Updated: 12/18/2020 Despite the fact that you can always have your favorite photos at hand on your phone, tablet or computer, the good old photo frame is still as popular as it was 50 years ago. Only by obeying the laws of time and gaining new capabilities, it has become more functional and can accommodate an entire photo album. Some models can even replace a simple organizer with a built-in calendar, clock, reminders and alarm clock.
The main task of the device is to display and store digital photos and videos. Their number depends on the memory size. On average, the built-in memory capacity is no more than 2 GB. This is quite enough for 500–700 photos, which can be rewritten if desired. To increase the number of files, you can use a memory card - like any electronic device, the photo frame is compatible with removable media. It is best to choose those that support microSD, SDHC, as they are universal.
Nutrition can be provided in two ways:
- From batteries (or accumulator).
This is convenient in terms of mobility, but you will have to constantly deal with a dead battery. - From the network.
Uninterrupted operation, you can connect and forget. But this implies the presence of a cord, so if aesthetics are a priority, you will have to disguise it.
Management can be carried out:
- Using the button menu.
- Remote control.
- Touch screen.
In practice, the best combination option is the main buttons on the device and a remote control with advanced settings. It's convenient and doesn't spoil the design. Models with touch controls have 2 significant drawbacks - glare on the screen and remaining fingerprints.
An important parameter is the size of the display. Among the main ones there are:
- 7-9 inches.
The most popular option. The screen is medium-sized, large enough to view photos, but quite compact in size. As a rule, such products are not expensive, which has made them popular in the middle price segment. - 10-12 inches.
This format is also widely popular - a large display, a well-displayed image, both from photos and videos. Looks great both on the desktop and on the wall. - From 13 inches.
Expensive large-format models can completely replace a family photo album or catalog of goods/services. Therefore, they are often used by companies and services to demonstrate their products - dishes in a restaurant, hairstyles or makeup in a beauty salon.
When purchasing, it is important to consider the ratio of diagonal and resolution. It should be remembered that the larger the diagonal, the higher the resolution should be.
Digital frames have a stand and are installed on a horizontal surface, but most models have a mount for hanging on a wall. When you rotate the device, the pictures are flipped automatically (but not always, whether this is possible, you should find out when purchasing).
Depending on the model, additional functions may be provided:
- Watch.
You can install a digital or analogue version on the screensaver, which makes the accessory even more practical. - Alarm.
It is customizable by day of the week; as a rule, there are several built-in melodies from which you can choose the most pleasant one. - Timer.
Automatically turns the device on or off, you can set the sleep mode. This reduces power consumption and workload. - Video/audio support.
Many models allow you to view not only photos, but also videos (listen to music), which is very important nowadays. - Reminder.
Having a calendar allows you to set reminders for important dates. This option is well suited for home use - you can add significant family holidays so as not to forget about them.
Such a device is a universal gift that will appeal to a teenager, a pensioner, a housewife, a business woman, a man and a woman. We present the rating of digital photo frames 2021. The top 10 models that were selected by our experts based on user reviews and ratings.
Rating (2020) | Prices, ₽ | A country |
1. DIGMA PF-833 | from 2700₽ | China |
2. Ritmix RDF-808W | from 3400₽ | China |
3. Ritmix RDF-828 | from 4500₽ | China |
4. Espada E-13HD | from 9700₽ | China |
5. Ritmix RDF-1026 | from 5700₽ | China |
6. DIGMA PF-104 | from 3300₽ | China |
7. Ritmix RDF-710 | from 2100₽ | China |
8. DEXP MP-79 HD | from 1800₽ | China |
9. Rekam DejaView FM87S | from 3500₽ | China |
10. Digma PF-733 | from 2400₽ | China |
Photo frame design
How to choose a digital photo frame by design?
The modern variety of models allows you to choose the color and material of the device, as well as a matte or glossy screen. The choice will depend on your home decor preferences as well as lighting conditions. For example, if your room has a lot of light, then it is better to choose a matte display to avoid glare. Another aspect of the design is whether you want to display the digital photo frame as a stand-alone item or hang it on the wall.
Be sure to imagine in advance what the digital photo frame will look like if you place or hang it in your room, especially if it is powered from the mains.
DIGMA PF-733
- digital photo frame
- screen diagonal 7"
- resolution 800×480
- connection to computer via USB
- mains power
- USB storage support
This inexpensive model does not support video and music playback, but it displays images in JPEG, GIF, BMP and PNG formats in good quality.
It has good brightness and contrast for a budget photo frame (300 cd/m2 and 300:1, respectively), supports SD cards and USB drives, and has rotation, zoom and slide show modes.
Pros : stylish appearance, natural color rendition, has a clock, alarm clock and calendar, convenient stand.
Cons : no random photo display, short cord, poor viewing angles.
Photo frame sizes: options to choose from
Old-style photo frames had dimensions that corresponded to the format of photographs. Manufacturers mainly offered frames of the following sizes: 9x13, 10x15 or 20x30. The digital world has changed measurement standards. Now the units of measurement are not centimeters, but diagonal and inches.
Modern manufacturers adhere to new standards, according to which models of digital photo frames are divided into 7, 8 and 10-inch diagonals.
