The 8 Best Digital Picture Frames of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
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Give the gift of precious memories
People / Brian Kopinski
The fastest way to make your house feel like home is by decorating your space with meaningful photographs. And, if you have a camera roll full of cherished snaps that you haven’t displayed, the easiest way to enjoy your memories is with a digital picture frame.
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Digital picture frames look like standard picture frames but offer so much more. The best digital frames present your memories on a loop, cycling through photos that you and your loved ones send to the frame. Some digital frames offer extra features, like smart home connectivity or daily reminders, while others simply shuffle through your favorite pictures. With so many frame options to choose from, we’ve created a comprehensive list of the very best digital picture frames to make your shopping experience easier.
We tested the most popular digital frames on the market, analyzing every detail, from how easy the photo uploading process was to the picture quality on the screen. Discover which of the best digital picture frames will make the perfect present for you or a loved one this holiday season.
Best Overall: Aeezo WiFi Digital Picture Frame
Pros
It's super simple to set up and took us less than 10 minutes to display our photos.
The connected app is easy to use.
The frame automatically adjusts photos to portrait or landscape mode when the frame is flipped.
Cons
The video playback sound is a little quiet.
It’s never been easier to share and display photos, thanks to the straightforward Aeezo digital picture frame. From setup to display, it took us less than 10 minutes to have the frame up and running. We sent the frame link to an older, less tech-savvy parent, and they were able to easily enter the individualized code into the app and start sharing photos from their camera roll onto our frame. That feels like solid evidence of just how easy the Aeezo frame is to use.
The frame has a simple and elegant design that, at first glance, looks just like a standard non-digital picture frame. You can choose from a few different frame finishes, including white, black, and blonde wood, and an optional white matting square that gives the frame an extra touch of elegance. We love that we can display the frame horizontally or vertically, and it automatically rotates photos to display correctly, no matter how you set it up. We found it easy to adjust the brightness and the length of each photo displayed with the touchscreen.
Our photos looked crisp and clear on the display screen, with only slightly less resolution than the original images that appeared on our phone screen. The Aeezo frame can also show videos with or without sound, but we found the video audio to be too quiet, and we couldn’t figure out how to adjust the volume.
We tested every frame without knowing how much it cost (to judge the value of each one fairly), so we were completely shocked at how affordable this frame was compared to the others we tried. It has all the features of a much more expensive model but for less than $100. So, if you’re looking for a digital frame to gift to a loved one or to keep for yourself, we couldn’t recommend the Aeezo frame more.
Size: 8 x 10 inches | Resolution: 1200 x 800 | Memory Capacity: 8 GB | Wi-Fi Enabled: Yes | Extra Features: Automatic rotation, weather display, sleep mode
Best Budget: Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen)
Pros
It's one of the best values for a digital frame compared to most others on the market.
This multi-use device allows you to watch a security camera feed, play music, watch videos, and more.
Cons
The photo uploading process was a little more difficult than with some of the other frames we tested but would be pretty easy if you already use Amazon photos.
The Echo Show 8 is one of the least expensive digital frames that we encountered, but you wouldn’t know it from the quality. Not only does it present our photos in crystal-clear quality, but the Echo also allows you to watch a security camera feed, play music, or watch videos, all with the convenience of voice control.
Setting up the Echo Show 8 took us about 10 minutes in our testing labs and an extra five after that to download the app that connects with the frame. If you don’t already use Amazon Photos, then you’ll also need to download it to sync the photos from your phone to the frame. From there, you’ll select which photos to add to the frame and send the link to loved ones so they can upload their own snaps. The whole process was a little more complicated than with some of the other frames we tried, but once we downloaded the necessary apps and got the hang of it, it wasn’t all too difficult.
For those who are decent with technology or already use Amazon photos, the Echo Show 8 is a spectacular deal, but even for those who aren’t as familiar with the apps, it’s still a great value for the price.
Size: 5.5 x 8 inches | Resolution: 1280 x 800 | Memory Capacity: Unlimited | Wi-Fi Enabled: Yes | Extra Features: Alexa compatible, stereo speakers, video calling, movie and music streaming
Best Storage: Aura Carver WiFi Digital Picture Frame
Pros
Unlimited storage over Wi-Fi means you can upload all of the photos and videos that you want.
