2025年最佳数码相框推荐
内容来源:https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/best-digital-frame-120046051.html?src=rss
内容总结:
【2025年智能相框选购指南:这三款值得关注】
当前市场上充斥着大量劣质数码相框,消费者极易被低价吸引却收获糟糕体验。经过对多款产品的实测,我们为您筛选出以下三款表现突出的产品,助您轻松打造家庭数字影像空间。
首选推荐:Aura Carver Mat 智能相框
这款产品以「极致体验」为设计理念,配备10.1英寸防眩光屏幕,虽分辨率仅为1280×800,但凭借出色的色彩还原与广视角表现,画面呈现清晰饱满。机身采用磨砂质感塑料框架,支持横屏模式并通过软件算法实现竖版照片并行展示。
核心优势:
- 可通过App无缝同步iCloud/Google相册
- 云端存储无容量限制且无需订阅
- 智能相册自动更新功能解放双手
注意事项:
- 仅支持云端传输照片
- 售价略高于同类产品(标准版149美元)
性价比之选:PhotoSpring经典款
如果您预算控制在百元内(售价99美元),这款搭载同尺寸触摸屏的产品值得考虑。虽屏幕反光控制与视角略逊于Aura,但支持SD卡/USB/云端多种传输方式,且可横竖屏自由切换。另提供139美元电池版满足移动使用需求。
多功能代表:谷歌Nest Hub Max
作为智能家居中枢(售价229美元),其数码相框功能同样出色。内置环境光感应器可自动调节屏幕色温,但需完全依赖Google相册生态。适合已深度融入谷歌生态且需要多合一设备的用户。
■ 选购要点提醒:
- 屏幕素质应综合考量反光控制、视角与色温,而非单纯追求分辨率
- 务必确认设备无需订阅即可使用核心功能
- 百美元是保证基础体验的价格分水岭,150-180美元区间产品体验全面提升
专家建议,选购时需重点关注软件交互逻辑与照片传输方式,避免陷入「低价陷阱」。优质数码相框应如传统相框般自然融入家居环境,让珍贵影像从手机相册走向生活空间。
(编译:Georgie Peru)
中文翻译:
2025年最佳数码相框精选
市面上充斥着不少劣质产品——而这几款智能相框,才真正物有所值。
做一款好的数码相框本应很简单:一块优质的屏幕,加上一种便捷的方式将心爱的照片传输到设备上,再配上一个简约、不突兀的相框式设计,就大功告成了。
尽管如此,我必须坦言,很多数码相框实在糟糕透顶。亚马逊上充斥着大量的数码相框,这基本上就是2020年代我们对2000年代山寨iPod所见情景的翻版。众多选项以低价吸引你,但提供的体验却完全不合格,最终只会让你把它塞进抽屉,然后遗忘。
好消息是,你只需要找到一款好用的智能相框。一旦找到,你就能获得相当愉悦的体验。如果你和我一样,手机里存着成千上万张照片——朋友、家人、宠物、度假地,或许还有一些拿铁咖啡或意面等等。太多时候,这些照片被尘封在手机里,未能与他人分享,也无法在更大的屏幕上欣赏。当然,我可以在笔记本电脑或iPad上看照片,但为这些回忆设置一个专属的展示位置,别有一番乐趣。毕竟,传统相框的存在自有其道理,对吧?一款出色的相框能让你轻松地将照片发送给亲人,并与朋友和家人分享珍贵的记忆。我测试了七款智能相框,旨在去芜存菁,找出最值得购买的最佳数码相框。
2025年最佳数码相框
使用Aura相框的感觉就像是,这家公司审视了现有的数码相框市场后说:"我们必须做得比这更好。"而他们确实做到了。Carver Mat设置起来极其简单,屏幕效果出色,做工精良且设计得体,还拥有一些超越竞争对手的智能功能(而大多数竞争对手的价格实际上并没便宜多少)。
