7 useful digital photo frames handpicked for grandparents
The very reason for someone to get their photos or films digitized is to use them in a fruitful way. While the physical copies just lie in a corner of the house, it is very important that you take care of them, as they are priceless.
Why Digitization?
There are too many people in the world who are so possessive about their memories that they are always of the notion that they will be losing them taking them outside.
We at ScanJunction have experienced this with many of our clients when they come to drop off their grandparents’ memories which in turn is obviously theirs too. While they were dropping in, they would be mentioning how they brought the photographs without the knowledge of their grandparents.
Same goes with the old films or reels that we now call negatives and slides (We convert even these to digital images). You can check how we process them here. But, never scan them using a regular flatbed scanner.
But what you should understand is that there are a lot of limitations with the analog copy of your photographs when it comes to its preservation and replication.
Different scanners can be used to scan different types of memories.
Disadvantages of Analog Photos and Films
Let us discuss the disadvantages of keeping your analog photographs and safeguarding them.
- Analog photos are bound to get discolored and faded
- They can only be stored in a single place as opposed to the digital images, which can be shared by a click of a button
- There are all possibilities of them succumbing to Natural disasters
- Losing them once is losing forever
- It is difficult to find a single photo that you want to retrieve
- You can only view them in their original size
These disadvantages are the reasons for the possessive ones to get their photos digitized before it is too late. Now you may ask me, fine, what are all the options that I have once I get them digitized.
Before that let us know the advantages:
Advantages of Digitization
Well, here are the solutions for the previously listed problems.
- We can enhance the photos once they are digitized
- Digital images can be shared with multiple people at the same time securely
- Once they are in a secure cloud, they is no question of destruction
- Even if you lose them by chance, it is easier to restore the other backed up copy in seconds
- Searching them based on caption and filename makes them easily retrievable
- The higher the resolution they are scanned in, the better the possibility of them being viewed on bigger screens
There are a lot of easier methods to scan your photos faster. We have written an article about it here. Cropping the photo after scanning is crucial too. This article talks about bulk image cropping, which might be useful to you…
Now that you understood the importance of digitization, let us delve into the options by which you can exhibit your photos to your guests, positioning them in a strategic place that can be viewed by the public at a very glance.
Why Digital Photo Frames?
In view of the above, it is safe to get any photo digitized. However, there is an important aspect of getting your photo and films digitized, especially for the elderly, your grandparents.
The easiest to handle electronics devices grandparents can relate to is a digital photo frame, and that too certain specific models, which we are going to be talking about later in this article.
The digital photo frames are displayed in particularly important places in your house where people important to you have easy access to, who can have a look at them, seamlessly.
What are Digital Photo Frames?
Before answering the question, the word digital photo frame is split into three parts. Let us first take up the word “frame”. A frame is a protective layer that acts as something that covers the main display.
This will be the typical frame that will hold the photos and are hung up on the wall or placed on the tables, of course, the analog ones.
The next word is “Digital Photo”. As opposed to the regular analog photo, the digital photo is the one that is represented in bits and bytes.
So, essentially, the digital photo frame is a photo frame that stores digital images in it and displays them either as a slideshow or a video.
What are the types of Digital Photo frames?
In this section, we are going to be looking at the different parameters that form the types of digital photo frames. The following decide the quality of the photo frame, especially for elderly people like grandparents.
- Screen Size
- Screen Quality
- Screen Resolution
- Screen Placement
- Image Source
- Format Support
- Touch Screen
- WiFi
- Setup Time
- Additional Software
- Ease of Use
- Speed
One, or the other from the above parameter will be different making each digital photo frame unique in nature.
For eg. It might have a big screen size and the highest resolution with a lack of provision to connect to the internet using WiFi.
Some other digital photo frames might have a different configuration, like having an internet connection via WiFi and no touch screen or remote control.
Now, if we have to buy a digital photo frame for our grandparents, the configurations should match their requirements.
What should a Digital Photo Frame for Grandparents feature
Now that you have a clear picture of what all changes in different digital photo frames, let us in this section see what comes with old age and based on that what are the best digital photo frames for our grandparents.
The first thing that is a challenge among elderly people is their eyesight, that they cannot view small fonts and photos. To cope up with this the digital photo frame has to have a larger screen size than the typical ones used by relatively young people.
The large screen size should be accompanied by a sharp, high resolution along with a good screen ratio. It again depends on your grandparents’ sharpness of eyes.
We have found that there are digital photo frames available even with a screen size of 15 inches and above. It will be easier for our grandparents to view the photos with even minor details along with the captions.
The second criterion is the ease of use. Imagine a non-tech-savvy grandparent using a confusing user interface, feeling uncomfortable. Never let that happen, select something that is really user-friendly.