The connected app is intuitive and easy to use.
The exterior looks like a sleek and elegant picture frame.
Cons
It's priced a little higher than some of the other digital frames on our list.
Aura stands out from its competitors in the digital frame space and is more well-known than a lot of the other digital frame makers in our test, so we already had some expectations for the Aura Carver going into our testing. The results are in: the Aura frame is just as amazing as we hoped it would be.
The Aura Carver frame displays pictures and videos in beautiful HD quality. The colors look bright and vibrant on the screen, and the outer frame looks high-quality and stylish. It took us about 20 minutes to set it up initially, and the process was pretty simple. The companion app is easy to use and send to family and friends so they can upload photos to your frame no matter how far away they are. The frame has unlimited storage space and works over Wi-Fi, so you can upload as many photos as you want. And, if you’re gifting the frame to someone, you can pre-load photos onto it through the companion app for an extra personal touch.
Compared to other frames we tested, this one felt sleek, easy to use, and higher quality than many of the others. The app is easy to use and share with loved ones, and the exterior is simple and elegant. Though it costs a little more than some of the other frames we tried, we think this one is still worth its price, and we’ll definitely be gifting it this holiday season.
Size: 7 x 10 inches | Resolution: 1280 x 800 | Memory Capacity: Unlimited | Wi-Fi Enabled: Yes | Extra Features: Automatic rotation, automatic brightness adjusting, automatic crop-to-fit, nighttime shut-off
Best Display: Aura Mason Digital Picture Frame
Pros
For the amateur or professional photographer, the high-quality photo resolution is one of the best displays we’ve seen.
It's easy to upload and share photos through the intuitive connected app.
Cons
It's one of the more expensive frames on our list.
For crisp, clear images, the Aura Mason frame is the best we’ve tried, with a 1600 x 1200 display that’s higher resolution than most digital frames on the market. The frame has a super easy-to-follow instruction booklet, so we had the frame up and running within 10 minutes. Just like we’d expect from an Aura frame, it was easy to share the link to our frame with loved ones, who would then be prompted to download an app that allows them to upload their photos to our frame directly, wherever they are.
This frame is more expensive than the other Aura frame that we tested, but overall the only big difference we can find between the two frames is that the Aura Mason has better resolution than the Aura Carver. This was most evident in the quality of the photos that were auto-cropped to fit the frames, which can result in some loss of quality on the Carver frame but still looks bright and clear on the Mason frame. So, if photo quality is important to you, then the extra cost may be worth it to you.
Size: 7 x 10 inches | Resolution: 1600 x 1200 | Memory Capacity: Unlimited | Wi-Fi Enabled: Yes | Extra Features: Automatic rotation, automatic brightness adjusting, automatic crop-to-fit, nighttime shut-off
Best Google: Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen
Pros
It's moderately priced compared to most other frames we’ve tried.
It has multiple functions like the ability to watch YouTube videos, search online, and connect to your home lighting.
Cons
It looks techy compared to the other digital frames on our list.
You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get a great digital picture frame, and the Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen proves it. It has a minimalist design that looks sleek sitting out on the counter, with a customizable display that allows you to see the time and date on top of your photos. It has a slightly techier look than the Aura frames, but that’s because it is techier than almost any other frame we tested: you can also use it to watch YouTube videos, search online, and connect to music and lighting in your home.
This is one of the least expensive digital frames that we’ve come across, and though it performs well in display and function, there are a few aspects of the frame that were not as high-quality as the more expensive frames. For one, the Nest Hub 2nd Gen can only be used landscape-style, not portrait. The display is not as high-quality as some of the other frames we’ve tested, but it does also have a lot of extra features that make the price feel like a great value. It’s easy to set up (even easier if you already use Google Photos), and the Wi-Fi-connected frame allows you to connect to the app to upload photos from anywhere.
Size: 7 x 10 inches | Resolution: 1600 x 1200 | Memory Capacity: Unlimited | Wi-Fi Enabled: Yes | Extra Features: Automatic rotation, automatic brightness adjusting, automatic crop-to-fit, nighttime shut-off
Best Investment: Nixplay 2K Ultra Photo Frame
Pros
The sleek metallic outer frame looks like a standard picture frame rather than a digital frame and makes for an elegant gift.
