Are Costco digital photo frames worth getting?
Getting Costco digital photo frames might feel like a logical step given how widely known the Costco name is when it comes to shopping. On paper, it seems like a great choice as they offer a massive catalog of products and offer extensive online shopping services. Unfortunately, like many other online shopping hubs, the selection of Costco digital photo frames is extremely limited.
The digital photo frame range at Costco may be one of the most limited on today’s market. The only digital photo frame available at Costco’s online shopping portal is the Aura 10-inch Gallerie frame – which is widely known to be one of the most expensive 10-inch digital frames on the market. When you think about digital photo frames that offer great value for money, Aura frames aren’t at the top of the list.
To be fair, Aura digital photo frames have stunning displays with high resolutions. Unfortunately, their 16:9 aspect ratios are a big letdown as almost all of the photos sent from smartphones and cameras will need to be cropped, zoomed, distorted, or boxed into the center of the display by black pillar bars. This takes a lot away from the enhanced display resolution and quality and gives you less value for the higher price tag.
Another major issue is that Aura digital photo frames need to be connected to Wi-Fi at all times to work. Unlike competing for digital photo frames like the Pix-Star that offer extensive offline functionality, Aura digital frames can’t view photos, play slideshows, etc., without being connected to Wi-Fi. There are no remote-control features or functionality either – so they’re not the most suitable digital photo frames for grandparents.
The mobile app isn’t as versatile as other digital photo frames (that cost a lot less) and there is no web interface or dashboard. It makes importing photos from external sources such as social media or directly from your computer far less intuitive. To add to this, Aura digital photo frames don’t support video or audio playback – so you’re missing out on a key feature that most competing digital photo frames offer for free.
When you consider all these missing features (and more that haven’t been listed), it’s a hard justification considering that all you’re getting is a sharper display. Other premium digital photo frames offer excellent viewing experiences with lower resolution displays. The benefit isn’t as stark as you’d expect it to be.
Unless you’re willing to make all of these sacrifices for a higher resolution display (don’t forget the unfortunate 16:9 aspect ratio), Aura’s digital photo frames aren’t worth the higher price. Since this Aura frame is the only Costco digital photo frame available, your money will be better spent on other platforms like Amazon as they have a massive digital photo frame collection – but more on that in a moment.
Is the Pix-Star digital photo frame available at Costco?
Pix-Star’s digital photo frames are not sold on Costco’s site. The only digital photo frame at Costco is the Aura Gallerie – which we’ve spoken about above – and it’s seldom worth its high price tag. If you’re on the market for a capable and easy-to-use digital photo frame, Aura’s frames probably aren’t the best choice.
Pix-Star’s digital photo frames are some of the most versatile and capable frames on today’s market. You get excellent value for money and a digital frame that can effortlessly cater to the needs of families and modern homes. You get free-for-life cloud storage, extensive offline use, 8GB of internal storage, access to both a mobile app & web dashboard, web album support, and video & audio playback.
Pix-Star’s digital photo frames use a 4:3 aspect ratio that perfectly matches the aspect ratio of photos taken on most smartphones. It also means you don’t need to edit photos before sending them to your Pix-Star frames. The resulting viewing experience is immersive and natural.
Both the brightness and color settings can be manually adjusted and Pix-Star’s digital photo frames can be remotely controlled from anywhere in the world via the web interface. These digital photo frames offer excellent value for money and are one of the best overall digital frames on the market. Pix-Star’s digital photo frames are available on Amazon or directly from the Pix-Star shop.
Can Costco digital photo frames be returned?
Costco digital photo frames can be returned – but make sure to check the individual return & refund policy for each frame. The specific policy might be a little different from the general policy. Be sure to keep the original packaging, accessories, and receipts after purchasing your digital photo frame in case you need to get a refund or a replacement frame. You may want to even video the opening and initial use of the frame – though this is seldom necessary.
Should I buy a digital photo frame from Costco or Amazon?
We suggest buying a digital photo frame from Amazon. The only Costco digital photo frame available is the Aura Gallerie digital frame – and it’s usually not worth the money. Shopping for a digital photo frame on Amazon is far better because the product range is significantly larger. You can choose from hundreds of different digital photo frames at different budget levels.
Product information is in-depth and hundreds of verified reviews and Q&As help you weed out the digital frames that aren’t a good match. You’re far more likely to get the perfect digital photo frames on Amazon than you are with Costco – and you’ll probably get much better value for money.
How long do Costco digital photo frames last?
The only Costco digital photo frame available is the Aura Gallerie frame. It’s a premium (and very expensive) frame that’s designed to last for quite a long time – if you take good care of it. While these frames aren’t quite as durable as competing frames like the Pix-Star (due to the more vulnerable and delicate display panel), they’ll still likely last for more than a year. Make sure to keep your digital photo frame out of direct sunlight and away from overly hot/humid areas of the house (bathroom, certain areas in the kitchen, etc.).
