photo lcd display brands

When you and your loved ones feel worlds apart, receiving a lovely picture or two can help you feel a little closer. With so many photos on our phones, hard drives, or in the cloud, printing them all out isn’t practical, and there’s never enough room to display them all on your wall. A digital frame can fix that, though: Prop one up on your desk or mantel, plug it in, install an app, and you can have a stream of photos or videos from your camera roll playing throughout the day. Many frames will even let your family or friends send pictures directly to your frame, so you can get surprises like a picture of your niece going to the zoo for the first time. To find the best digital frame for you, read on to find out what to look for and which frames we recommend.

Some digital picture frames have built-in storage, where photos are saved locally on the frame or accessed from a MicroSD card that you insert into the frame, and which you can expand using a larger MicroSD card or cloud storage. Others are exclusively cloud-based, and require you to upload photos through an app, or you can email photos to the specific frame using a unique email address and those images will be uploaded directly(though those frames may require a subscription to their cloud service, which costs about $5 per month).

Many digital frames require an internet connection to receive photos, so if you are buying a gift for someone who doesn’t have access to the internet at home, you’ll want to choose one that is usable without Wi-Fi. On the flip side, if you want to be able to add photos straight from your phone via an app, or to remotely add photos to a frame you’ve given as a gift, you’ll want one with a good app for uploading new images, or a frame that can pull from a specific Dropbox folder or photo album in your camera roll. And if you want to display photos that were not originally digital — whether they were taken recently or years ago, some frames offer scanning options within their dedicated apps that make it easier to upload vintage photos and other printed photos, or even a child’s artwork, if you happen to have a young Picasso (or simply an enthusiastic crafter) on your hands.

Though some brands offer smaller digital frames, the most common screen size is around nine or ten inches. You can also find larger frames that measure around 15 inches if you want to display your photos in a larger space. For screen resolution, look for 720p or higher; anything lower and your photos may look grainy or blurry due to fewer pixels. Resolution measures pixels per inch (PPI), and the fewer pixels per inch, the grainier the image (this is especially important when gifting a frame and considering someone else’s vision). We’ve listed both the resolution and the diagonal screen measurement for each frame below; the device itself will be larger once you account for the frame around the screen.

Style-wise, digital picture frames trend toward minimal and simple; you won’t find any gilt rococo options on the market. We looked for attractive frames that could match a variety of décor styles, with clean lines in classic colors or simple decorative bezels. You should also think about the photos you want to display relative to how the frame will sit on a desk or shelf or hang on a wall; some frames only stand vertically, making them ideal for photos in a vertical portrait orientation, some only stand horizontally, making them ideal for photos in a horizontal landscape mode, and some can stand either vertically or horizontally. Unless you plan to upload photos in only one mode, the best frames will be able to adequately handle a mix of portrait and landscape photos no matter the frame’s physical orientation in your home.

Many frames are controlled using a dedicated app that allows you to manage when and how photos are displayed. Some frames also offer video playback and sound, or are compatible with Apple’s Live Photos. Frames that have motion or light sensors will allow the screen to go to sleep and wake up when someone passes by the frame or the lights are turned on in a room. Some frames also have touch controls that let you swipe between photos or change settings without accessing an app.

Photo sharing and storage: Unlimited cloud storage; no built-in storage, USB port, or MicroSD slot; Wi-Fi required | Screen size and resolution: 9-inch screen, 1200p resolution | Design and photo orientation: Landscape or portrait | Video and sound:Video: yes; Sound: yes

The Aura Mason comes recommended by several Strategist writers and editors who not only have the frame in their own homes but have gifted it to loved ones. The stylish, freestanding Aura Mason offers the best balance of features and ease of use, so even less tech-savvy folks can still get the hang of it. The Aura Mason doesn’t have any built-in storage, but you can upload unlimited photos to the frame using its dedicated app, linking the frame to a Google Photos or Apple iCloud account, sending photos to the frame’s unique email address, or using Aura’s web uploader.

Within the app, there is also a scanning feature to add printed photos or artwork to your frame. Because the frame requires Wi-Fi and uses cloud storage, having the app allows you to upload photos remotely, and you can invite multiple people to add photos to the same frame, turning it into a potluck of photos from family and friends (there are even social features in the app, including comments and likes). It also supports video and Apple Live Photos (something no other frame we tested offered) and has a built-in speaker for sound. The frame itself is attractive and minimalist with a sculptural ridged design, and it’s available in two colors, graphite or white quartz.

The Mason can be displayed in landscape or portrait orientation; its nine-inch screen has a 4:3 aspect ratio that is perfectly proportioned for smartphone camera photos, and the frame will automatically adjust photos when you rotate it from one orientation to the other. There is a discreet touch bar on the edge of the frame that lets you swipe through photos and videos. The frame also has an ambient sensor that can adjust the brightness of the frame or let it go to sleep depending on the light level in the surrounding area. And if you’re planning to give the frame as a gift, Aura makes it super-simple to preload the frame with photos so that all your recipient has to do is plug in the frame and connect it to their Wi-Fi.

Photo sharing and storage: Unlimited cloud storage; no built-in storage, USB port, or MicroSD slot; Wi-Fi required | Screen size and resolution: 10.1-inch screen, 1200p resolution | Design and photo orientation: Landscape | Video and sound: Video: yes; Sound: yes

The Aura Carver Luxe’s specs, design, and functionality are similar to those of the Aura Mason, for about $20 less; the main differences are that the Carver has a slightly larger screen, a 16:10 aspect ratio (compared to the Mason’s 4:3, which better accommodates photos taken with a smartphone camera), and can only be displayed in the landscape orientation (an “intelligent pairing” feature can match up related vertical shots to display them side-by-side).

