

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Best smart display

The Nest Hub lets you show off all your Google Photos, and it can play music, stream movies, and control smart home devices.

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Best art gallery frame

This stunning 15-inch display gives you a virtual art gallery in your home, but you'll need to sign up for a subscription for all of its features.

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Best for grandparents

Do you have a relative who's not tech savvy? Set this up and they'll never have to touch it, as you can control it remotely from your phone. But, there is a subscription to use it.

Read more below.

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Our expert review:

If image quality means more to you than anything else, the Aura Mason is the photo frame to beat. With a sharp resolution of 1600 x 1200 on a 9-inch screen, its quality can only be described as outstanding. It looks great on display and supports both video and sound as well as still images.

We loved the colors, which were incredibly vibrant and realistic and, coupled with its touch bar controls, it was incredibly easy to use this frame — a big consideration if you're planning to gift it to someone who's not very tech-savvy. While there’s no touchscreen, this only saves the screen from oily fingerprints obstructing the view.

The only thing we didn't like about this frame is that there's no motion sensor, so the screen will stay on whether you're in the room or not. While you can adjust the screen's brightness based on ambient light, it won't shut off completely.

Additionally, there's no internal storage, so the only way to load photos on to the device is through Aura's system (via the web or the Aura app).

But, other than those two issues, there’s little to argue against this digital photo frame.

Read our full Aura Mason review.

Our expert review:

Our best budget pick among the best digital photo frames, the PhotoSpring 10 costs less than $100, but delivers a lot for the money. You can choose to either display it with its classic black picture frame, or remove it to reveal a more modern white frame.

In our PhotoSpring review, we were impressed by the build quality of the device and how nicely the plain white frame sets off our images. Currently, this frame is for tabletops only, but if you wanted to mount it to your wall, the company advises you purchase a separate power cable with a 90-degree magnetic connector.

While its resolution of 1280 x 800 is lower than the Aura Mason, we still found it pleasingly sharp and colorful enough for our photos and videos. High-resolution videos of up to five minutes in length (or 1GB file size) play automatically in an integrated slideshow, though the frame does not recognize Apple’s Live Photos as videos, only stills.

PhotoSpring’s flexibility extends to the various ways you can access photos, allowing the user to send up to 30MB of photos directly to the frame via email, proprietary app, text, photos app share button, or from a browser. All media uploaded to the frame is automatically stored on the device.

A subtle green dot at the upper right corner expands various on-screen controls and hides them when not in use. It's not the easiest to get to grips with at first, and it may require you to check the instructions. However, when you discover it and tap, it will show the current image zooming out to reveal handy on-screen controls. These will let you hide, delete, alter rotation, favorite, adjust formatting, or mail images to or from the frame. A settings menu facilitates the management of cloud accounts like Google Photos for sync or backup or Flickr for sync.

The interface also lets you invite friends to upload images to your frame, change brightness and volume levels, schedule the frame on and off, and set up parameters for viewing slideshows and onscreen EXIF info for each image. We tested the Premium version of the frame, which features four hours of battery life, as opposed to the standard version, which you must keep plugged in.

PhotoSpring is easy to use with most tasks accomplished with a quick tap and simple on/off switches — ideal for non-technical folk. Image quality is high resolution for the frame’s size, and because you can schedule on-off intervals, a motion sensor is not sorely missed.

Read our full PhotoSpring 10 Digital Photo Frame review.

Our expert review:

The Atatat Digital Photo Frame impressed us with the quality of its visuals, offering a vibrant display without artificially punching up the colors. While its screen is small, the widescreen format gives shots the impression of being bigger than they actually are. It’s quite a versatile design too, with calendar utilities and the ability to play images, movies and music over a slideshow.

This model comes with a separate remote control rather than a touch screen, so you don’t need to worry about fingerprints marring the screen. It’s also very easy to set up and intuitive to use, as there’s no software or app connectivity necessary; simply plug in a memory card or USB drive, and the Atatat frame does the rest. This makes it perfect for the non-tech-savvy members of the family.

Bear in mind that there’s no internal memory, so you’re limited by what your SD card or USB thumb drive can hold. Having said that, at less than $70, this is a great entry-level digital photo frame that will cover the basics and do it well. You can find it in 7, 8, and 10-inch sizes.

Read our full Atatat Digital Photo Frame review.

Our expert review:

While it's not our top pick among the best smart displays, the Google Nest Hub is our favorite for those who just want to show off their photos. That's because you can connect this display to your Google Photos account and create slideshows to feature your favorite pictures. (You can do something similar with Amazon's Echo smart displays, but we think Google Photos is far better than Amazon Photos).

The Google Nest Hub has a modest 7-inch, 1024 x 600-pixel touchscreen, but its size makes it ideal as a bedside companion — and, it can also give you insights into how well you slept during the night.