Carver Mat在设计上让我有点联想到亚马逊的Echo Show。它是一个横向放置的设备,底座宽大且带角度,向上逐渐收窄至薄边。由于这种设计,你无法像我用过的其他一些相框那样将其竖立放置,但Aura通过一个软件技巧解决了这个问题(稍后会详细说明)。整个设备采用哑光塑料制成,有黑色或白色可选,手感舒适,不显指纹,整体感觉就像一款老式相框。
这款10.1英寸的显示屏是我测试过的所有数码相框中最好的。是的,按现代标准来看,1280 x 800的分辨率相当低,但它提供了足够的细节,让我所有的照片看起来都清晰锐利。除了分辨率,Carver的屏幕色彩还原度和可视角度都很出色,并且能很好地处理阳光和灯光造成的眩光。它不是触摸屏,但这并不困扰我,因为这避免了屏幕沾满指纹——而且手机应用处理了你所需的一切操作,所以触摸屏并非必需。
相框上的一个控制功能是允许你在已加载的图片间前后跳转。你只需在相框顶部向左或向右滑动即可;你也可以双击此区域来"点赞"一张图片。据我所知,除了通知上传该照片的人有人欣赏它之外,这个功能并无实际用处。但如果你想跳过一张照片或回滚查看错过的内容,前后滑动手势绝对很方便。
设置相框极其简单。插上电源后,我只需下载Aura应用,创建一个账户,然后点击"添加相框"。接着,它会询问这个相框是给我自己用的,还是我将其设置为礼物(此模式允许你预加载图片,这样收礼人一插上电源设备就能直接使用)。添加图片就像从手机照片库中选择内容一样简单。我可以看到我的iPhone相机胶卷和我在iCloud照片库中创建的所有相册,包括其他人也能贡献内容的共享相册。你还可以连接你的Google Photos账户并使用那里的相册。
Aura提供的最智能的功能之一是对这些相册的持续扫描——所以,如果你有一个关于孩子或宠物的相册,并且经常向其中添加新图片,它们会自动出现在你的相框上,无需你进行任何操作。当然,这也有可能被误用。如果你与某人有一个共享相册,并将其分配给你的Aura相框,那么其他人添加的任何图片都会被共享到你的相框上,这可能并非你所愿。这点需要留意。
我对Carver Mat乃至Aura整体唯一的主要提醒是:它需要互联网连接,并且将照片传输到设备的唯一途径是通过云端。设备上会下载有限数量的照片,但用户无法控制这一点,其他所有内容都是从云端拉取的。Aura表示,你可以添加的图片数量没有限制,因此无需担心存储空间不足。但如果你不想要又一个需要始终在线的设备,那么Aura可能不适合你。我测试的大多数其他相框都允许你通过SD卡或应用直接加载照片。
Aura应用还允许你管理相框的设置,例如图片切换频率(从每30秒到每24小时不等,中间有很多精细选项)或照片显示顺序(按时间顺序或随机播放)。还有一个"照片匹配"功能,能智能处理大量横版和竖版图片共存的问题。由于Carver Mat设计为横向使用,照片匹配功能使得竖版图片可以并排显示,用两张图片填满相框,而不是在两侧留下黑边。它还会尝试将互补的图片配对,例如显示同一个人,或将大约同一时间拍摄的两张照片组合在一起。
总的来说,Carver Mat满足了所有要求:出色的屏幕、简约而优雅的设计、优秀的应用,且无需订阅。是的,它比一些竞争选项略贵,但所有更便宜的选项在多个方面也明显更差。如果你不想要带垫板的款式,还有一款标准版Carver,售价149美元,其他功能和规格与我测试的Caver Mat相同。
优点
- 高质量显示屏,反光极小
- 应用使照片设置和管理变得简单
- 可在Aura云端存储无限数量的图片
- 与Apple iCloud Photos和Google Photos良好集成
- 优雅、做工精良的设计
- 能在横向显示屏上智能地并排显示两张竖版照片
- 无需订阅
缺点
- 价格稍贵
- Aura应用和云端是向相框传输照片的唯一途径
- 无法竖立放置