It’s well designed and available in two colors, gravel and sea salt. Trolio has gifted the Carver to multiple family members, and called it the best thing she bought last year, noting that “now that there are so many frames in my extended family, we can all add photos to one another’s frames, too — it’s almost like having a private mini social network that is blissfully Zuckerberg free.” As with the Mason, it’s very simple to preload the Carver Luxe with photos so that all your gift recipient has to do is plug it in and connect it to Wi-Fi (this is easiest to do if they have their own smartphone).

Photo sharing and storage: USB port and SD slot; no built-in storage or cloud storage; No Wi-Fi needed | Screen size and resolution: 10.1-inch screen, 1080p resolution | Design and photo orientation: Landscape | Video and sound: Video: yes; Sound: yes

The Atatat is a budget-friendly digital frame that is best suited for someone who doesn’t have easy access to an internet connection. You display photos or videos on the frame using an USB stick or MicroSD card; there is no built-in storage, and you can’t upload photos via email or online. (Atatat does sell a Wi-Fi-enabled version, if that is your preference.) One Amazon reviewer who uses the Atatat to display her children’s drawings after loading them onto a MicroSD card notes that “operating this digital photo frame is easy.”

Instead of touch controls or a touchscreen, the Atatat has a remote control for accessing the settings and photos; there are also physical buttons on the back of the frame with the same functions — including specifying how long each image is displayed and adjusting the brightness of the screen. Numerous reviewers have praised the remote, which makes it easy to browse photos from a distance. You can also add music to accompany your images. The frame has an internal speaker and a headphone jack. It can be displayed in landscape orientation only, with a simple stand to prop it up on a desk or shelf, or it can be mounted on a wall.

Photo sharing and storage: 8GB built-in storage plus 10GB cloud storage, expandable to 50GB cloud storage with paid subscription; no USB port or MicroSD slot; Wi-Fi required to upload photos | Screen size and resolution: 10-inch screen, 720p resolution | Design and photo orientation: Landscape or portrait | Video and sound: Video: yes; Sound: yes

Touchscreen capabilities help this 10-inch Nixplay frame stand out. It allows you to do things like pause slideshows, toggle settings, and even “like” photos that truly spark some joy, all without having to grab a remote or use your phone. You can flip the frame from landscape to portrait mode and easily swipe between your favorite photos or adjust the settings right on the screen. You’ll need Wi-Fi to upload photos using the Nixplay app or a web browser, or you can email photos to the frame’s unique address or import them from Google Photos, Dropbox, Facebook, or Instagram. You can also upload video clips, and the frame has internal speakers for audio playback.

Though Wi-Fi is required to upload photos (there’s no USB port or MicroSD slot), the Nixplay will still display photos that have been uploaded even if it loses an internet connection. As with our top-pick Aura frames, you can invite multiple people to add photos to the Nixplay. It comes in black, white, steel, or “wood effect,” and can be freestanding or mounted on the wall. A smart sensor wakes the frame up when you’re in the room and puts it to sleep when no motion is detected.

Photo sharing and storage: 8GB of built-in storage plus unlimited cloud storage; USB port and MicroSD slot; Wi-Fi enabled but not required | Screen size and resolution: 15-inch screen, 768p resolution | Design and photo orientation: Landscape | Video and sound: Video: yes; Sound: yes

The Pix-Star has a massive 15-inch screen. It’s about the size of a laptop screen and noticeably larger than the other frames on this list. The Pix-Star also has a motion sensor, 8GB of built-in storage, and a MicroSD slot and USB port for adding photos, or you can upload photos over Wi-Fi via the Pix-Star app, email, or the brand’s website. As with Aura’s frames, unlimited cloud storage is included, and you have the option to link the frame to Google Photos, Dropbox, Instagram, and more. Because there are multiple ways to upload photos and because the Pix-Star has both internal storage and cloud storage, it straddles the line between online and offline usage.

If you want to gift the Pix-Star to someone who doesn’t have easy access to Wi-Fi you can easily add more photos by plugging in a USB stick, or if your recipient does have Wi-Fi, you can remotely add photos whenever you like. The frame supports video playback and audio playback and has a few extra features like a time and weather display, and built-in web radio stations that can add a soundtrack to your photos. It can be freestanding or wall-mounted.

Photo sharing and storage: Unlimited cloud storage; no built-in storage or MicroSD slot; Wi-Fi required | Screen size and resolution: 10.1-inch screen, 1200p resolution | Design and photo orientation: Landscape | Video and sound: Video: yes; Sound: yes

The freestanding, landscape-only Aura Buddy frame is extremely similar to the Aura Carver Luxe. You still upload photos via the app, online, or through email and you still have unlimited online cloud storage. Like the Carver Luxe, the Buddy has a 10.1-inch screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio. But Aura has designed the Buddy as a showcase for pet photos by offering it in a neutral “biscuit” color and displaying “likes” as paw prints instead of the hearts seen on Aura’s other frames. It still has a touch bar, an ambient light sensor that can adjust brightness, and video and audio support.

Photo sharing and storage: Cloud storage; no built-in storage, USB port, or MicroSD slot; Wi-Fi required | Screen size and resolution: 7-inch screen, 600p resolution | Design and photo orientation: Landscape | Video and sound: Video: yes (but not in photo slideshow mode); Sound: yes

The ultracompact, freestanding Google Nest Hub isn’t marketed exclusively as a digital picture frame because it’s technically a smart display and a smart-home control center, but Dan Seifert, deputy editor of the Verge, believes that if the device did nothing but display photos it would still be well worth the cost. It’s “not the largest, most expensive, best sounding, or flashiest smart display you can buy, but it might just be the best one for most people,” he writes in his official review.

The Hub has a seven-inch display and comprehensive controls that can be accessed via touchscreen or voice. It also has an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts its brightness and color temperature. But its greatest asset, says Seifert, is its “gorgeous” display that is “lovely to look at, never too bright, with pleasing saturation and colors.” He notes that “Unlike the crappy digital photo frames that were popular a decade ago,” it “actually does justice to your images.” Predictably, it’s easiest to link the Hub to a Google Photos account, though you may need to pay for additional storage in Google Drive to make room for all your photos.

