The best digital picture frames of 2024, tested and reviewed

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.

Table of contents:

The best overall digital picture frame

Other top digital picture frames we recommend for 2024

Factors to consider when choosing a digital photo frame

How we tested

FAQs

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.

Rick Broida/Yahoo

Screen size: 15 inches | Resolution: 1,600 x 1,200 | Storage: Cloud (unlimited) | Touchscreen: No (touch bars) | Orientation options: Landscape/portrait | Motion sensor: Yes | Dedicated email address: Yes

Unlike many of Aura's frames, the Walden model looks fairly plain: Just a basic black edge and white matte surrounding a roomy 15-inch screen.

But that screen is glorious, one of the brightest and sharpest I've seen, and Aura is still a top choice if you're looking for a gift: You can upload photos in advance and even set it up for use with the recipient's Wi-Fi network. That makes it great for gifting to grandparents or anyone who's not super tech-savvy. (This works a little differently depending on whether you purchase from Aura proper or a retail partner like Amazon; be sure to read Aura's gifting page to learn more.)

Setup is guided and quite easy overall. The Walden can accept photos from your phone and iCloud and Google Photos accounts — but not Facebook, Instagram or other services. The Aura app is one of few that flags photos you've already sent, handy for avoiding duplicates. Friends and family can use that app as well, or send photos directly to the frame’s dedicated email address.

A built-in motion sensor not only detects when people are present, but also adjusts screen brightness depending on the room's ambient light. (On occasion, however, it flaked out, keeping the screen dim no matter the lighting. The only remedy was rebooting the frame by unplugging it.) Weirdly, there's no manual brightness adjustment available on the frame or in the app.

This is the rare frame that doesn't have a touch screen. All settings are managed in the app, though there are touch bars embedded on the top and side edges; you swipe these to page through your photos. I thought this a bit inconvenient at first, but it actually makes sense: It keeps the screen free of fingerprints.

Because the Walden relies solely on cloud storage, it requires a full-time Wi-Fi connection. If there's an outage, or you try setting this up somewhere without a Wi-Fi network, you won't be able to see any photos.

That's not a huge deal, but this is: Aura doesn't allow you to retrieve your photo library; you can only migrate it to another Aura frame. And there's no global "fit to frame" setting, a forehead-smacking omission.

Those gripes aside, the Aura Walden is an excellent choice for yourself or as a gift.

Rick Broida/Yahoo

Screen size: 10.1 inches | Resolution: 1,280 x 800 | Storage: 16GB (expandable) | Touchscreen: Yes | Orientation options: Landscape/portrait | Motion sensor: No | Dedicated email address: No

Amazon is home to dozens of off-brand photo frames like this one, with prices typically ranging between $60 and $100. I've chosen this model as representative of those "generics" — the frames that all look pretty much the same and offer similar specs. The YunQiDeer is one of the better deals for a frame of this size, and it's been around awhile; it's less likely to suddenly vanish from Amazon.

I was pleased to find a complete, informative instruction manual in the box. And it's not just for the frame; it also focuses on the Frameo companion app, which is used to upload photos. (Friends and family will need this app as well if they want to share their pics, but it's admirably simple to add them.)

Frameo is fairly easy to learn, but has a couple usability issues. The big one: It doesn't flag photos you've already sent to the frame. There's a history tab that shows prior uploads, but it's a hassle having to switch back and forth while you're selecting new pictures.

More of a nitpick: You're limited to uploading 10 photos at a time — unless you upgrade to Frameo+, which also nets you cloud backup and support for videos up to two minutes long. (Without it, the limit is 15 seconds.)

I know: another subscription. But Frameo+ is only $1.99 monthly or $16.99 for an entire year. Pretty cheap. And definitely optional; the benefits are all nice to have but not critical.

The frame itself is nicely styled in basic black, and it supports auto-rotation: Just turn it to switch between portrait and landscape viewing. There's 16GB of onboard storage; you can add another 32GB by way of a microSD card.

I like that it can do two important things that some more expensive frames can't: Auto-size photos (either globally or individually) and export all your photos to external storage.

All told, I'm pretty impressed by what you get for the money here. The YunQiDeer frame originally sold for $120; it's now priced at $70 most of the time, but I've seen it dip to just $40 repeatedly throughout the year. So unless you're in a hurry, wait for a sale.

PhotoSpring

Screen size: 10.1 inches | Resolution: 1,200 x 800 | Storage: 32GB (non-expandable) | Touchscreen: Yes | Orientation options: Landscape/portrait | Motion sensor: No | Dedicated email address: Yes

Photo frame to go? That's the unique promise of the PhotoSpring Charge Pro, the only model here with a rechargeable battery. You can not only use it at home, but also take it to, say, a party and run a photo slideshow as part of the celebration.