如果你想少花点钱,PhotoSpring的Classic Digital Frame是我见过的低于100美元(刚好99美元)的最佳选择。PhotoSpring型号配备10.1英寸触摸屏,分辨率与Carver Mat相同,为1280 x 800。不过,这块屏幕肯定不如Carver,可视角度更差,光源造成的眩光也更多。话虽如此,图片看起来仍然清晰、色彩鲜艳,尤其是考虑到你不会一直盯着这个显示屏看。
PhotoSpring的相框基本上就是搭载了定制软件的安卓平板,使其能作为单一用途的照片设备运行。这意味着你需要使用触摸屏来深入设置、翻阅照片以及操作设备。更改诸如相框切换图片频率等设置无法在应用中完成。虽然在相框本身上操作没问题,但我更喜欢Aura通过应用管理一切的方式。
然而,PhotoSpring在这方面确实有一个很大的优势:你可以插入microSD卡或U盘,直接将图片传输到相框,无需互联网连接。你也可以使用PhotoSpring应用同步相册和单张图片,这显然需要网络。但一旦这些图片传输完毕,你就可以直接使用了。此外,你还可以通过PhotoSpring网站在电脑上传图片,或同步Google Photos相册。
至于PhotoSpring硬件本身,从正面看很不错,散发出传统相框的感觉。背面则相当塑料感,感觉不太高档,但总体而言,对得起这个价格。它配有一个可调节支架,因此你可以将相框设置为竖立或横向模式,如果图片方向不符,你可以设置软件来裁剪照片或直接带边框显示。
PhotoSpring还有一个有点不寻常的产品:一款带可充电电池的相框。99美元的型号仅使用交流电源,但139美元的选项允许你拔掉电源线,将相框传递给周围的人,让他们可以在设备上滑动翻阅你的相册。这感觉像是一个小众用例,我认为对大多数人来说,省下那40美元更划算,但这也是一个可以考虑的点。
我最喜欢PhotoSpring的一点是,他们不会用订阅服务来一点一点地额外收费。同步图片的数量没有限制,像Google Photos这样的功能也没有被付费墙挡住。如果你想要节省一些开支,扎实的功能组合、不错的显示屏和较低的入门价格使得PhotoSpring成为一个不错的选择。
优点
- 扎实的显示屏
- 支持竖立或横向放置
- 允许你从多种来源加载图片,包括PhotoSpring应用、SD卡、U盘或通过Google Photos
- 得体的设计
- 无需订阅
缺点
- 触摸屏控制意味着显示屏容易沾上指纹
- 显示屏比Aura更容易反光
- 感觉有点廉价
- 软件不够精良
如果你想要一款不仅能作为数码相框,而且功能远超上述选项的设备,可以考虑谷歌的Nest Hub Max。它拥有一块10英寸、1280 x 800分辨率的触摸屏,可以连接众多谷歌服务和其他应用,帮助你控制智能家居设备。由于其内置的大扬声器,它也非常适合播放YouTube或其他服务的视频,或流媒体音乐。售价229美元,比我们的其他选项贵得多,但毫无疑问,它能做的事情也多得多。
从照片角度来看,你需要使用Google Photos。如果你尚未使用该应用,将你的照片库迁移过去可能工作量太大,得不偿失。但如果你确实使用Google Photos,在设置Hub Max时登录你的谷歌账户,访问你的图片就非常简单了。你可以选择特定相册,让它流式传输你的整个照片库,或者从它提供的各种推荐中提取内容。
设置完成后,你可以按预期自定义幻灯片放映——我设置成在Hub Max闲置几分钟后默认启动。我还移除了显示屏上除照片之外的所有内容。默认情况下,它会显示时钟和天气预报,但我只想专注于图片。不过,我确实喜欢有显示更多信息的选项。
至于屏幕本身,它的分辨率与我尝试的其他数码相框一样相对较低,但它在处理眩光方面非常出色。内置的环境光传感器会自动调整亮度和色温,我很喜欢这一点。它让Hub Max不会感觉像一个过于明亮的屏幕对着你发光;它能很好地融入背景。