And because it’s also a smart hub, you can use it watch videos from YouTube, check the weather, set timers, pull up your calendar, or control lights or other connected devices in your home. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, smart home reviewer at the Verge, is also a fan. “There are many digital picture frames out there,” she writes in her guide to using the Hub to display photos, “but what sets Google’s apart is the auto-adjustment feature that makes your digital pictures look like a printed image in a frame rather than a digital image on a computer screen.”

Photo sharing and storage: Cloud storage; Wi-Fi or cellular required | Screen size and resolution: 10-inch screen, 800p resolution | Design and photo orientation: Landscape | Video and sound:Video: no; Sound: no

For the non-tech-savvy loved one out there who doesn’t have access to Wi-Fi, Familink’s 4G-powered photo frame is a good way to still feed photos into someone’s home without having to be there. The Familink comes with three months of 4G service, free of charge, and after that it’s about $7 per month, but it’s not required; after the three months are up, you can connect the frame over Wi-Fi rather than pay for cellular service.

Setup is dead simple, too: Plug the frame in, scan a QR code in the company’s app, and you’re good to send photos to the frame within the app or via email. It’s a bit more manual than connecting to an existing photo library or dropping in a microSD card, but it also provides a more curated feed of images for the recipient and lets them easily add their own photos without much fuss. It’s not without its caveats, though: (It does require some form of a connection for transferring photos, and its landscape-only kickstand only props out at one angle.

It"s a great time of year for deals on all kinds of tech, including digital photo frames. We"re on the cusp of some big shopping events coming up, most notably the Black Friday deals, and many of the frames in this list are contenders for price drops.

For example, during last year"s Black Friday event our number one photo frame, the Aura Mason Luxe got a $30 (or 12%) discount, taking it down to a price that it"s only briefly beaten once since. We"ll be highlighting deals like this in our Black Friday camera deals guide, so it"s worth bookmarking that page to return to during the run-up to the sales event.

Looking for a flexible way to display your photos at home? The best digital photo frames are perfect for personal slideshows. Sharp, chic and easy to use, the leading models put your personal snaps front and centre. From affordable frames to premium screens, we’ve tested the finest digital photo frames available and ranked our top picks in the list below.

What’s the best digital photo frame for most people? With a neat look, slick interface and detailed display, we highly recommend the Aura Mason Luxe. Its app is simple to use, while a 9.7-inch screen makes it big enough show off your favorite photos but small enough to fit on any shelf or desk.

Whether you want a simple panel or a smart display, our expert team has comprehensively tested the best options. Our guide is designed to help you find the right digital photo frame for your needs and budget, covering models across a range of price brackets. We’ve also included some useful buying tips to keep in mind when deciding which frame is the best fit for your home. Need some more in-depth advice? Check out our guide on how to buy a digital photo frame.

Once you’ve found your favorite frame, you’ll find links beneath each entry that take you straight to the best deals available right now. And with Black Friday right around the corner, we’d expect to see several of the best digital photo frames discounted in November. Be sure to bookmark our dedicated Black Friday deals page to keep on top of the latest offers.

The Aura Mason Luxe is a clear cut above most other photo frames. It’s stylish, has greater character to its design and, most important of all, the screen is excellent in most respects.

Its 4:3 aspect display is perfect for not just adding some color to your room with your photos, but to actually get an up-close look at them. Pixel density is so high they look sharp and detailed even when you get your face right up to the screen. We found that color is natural-looking and well-saturated too, so you can be sure you’re seeing a fair representation of the photos you fling its way.

Nixplay’s 2K Smart Digital Photo Frame features one of the sharpest screens on the market. With a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels, the display offers detail for days – and it’s vibrant, too, with impressively deep blacks and more than enough brightness to beat the screen’s reflective coating.

At 9.7 inches, the display also strikes an excellent middle ground: with a flexible stand setup that can support the frame in portrait or landscape orientation, the Smart Digital Photo Frame will fit on almost any shelf, while also giving images enough real estate to really be seen and enjoyed. Handily, it can also be wall-mounted.

One of our favourite things about this frame is that loading up photos via the partner app is a straightforward process. Create, populate and organise multiple playlists using photos from your smartphone, or sync with Google Photos to display AI-generated smart albums. You can also connect with friends to easily receive snaps and assign them to your frame.

Classier than most competitors, the Aura Carver stands out with an embossed border and angular, free-standing design. Its 10.1-inch display isn’t as sharp as the slightly pricier Carver Luxe, but we found its 1280x800 panel fine in testing, with pleasant colors and good viewing angles. It helps that the screen can adjust automatically to ambient conditions and go impressively bright, helped by a semi-matte finish.

We think Aura frames have the slickest software out there, and the Carver is no exception. It doesn’t have a touchscreen, but the subtle touch panel on top makes it easy to flick between photos. Other settings are found in the similarly streamlined smartphone app, although customisation options are limited. Friends and family can contribute to your slideshow, but there’s no support for albums.

A cheap and cheerful photo frame, the Aeezo Portrait 01 is more flexible than its price tag suggests. Its no-frills, plastic build won’t win any design awards, but it’s neat enough, even if the simple stand has limited stability.

We were largely happy with its photo reproduction in our review. Color depth isn’t exceptional, but the 10-inch display strikes a good balance when it comes to detail: hard edges aren’t too soft or too sharp. It is less bright than other frames in the same price bracket, though.

The Netgear Meural isn’t quite like other digital photo frame. By the standards of this category, it’s a pretty high-end buy, but it"s actually the entry-level model in Netgear’s series of art displays. They scale all the way up to a 21.5 inches.

This is a 15.6-inch photo frame you can orient in portrait or landscape. It’s a large canvas for your photos, and the Meural app offers access to a huge library of paintings and other art works. They can inject some culture into your home. You have to pay for a subscription to get full access, but a good few handfuls are available without one.

