Are the largest digital photo frames worth the steeper price tag?
If you’ve been familiar with digital frames for a while, you’ll know that the largest digital frames are not as common and can get quite expensive. That being said, they come with unique benefits you won’t find with smaller digital photo frames. If you want to know if the largest digital photo frames are worth the money, and if they’re unique enough to warrant the higher price tag, here’s what you need to know.
The main feature that these frames offer over the rest is immersion. This is quite a profound advantage as it boosts the core appeal of digital photo frames. You’re buying something that you can view your most precious memories with – all other features and functions are built around this.
High screen-to-body ratios, bright and crisp displays, along with standard Wi-Fi connectivity and related features make frames with big displays extremely appealing – especially if the viewing experience is important to you.
They’re are great for bigger rooms and big families. Their broad viewing angle means you can huddle around your favorite memories and reminisce over them with your loved ones. The large and bright displays are great for elderly users and others who don’t have great eyesight. It’s easier for them to navigate the menus and see the detail in photos.
You also have to consider how larger digital photo frames have an easier time filling and commanding the space they’re placed in. Whether you’re mounting it on the wall to display art and professional photos, or standing it on the mantelpiece above the fireplace, they’ll draw attention and bring more life to the room.
All-in-all, if you have the budget, the largest digital photo frames offer a unique and immersive viewing experience that smaller digital photo frames seldom match. You get enhanced versatility and a boost in functionality – especially if you want to display family portraits, artwork, or professional/enthusiast photography.
Should I go for the largest digital photo frame I can afford?
We’re often tempted by the next step – the bigger frame, the bigger pizza. Perhaps it’s our nature to want the best we can find, but that doesn’t always mean it’s the best use of your money. You need to have a clear idea of what you’re looking for, the available space, and a room the frame will be in.
Should you go for the biggest digital photo frame your budget can handle? It depends. If you want to put the frame in a large room, or in a space that’s not busy, these frames might have what you need. They’ll naturally and effortlessly draw attention to themselves, especially if you display intriguing photos/videos or art. If the room is particularly well lit, many of the largest digital photo frames have brighter screens to make sure you can see the display in brighter light. They also often have broader viewing angles that let you more easily see the display from sharper angles.
Generally speaking, unless you specifically need a smaller digital photo frame (due to limited space, budget, needing a touchscreen, or simply don’t like large displays), a larger frame is probably right for you.
What to look for in the largest digital photo frames?
Resolution and aspect ratio has a major influence on the viewability and versatility of the larger screens. For digital photo frames 15-inches and over, 1024×768 and above is needed for a crisp and clear display. As far as aspect ratio goes, 4:3 is one of the best. It offers a great balance between photo and video playback and does a great job at screening photos without black bars and awkward cropping.
You should be able to adjust the frame’s display settings. The most important of these is brightness. Auto-adjusting brightness is a feature you should avoid if possible. It sounds great on paper, but seldom works well in low light and at night. Adjustable color settings like hue and saturation are essential if you want to customize the display to suit the room and the type of photos/videos you’re showing.
Aside from display-related features, the largest digital photo frames benefit hugely from Wi-Fi and cloud capabilities. You should be able to send photos and videos to the frame via email, mobile app, web interface, and on a USB/SD card. Web album compatibility and the ability to import external or online photos through the web interface is super-helpful – especially if you want to view photos from social media accounts like Facebook and photo sharing sites like Google Photos, Flickr, etc.
Internal storage is another essential feature. Big digital photo frames need at least 4GB of local storage space – more if the frame can display higher resolution photos and videos. 8GB of internal storage offers an excellent balance between price and being enough for extensive offline use.
Where is the best place to mount the largest digital photo frames?
Mounting big frames on an empty wall is an excellent idea. They do a fantastic job at filling up large spaces and drawing attention. You can use the larger digital frames to display artwork and quality photos/family photos in a very natural way. It’s a great way to inject life into the room and add in a little personality.
If you’re not a big fan of mounting a large digital photo frame on the wall, you can rest it on a table or mantelpiece. Just make sure the frame comes with a sturdy and steady stand, as many of the largest digital photo frames can get quite heavy. The benefit of having the frame standing on a surface is that it’s quick and easy to switch orientation or change location.
Do the largest digital photo frames use touchscreens?
Touchscreens are not common among the largest digital photo frames – and for good reason. Touchscreens get very expensive as they get larger. That’s why most touchscreen digital photo frames are around 8-inches.
There are also other concerns like long-term durability due to scratching and standard wear and tear. They’re not as durable as standard displays and can be very difficult for elderly users to navigate with. You also have to deal with fingerprints and having to constantly clean them off the display to keep the viewing experience acceptable.
When you’re buying the largest digital photo frames, avoid touchscreens. Your wallet and your grandparents will thank you.