当然,Nest Hub Max通过Google Assistant拥有许多语音激活的技巧。我最大的问题是Hub Max还能获得多久的支持,因为谷歌显然计划逐步淘汰Assistant,转而支持Gemini,而且我不确定Hub Max是否会支持那个新的AI驱动工具。除了Assistant,你还可以在上面安装各种应用,如Netflix和YouTube,从多个应用流式播放音乐,查看你的Nest Cam的视频,或通过内置摄像头进行视频通话。
如果你打算购买Nest Hub Max,不应该仅仅为了它的数码相框功能,尽管这些功能相当可靠。它最适合那些深度融入谷歌生态系统、想要一个更多功能设备的人。如果你符合条件,那么Nest Hub Max仍然是一款功能强大的设备,尽管它已经问世近五年了。
优点
- 良好的显示质量,具有自动亮度和色温设置
- 只要你使用Google Photos,上传图片轻而易举
- 有多种方式控制智能家居设备
- 音质不错的扬声器
缺点
- 已上市近五年
- Google Assistant的日子可能屈指可数
- 比标准数码相框更贵
选购数码相框需要注意什么
虽然数码相框感觉像是一种简单的科技产品,但在寻找一款值得摆在家中的产品时,我考虑了许多因素。首要的是屏幕分辨率和尺寸。我惊讶地发现,大多数数码相框的分辨率都在1200 x 800左右,这感觉颗粒感十足。(这是针对屏幕尺寸在9到10英寸范围内的相框,也是本指南主要考虑的尺寸。)
但在尝试了一堆相框后,我意识到屏幕分辨率并不是最重要的因素;我最喜欢的照片在反射率、亮度、可视角度和色温方面表现优异的相框上看起来最好。很多数码相框在这些因素的一项或多项上有所欠缺;它们通常不能很好地处理反光,或者可视角度很差。
我测试的许多相框感觉廉价且外观丑陋,这对于一个公然摆在家中的智能设备来说是不可取的。这包括糟糕的支架、过于光滑的塑料部件,以及我只能形容为奇怪的设计决策,尤其是对于本应融入家居环境的物品。最好的数码相框不会引人注目,看起来就像一个真正的"非智能"相框,以至于不太懂技术的人可能会误以为它们就是普通相框。
然而,除了显示屏之外,最重要的或许是软件。恕我直言:我测试的不少相框,其配套应用和软件体验极其糟糕,我绝不希望任何人遇到这种情况。我尝试的一款没有触摸屏,但确实有一个红外遥控器(是的,就像30年前你用来控制电视的那种)。尝试用它连接Wi-Fi非常痛苦,而当我尝试使用二维码时,却被链接到一个对随机数字的谷歌搜索,而不是实际的应用或网站。我当场就放弃了那款售价140美元的PixStar相框。
其他问题则更容易被原谅。市面上很多相框基本上就是安卓平板,上面套了一层定制软件,虽然能用,但不够优雅。而且必须通过触摸与相框交互并不理想,因为最终会导致显示屏上布满指纹。我尝试过的最佳相框能智能地区分哪些功能可以在相框本身上控制,哪些需要通过应用控制,后者是我更喜欢的方式。
另一个重要的软件注意事项:我尝试的许多相框要求订阅那些本应包含在产品基本功能中的服务。例如,一款相框在没有订阅的情况下只允许我一次上传10张照片。另一些允许你链接Google Photos账户,但只有付费才能同步多个相册。还有一个选项甚至不允许你创建相册来整理相框上的照片——它只是一个巨大的照片滚动列表,无法给它们排序。
虽然一些高端相框提供诸如无限照片或云存储等额外福利,但它们通常需要额外付费。我能理解某些功能可能需要订阅,例如,如果你获得大量的云存储空间。但这些订阅感觉像是公司从一款制造成本极低、本身无法盈利的产品中获取经常性收入的方式。我建议你确保所选相框不需要订阅(本指南中我推荐的两款相框均无需为其任何功能订阅),尤其是如果你计划将此设备作为礼物送给亲人。
数码相框应该花多少钱
对于一款9或10英寸显示屏的相框,预计至少需要花费100美元。我们的预算推荐是99美元,而我尝试过的所有更便宜的选项都远未达到值得推荐的水平。花费150到180美元,你将在功能、设计和屏幕质量等各方面获得显著更好的体验。
数码相框常见问题解答
数码相框是个好主意吗?