With a generous border and glass facade, the Skylight Frame is one of the more attractive photo frames we’ve tested. It’s larger than most 10-inch models, but its white surround and classy design give it real presence on a shelf. In use, its responsive touchscreen feels quite a lot like a tablet: you can pinch to zoom and swipe to switch photos. It’s not sophisticated, but it works smoothly and makes it easy to find specific images.

We don’t think the Skylight Frame does a perfect job of representing images. Its compression software can add visible artifacts, soften images and make certain hues look unnatural. That said, its 1280x800 pixel LCD holds up well against similarly priced rivals, even if its 255-nit brightness is a long way below the Aura Carver.

Facebook is phasing out its Portal devices for consumers, but right now that makes this 10-inch display excellent value at its new low price. Meta will continue to provide support for existing customers and its core functionality will continue unaffected.

While it"s primarily device for calling friends and family, Meta"s social screen does a side-gig as a slick digital photo frame. Styled like a floating box frame with neat lines and a quality finish, it’s an attractive fit for contemporary shelves – provided there’s space for the supporting leg. The stand can prop the Portal in portrait or landscape, but it sticks out by 12cm – and the power cable exits from its end, so it can’t sit flush against your wall.

Up front, the 10-inch display is vibrant and responsive, with good detail and color reproduction. The panel is quite reflective, but there’s enough brightness to counter glare – though this dips when viewing from a 45-degree angle.

Setup is straightforward and the slick touchscreen interface is matched by the polished partner app. which particularly impressed us. Photos can be sourced from Facebook, Instagram or your smart device, then sorted into albums which can be individually enabled.

The Nixplay Touch 10 passes for a traditional photo frame at arm’s length. Its back is heavily sculpted, but this will usually be hidden away from view. While its slot-in stand didn’t feel especially sturdy in testing, the frame itself isn’t heavy enough to make this a problem.

Its plastic display surface softens reflections, and photos generally look good. We liked the color temperature during our time with the Nixplay, finding that it could produce rich tones, even if its LCD panel lacks the depth of OLED. We were less impressed by its sharpening, which caused edges to appear pixellated.

The Nest Hub Max is both a hub for smart devices and a portal for accessing Google Assistant at home, but it also does well as a digital photo frame. Styled like a 10-inch tablet attached to a fabric-skinned speaker, it forms a neat free-standing package with a small shelf footprint – even if the screen’s plastic shell and bezels don’t feel particularly premium.

The fixed stand setup means you can’t adjust the display angle from its default upward tilt. While this will be an issue if you want to place the frame on a higher shelf, the viewing angles are otherwise good, with decent saturation and plenty of brightness – provided you’re fine with a reflective panel.

At 1280x800, the resolution of the touchscreen could be higher, but we found that there’s still good detail with no noticeable pixellation – and it makes controlling the Nest Hub Max a cinch. Swipe between photos or tap the pop-up controls to hide, star or share particular images, or do the same thing with voice commands.

The Nest Hub Max can display art backgrounds, a full-screen clock or a selection of snaps from your Google Photos account. It supports Live Albums, features the option to show portrait pics in split-screen and offers time, weather and image data overlays – but you can’t manually change the slideshow order. And because it only works with Google Photos, the Nest Hub Max makes sense mainly for those already invested in the company’s cloud backup service.How to pick the best digital photo frame for youWhere will you place it?Most digital photo frames include some kind of stand, but not all can be wall-mounted. Similarly, some only work in one orientation, while others can switch from portrait to landscape. It pays to consider placement, including how a frame’s finish will fit with your decor.

What screen size do you need?Screen size can vary substantially, from 8 to 13 inches. Frames with smaller displays can be easier to place and are sometimes sharper. Larger options offer more space for your snaps but won’t always have a higher resolution. The sweet spot is usually somewhere around a 9-inch Full HD display.

How will you add images?Many of the latest digital photo frames rely on cloud storage to host your slideshow, letting you add photos directly from different devices. Others feature social media integration. But if your images live on hard storage, consider something with a memory card or USB input.

How much control do you want?Some digital photo frames offer seamless simplicity, while others allow you to adjust every setting – from brightness to sleep schedules. It’s worth checking what a given frame lets you tweak, especially if you’re particular about color balance or slideshow transitions.

How smart does it need to be?More than passive panels, several of the best digital photo frames in 2021 are actually fully fledged smart displays. That means voice control, media streaming and smart home integration. Whether you need this additional functionality will depend on the other devices already in your abode.What is the best size digital photo frame?Digital photo frames are available in a wide range of sizes. Which dimension is right for you will depend on your available space, as well as your own personal preference. Smaller digital photo frames are more compact and easier to place in your home, but offer less canvas space for your digital images. Larger photo frames give your treasured snaps room to shine, but require a larger footprint – and the biggest screens risk dominating a room.

While you can find digital photo frames with screens as small as 5 inches, we think the smallest you should realistically look at is 8 inches. A frame such as the Nixplay Nix Digital Photo Frame 8-inch benefits from a small footprint that’s easy to place almost anywhere, while still giving your images enough room on screen to be clearly visible. Any smaller and you risk having to squint to see your snaps.

The largest digital photo frames feature displays to rival your average laptop. The Nixplay Seed Wave, for example, ships with a 13-inch panel. This puts your pictures clearly front and centre, but it’s not exactly subtle. It risks looking like a small TV and blends less well into the background – although it certainly makes your shots unmissable.

We think the best size digital photo frame is between 9 inches and 10 inches. Models like the Google Nest Hub Max, Aura Carver and Facebook Portal all feature screens which measure in at around the 10-inch mark, while our favorite digital photo frame right now – the minimalist Aura Mason Luxe – has a 9.7-inch display. These hit the sweet spot for visibility and flexibility. A display at this size will also provide better pixel density than a much larger screen, improving clarity and sharpness (especially with Nixplay’s 2K frame, which features a high-resolution 9.7-inch screen).