That's the standout feature in an otherwise basic frame, which looks a little dated and has software to match: The app is pretty rudimentary, offering few frame- or photo-management options; nearly everything is handled via the frame itself, which has an agreeably simple touchscreen interface. You can use a web portal to upload batches of photos, but it limits you to 500 at a time — a pretty major inconvenience if you have a large library to add.

What's more, although you can link to a Google Photos account, that's the extent of PhotoSpring's integrations: no Facebook, Instagram or the like. But I did notice that the Charge Pro is smart enough to detect and ignore duplicate photos, something I wish more frames did.

If you're looking for a photo frame that's intended to stay put, it's hard to recommend this one over others that have better software. However, if battery-powered operation is at the top of your list, the Charge Pro is your best — arguably only — choice.

Rick Broida/Yahoo

Screen size: 10 inches | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 | Storage: 16GB (non-expandable) | Touchscreen: Yes | Orientation options: Landscape only | Motion sensor: No | Dedicated email address: No, instead has a dedicated phone number for texts

Every frame here can accept new photos via app; some also have dedicated email addresses, which simplifies things a bit for friends and family. The Loop relies on an app as well, but instead of email, it has a phone number, meaning you can actually send photos via text message — arguably the simplest solution of all.

Less simple: Frame setup, which was more complicated than it should have been owing to some conflicting instructions between the setup guide and the app. Thankfully, things went smoothly after that, and, in fact, the Loop proved one of the more novice-friendly frames I've used. The app and onscreen settings menus are simple and straightforward, allowing you to set up different albums and tweak things like photo transition time and sleep mode.

However, there are some limitations to consider. The frame works only in landscape orientation and doesn't have a motion sensor. It can display two photos side by side but doesn't offer any transition choices beyond a basic fade. Finally, although you can configure the Loop for gifting, you have to go all the way through the setup process first; you can't preconfigure and preload the frame like you can with Aura's.

My main complaint is that the app doesn't flag photos you've already uploaded to the frame, meaning you might accidentally send the same ones, resulting in duplicates. (Unfortunately, this is true with a lot of frames.)

These gripes aside, I like the screen’s brightness and the Loop's overall simplicity. And it's the only frame that lets you text new photos. That option alone may make it the preferred choice for some buyers.

Nixplay

Screen size: 10.1 inches | Resolution: 1,280 x 800 | Storage: 8GB internal / unlimited (cloud) | Touchscreen: Yes | Orientation options: Landscape/portrait | Motion sensor: Yes | Dedicated email address: Yes

Nixplay has been in this biz as long as I can remember, so it's no surprise the company makes a damn fine frame. The current-gen 10-inch model looks lovely, with your choice of bezel and trim colors and even a stylish, patterned backside in case you display it somewhere you can actually see the back (like on an end table).

In my tests, I found the Nixplay frame easy to set up, thanks to simple onscreen instructions that eventually lead you to the Nixplay app. Unfortunately, the app takes some learning, as it's heavily playlist-oriented and not super-intuitive overall. Even so, I think if you're looking to outfit not only yourself but one or more family members with a smart photo frame, this is a top choice. The app lets you set up "family circle" playlists for easy sharing between frames, plus you can pull photos from social networks like Facebook, Instagram and Google Photos.

I also like the frame's variety of display modes, which include fit-to-screen, pan-and-zoom and snapshot (which digitally frames each photo like a Polaroid and lays them down in a virtual, ever-growing pile). Most of these modes include nearly a dozen nifty transition options (push, wipe, cross-fade, etc.), including one that'll randomly cycle through them all.

Your frame purchase includes unlimited cloud service for your photos, though that means you need an active internet connection to see your full slideshow. Without one, the frame displays only your most recent additions, which are stored in local memory.

I did encounter a few image quality issues, starting with Nixplay's SmartFace Framing feature: It promises to automatically put faces near the center of the screen, but with some of my photos, it cut them off instead. Another oddity: SmartFace Framing can be enabled only via the frame's settings menu; it's not accessible in the app, even though most other display settings are. Meanwhile, the prominently featured Gift Prints option, which lets you order prints, photo books and the like, doesn't actually integrate with the Nixplay app. Instead, it leads you to a mobile browser, where ordering is a confusing process.

Of course, no frame is perfect, and I believe Nixplay's model makes a great choice for far-away families that want to easily exchange photos.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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?).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.