Some manufacturers produce non-standard models of photo frames. For example, Sony released a frame with a 9-inch screen. Large frames are popular with many consumers, but they are produced in smaller quantities.
Modern photo frames may vary in size
Photo frame sizes:
- 5 inches. These are neat photo frames that you can carry with you anytime, anywhere. There are covers on sale that prevent mechanical damage to the frames. The frames operate on batteries that can be recharged from the mains.
- 7 inches. Convenient size for decorating a desktop frame in an apartment or office.
- 8 inches. Suitable for decorating shelves, fits perfectly into the interior. The volumetric image will be visible from any viewing point.
- 10 inches. The bright display and unusual design make these frames stand out from all others.
- 12.15 and 17 inches. Such large sizes are usually chosen for advertising, office placement and exhibitions.
Before choosing a frame that is too large, you should think about whether it will look inharmonious in the interior, reminiscent of an advertising monitor. It is important to note that the price of frames is directly proportional to the size of their screen. There is little demand for frames of non-standard sizes, so selecting and purchasing them can be extremely difficult.
Tips for choosing
What should you consider before purchasing such a device?
Experts recommend considering the following parameters:
- Dimensions. Depending on the purpose, where you will place the device, in your purse or in the hallway. What if it’s for displaying advertising or an office?
- Screen resolution Increasingly.
- Viewing angle and image brightness. The bigger, the better.
- Number of formats. Undoubtedly, in a big way.
- Play audio and video. Many photo frames can handle this without too much interference.
- Memory size. In this case, preference is given to models with the best characteristics, although a capacity of 2 GB is usually quite sufficient.
- Additional features. The choice is individual.
- Before purchasing, check all the details and questions you are interested in directly with a specialist and preferably check the functionality of your new gadget on the spot.
This article is advisory in nature, the choice is yours. We would like to wish you success in purchasing the best digital photo frame!
Other digital device features
Sometimes photo frames are equipped with additional options that are far from the purpose of the device, but the manufacturer believes that the consumer needs a full range of services to meet their needs.
The most common additions:
- Music in MP3 format. The display of photographs may be accompanied by music. The frame has built-in speakers with stereo sound. Most often, the buyer overpays for this function, because... The need for “sound” in a photo frame disappears over time (unless the photo frame is used directly for its intended purpose).
- Video materials. Played from a memory card or flash drive. But cheaper models with this feature may often slow down. Therefore, if the buyer must watch a video on a photo frame, then it is better to give preference to more expensive models or it is better to buy a tablet specially designed for this.
- An organizer that includes a clock, calendar, and alarm clock are useful functions for the desktop version of the device, both at home and at work.
- Radio operating in the FM range.
- A remote control that simplifies control allows you to turn on music, select images, and activate the necessary options.
- Auto-flip photos when horizontal position changes to vertical.
- The built-in Bluetooth module makes it possible to transfer photos from phones and other digital devices.
- Wi-Fi – some frames can download images directly from the Internet.
- Built-in printer. A function in which you can quickly print the desired pictures by pressing one button. Of course, such equipment has an impressive size, and it is better to use it at home.
Today, frames for digital photos are produced that operate on battery power and mains power. They can be used autonomously for a fairly short time (about 40-50 minutes). Therefore, you can overpay for the battery if you are going to take the photo frame with you (as a photo album), or watch videos in your hands. If your frame always stands in a certain place, then the need for autonomy disappears.
DIGMA PF-922
- screen diagonal 9"
- resolution 1024×600
- connection to computer via USB
- playing video
- mains power
- USB storage support
- remote control: yes
If you need an inexpensive and good digital photo frame, pay attention to the DIGMA PF-922.
This model does everything that most of its more expensive “brothers” do: shows a slide show, rotates the picture, plays videos (DivX, XviD, H264) and even allows you to listen to music, including through headphones.
Users praise the fast navigation and change of photos, the ability to change the brightness, contrast and saturation of the image.
Like number eight in the rating, this model has control buttons located on the back. So we recommend using the remote control, it’s more convenient.
Pros : there is a clock, calendar, timer and alarm, the screen is not grainy, good sound, supports SD cards and USB flash drives.
Cons : not the best viewing angles, requires effort when pressing the remote control buttons.
Advantages and disadvantages of photo frames
Before you buy a specific model of photo frame, you should become more familiar with its purpose and study all the advantages and disadvantages. So, the advantages include:
- the ability to set your favorite photo as a keepsake or view them as an album without printing them on paper;
- combining several devices in a frame: clock, alarm clock, night light, photo frame and calendar;
- desktop version for watching short videos and listening to music;
- a stylish item that will be a chic and symbolic gift and will suit any interior.
All the disadvantages stem from the features of different models. For example, budget frames with a small viewing angle and low brightness do not allow you to see pictures from afar and from the side. In gadgets that have a lot of functions, it can be difficult to delve into all the settings and quickly use them. In this case, it is necessary to select a simpler option with only a basic set of options.
Advice! To choose the right device, you need to start from the specific requests and wishes of the user, then you can avoid all the negative aspects.