Digital photo frames are unique devices with a range of specific factors to test. We put each frame through a range of scenarios to ensure each one is worthy of a recommendation.

We place each digital photo frame in a series of similar viewing scenarios to assess the sharpness and brightness of its display. This will usually include a dark environment, a daylit room and a bright spot in direct sunlight. Using an identical set of photos, we look at the accuracy of color reproduction, the clarity of each image and the viewing angles of the frame. We also take into account the proportions of the display and whether any cropping is likely to affect standard-sized digital images.

If you want to kick your home décor up a notch, one of the best digital photo frames can help. Since its first release, these devices have come a long way. Gone are the days of bulky frames and poor quality images — now digital frames are designed with aesthetics in mind, along with the aim of providing the best picture quality possible. In doing this, one of the best picture frames will not only let you peruse your memories, it will make you feel as if you’re actually there, with colors popping and vivid detail in every image. But, how can you tell which of these devices will offer the best performance?

We put a range of digital photo frames to the test to see which delivered in every respect. We compared the usual suspects, including picture quality, ease of operation and connectivity. And we also factored in any special features on offer, such as calendars, clocks and speaker ports. We used each model exactly as you would at home and found every strength and weakness behind each design, whether it’s greasy fingerprints on the screen, or a lack of stability. As a result, we’ve come up with a comprehensive list of the best digital photo frames out there to suit every circumstance. So, no matter if you’re shopping on a budget, or looking for the most features, we’ve got you covered.

The best thing about the Pix-Star 15-inch Wi-Fi Cloud Digital Photo Frame is its stunning photo quality. With the 4:3 aspect ratio on a 1024 x 768-pixel screen, images look crisp, bright and clear. You can make adjustments to the LED backlit screen for brightness, hue and contrast depending on ambient lighting.

This gadget lets you link up to 25 frames from a single account, where you can send and receive images and audio messages directly to and from connected frames. You can also view pictures from web albums, including Google Photos and Facebook. The frame has 4GB of onboard memory and supports USB thumb drives and SDHC/SDXC camera cards.

The Atatat Digital Photo Frame impressed us with its visual quality, offering a vibrant display without artificially punching up the colors. While it’s a small screen, the widescreen format gives the impression of shots 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.

If image quality means more to you than anything, the Aura Mason Luxe Frame is the one to beat. With a resolution of 2048 x 1536 on its 2k screen sealed within a 9.7-inch frame, its quality can only be described as outstanding. That"s why it"s earned the Tom"s Guide 2022 Award for Best digital photo frame. Colors couldn’t be more vibrant or realistic and coupled with its two touch bar controls, the operation of this frame is as intuitive as it gets. True, there’s no touchscreen, but that only saves the screen from oily fingerprints obstructing the view in our opinion.

The Nixplay Smart Photo Frame 10.1 Inch Touch is the latest addition to company"s range of digital frames. It offers a compact midsize design which will fit in to most rooms and the display is bright enough to add character to your images and really make the landscapes "pop". It won"t waste electricity, thanks to the voice and motion activated sensors, and it couldn"t be more easy to use with the touch screen navigation. Because of this, it would suit those who are new or experienced with this kind of product.

Friends and family can easily upload photos to this frame from their own Nixplay account or email them in directly. There"s great social media image access as well, including Facebook, Google Photos, Instagram, Dropbox, Flickr, and Verison. There"s very little to complain about this frame, other than the lack of onboard SD cards or memory sticks. There"s no remote to lose, it"s intuitive to operate and design is simple, yet sophisticated.

PhotoSpring 10 has the unique advantage of two different visual frame modes: a traditional matted look with a black, gallery style outer frame or a streamlined modern look. After removing the top black frame, it’s easy to see how superior the plain white frame looks and how nicely it sets off your images, but it’s your choice and switching modes is easy. This frame is for tabletops only for now — no wall mounting unless you purchase a power cable with a 90-degree magnetic connector, which the company says will be available as an accessory.

PhotoSpring’s flexibility extends to its mode of input. You can 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. 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.

Various onscreen controls are accessible via a subtle green dot at the upper right corner. It’s hard to discern at first — you may have to consult the instructions unless you find it by chance while poking around the screen — but once you discover and tap it, the current image zooms out to reveal on-screen controls that let you delete, hide, favorite, alter rotation, add to an existing album, 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.

Nixplay"s 10.1 inch Smart Digital Picture Frame, with its 1280 x 800 pixel display, and wide 16:10 aspect ratio, makes your photos and videos pop with dazzling color and detail. Watch photos and videos a part of a playlist and set up slideshows with multiple timed transitions for endless entertainment in either portrait or landscape orientation.

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 mat framing for a homier look.

Of course, to maintain a gorgeous 1920 x 1080-pixel display the WiFi Photo Frame is rather large compared to many of the best digital photo frames. As a result, it might not fit well on some side tables or desks. But if you have the space for this 15.6-inch full HD display, you won"t be disappointed.

The Facebook Portal displays your photos from Facebook and Instagram on a 10-inch touchscreen that"s easy to use. But you can also use this device to make video calls using Facebook or WhatsApp. The Portal"s smart camera is smart enough to follow you around (by panning and zooming) as you move. Plus, you can apply fun filters to add some personality to your chats.

The Portal also has Alexa built in, so you can can ask the assistant anything you would ask one of Amazon"s smart speakers or use the Portal to check who"s at the front door. When you"re not viewing photos, making calls or chatting with Alexa, the Portal can stream music from several services, including Pandora and Spotify.

The OurPhoto app is the easiest way to upload photos to the frame. You can also add remote users to the frame to let friends and family upload images via the app.

The Feelcare is a compact, handy picture frame that displays your images beautifully. Its black matte plastic exterior is low key and subtle so it looks nice in any room. With a 1024 x 600, 16:9 picture, image quality is crisp and clear, and you can use the touch screen to adjust brightness.