是的,只要你知道它的局限性。数码相框让你无需打印就能轻松欣赏心爱的照片。对于希望快速展示新照片的家庭来说尤其方便。关键在于了解其局限性。有些相框显示屏分辨率较低,或者需要持续的Wi-Fi连接才能正常工作,因此它们并不能完美替代挂在墙上的高质量冲印照片。但如果你想要一种简单的方式来展示和更新记忆,它们是一个可靠的选择。
你能从任何地方上传照片到数码相框吗?
大多数现代数码相框都允许你这样做,但这取决于型号。许多产品连接Wi-Fi并使用应用、云存储或电子邮件上传功能,因此无论你在哪里,都可以从手机添加照片。有些甚至允许家庭成员直接分享,这对于让祖父母及时看到新照片非常棒。话虽如此,一些廉价型号仅支持U盘或存储卡,因此在购买前请确认相框如何处理上传。
乔治·秘鲁对本报告亦有贡献。
英文来源:
The best digital frames for 2025
There’s a lot of junk on the market — these are the best smart frames that are worth your money.
Making a good digital picture frame should be easy. All you need is a good screen and an uncomplicated way to get your favorite photos onto the device. Combine that with an inoffensive, frame-like design and you're good to go.
Despite that, I can tell you that many digital photo frames are awful. Amazon is positively littered with scads of digital frames and it's basically the 2020s version of what we saw with knock-off iPods back in the 2000s. There are loads of options that draw you in with a low price but deliver a totally subpar experience that will prompt you to shove the thing in a drawer and forget about it.
The good news is that you only need to find one smart photo frame that works. From there, you can have a pretty delightful experience. If you're anything like me, you have thousands of photos on your phone of friends, family photos, pets, vacation spots, perhaps some lattes or plates of pasta and much more. Too often, those photos stay siloed on our phones, not shared with others or enjoyed on a larger scale. And sure, I can look at my photos on my laptop or an iPad, but there's something enjoyable about having a dedicated place for these things. After all, there's a reason photo frames exist in the first place, right? A great frame can help you send photos to loved ones and share cherished memories with friends and family effortlessly. I tested out seven smart photo frames to weed through the junk and find the top picks for the best digital frames worth buying.
Best digital picture frames for 2025
Using an Aura frame felt like the company looked at the existing digital photo frame market and said "we have to be able to do better than this." And they have. The Carver Mat is extremely simple to set up, has a wonderful screen, feels well-constructed and inoffensive and has some smart features that elevate it beyond its competitors (most of which don't actually cost that much less).
The Carver Mat reminds me a little bit of an Amazon Echo Show in its design. It's a landscape-oriented device with a wide, angled base that tapers to a thin edge at the top. Because of this design, you can't orient it in portrait mode, like some other frames I tried, but Aura has a software trick to get around that (more on that in a minute). The whole device is made of a matte plastic in either black or white that has a nice grip, doesn't show fingerprints and just overall feels like an old-school photo frame.
The 10.1-inch display is the best I’ve seen on any digital photo frame I’ve tested. Yes, the 1,280 x 800 resolution is quite low by modern standards, but it provides enough detail that all of my photos look crisp and clear. Beyond the resolution, the Carver’s screen has great color reproduction and viewing angles, and deals well with glare from the sun and lights alike. It’s not a touchscreen, but that doesn’t bother me because it prevents the screen from getting covered in fingerprints — and the app takes care of everything you need so it’s not required.