Best lists
Let's look at a few devices from additional categories:
- diagonal: 7 inches;
- diagonal: 8 inches;
- diagonal: 10 inches;
- video playback.
Let's move on to a description of each model.
Diagonal: 7 inches – DEXP MP-71 HD
An excellent option for a budget photo frame with wide functionality. Mini and regular USB connections are available to the user. The display itself, with a diagonal of 7”, has a resolution of 1024×600 pixels, which accurately conveys bright colors in contrasting photos. Power is supplied from the mains; fans of sound effects have the opportunity to connect headphones through a special connector.
Price tag: from 2299 to 2499 rubles.
digital photo frame DEXP MP-71 HD
Diagonal: 8 inches – Ritmix 810
Compact device in black color scheme, 8” diagonal and 800×600 resolution. The developers made the display format 4:3, and there are two standard interfaces: USB mini version. There is a slideshow and full screen option. The contrast ratio is 300:1, which is quite enough. The organizer includes an alarm clock, calendar, clock and timer.
Price range from 3499 to 3699 rubles.
digital photo frame Ritmix 810
Diagonal: 10 inches – Digma 1033
The beautiful design and bright display of this photo frame attracts attention at first sight. Picture clarity will be ensured by a 10-inch screen with a resolution of 1024×600 pixels and an aspect ratio of 16:9. You can choose from two modes: preview, slideshow. The thickness is 8 mm and the weight is 380 grams. In the package you get a remote control, an AC adapter and a USB cable.
Price: from 4699 to 4899 rubles.
digital photo frame Digma 1033
Video playback – Digma 105MS
This new product has received a wide range of useful functions that most photo frames cannot boast of. With a display diagonal of 10.1* in a resolution of 1024×600 and an aspect ratio of 16:9, you can view photos, videos, and play audio files. The photo frame from Digma has the ability to be mounted on a wall and controlled using a remote control.
Price: from 5999 to 6299 rubles.
digital photo frame Digma 105MS
Dragon Touch Classic 10
- Screen diagonal: 10 inches
- Screen resolution: 1280×800
- External memory: Yes
- Functions: Touch Screen
- Built-in memory: 16 GB
- Frame material: metal
This is a good and inexpensive digital photo frame that can be found on Aliexpress. It has 16GB of memory for photos and videos, which is enough to store 40,000 photos of 30KB each.
This model has Wi-Fi support and a mobile app, which means you can send photos to it directly from your smartphone. You can also send pictures by email. In addition, you can watch a full video on it.
The Dragon Touch Classic 10 also has a USB port and an SD slot, but it is not possible to redirect data from MobileApp and email to them.
Advantages and disadvantages
large screen size
aesthetic appearance
does not slow down when loading photos and videos
When turning the photo frame off and on, photos from the flash drive need to be loaded again
no instructions in Russian
traffic from MobileApp is paid
Comparison table of the presented models
Let's compare our devices.
Model | Diagonal (inches) | Aspect Ratio | Display resolution (pixels) | Contrast |
Digma PF-105MS | 10 | 16:9 | 1024×600 | 400:1 |
Ritmix RDF-1026 | 10 | 16:9 | 1024×600 | 600:1 |
Digma PF-1033 | 10 | 16:9 | 1024×600 | 400:1 |
Ritmix RDF-808W | 8 | 4:3 | 800×600 | 300:1 |
Digma PF-833 | 8 | 4:3 | 1024×768 | 400:1 |
Ritmix RDF-810 | 8 | 4:3 | 800×600 | 300:1 |
DEXP MP-79 HD Elegance | 7 | 16:9 | 1024×600 | 400:1 |
What it is
A photo frame is a modern high-tech gadget that displays digital photos in electronic form and displays them on the screen. The purpose of such a device is to display pictures in the form of a slide show.
All gadgets of this nature can be divided into several groups:
- photo frames;
Digital photo frame
- photo keychains;
Digital photo keychain
- photo albums.
Digital photo album
The first ones visually strongly resemble simple photo frames. The difference between them is that in place of the paper photograph there is a display. The second ones are small in size, like a simple keychain, and in the center there is a screen where images are displayed. Photo albums are represented by a more powerful device that is capable of storing a large amount of information, that is, images.
Ritmix RDF-1026
- large screen with a diagonal of 10.10"
- resolution 1024×600
- connection to computer via USB
- playing video
- USB storage support
- remote control: yes
A cute digital frame that will fit perfectly into any interior. Its main advantage is a large, bright screen on which any photo looks great. If desired, you can turn on a slide show or adjust the photo for brightness and contrast.
In addition, Ritmix RDF-1026 supports many photo and video file formats, and can play music. This device also has an automatic shutdown function, although according to user reviews, the device sometimes turns off on its own, even if auto shutdown is disabled.
But in terms of ease of use, the device is not doing well. The buttons are located on the back, so you will have to remember their location, or constantly turn the photo frame back and forth. However, this problem can be solved by using the remote control.
Pros : has a clock, alarm clock and calendar, has a headphone output, supports USB drives and SD memory cards.
Cons : takes a long time to load large photos and videos, has a lot of glare from the side.