The frame operates via a proprietary app for iOS or Android, or you can manually load images via a micro SD card directly into the frame, which has 8GB of internal storage. The frame saves the photos and videos to the built-in memory and you can use the touch screen to delete, hide, and adjust photos. Note that videos play for only 15 seconds.

There"s not much to the Aluratek 8 inch Digital Photo Frame except extreme simplicity, which is why it"s still one of the best digital photo frames for some users who just want to display some photos and not mess with networks.

The unit has no touch screen, no built-in memory and no remote control. The 800 x 600 TFT LCD screen resolution offers some basic adjustments for positioning images on screen, how long each image lingers and the screen brightness. You can plug in SD camera cards (up to 32GB) or a USB stick.

The unit features a generic plastic frame that comes with a screw-in plastic stand, but there is no hole for wall hanging. Normal-size USB drives stick out of the frame"s side. You can choose from 11 transition styles and display photos from 3 seconds to 1 hour.

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.

You should also take account of how technical you are and where your photos are stored. 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.

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

Ease of use is another element we consider while reviewing the best digital photo frames. If a frame is simple to set up and navigate, it often has more value. However, an expansive offering of connected features is important, too. We think most of the photo frames on this list strike a solid balance.

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.

While a picture is worth a thousand words, you probably have more than one meaningful photo you want to showcase in your home or office. Instead of just placing one or two photos in a frame, a digital picture frame cycles through all of your photos, so you can relive your most memorable moments over and over.

Digital picture frames shuffle your photos into a slideshow, so those wedding photos have a permanent place to live, and you don"t have to choose just one. Although smart displays can do the same thing, you may prefer a digital picture frame because you can set it and forget, and they have more design options available, which is nice if you want a frame for its beauty and not just its tech.

These devices have been around for a while, but that just means they"ve had time to get better. Currently, there are plenty of nice ones to choose from. We"ve rounded up the best digital picture frames (both Wi-Fi and non-Wi-Fi) to help you showcase photos.

The Nixplay Smart Digital picture frame has great features to showcase your memories. You"ll get 50GB of photo and video storage, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and a one-year subscription to Nixplay Plus. This subscription gets you up to 80% discount on photo prints, 50 shared playlists, and the ability to add videos up to one minute long.

The frame also has a motion sensor that wakes up the frame when you are in the room and turns it off when you"re not. In addition, the company promises all your data is encrypted, so your photos and videos are secured.

If you want to forgo uploading photos to a cloud and connecting to your email, the Loop Digital Picture Frame makes it super easy to add photos to the frame. All you have to do is text an image or video to a number, and it automatically adds your photos instantly. In addition, with this frame, you can add video clips up to five minutes long.

For a more budget-friendly price, this digital picture frame still has great features like a built-in clock and calendar, an included remote to control it from afar, and the ability to add music to your photo slideshow. This frame forgoes Wi-Fi and allows you to add photos via a USB flash drive or an SD card.

The Amazon Echo Show 8 is the perfect all-in-one display -- it serves as a smart home assistant, a way to make video calls, and, of course, as a digital frame to show off your favorite photos. It has an adaptative color display to show your photos in their true colors, and Amazon Prime members even get unlimited cloud photo storage.

Those that don"t want to mess with a Wi-Fi connection or cloud storage to view photos may want to consider this digital picture frame that doesn"t use Wi-Fi. You just need a USB stick to display your images, so you don"t have to worry about your photos not showing up if your Wi-Fi is spotty.

The frame also has a built-in calendar and clock, a remote, and a programmable motion sensor that turns the frame on and off to save energy. In addition, you can choose from different slideshow transitions and even play both photos and videos in the same slideshow.

The Nixplay Smart Digital picture frame is our pick for the best digital picture frame thanks to its features, photo storage, style, and price range.Digital picture framePriceResolutionStorage

While all of these digital picture frames are great options, it ultimately comes down to how you want to upload your photos, the amount of storage you want, and what you"re willing to spend.Choose this digital picture frame...If you want...

We chose these digital picture frames after extensive research into the product category. We compared factors like pricing, reviews (both good and bad), storage, and photo resolution.

Although most digital picture frames require Wi-Fi to connect to services like Google Photos or Dropbox, there are some products available that don"t need Wi-Fi. Instead, they use a USB or an SD card to showcase photos and videos.

The best monitors for photo editing can make all the difference both for professionals and enthusiasts. Good colour coverage, uniformity and accuracy enable you to see your photos how they really look, which is essential for editing, whatever device you"re using.

Screens can vary so much that sometimes you think you"ve got an edit spot on, and then you see your edited image on a different screen or printed out and you want to start all over again. Different screens display different amounts of colours, so if your monitor is limited in its colour coverage, it won"t display all of the nuanced colours in your image. There"s also the issue of accuracy, while brightness and contrast also impact how your work looks. This can all lead to images ending up under or over-exposed or colours that look unnatural or garish on a different screen or support.

Below, we list our pick of the best monitors for photo editing based on our reviewers" experiences and recommendations from contributors. We"ve chosen displays that support wide colour spaces such as Adobe RGB and offer good brightness, colour accuracy and useful features at different price points, from relatively affordable options to expensive screens designed for professional use. In each case, we"ve either tested the monitor for photo editing ourselves or we"ve based our evaluations on the monitors" specs and opinions from working photographers (see more details about how we test and review products).

Screen outputs fluctuate over time, so even the best monitors for photo editing need to be calibrated. We"ve included some options that have their own calibration tools, but if you opt for one of the more affordable options in our pick, you"ll want to use one of the best monitor calibrator tools so that you can regularly reconfigure your screen"s output.

We rate the BenQ SW321C as the best monitor for photo editing overall. It"s not cheap by any means, but it"s not the most expensive screen either, offering a good balance between price and quality – because the quality is fantastic. It boasts 99% Adobe RGB, 100% sRGB and 95% P3 gamut coverage, and you can quickly switch between colour spaces thanks to a separate control unit. And the screen comes expertly calibrated, although it also offers hardware calibration independent of your computer.