One control you will find on the frame is a way to skip forwards or backwards through the images loaded on it. You do this by swiping left or right on the top of the frame; you can also double-tap this area to “love” an image. From what I can tell, there’s no real utility in this aside from notifying the person who uploaded that pic that someone else appreciated it. But the swipe backwards and forwards gestures are definitely handy if you want to skip a picture or scroll back and see something you missed.
Setting the frame up was extremely simple. Once plugged in, I just downloaded the Aura app, made an account and tapped “add frame.” From there, it asked if the frame was for me or if I was setting it up as a gift (this mode lets you pre-load images so the device is ready to go as soon as someone plugs it in). Adding images is as simple as selecting things from your phone’s photo library. I could see my iPhone camera roll and any albums I had created in my iCloud Photos library, including shared albums that other people contribute to. You can also connect your Google Photos account and use albums from there.
One of the smartest features Aura offers is a continuous scan of those albums — so if you have one of your kids or pets and regularly add new images to it, they’ll show up on your frame without you needing to do anything. Of course, this has the potential for misuse. If you have a shared album with someone and you assign it to your Aura frame, any pictures that someone else adds will get shared to your frame, something you may not actually want. Just something to keep in mind.
My only main caveat for the Carver Mat, and Aura in general, is that an internet connection is required and the only way to get photos on the device is via the cloud. There’s a limited selection of photos downloaded to the device, but the user has no control over that, and everything else is pulled in from the cloud. Aura says there are no limits on how many images you can add, so you don’t need to worry about running out of storage. But if you don't want yet another device that needs to be online all the time, Aura might not be for you. Most other frames I tested let you directly load photos via an SD card or an app.
The Aura app also lets you manage settings on the frame like how often it switches images (anywhere from every 30 seconds to every 24 hours, with lots of granular choices in between) or what order to display photos (chronologically or shuffled). There’s also a “photo match” feature, which intelligently handles the issue of having lots of images in both portrait and landscape orientation. Since the Carver Mat is designed to be used in landscape, the photo match feature makes it so portrait pictures are displayed side-by-side, with two images filling the frame instead of having black bars on either side. It also tries to pull together complementary pairs of images, like displaying the same person or pulling together two pics that were shot around the same time.
Overall, the Carver Mat checks all the boxes. Great screen, simple but classy design, a good app, no subscription required. Yes, it’s a little more expensive than some competing options, but all the cheaper options are also noticeably worse in a number of ways. And if you don’t want a mat, there’s a standard Carver that costs $149 and otherwise has the same features and specs as the Caver Mat I tested.
- High-quality display with minimal reflections
- App makes set-up and management of your photos simple
- You can store an unlimited number of pictures in Aura’s cloud
- Good integration with Apple iCloud Photos and Google Photos
- Elegant, well-constructed design
- Smartly displays two portrait photos side-by-side on the landscape display
- No subscription required
- A little pricey
- Aura’s app and cloud are the only way to get photos on the frame
- Can’t be set up in portrait orientation
If you’re looking to spend less, PhotoSpring’s Classic Digital Frame is the best option I’ve seen that costs less than $100 (just barely at $99). The PhotoSpring model comes with a 10.1-inch touchscreen with the same 1,280 x 800 resolution as the Carver Mat. The screen is definitely not as good as the Carver, though, with worse viewing angles and a lot more glare from light sources. That said, images still look sharp and colorful, especially considering you’re not going to be continuously looking at this display.
PhotoSpring’s frames are basically Android tablets with some custom software to make them work as single-purpose photo devices. That means you’ll use the touchscreen to dig into settings, flip through photos and otherwise manipulate the device. Changing things like how often the frame changes images can’t be done in the app. While doing things on the frame itself are fine, I prefer Aura’s system of managing everything on the app.
