What are the best digital slideshow picture frames for 2022?
Pix-Star digital slideshow picture frames are arguably the best pick for 2022 thanks to their robust and versatile feature set. Pix-Star is known to be some of the most versatile and easy-to-use frames on today’s market.
Features like free-for-life cloud storage, automatic cloud backups, access to both a mobile app & web dashboard for sending photos, 8GB of internal storage, a 4:3 aspect ratio, and highly customizable slideshows deliver massive value.
In terms of price, Pix-Star’s digital slideshow frames are slightly cheaper than most other premium frames. Unlike competing frames like Nixplay or Skylight frames, Pix-Star doesn’t charge any required or optional subscription fees to unlock features like cloud storage, video & audio support, and custom folders.
Pix-Star’s frames let you play video clips, include them in slideshows, send them via the mobile app or USB/SD card, and even set them to play muted. These frames can also play audio files and connect to external speakers/headphones to enhance immersion. Pix-Star’s frames can play audio files, web music, and even radio over slideshows.
One of Pix-Star’s most unique features is the ability to manage and control up to 25 connected Pix-Star frames from anywhere in the world. Here you can manage their internal and cloud storage, remotely start slideshows & change their sources, update their firmware, and adjust most of the frame’s settings (e.g., motion sensor settings, screen brightness, slideshow controls, and much more).
Pix-Star’s digital picture frames are versatile choices and some of the only premium frames that specifically cater to both elderly users & families. Even the individual user will find great utility with Pix-Star’s frames for importing photos from social media & photo-sharing sites.
How do digital slideshow picture frames work?
Digital slideshow picture frames use a combination of internal storage, USB/SD card support, a digital display, customizable slideshows, and the ability to receive photos wirelessly to showcase photos, memories, and more. It’s worth noting that not all of these features are universally offered and that most cheap and mid-range digital frames cannot connect to Wi-Fi or the cloud.
That being said, most premium digital frames can connect to Wi-Fi, receive photos via mobile apps & web interfaces, email, USB/SD cards, and more. In some rarer cases, you can even import photos directly from your social media, photo-sharing, and online storage platforms & profiles to your frames.
Some digital frames in the premium range like the Pix-Star can be remotely controlled from anywhere in the world to start slideshows, manage local & cloud storage, and much more. These types of frames are great for families – especially elderly users – as they make photo-sharing and viewing highly accessible for all members.
How long do digital slideshow picture frames last?
Modern digital slideshow picture frames in the premium range are well built and durable. Their display is designed to handle displaying the same static image for 1,000-hours without pause without being damaged. In practice, this is more than you’d ever need as these are “slideshow” frames. For perspective, 1,000-hours is over 41 days.
If you want to display the same static image for that length of time, you’d be better off printing and framing that individual image. It would be putting much of the digital frame’s versatility to waste by not making full use of their capable slideshows, remote control & offline functionality, and video support.
In terms of build quality, top digital frames like the Pix-Star can last for several years before they need to be replaced. Make sure to keep them out of direct sunlight and away from any overly hot or humid spots. Avoid touchscreen digital picture frames; they’re less durable and more prone to scratching & oil/dirt build-up over time.
Do digital slideshow picture frames need Wi-Fi?
Digital slideshow picture frames need Wi-Fi for syncing new albums from external sources, downloading pending photos, receiving pictures by email or the mobile app, and remotely controlling the frame. With that said, some premium frames like the Pix-Star offer extensive offline functionality. Their 8GB of internal storage gives you plenty of storage space for all your photos, videos, and audio messages.
Every photo or video that’s sent to the Pix-Star by any method (except plug-and-play slideshows from a connected USB/SD card) is saved to internal storage and backed up to the cloud. This included web albums (photo albums imported from external sources) from social media, photo-sharing, and online storage platforms.
Once media is saved to Pix-Star’s local storage, you can use it any way you see fit. You can start slideshows, delete photos, create & fill new folders, create custom slideshows with specific files & folders, and much more.
It’s worth noting that offline functionality isn’t a universally offered feature. Some top frames like the Aura frame require a constant Wi-Fi connection and don’t support a plug-and-play feature from a connected USB/SD card. For reference, Pix-Star’s frames let you insert a connected USB/SD card with photos, videos, and audio files loaded. You can start slideshows directly from the USB/SD card, or copy the entire content (except audio files) directly to the frame’s internal storage.
Can digital slideshow picture frames play videos?
Many premium digital slideshow picture frames offer video & audio playback support. It’s a feature that’s rarely found in the cheap or mid-range digital photo frame range. That being said, even in premium frames that offer video support, there are almost always limits on the length or size of supported video clips.
For example, Pix-Star’s digital slideshow frames can play videos that are 2-minutes or shorter. This might not seem like much – but it’s more than almost any other frame on the market offers (30-seconds with Dragon Touch frames, 15-seconds with Nixplay, and Aura frames don’t support either video or audio).
Bear in mind that digital slideshow frames are designed to showcase your favorite photos and memories – not to replace existing media hubs. They digitize traditional photo frames to give you a whole lot more versatility, let you share photos across the world, and connect directly with your loved ones.
Features like video & audio playback are “bonus” functions that aren’t universally offered. It’s another reason why we suggest going for a premium digital frame like the Pix-Star.