It offers two easy ways to upload photos: either through the connected app or through a designated email address that automatically sends photos to the frame.
Cons
This is one of the most expensive frames on our list, and for the price, we wish it had a touchscreen.
If you’re looking to invest in a high-quality frame that looks elegant and is user-friendly, then the Nixplay smart frame might be the perfect choice. The metallic outer frame is sleek and elegant, and the picture quality is the best of any on our list. But what really sets this frame apart from the rest is the photo-uploading process.
The Nixplay frame has a compatible app like most of the other smart photo frames we’ve tested, but here’s where it becomes even easier to share your memories: when you set up the frame, it gives you a personal Nixplay email address that your loved ones can send photos to directly, and those photos will be automatically uploaded to the frame. For grandparents who have difficulty using apps, this simple email-sharing process is a game changer.
Along with its nifty email uploading feature, the Nixplay frame also offers a slew of useful functions. It automatically adjusts to either landscape or portrait mode and is motion-activated. Plus, it has customizable brightness, photo timers, and a clock. The frame doesn’t have a touchscreen, and though it comes with a remote control, we had some difficulty getting the remote to work properly. But, it was easy enough to control all of the extra functions from the app. If you’re looking for a thoughtful gift for your loved one or yourself, the Nixplay frame is an elegant choice.
Size: 7 x 10 inches | Resolution: 1600 x 1200 | Memory Capacity: Unlimited | Wi-Fi Enabled: Yes | Extra Features: Automatic rotation, automatic brightness adjusting, automatic crop-to-fit, nighttime shut-off
Most Versatile: Pix-Star Digital Picture Frame
Pros
It displays beautiful photos and allows you to upload entire albums of photos through Facebook and Google Drive.
This frame offers multiple functions aside from photo display, including a reminder feature and pre-loaded games, plus the ability to plug in external speakers and play music.
Cons
It’s priced higher compared to other frames on our list, and we wish that we could use it in both landscape and portrait mode.
The Pix-Star digital frame makes it easy to upload your memories onto the display with either the app or a dedicated email address so you and your family can easily send photos directly to the frame. You can also import entire albums from Facebook, Google Drive, and more. The Pix-Star’s photo quality is crisp and clear, as is its video playback quality.
One of the more unique features of the Pix-Star frame is the reminder function, which allows you to set up alerts for important events. The frame also offers the ability to play games, listen to music, and plug in external speakers. We also love the Pix-Star’s motion-detecting feature, which puts the frame into sleep mode when no movement occurs near the frame.
The Pix-Star is controlled via remote or app, but it doesn’t have a touchscreen like many of the other frames in the same price range. It also only works landscape-style, not portrait. But, if you don’t care about touchscreen capabilities, then this is a solid frame with multiple functions that make it well worth its cost.
Size: 7.3 x 9 inches | Resolution: 1024 x 768 | Memory Capacity: 8 GB | Wi-Fi Enabled: Yes | Extra Features: Radio connectivity, pre-loaded games, weather forecasting, social media photo syncing
Best User-Friendly: Polaroid WiFi Digital Photo Frame
Pros
This simple frame is easy to use and set up and comes with an easy-to-follow quick-start guide.
It allows you to upload photos through the app with the use of a personal frame code or with a USB stick.
It has a touchscreen that allows you to resize photos by zooming in or out.
Cons
Though photos do still look beautiful and crisp to the eye, this doesn’t have the highest display resolution of the frames we’ve tried.
Less than seven minutes is all you need to set up the Polaroid digital picture frame. Polaroid is well known for its instant-print film cameras, but we’d trust them with any of our photo-display needs. The brand’s WiFi-connected digital frame is the most intuitive to set up compared to any of the other frames we tried. It comes with a quick-start guide that makes it simple to get the frame up and running.
Adding photos to the frame is as easy as downloading the app and entering the frame code, which you can also give to family and friends so that they can upload their snaps to the frame, too. The frame also has a USB slot if you’d prefer to upload photos that way. We also love that the frame has a touch screen that lets you resize photos to fit the screen, as well as toggle between settings and customize the clock and weather display.
