Is the Aluratek digital photo frame any good?
Aluratek has a large selection of digital photo frames ranging from the small and cheap to the big and expensive. While this looks like a great feature on paper, the real-world reality is quite different. The drawback of Aluratek having such a broad product line is that they struggle to compete at any level.
The smallest 7” Aluratek digital photo frame is one of the cheapest on the market – but you get what you pay for. There’s no Wi-Fi connectivity, no internal storage, and very limited on-frame features. You also have to use the on-board controls, which are borderline awful. The only way to view photos is to load them up on a USB/SD card and leave it connected to the frame at all times.
Unless you’re using a thumb drive or SD card, all USB drives will stick awkwardly out the side. You can also see the power cable sticking out the side of the frame. Several quality control issues are probably the result of Aluratek spreading its focus too thin.
From electric issues and screen issues; to failed photo uploads and non-compatible USB drives – these issues aren’t just limited to their cheapest models.
While some of the more expensive Aluratek digital photo frames aren’t too bad, they also have a lot of shortcomings. For example, Aluratek’s most expensive digital photo frame is a 17” behemoth. It has a high-resolution display and a large bright screen.
This seems like a great selling point, but it’s quickly dulled by small internal storage (compare to the size of 1920×1080 picture size), non-optimized apps like the weather app, and no cloud storage. This is further worsened by the 16:9 aspect ratio that winds up leaving you with ugly black bars around every photo – though 16:9 is admittedly great for video playback.
Several durability issues frequently pop up on user forums and Amazon’s customer reviews section. Many complaints about the frame running into electrical, charging, or screen issues after just 3 months is a big no when you consider the price of Aluratek’s more expensive frames.
When compared to brands like Pix-Star, Aluratek’s digital photo frames struggle to stand their ground. While some features on Aluratek’s best digital photo frames outshine all the competition (like 1080p displays), it’s not enough to undo the quality control and user experience issues.
While there is no perfect digital photo frame, Aluratek could perhaps benefit from a slightly narrower focus when it comes to the size of their frame catalog. That being said, some of their Wi-Fi-enabled frames are relatively good and do have a place on the market. If you’re only looking for a frame with a high-resolution display and don’t mind living with some quality control issues and lacking features – these frames might not be the worst choice. It’s just a hard sell when you consider how feature-rich and usable some of the competitors’ frames are (e.g. Pix-Star and Nixplay).
How does the Aluratek digital photo frame compare to Pix-Star’s frames?
A direct comparison is quite difficult to make as Aluratek has almost a dozen different frames for sale; whereas Pix-Star focuses on two frames. This might seem like a shot at Pix-Star, but their narrower focus has helped them deliver a fantastic user experience with very few quality control issues. Unfortunately, Aluratek’s digital photo frames don’t quite live up to the same standard.
They have the advantage of a wide product range with plenty of choices, but even their best frames struggle to compete with Pix-Star’s feature richness and versatility.
Most Aluratek frames don’t have internal storage or Wi-Fi compatibility. This alone wipes out more than half of their product base when compared with many of the other top digital frame brands on the market.
Pix-Star takes the edge when it comes to syncing web albums and using cloud storage. These are relatively basic features, but they aren’t offered on Aluratek’s digital photo frames (even their flagship). Pix-Star also offers features like remote control capability that makes them great for elderly users and very large families. You can easily manage all the frames on your network via the web interface and mobile app.
While Aluratek offers parts of these features, there is nothing offered consistently or effectively across their premium frames. Aluratek’s best digital photo frames take the edge in terms of resolution, but awkward aspect ratios and fingerprints all over the screen quickly take away from this.
In summary, both frames have their place on the market. Pix-Star’s frame offers you a more consistent, reliable, and fluid user experience. There are loads of features that work well. Web albums, linking to social media albums, and cloud storage are a big plus. Pix-Star’s frames have better quality control and aren’t nearly as buggy as Aluratek’s digital photo frames.
How can I transfer photos to an Aluratek digital photo frame?
The best way to send photos and other media to your Aluratek digital photo frame is via the mobile app. A close second is through email, but this is a feature common to almost all Wi-Fi digital photo frames.
Bear in mind that only some of Aluratek’s digital photo frames are Wi-Fi compatible. On top of this, most of them don’t even have internal storage. This means the only way to send photos to most Aluratek digital photo frames is by loading them onto a USB/SD card and leaving them connected to the frame all the time.
It’s also worth noting that there are several complaints about Aluratek’s compatible mobile app – especially on non-iOS devices. There are many reports of crashing and failed to send attempts.
Only Aluratek’s premium and flagship digital photo frames can playback video and audio. Make sure you check the specific reviews and details of the frame you’re interested in, especially if you’re buying it from Amazon. There are several accounts of people not getting the features that were promised in the description. Do your homework before buying, or buy from a more consistent and reliable brand.
Are all Aluratek digital photo frame Wi-Fi compatible?
Not all of Aluratek’s digital photo frames are Wi-Fi compatible. Most of their frames can only receive and play photos through a constantly connected USB/SD card (up to 32GB).
A handful of Aluratek’s premium digital photo frames are Wi-Fi compatible, though they don’t come with any form of cloud storage or web album compatibility.
Why does the Aluratek digital photo frame have so many negative reviews?
Negative reviews of Aluratek’s digital photo frame are especially prominent on their Amazon page. There appears to be a lot of durability and quality control issues. This is understandable for their cheapest units as you know you get what you pay for.
For their more expensive units, quality control issues aren’t easily excusable. Most of the negative reviews have to do with promised features either not working, or being very difficult/buggy to use.
There are also several negative user reviews based on their tough return policy. Make sure you read through every available verified review before buying one of their frames.
It’s also worth noting that it’s very easy to confuse their frames. Aluratek sells almost a dozen different frames – each one has slightly different features or functions. This is also a source of a couple of negative reviews. Many of their Amazon product pages have a generic description that can be quite misleading when they aren’t weighed against the user reviews.