If you're looking for something larger, the $229 Google Nest Hub Max has a 10-inch, 1280 x 800-pixel display and also includes a camera if you want to make video calls. And, the top-end Google Pixel Tablet ($499 with stand) has an 11-inch 2560 x 1600 display, and is one of the best tablets around. But that could be overkill if all you're looking for is an inexpensive digital photo frame.

Read our full Google Nest Hub review.

Our expert review:

The Netgear Meural WiFi Photo Frame is a more compact, photo-focused version of the museum-worthy Netgear Meural Canvas II. While the Canvas II excels at bringing art from the Louvre to your living room, the charcoal grey WiFi Photo Frame drops the matte framing for a homier look — and at a more affordable price.

Still, the 15.6-inch Meural is rather large compared to many of the best digital photo frames. As a result, it might not fit comfortably on some side tables or desks. But if you have the wall space for this full 1920 x 1080 HD display, you won't be disappointed.

We were also impressed with the Meural's anti-glare coating, which let us easily see our artwork from any angle. We also found its gesture controls to be very responsive, which let us easily navigate our photo albums and settings. In addition, you can control the frame with the Meural app, which offers both Meural's expansive library of art and a suite for creating collaborative photo albums for your frame.

However, to access all the artwork (encompassing some 30,000 pieces), you'll have to sign up for a subscription, which costs $69 per year.

Read our full Meural WiFi Photo Frame review.

Our expert review:

The Skylight Frame is one of the best you can get for those who are not particularly tech-savvy, especially the grandparents. It provides all of the high-end specs you would expect, including a detailed 1280 x 800 resolution display, Wi-Fi connectivity, touchscreen control, and video playback, while still being easy to access and use. We reviewed the 10-inch model, but the company also offers a 15-inch version (with the same resolution) for $299. Considering the higher price — but not crispness — the 10-inch version is the better buy.

Photos can be uploaded via email or through the Skylight app. Organizing the images once they’re in your library is straightforward too. You can create albums, rotate images and even crop shots by pinching the screen. It also saves images to the internal 8GB of storage so you can keep viewing them should the Wi-Fi stop working.

Keep in mind that there’s no ambient light sensor and no motion sensor. That means it’s not exactly energy-efficient. You will have to adjust the screen's brightness manually and rely on the sleep setting to switch it off.

Unlike most other digital photo frames, you won't have access to every feature unless you pay for a subscription, which costs $39 per year. That means you can’t upload and view videos, store and back up photos in the cloud, add photo captions.

These restricted features are why the Skylight Frame features lower on our list. However, if you won't miss them, this frame offers a brilliant balance of image quality and ease of use.

Read our full Skylight Frame review.

Aura Walden (★★★★☆): A strong competitor to the Netgear Meural, this 15-inch photo frame has a comparable 1600 x 1200 resolution and comes in a variety of finishes. There's no subscription (and no art gallery), but it costs $50 more.

Read our Aura Walden review.

Aura Carver (★★★★☆): If you're looking for something larger than the Aura Mason but smaller than the Walden, this 10-inch, 1920 x 1200-pixel display should fit the bill.

Read our full Aura Carver review.

Pix-Star Wi-Fi Cloud Digital Photo Frame (★★★★1/2): With a 4:3 aspect ratio on a 15-inch 1024 x 768-pixel screen, our images looked crisp, bright, and clear. You can adjust the LED backlit screen's brightness, hue, and contrast to match your room's ambient lighting. You can stream broadcasts from a number of international radio stations to play music over a slideshow. You can also view pictures from web albums, including Google Photos and Facebook.

Read our full Pix-Star Wi-Fi Cloud review

Nixplay 10.1 inch Smart Digital Picture Frame (★★★★☆): Photos and videos pop with lifelike hues and texture detail thanks to its 1280 x 800 pixel display and 16:10 aspect ratio. It can sit on a table or be mounted on a wall. Because it works via Wi-Fi, there’s no physical data inputs such as SD cards or USB sticks, but the frame does have 8GB of onboard memory for direct storage of photos and video.

Read our full NixPlay 10.1-inch Smart Digital Picture Frame review.

Dragon Touch Classic (★★★★☆): This frame’s 10.1-inch (1280 x 800), 16:10 touch screen allows you to view static images and slideshows with special effects transitions, to 30-second video clips. It comes with a headphone jack for audio, and multiple ways to upload images, including an SD card, USB thumb drive, and Wi-Fi modes. Additionally, it also has an alarm, calendar, and local weather. However, the frame seems a bit flimsy.

Read our Dragon Touch Classic review.

We test the best digital photo frames on a variety of criteria.