We"ve found the colour precision and uniformity across the screen to be close to faultless, and when combined with the detail of the 4K display, this is a screen that allows you to view your work in glorious detail. There are plenty of other useful touches. The Paper Color Sync mode helps you create a colour space based on your printer and paper type for more accurate previewing, while M Book mode makes the screen more closely match a MacBook Pro to allow easy transition between screens. The monitor supports USB-C with power delivery up to 60W, so you can connect a laptop and get power and data over a single cable.

If a stunningly specced monitor like the BenQ screen above is way too much of an outlay for where you are in your photography career (or hobby) at the moment, then this LG monitor should appeal. It"s very reasonably priced, but there"s much to like in the specs too. It offers 98% coverage of the sRGB space, which is more than enough for many, especially if you"re not editing professionally.

Eizo has a reputation for being the ultimate professional photo-editing monitor brand, and the first time you see the clarity, vivacity and brightness of an Eizo display, it’s immediately obvious why – and why its photo-editing monitors are so much more expensive than those of competitors – and more expensive than most PCs.

We"ve mentioned 4K monitors so far, and 4K resolution is fast becoming the norm, but you may not really need it, especially if you"re only working with stills photography and don"t need to edit video as well. Dell’s UltraSharp range always delivers a great image and, while the monitors" designs don"t exactly stand out from the crowd, the tiny bezels around this display do make it easy on the eye.

We generally recommend going for a reasonably large screen (between 27 and 34in when choosing the best monitor for photo editing, but that can be a challenge if you don"t have the desk space (or don"t have the office space for a larger desk!). But the HP M24FW is rather unique in that it"s a relatively small screen with very respectable color space coverage, and it"s also an absolute bargain, costing $150 – $200 / £120 – £150.

Ultra-wide monitors are usually aimed at gaming or general computer use, so it’s nice to see ViewSonic offering graphic artists a massive 37.5-inch 21:9 display with the VP3881. Ultra-wide displays such as this are like having two smaller monitors together on the desk, without a bezel breaking up the desktop space. It gives you space to have multiple windows open at once, boosting productivity as you can view webpages, file explorers and multiple editing applications simultaneously.

We were a little disappointed when we reviewed the new Apple Studio Display. Only a 60hz refresh rate, no HDR, and you have to pay extra if you want to be able to adjust the height. Also, while a built-in webcam of any kind on a monitor is a relative rarity, that on the Apple Studio Display is a bit mediocre.

All that aside, however, when it comes to editing photos, this monitor is not a bad choice, especially if you"re a fan of Apple products and you"re looking for an option to pair with a Mac mini or to expand the screen on your MacBook Pro. It offers decent multimedia features and consistent colour and brightness, which are the main priorities when it comes to photo editing.

There several things to consider and look out for when you"re choosing a monitor for photo editing. Some of the most important are to decide what size monitor you want. There are also minimum requirements you should look for in terms of resolution and colour accuracy. We"ll discuss some of those questions below.Why do I need to choose one of the best monitors for photo editing?Images look different on different screens because displays differ in their colour coverage and accuracy. That means that if the screen you work on has poor colour coverage and accuracy, your work could look very different on a different screen or when printed out.

Good colour coverage is especially important if you"re doing HSL adjustments and colour grading. While you can"t guarantee what screen your clients or public will use to see your photos, you can at least ensure that you"re own screen is allowing you to make the most accurate edit possible.Which is the best monitor for photo editing?The very best monitor for photo editing in our view is the Eizo ColorEdge CG319X at number three in our list above. We only place it at number three rather than at the top because we"ve also taken price into consideration, and monitors such as this are simply not an option for many enthusiasts, and even for many professionals.

We currently recommend the BenQ SW321C as the best monitor for photo editing for those looking for a balance between professional specs and a slightly more accessible price.What size monitor should I use for photo editing?One important thing to consider when buying a monitor for photo editing is the size of screen that you want to work on. Many displays come in the standard 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio, although a taller screen (or a screen that you can rotate like the LG Ultrafine Ergo in our list above) can be useful for editing images in portrait orientation.

Ultra-wide monitors will give you a lot more screen space to work on so that you can have multiple windows or panels open, but they aren"t necessarily the best for focused work. They also take up a huge amount of space. Generally, we find that most photographers like editing on a monitor that"s between 27in and 32in.What monitor resolution do I need for photo editing?Put very simply, the higher the resolution, the better the image quality, but of course, higher resolution monitors are usually more expensive. When looking to pick the best monitor for photo editing, we would recommend going for a resolution of 4K (3,840 x 2,160) if you can afford it.

Most of the screens in our list of the best monitors for photo editing are 4K displays (double check that your PC or Mac supports 4K resolution if it"s quite an old device), but we have also included an QHD and FHD screen, both much more affordable while still offering the good colour coverage you want for photo editing.What else should I consider in a monitor for photo editing?If you"re buying a monitor for photo editing, colour is vital and it"s a good idea to look for a that display supports colour spaces like Adobe sRGB. You"ll also want a uniform brightness across the screen. The best monitors for photo editing include their own calibration tools, but this is not an essential since you can also buy an external monitor calibrator to perform regulator calibration of your screen.

Connectivity is a key issue, too – many monitors have HDMI, but some also support Thunderbolt or USB-C meaning you can have a single cable going to your PC or Mac that powers it and also carries the display signal. Whichever monitor your choose, you"ll want to make sure you regularly calibrate it using one of the best monitor calibrators. And if your workspace has harsh lighting, you might want to consider applying an anti-reflective coating too.