However, PhotoSpring does have a good advantage here: you can pop in a microSD card or USB drive to transfer images directly to the frame, no internet connection required. You can also use the PhotoSpring app to sync albums and single images as well, which obviously requires the internet. But once those pics have been transferred, you’re good to go. Additionally, you can upload pictures on a computer via the PhotoSpring website or sync Google Photos albums.
As for the PhotoSpring hardware itself, it looks good from the front, giving off traditional photo frame vibes. The back is rather plasticky and doesn’t feel very premium, but overall it’s fine for the price. There’s an adjustable stand so you can set the frame up in portrait or landscape mode, and you can set the software to crop your photos or just display them with borders if the orientation doesn’t fit.
PhotoSpring also has a somewhat unusual offering: a frame that has a rechargeable battery. The $99 model just uses AC power, but a $139 option lets you unplug the frame and pass it around to people so they can swipe through your photos albums on the device. This feels like a niche use case, and I think most people will be better served saving their $40, but it’s something to consider.
One of my favorite things about PhotoSpring is that they don’t nickel-and-dime you with subscription services. There aren’t any limits on how many images you can sync, nor are things like Google Photos locked behind a paywall. The combo of a solid feature set, a fine display and a low entry price point make the PhotoSpring a good option if you want to save some cash. - Solid display
- Works in portrait or landscape orientation
- Lets you load pictures from multiple sources, including the PhotoSpring app, an SD card, USB drive or via Google Photos
- Inoffensive design
- No subscription required
- Touchscreen controls mean the display is prone to picking up fingerprints
- Display picks up more reflections than the Aura
- Feels a little cheap
- Software isn’t the most refined
If you want a device that works great as a digital photo frame that can do a lot more than the above options, consider Google’s Nest Hub Max. It has a 10-inch touchscreen with a 1,280 x 800 resolution and can connect to a host of Google services and other apps to help you control your smart home devices. It also works great for playing videos from YouTube or other services, or streaming music thanks to its large built-in speaker. At $229, it’s significantly more expensive than our other options, but there’s no question it can do a lot more.
From a photos perspective, you’ll need to use Google Photos. If you’re not already using the app, switching your library over might be too much of a task to make it worthwhile. But if you do use Google Photos, signing in with your Google account when you set up the Hub Max makes accessing your images quite simple. You can pick specific albums, have it stream your entire library or pull things from various recommendations it offers up.
Once that’s set up, you can customize the slideshow as you’d expect — I set mine to come up by default after the Hub Max was dormant for a few minutes. I also removed everything from the display except the photos. By default, it shows you a clock and the weather forecast, but I wanted to just focus on the pictures. I do like the option to show a little more info, though.
As for the screen itself, it has the same relatively low resolution of the other digital photo frames I tried, but it handles glare very well. And the built-in ambient light sensor automatically adjusts brightness and color temperature, which I enjoy. It keeps the Hub Max from feeling like an overly bright screen blasting you with light; it recedes into the background well.
Of course, the Nest Hub Max has a lot of voice-activated tricks via the Google Assistant. My big question is how long the Hub Max will be supported, as Google is clearly planning to phase out the Assistant in favor of Gemini, and I’m not convinced that the Hub Max will ever support that new AI-powered tool. Beyond the Assistant, you can get a variety of apps on it like Netflix and YouTube, stream music from a bunch of apps, see video from your Nest Cam or make video calls via the built-in camera.
If you’re going to buy a Nest Hub Max, it shouldn’t be just for its digital photo frame features, even though those are quite solid. It’s best for someone well-entrenched in the Google ecosystem who wants a more multi-purpose device. If you fit the bill, though, the Nest Hub Max remains a capable device, even though it’s been around for almost five years. - Good display quality with auto-brightness and warmth settings
- Getting images on it is a piece of cake, provided you use Google Photos
- Plenty of ways to control smart home devices
- Good-sounding speaker
- Almost five years old
- Google Assistant’s days are likely numbered
- More expensive than a standard digital photo frame
What to look for in digital picture frames
While a digital photo frame feels like a simple piece of tech, there are a number of things I considered when trying to find one worth displaying in my home. First and foremost was screen resolution and size. I was surprised to learn that most digital photo frames have a resolution around 1,200 x 800, which feels positively pixelated. (That's for frames with screen sizes in the nine- to ten-inch range, which is primarily what I considered for this guide.)
