Are 4K digital photo frames worth getting in 2021?
4K digital photo frames aren’t going to be something you’ll come across very often. They’re just about as rare as a bigfoot sighting – just a whole lot more expensive. 4K digital frames aren’t known for having over-the-top high-resolution displays. There’s a key argument against how useful they are – especially when it comes to the cost of features & functionality.
The digital photo frame market is tight. The biggest and best brands like the Pix-Star have a stronghold on the market. The main issue with 4K digital photo frames is how expensive they are to make. This is especially true for a 4K digital frame with a display size of 8-inches and above. To keep the price competitive, sacrifices are usually made to the features, connectivity, fluidity, and performance.
These balances aren’t always made – such is the case with Meural digital photo frames. They have very high-resolution panels and offer some basic Wi-Fi & cloud-enabled features. Even then, the 16:9 aspect ratio of the display is a big drawback, slideshows aren’t as versatile, and you can’t remotely control the frames via a web interface or mobile app. Even with all of these missing features, Meural digital photo frames cost close to $1,000 – more than 5 times the price of many of the best digital frames like Pix-Star’s 15-inch model.
While we’re used to having high-resolution displays on our laptops, smartphones, and TVs, it’s not an essential requirement. For example, many of the best digital photo frames use a 1024×768 display resolution. Photos still appear sharp, color-accurate, and easy to see from across the room or at an angle. It’s not worth sacrificing all the features & functionality that make digital photo frames relevant for modern homes & families.
It’s seldom worth the massive price tag. While the viewing experience might be hard to beat, that’s only one aspect of what you’d need from a digital photo frame. For the price of one of these 4K digital photo frames, you could get 4-5 premium digital frames like the Pix-Star and use them for the whole family. They can be synced together, controlled remotely, and photos can be sent to all of them at the same time.
Are Pix-Star’s frames 4K digital photo frames?
Pix-Star’s digital photo frames do not have 4K panels. 4K panels are seldom found in the digital photo frame. They’re too expensive and you’d probably get better value for money with a similar price (almost $1,000) smart 4K TV, laptop, or even dedicated monitor. This is the main reason that many digital photo frames like the Pix-Star don’t use 4K displays – it would price them out of the market.
Pix-Star uses a low-resolution display while still offering an exceptional viewing experience. They use a 4:3 aspect ratio to perfectly match the photos most smartphones take. Their frames come in either a 10-inch or larger 15-inch version. Both offer manually adjustable brightness & color settings to ensure you get the perfect picture for any situation, theme, or occasion.
Pix-Star put the saved cost of not using an over-the-top 4K display into features. Pix-Star’s frames have a mobile app (Pix-Star Snap) and web dashboard that lets you send photos to several digital frames at the same time. You can also send video clips & audio messages through the mobile app at any time. There’s no need to create an account either.
Pix-Star’s web dashboard lets you remotely control & manage up to 25 connected Pix-Star frames from anywhere in the world. You can start slideshows, manage their settings, control both local & cloud storage, and much more. Pix-Star’s web album feature also lets you link photos directly from social media & photo-sharing platforms to your Pix-Star frames. They can even be set to automatically update when new photos are added.
Pix-Star’s frames are one of the only premium digital photo frames that cater to families & elderly users through their features, ease of use, and remote-control functionality. Slideshows are versatile and can be started right from the home screen. They’re quick & easy to set up and fit perfectly into modern home & family – helping you connect & share with your loved ones effortlessly.
What to look for in 4K digital photo frames?
If you’re set on getting a 4K digital photo frame, here’s what you should look for. Perhaps the most impactful feature to look for is a 4:3 aspect ratio. You should be able to view most photos using the full screen without having to worry about cropping, distortion, or photos being boxed in by black bars. Since most of our smartphones capture in 4:3, these photos will be displayed perfectly on a 4:3 digital frame. If you’re going to spend a lot of money on a 4K digital frame, you need to make sure it’s 4:3.
Another essential feature is manually adjustable brightness and color settings. Most digital photo frames don’t allow you to manually adjust the brightness of the frame, and even fewer let you change the color settings. Sensor-controlled brightness and auto-on/off settings seldom work well in the real world. They tend to struggle in rooms that aren’t well-lit or in the early evenings. Adjustable color settings are offered by the best digital photo frames like the Pix-Star and give you a great deal of control over how your slideshows & photos appear.
Can I use a 4K TV as a digital photo frame?
Yes, it’s often better to get a $1,000 smart 4K TV than a 4K digital photo frame. This is because they often lack the necessary functionality to compete with premium frames like the Pix-Star (which are also a lot cheaper than 4K digital photo frames). It’s hard to justify buying a 4K digital photo frame that costs several times more than the average high-end digital photo frame like the Pix-Star. At the price point of 4K digital photo frames, you’re likely to get better value for money from a 4K TV or a laptop & external monitor.
How 4K digital photo frames be remotely controlled?
This depends on the specific feature set of the 4K digital photo frame in question – though it’s quite rare to find. Since so much of the frame’s cost goes into the display, there isn’t much room left for advanced features like remote control functionality, cloud storage, and supporting mobile apps/web interfaces.
