Are Nix Advance digital frames the best digital frames of 2021?
Nix Advance digital frames are low to mid-range digital frames that are priced a little higher than what they should – though this was in the past. Today, Nix Advance digital frames have been discontinued and replaced by standard Nix digital frames. Nix is the non-Wi-Fi branch of Nixplay’s digital photo frame range, so the manufacturer has a proven record. That being said, they’re a long way from being one of the best digital frames on the market.
Even Nixplay’s flagship digital frames range doesn’t quite have what it takes to compete for the top spot. This is largely due to their option subscription fee that’s paid annually. Without this subscription fee active, Nixplay’s frames perform much like Nix’s frames and fall into the mid-range of the market. The subscription package is required to gain access to the mobile app, video playback, cloud storage, and more. Competing frames like the Pix-Star offer all of these features (and more extensively in many cases).
Nix digital frames are a little overpriced for what they are. That being said, they have relatively good displays and many of their frames use a 4:3 aspect ratio – which is arguably the best aspect ratio for digital frames. Pix-Star’s frames are probably the best frames on the market (they use a 4:3 aspect ratio) – and they don’t charge any extra recurring or hidden fees.
Pix-Star’s digital frames are more expensive than Nix Advance digital frames, but not by as much as you’d expect. You’ll get better value for money and a frame that effortlessly caters to the needs of modern homes & families – keeping you connected with those that you care about most.
How do Nix Advance digital frames compare with Pix-Star’s frames?
Pix-Star’s digital photo frames are one of the best digital frames on the market at the moment. They’re one of the few premium frames that specifically cater to elderly users through smooth interfaces and advanced features like remote control functionality (control up to 25 connected Pix-Star frames from anywhere in the world).
Pix-Star’s digital frames have extensive Wi-Fi-enabled features and even offer free-for-life cloud storage. Many other premium digital frames charge extra recurring and/or hidden fees to unlock or expand cloud storage – so it’s a big selling point for Pix-Star. By contrast, Nix Advance digital frames can’t connect to Wi-Fi and don’t offer cloud or Bluetooth connectivity.
Pix-Star’s digital frames can send/receive photos, videos, and audio files from anywhere in the world in just a couple of moments. Up to 250 photos can be sent to several Pix-Star frames simultaneously via the Pix-Star Snap mobile app (here you can also send videos and audio messages). There’s no need to create an account, it’s free to use, and one of the most intuitive mobile apps in the premium digital frame range.
Pix-Star’s web dashboard is probably the most versatile you’ll find. You can link web albums (photo albums saved on social media, photo-sharing, and online storage platforms) directly to all of your Pix-Star frames. You can also create multi-frame control groups that let you manage & control up to 25 connected Pix-Star frames. Here you can adjust their settings, start slideshows, update firmware, and much more – all from anywhere in the world. All that’s needed is an online & connected Pix-Star frame.
None of these features are possible on Nix Advance digital frames due to their non-Wi-Fi design. Their frames aren’t well suited to family use or even elderly users (due to outdated & clucky software). They’ll feel out of place in modern homes, despite having a decent display. Wi-Fi connectivity is so essential in 2021 and beyond that, any non-Wi-Fi frame will find it very difficult to find a place on today’s market.
Can Nix Advance digital frames view weather forecasts?
Nix Advance digital frames cannot connect to Wi-Fi – which happens to be the most essential requirement for features like weather, radio, web music, etc. If you’re set on viewing weather images on your frame, you’d need to take screen captures of the weather reports, load them to a USB/SD card, insert it into the frame, and view that screen captures in randomized slideshows. This is a massive time sink and not practical at all.
If you want a digital photo frame with a weather function, Pix-Star’s frames are a great choice. You can view up-to-date weather forecasts mixed into slideshows. You can select which countries and cities to display weather forecasts for – and they’ll start to show up in slideshows (if that’s the setting you choose). Pix-Star’s digital photo frames also offer web music & radio, video support, and audio playback (all of which can be included in or played over slideshows).
Can Nix Advance digital frames play music and videos?
Nix Advance digital frames can play videos, but they can’t play audio files. There are no inbuilt speakers or any way to connect to external speakers (via USB or 3.5mm). Nix Advance frames are visual-only, though there are still restrictions on video length and file formats. Stick to common file formats like MP4 and avoid less common file formats. This can be a major issue if you’re loading photos from an iPhone to the view on the frame – so it’s essential to keep file formats in mind.
Make sure that videos match the frame’s native 4:3 aspect ratio (though some models have either a 16:9 or a 16:10 aspect ratio) to avoid videos being flipped or boxed into the center of the display. Keep videos shorter than 1-minute to avoid the frame rejecting them. You should also aim to keep their resolution as close to the display’s native resolution as possible to aid compatibility and save on storage space (and improve how fast the frame reads the inserted USB/SD card).
How to send photos to Nix Advance digital frames?
Nix Advance digital frames are a branch of Nixplay’s brand umbrella. Nix is the non-Wi-Fi version and Nixplay frames are the Wi-Fi-enabled versions. Due to Nix Advance digital frames not supporting Wi-Fi or cloud connectivity, they cannot receive photos wirelessly (as is common with many premium digital frames – and even many mid-range frames).
The only way to send photos and videos (in supported file formats) to the Nix Advance frame is by USB/SD card. Avoid using card or USB sticks with more than 8GB of internal storage to avoid the frame’s freezing issues (due to limited processing power). Note that Nix Advance digital frames don’t have internal storage space, so slideshows need to be played directly off the connected USB/SD card.