Flat-panel displays are thin panels of glass or plastic used for electronically displaying text, images, or video. Liquid crystal displays (LCD), OLED (organic light emitting diode) and microLED displays are not quite the same; since LCD uses a liquid crystal that reacts to an electric current blocking light or allowing it to pass through the panel, whereas OLED/microLED displays consist of electroluminescent organic/inorganic materials that generate light when a current is passed through the material. LCD, OLED and microLED displays are driven using LTPS, IGZO, LTPO, and A-Si TFT transistor technologies as their backplane using ITO to supply current to the transistors and in turn to the liquid crystal or electroluminescent material. Segment and passive OLED and LCD displays do not use a backplane but use indium tin oxide (ITO), a transparent conductive material, to pass current to the electroluminescent material or liquid crystal. In LCDs, there is an even layer of liquid crystal throughout the panel whereas an OLED display has the electroluminescent material only where it is meant to light up. OLEDs, LCDs and microLEDs can be made flexible and transparent, but LCDs require a backlight because they cannot emit light on their own like OLEDs and microLEDs.

Liquid-crystal display (or LCD) is a thin, flat panel used for electronically displaying information such as text, images, and moving pictures. They are usually made of glass but they can also be made out of plastic. Some manufacturers make transparent LCD panels and special sequential color segment LCDs that have higher than usual refresh rates and an RGB backlight. The backlight is synchronized with the display so that the colors will show up as needed. The list of LCD manufacturers:

Organic light emitting diode (or OLED displays) is a thin, flat panel made of glass or plastic used for electronically displaying information such as text, images, and moving pictures. OLED panels can also take the shape of a light panel, where red, green and blue light emitting materials are stacked to create a white light panel. OLED displays can also be made transparent and/or flexible and these transparent panels are available on the market and are widely used in smartphones with under-display optical fingerprint sensors. LCD and OLED displays are available in different shapes, the most prominent of which is a circular display, which is used in smartwatches. The list of OLED display manufacturers:

MicroLED displays is an emerging flat-panel display technology consisting of arrays of microscopic LEDs forming the individual pixel elements. Like OLED, microLED offers infinite contrast ratio, but unlike OLED, microLED is immune to screen burn-in, and consumes less power while having higher light output, as it uses LEDs instead of organic electroluminescent materials, The list of MicroLED display manufacturers:

Sony produces and sells commercial MicroLED displays called CLEDIS (Crystal-LED Integrated Displays, also called Canvas-LED) in small quantities.video walls.

LCDs are made in a glass substrate. For OLED, the substrate can also be plastic. The size of the substrates are specified in generations, with each generation using a larger substrate. For example, a 4th generation substrate is larger in size than a 3rd generation substrate. A larger substrate allows for more panels to be cut from a single substrate, or for larger panels to be made, akin to increasing wafer sizes in the semiconductor industry.

2015, sold to giantplus and tce photomasks, gen 3 still operated by giantplus, gen 4 line sold to giantplus, equipment sold and line demolished, remainder operated by tce

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The Aura Carver combines attractive hardware and simple software to create a digital photo frame that is the easiest to set up and operate, and at a great price. We found the quality of its screen to be on a par with that of pricier frames. You go through the setup process on your Android or iOS device, no clunky remote required. If you’re primarily a phone photographer, you should be able to have your pictures up on this frame in a relatively short amount of time.

The setup was the simplest of the frames we tested. Once you download the Aura app, pair your phone to the frame, and connect it to your Wi-Fi network settings using your phone, you’re all set. (I did have to wait for the frame to power up and download a recent update, but it hasn’t needed any other software updates since, and I was still able to get the frame up and running in about five minutes.) One of the few steps between turning on the device and adding photos is the option to send invitations to family members and friends via text so they can upload their own pictures (you can also set up the Carver as a gift for someone else; more on that below). In addition, you won’t have to do anything on the frame itself with a remote control because there isn’t one. Aura frames have touch bars on top of the device that let you control basic functions, while setup and other controls are found in Aura’s smartphone app. And the Carver frame’s slim top makes it easier to find the touch bar compared with the Aura Mason.

The Carver’s resolution is a little lower than the Mason’s—1280×800 versus 1600×1200, respectively—but I didn’t see an obvious drop in image quality. It still looks sharp, has excellent contrast, and displays colors well. From older digital-camera pictures to professional wedding photos, the images looked as great as we’ve ever seen them on a digital screen, without the typical blue undertone that you’ll find on a tablet or other digital frames we’ve tried. The Carver has a 16:10 aspect ratio, but I found that the wider ratio meant the entirety of my wedding photos always fit on the screen, so no guests were cut out. It also meant that when two vertical photos were displayed, they had a 4:5 aspect ratio. The automatic light sensor worked well in our trial runs, cranking up the screen’s brightness to combat sunlight. It also tended to pick up light from a different room better than the Mason’s sensor; when these frames were in my dining room, for example, the Carver stayed on with light spilling in from the kitchen, but the Mason did not.

Compared with a lot of other products in this category, with their plastic frames and borders that often look closer to a tablet than a decorative photo frame, the Carver has an aesthetic that combines form and function quite well. The frame has nifty features, such as touch-sensitive strips that let you mark favorite photos and go forward and backward with a swipe. (The strips take a little patience to work—we recommend moving slowly when using them.) Yet the grooved, textured plastic makes the Carver look like a nice frame you might buy for a print photo. Instead of relying on a flimsy stand to prop itself up, its thicker base makes it more stable, and there’s nothing to assemble beyond plugging in the power cord.

Once the Carver is up and running, you have many display options to choose from. Working with its default settings, you get behavior that’s more suggestive of a real picture frame than a digital one—the only giveaway is when it switches to side-by-side mode. You’ll find no cheesy animations between photos like on other frames we’ve dismissed, only simple fades and swipes. The Carver does a remarkably better job than competitors at automatically cropping photos to fit on the screen, ensuring the subjects are nicely centered. It’s also easy to re-crop an image within the app if it doesn’t automatically focus on your favorite part (but based on my experience, you will need to do this very rar