What to look for in the best digital picture frames in 2022 for grandparents?
The best digital picture frames in 2022 for grandparents need a couple of must-have features. The most important of these features are Wi-Fi connectivity and cloud capabilities. These two features lay the foundation for more advanced features like free-for-life cloud storage, the ability to remotely control & manage all of your family’s frames, link and import photos from social media & photo-sharing platforms, and much more.
Ensure the frame has at least 4GB of internal storage and doesn’t require a constant Wi-Fi or cloud connection to start slideshows, browse local storage, and adjust the frame’s settings. Try to get a digital frame with a 4:3 aspect ratio and manually adjustable color & brightness settings for immersive slideshows.
Avoid touchscreens and battery-run digital picture frames as they aren’t very durable and seldom lack the features and functionality to compete with top frames like the Pix-Star, Dragon Touch, Skylight, Nixplay, or Aura frames.
Are the best digital picture frames still relevant in 2022?
The best digital picture frames are still alive and thriving in 2022. Digital frames make for excellent gift ideas and make connecting & sharing your favorite memories with your loved ones effortless – and in some cases – much of the sharing process can be automated.
Digital picture frames like the Pix-Star are well-equipped for the modern home & family. Some of its most versatile and functional features include free-for-life cloud storage, remote-control capabilities, access to both a mobile app & web dashboard for sending large quantities of photos to several frames at the same time, and both video & audio support.
Pix-Star’s frames are one of the few premium brands that cater intentionally to both elderly users and families. Their frames are easy to use and photo-sharing is both intuitive and simple. The setup process is quick and easy – allowing both wall-mounting and resting on a flat surface. Pix-Star’s frames support landscape and portrait orientations and the 4:3 display delivers an immersive and unforgettable viewing experience to rival the best.
How to play videos on the best digital picture frames in 2022?
Not all of the best digital picture frames of 2022 can play videos (e.g., Aura’s frames don’t support video or audio playback). That being said, a handful of the top frames offer decent video playback, along with audio support and the ability to connect to external speakers/headphones.
For example, Pix-Star’s digital frames can receive videos via the Pix-Star Snap mobile app or a connected USB/SD card. Perhaps the most unique video-related feature that Pix-Star offers is the ability to include videos in slideshows. These included videos can be set to play muted or with their original audio – or to be excluded from slideshows altogether.
To play videos on Pix-Star’s frames, you can either browse your frame’s internal storage or find them. You can move the video files around, create new folders, etc., all without needing to be connected to Wi-Fi. Videos can be played individually via the media library, or can be included in slideshows via the slideshow settings. Note that you can also access the connected USB/SD card via the Pix-Star’s media library.
What are the best digital picture frames in 2022 for families?
Pix-Star’s frames are some of the best digital picture frames in 2022 for the modern home & family. They pack in a robust and versatile feature set that caters to the needs of most families through free-for-life cloud storage, remote control functionality, ease of use, and the ability to import photo albums from social media & photo-sharing sites directly to the frame’s internal storage.
Pix-Star’s frames offer extensive offline functionality thanks to 8GB of internal storage and full USB/SD card support. There are no size limits placed on supported USB/SD cards – giving you access to virtually unlimited storage space. Pix-Star’s plug & play feature lets you play slideshows directly off a connected USB/SD card without having to copy its content to the frame’s internal storage.
Other key features of the Pix-Star include its 4:3 aspect ratio and manually adjustable color & brightness settings. These are often major pain points with many competing frames that use 16:9 displays. Since most of our smartphones shoot in 4:3, Pix-Star’s frames have an innate advantage. Photos won’t be boxed in by black pillar bars or distorted in any way – something you’ll grow tired of extremely fast with 16:9 digital picture frames.
Pix-Star’s frames can also be controlled & managed remotely via the web interface, with the ability to manage up to 25 Pix-Star frames from a single user account. Here you can import photo albums from a dozen different external sources (such as social media sites or your computer), adjust most of the frame’s general & slideshow settings, start & manage slideshows, manage both local & cloud storage for any of your frames, and update their firmware – all from anywhere in the world. It’s the ideal frame for families and offers an effortless and versatile way to connect with your loved ones, and share your favorite and most treasured memories with ease!
Do the best digital picture frames in 2022 charge extra recurring fees?
Not all of the best digital picture frames in 2022 charge extra recurring fees. Pix-Star’s frames are arguably the most versatile premium frames on the market – offering free-for-life cloud storage, access to a mobile app & web interface, web album support, and video & audio playback. Despite all of these features, Pix-Star’s frames don’t charge any extra fees, subscription packages, or hidden costs.
On the other hand, top digital frames like Nixplay’s range, and the Skylight frame both charge optional recurring subscription fees. The word “optional” is quite debatable here as these frames aren’t much better than a mid-range range without the additional “Plus” subscription package being active. These fees are paid annually and are required for the frame to compete with other top choices like the Pix-Star.
The extra recurring fee is required to unlock features like cloud storage, access to the mobile app or web interface, the ability to create multi-frame control groups, play & send videos & audio files, and even to create custom playlists. We rarely recommend getting a digital frame with optional subscription packages available – especially when frames like the Pix-Star offer all the same features (and often better features) without charging a cent extra.