Is the digital photo frame any good?
Yes, the digital photo frame is very good at what it does. You will struggle to find anything else on the market that can mimic their photo and video playback (here’s a quick guide to finding the right digital frame with video support) capabilities while keeping up with all the features they offer.
Digital photo frames can receive media from anywhere in the world through channels like email, mobile apps, web interfaces, and through syncing with social media and online photo sharing platforms – this that’s not an exhaustive list.
You can also customize how you want the photos and videos displayed through slideshows and personalized transitions. You can select to view all the photos on the digital photo frame or to view select albums. Slideshows can shuffle randomly through all the content on the digital photo frame. You can even set them to show newer and more recent photos and videos more frequently, or avoid older photos altogether.
Many of the best digital photo frames automatically sync new photos that have just been sent by any channel and can be set to automatically display them as they are received. This means you never miss a moment and will always stay up to date with what’s going on in your friends’ and families’ lives.
Some digital photo frames like the Pix-Star are very easy to use and can be set up and controlled remotely. These types of digital photo frames are great for dispersed families and for grandparents that aren’t great with technology and new devices. Wi-Fi connectivity enables much of this functionality – so it’s an essential feature. Other devices like Bluetooth digital photo frames exist, but they’re not nearly as common as Wi-Fi-enabled ones.
All-in-all, digital photo frames are very hard to beat at what they do. They offer a comprehensive set of features and an ecosystem you can rely on to keep in touch with your family. They’re well worth the money.
Can you send videos to a digital photo frame?
Yes, but this isn’t a feature you’ll find on all digital photo frames. Many of the better models (like Pix-Star’s 10-inch and 15-inch digital photo frames) can playback video clips of up to 2-minutes. While the resolution isn’t quite as high as what you’d get on a tablet or TV, it’s perfect for quick video clips from your travels – or to say hi to your grandparents.
Before you send a video clip, make sure video playback is supported by your digital photo frame. To send videos, attach them an email to your frame’s dedicated email address, or via the mobile app/web interface.
If your videos are on your social media collections, download them manually and send them. Most digital photo frames can’t sync web album videos and need to save them onto internal storage for playback to work.
Bear in mind that the specific features and processes above will vary between brands and digital photo frame models/versions.
Does my digital photo frame need to be left on continuously?
Your digital photo frame should always be connected to a power source – but this doesn’t mean it’s going to stay on the whole time. For example, Pix-Star’s digital photo frames can be set to turn off and back on at specific times. They also have motion sensors that will turn on the display when you’re nearby. Most good digital frames have a sleep or auto-on/off function.
You don’t need to worry about the display getting damaged or the digital frame overheating – but more on this later. You might also be curious about battery-powered digital frames too, so there’s a useful guide on what to look for!
Digital photo frames should stay connected to power all the time so that they can sync and receive all the latest photos and updates. Even if the display is off, most good digital frames will still be able to send and receive media. You can even set them to only turn on at the time you get home from work, and then off again when you go to bed.
How many photos can a digital photo frame hold?
Most good-quality digital photo frames have 4-8GB of internal storage. This is enough for ~30,000 pictures. This is a rough estimate as not all pictures are of the same quality and size, and your digital frame might support higher resolution photos.
20,000 – 30,000 photos is a significant amount. For most people, that is a couple of years’ worth of photos and means that you will seldom see the same pictures (unless you choose to show newer pictures more often).
If you use an external USB or memory card, you can double or triple the number of photos you can hold. This also lets you store a lot more videos while still having plenty of space for years’ worth of pictures and other media. It’s quite unlikely you will run out of storage space on your digital photo frame.
Does a digital photo frame need constant Wi-Fi access?
Getting a good digital photo frame doesn’t mean you need 24/7 access to Wi-Fi, but they work better if they’re constantly connected. You need Wi-Fi for downloading, syncing, and adding new photos – but you don’t need Wi-Fi for displaying pictures and videos that are already stored on your digital frame.
For example, with Pix-Star’s digital photo frame, you will have access to all the normal features minus downloading media and updating web albums. You can view any web albums and media that have already been received and downloaded.
Alternatively, you can use a USB or memory card if you aren’t going to have Wi-Fi for longer periods.
Do digital photo frames use a lot of power?
No, digital photo frames don’t use a lot of power. Most top-rated digital photo frames have auto-on/off functions that can be set to work according to a preset schedule. Many also have a motion sensor that wakes the digital frame up when somebody is in front of it.
The screens aren’t extremely high-resolution and don’t suffer from any kind of overheating or excess power-draw. Think of it as charging a phone or tablet. Digital photo frames use even less power than that.
How long do digital photo frames last?
This depends on how you use your digital photo frame. Most good digital photo frames can continuously display the same picture for ~1,000 hours before any screen burn-in or damage to the LCD takes place.
You are never going to display the same photo for more than 1,000 hours (or you’d be better off framing a printed picture) so this isn’t something to worry about.