This frame doesn’t have the highest resolution of those that we’ve tested, but the photos still looked visually clear to us. We also wish that it allowed us to play videos that run longer than 15 seconds, but that’s not a deal breaker. Because of its ease of use, we’d recommend this frame for anyone of any age, including those who are less tech-savvy.
Size: 7.1 x 10.25 inches | Resolution: 1280 x 800 | Memory Capacity: 8 GB | Wi-Fi Enabled: Yes | Extra Features: Automatic rotation, touchscreen, photo resizing, weather and clock customization
Things to Consider Before Buying a Digital Picture Frame
Size and Design
The first thing to consider when choosing a digital frame is the overall look of the frame and how it will fit into your space. The frames on our list come in a variety of sizes, so think about what surface you’re planning on placing the frame on You’ll also want to make sure you’re picking a spot near an outlet since all of these frames need to be plugged in.
There are lots of options when it comes to the finish of the outer frame, including brushed metal, wood, or a sleek black or white border. If you have any standard photo frames in your home, think about which kind of digital frame will best fit in with the rest of your decor.
Display Quality
While all of the frames on our list display photos beautifully, there is some variation in the display quality. Frames that have higher resolution, like the Aura Mason, will present photos in a crisper, clearer quality than those with a lower resolution. Generally, the frames that have a higher resolution will also be more expensive, so think about whether the increase in photo quality is worth the extra cost to you.
Ease of Use
In order to display your memories, you’ll have to upload your photos to the digital picture frame you choose. That process is easier on some frames than others. Some of the frames on our list, like the Echo Show 8, can feel more complicated to use because they offer many extra functions that shouldn’t feel overwhelming to anyone tech-savvy. But, if you or the person you’re gifting the frame to feels less comfortable with technology, then it might be smart to go with one of the simpler frames that gives you a dedicated email address to send photos to, like the Nixplay Photo Frame.
How We Tested
To figure out which digital picture frame was truly the best, we started by researching the top digital frames on the market and selecting 12 of them to try for ourselves. We began by timing how long it took to set up each frame, then started another timer to see how long it took to upload photos to the digital frames.
We then used each frame for three weeks, taking careful notes on the ease of use and all of the frame’s functions. We sent the photo-sharing links to our family and friends and had them attempt to upload photos to our frames to measure how easy the sharing process was. We took note of how simple the photo adding and removing processes were, whether the frames worked with landscape and portrait modes, and the clarity of sounds and video. In the end, we came away with the very best digital picture frames on this list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best digital picture frame for grandparents?
Out of all of the digital frames we tested, the Polaroid 10" Wi-Fi Digital Photo Frame was the easiest for us to set up and send photos to, so it makes a great gift for grandparents. It’s also easy to download the app onto loved one’s phones, so anyone can send precious memories to the frame in a second.
How do you choose which photos to display on your frame?
With the amount of photos that are likely sitting in your camera roll, it can be tricky to discern which photos you’ll want displayed on your digital picture frame. Of course, adding cherished photos of family and friends is a great place to start. Professional photographer Lexie Schmelzer tells PEOPLE that when choosing what to hang in her home, she opts for nostalgic snaps. “I’m from the mountains in Colorado, so it really scratches the homesickness itch if I have photos of the mountains or cowboys or anything like that surrounding me,” she says.
How do I take better photos with an iPhone?
“I feel like taking good iPhone photos is all about the camera settings,” Schmelzer says. “I always touch the screen and turn down the exposure — something about it just makes every photo more focused and more polished without having to go in and do any editing.”
Why Trust PEOPLE?
Cai Cramer is a shopping writer at PEOPLE and often writes about beauty, health, lifestyle, and the best gifts for everyone. For this story, Cai consulted real-life testing results from the PEOPLE Tested labs, which analyzed the best-selling digital picture frames on the market for ease of use, display quality, and overall value. To inform this story, Cai also spoke with professional photographer Lexie Schmelzer on how to take better photos and choose which ones to display in your home.
Meet Our Expert
Lexie Schmelzer is a professional photographer based in New York City.
What Is People Tested?
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.
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