But after trying a bunch of frames, I realized that screen resolution is not the most important factor; my favorite photos looked best on frames that excelled in reflectivity, brightness, viewing angles and color temperature. A lot of these digital photo frames were lacking in one or more of these factors; they often didn't deal with reflections well or had poor viewing angles.
A lot of frames I tested felt cheap and looked ugly as well, which isn’t something you want in a smart device that sits openly in your home. That includes lousy stands, overly glossy plastic parts and design decisions I can only describe as strange, particularly for items that are meant to just blend into your home. The best digital photo frames don't call attention to themselves and look like an actual “dumb” frame, so much so that those that aren’t so tech-savvy might mistake them for one.
Perhaps the most important thing outside of the display, though, is the software. Let me be blunt: a number of frames I tested had absolutely atrocious companion apps and software experiences that I would not wish on anyone. One that I tried did not have a touchscreen, but did have an IR remote (yes, like the one you controlled your TV with 30 years ago). Trying to use that with a Wi-Fi connection was painful, and when I tried instead to use a QR code, I was linked to a Google search for random numbers instead of an actual app or website. I gave up on that frame, the $140 PixStar, on the spot.
Other things were more forgivable. A lot of the frames out there are basically Android tablets with a bit of custom software slapped on the top, which worked fine but wasn't terribly elegant. And having to interact with the photo frame via touch wasn't great because you end up with fingerprints all over the display. The best frames I tried were smart about what features you could control on the frame itself vs. through an app, the latter of which is my preferred method.
Another important software note: many frames I tried require subscriptions for features that absolutely should be included out of the box. For example, one frame would only let me upload 10 photos at a time without a subscription. Others would let you link a Google Photos account, but you could only sync a single album without paying up. Yet another option didn't let you create albums to organize the photos that were on the frame — it was just a giant scroll of photos with no way to give them order.
While some premium frames offer perks like unlimited photos or cloud storage, they often come at a cost. I can understand why certain things might go under a subscription, like if you're getting a large amount of cloud storage, for example. But these subscriptions feel like ways for companies to make recurring revenue from a product made so cheaply they can't make any money on the frame itself. I'd urge you to make sure your chosen frame doesn't require a subscription (neither of the frames I recommend in this guide need a subscription for any of their features), especially if you plan on giving this device as a gift to loved ones.
How much should you spend on a digital picture frame
For a frame with a nine- or ten-inch display, expect to spend at least $100. Our budget recommendation is $99, and all of the options I tried that were cheaper were not nearly good enough to recommend. Spending $150 to $180 will get you a significantly nicer experience in all facets, from functionality to design to screen quality.
Digital frames FAQs
Are digital photo frames a good idea?
Yes, as long as you know what to expect. A digital picture frame makes it easy to enjoy your favorite shots without printing them. They’re especially nice for families who want to display new photos quickly. The key is understanding the limitations. Some frames have lower resolution displays or need a constant Wi-Fi connection to work properly, so they’re not a perfect replacement for a high-quality print on the wall. But if you want a simple way to keep memories on display and up to date, they’re a solid choice.
Can you upload photos to a digital frame from anywhere?
Most modern digital frames let you do this, but it depends on the model. Many connect to Wi-Fi and use apps, cloud storage or email uploads, so you can add photos from your phone no matter where you are. Some even let family members share directly, which is great for keeping grandparents updated with new pictures. That said, a few budget models only work with USB drives or memory cards, so check how the frame handles uploads before buying.
Georgie Peru contributed to this report.