Image quality

First, we assess at image quality and aspect ratio. The digital recreations of photos must look sharp and realistic, while maintaining a natural-looking crop. We look for a high resolutions with colors that ‘pop’.

Ease of use

Ease of use is another element we consider while reviewing the best digital photo frames. If a frame is simple and intuitive to set up and navigate, it often has more value. However, an expansive offering of connected features is important, too. For instance, does it offer motion sensors and , if speakers are included, how is the sound quality? We think most of the photo frames on this list strike a solid balance.

We didn’t forget about the basics either. When is comes to uploading and removing images from the gallery the process should be seamless, ideally with compatible Cloud services.

Storage

Additional specs we look at are storage and sensors. Some digital photo frames feature onboard memory, while others rely on Wi-Fi streaming, USB thumb drives or camera SD cards. If you must use a camera card or a USB stick, be sure that the frame's body adequately keeps them out of sight.

Meanwhile, a motion sensor is practically a must. Digital photo frames do not need to waste energy by playing all day long if no one is in the room to view them.

Design

Apart from the images themselves, a photo frame has to look good on its own. Higher-end models have a more refined finish, while cheaper ones tend to look plasticky. We even assessed the stability of the frame and the likelihood of a messy display if it features a touchscreen.

Extra features

Many frames offer calendar, clock, reminders, games, calculators, weather app widgets and speaker ports. These features aren't expectations, but make nice extras.

Resolution

First of all, you need to consider what you want from your digital photo frame. Regardless of how much you're looking to spend, the images should look realistic and appear of a high quality on your display. You should be aiming for a high resolution (we recommend 1024 x 768 as a minimum), vibrant colors and a sharp focus. Be cautious of frames which display dull colors, low contrast and soft images.

Size

Digital photo frames are generally the size of a regular photo frame, typically ranging from 5-6 inches to upwards of 10 or 11 inches. Consider where it's going to be placed before deciding which size is best.

Price

Digital photo frames range widely in price, from less than $100 to more than $300. As with most things, the greater the price, the more features you get.

Your (and your parent's) technical know-how

You should also take account of how technical you — of your parents or grandparents are — and where your photos are stored. If you don't want to spend hours on the phone playing tech support because they don't know how to connect the frame to Wi-Fi, you may want to go with a simpler model.

Non-connected frames tend to be the easiest to use because you don’t have to set up accounts or networks to transfer the images. Instead, you can insert camera cards or USB thumb drives directly into the frame and load up to 32GB of footage.

However, if you do opt for a connected frame, these offer much more flexibility in sourcing and sorting your images, whether from social media sites or directly from your phone. If your images are scattered on social media rather than concentrated on thumb drives, you will be better off with a connected digital photo frame.

Digital photo frames can start from as little as $40, and go as high as $250, so there’s quite a difference in price depending on the brand and the design that you choose. Generally speaking, the more you’re willing to spend, the more features you will have access to. Premium features include video playback along with built-in speakers. To get the best display resolution, you need to be prepared to spend a little more as well. Although, as our test results show, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get one of the best digital photo frames.

You shouldn’t be tempted by special features which add to the price tag. Unless you intend to specifically use those extras, it's a waste of cash. Instead, we recommend that you have a solid budget in mind as well as a list of the key specifications you’re after before you start browsing. That way, you can stay on target and ensure that you don’t overspend. Even if you know what you’re looking for, there are so many options on the market that it can be intimidating to search. If you want a hand finding the best digital photo frame for you, check out our list above. We’ve considered every circumstance and budget.

Most digital photo frames will offer in the region of 4-8GB of internal storage, which equates to storing approximately 30,000 photos, depending on their quality and size. However, many offer cloud storage, so you can store all the images you need without having to worry.

Just like any other photo frame, a digital photo frame will become dusty over time, and it will also collect a few fingerprints if you tend to pick it up. Before giving it a clean, unplug the device and then carefully wipe away any dust and fingerprints with a soft cloth. You can also use a specialist LCD cleaner designed for electronic screens. Although don’t apply the cleaning solution directly to the screen, apply it to a soft cloth first.

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Michael A. Prospero is the U.S. Editor-in-Chief for Tom’s Guide. He oversees all evergreen content and oversees the Homes, Smart Home, and Fitness/Wearables categories for the site. In his spare time, he also tests out the latest drones, electric scooters, and smart home gadgets, such as video doorbells. Before his tenure at Tom's Guide, he was the Reviews Editor for Laptop Magazine, a reporter at Fast Company, the Times of Trenton, and, many eons back, an intern at George magazine. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston College, where he worked on the campus newspaper The Heights, and then attended the Columbia University school of Journalism. When he’s not testing out the latest running watch, electric scooter, or skiing or training for a marathon, he’s probably using the latest sous vide machine, smoker, or pizza oven, to the delight — or chagrin — of his family.

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