The third would be to choose the digital photo frames with multiple and easy sources from where the photos can be imported.
They might not be comfortable with inserting an SD card into the SD cardholder or a USB stick into the port. They should be able to access something that is shared with them using cloud storage (which according to me, is the easiest).
In addition to this, the software and hardware used should support most of the frequently used options like auto-rotate, gravity sensor, photo sharing through WiFi, etc.
Hardware like a touchscreen will make the whole digital photo frame full of fingerprints, and your grandparents wonder how to use it. It is a personal choice to have this, depending on your decision and how your grandparents might respond.
As the televisions of their times used to have remote controls, they will be most familiar with them instead of touch screens. When digital photo frames are hanging on the wall, it is always a good idea to consider them with remote control.
Of course, the quality of the screen helps them figure out the details using HD or more quality.
Easily setting up the device will be one more major point for them to use it or, you can set it up for them for the first time if you are anywhere around them.
None of the digital photo frames come with a lag nowadays, or else, this might turn them down and they will never use it.
Keeping in mind these points let see which of the digital photo frames fit in for your grandparents.
1. Pix-Star 15 Inch Wi-Fi Cloud Digital Photo Frame FotoConnect XD with Email, Online Providers, iPhone & Android app, DLNA and Motion Sensor (Black)
| Screen Size | 15 Inches |
| Screen Quality | LED – 4:3 |
| Screen Resolution | 1024×768 |
| Mounting | Wall, Stand |
| Image Source | Facebook, Instagram, Dropbox, one drive, Flickr, Google Drive, Google Photos, 23Snaps, and more. |
| Format Support | JPEG, JPG, BMP, PNG, GIF (including animated GIF) |
| Touch Screen | No, Remote Instead |
| WiFi | Yes |
| Setup Time | Few minutes (Super Easy) |
| Additional Software | None |
| Ease of Use | Super Friendly |
| Speed | Extremely fast |
2. Dragon Touch Classic 15 Digital Picture Frame, 15.6” FHD Touch Screen WiFi Digital Photo Frame Instant Share Photos and Videos via App, Email, Cloud, Wall Mountable, Portrait and Landscape
| Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
| Screen Quality | LED – 16:10 |
| Screen Resolution | 1920*1200 |
| Mounting | Wall, Stand |
| Image Source | Facebook, Instagram, Dropbox, one drive, Flickr, Google Drive, Google Photos, 23Snaps, phone or computer, and more. |
| Format Support | JPEG, JPG, BMP, PNG, GIF (including animated GIF) |
| Touch Screen | Yes and Remote Instead |
| WiFi | Yes |
| Setup Time | Very very easy |
| Additional Software | OurPhoto app |
| Ease of Use | Super Friendly |
| Speed | Extremely fast |
3. Brookstone PhotoShare 14” Smart Digital Picture Frame, Send Pics from Phone to Frames, WiFi, 8 GB, Holds 5,000+ Pics, HD Touchscreen, Premium Espresso Wood, Easy 1-min Setup
| Screen Size | 14 Inches |
| Screen Quality | LED – 4:3 |
| Screen Resolution | 1024×768 |
| Mounting | Wall, Stand |
| Image Source | Facebook, Instagram, Dropbox, one drive, Flickr, Google Drive, Google Photos, 23Snaps, and more. |
| Format Support | JPEG, JPG, BMP, PNG, GIF (including animated GIF) |
| Touch Screen | No, Remote Instead |
| WiFi | Yes |
| Setup Time | Few minutes (Super Easy) |
| Additional Software | None |
| Ease of Use | Super Friendly |
| Speed | Extremely fast |
4. Nixplay 13.3 Inch Smart Digital Picture Frame, Share Video Clips and Photos Instantly via App or E-Mail
| Screen Size | 13.3 Inches |
| Screen Quality | LED – 16:9 |
| Screen Resolution | 1920×1080 |
| Mounting | Wall, Stand |
| Image Source | App or Email |
| Format Support | JPEG, JPG, BMP, PNG, GIF (including animated GIF) |
| Touch Screen | No, Remote Instead |
| WiFi | Yes |
| Setup Time | Few minutes (Super Easy) |
| Additional Software | None |
| Ease of Use | Not very Friendly |
| Speed | Fast |
5. Digital Picture Frame 12 Inch with Motion Sensor, 1920×1080 IPS Screen, Support 1080P Video, Photo Slideshow, Music, Adjustable Brightness, Breakpoint Play, Auto-Rotate,Remote Control, Calendar-White
| Screen Size | 12 Inches |
| Screen Quality | LED – 16:9 |
| Screen Resolution | 1920×1080 |
| Mounting | Wall, Stand |
| Image Source | Facebook, Instagram, Dropbox, one drive, Flickr, Google Drive, Google Photos, 23Snaps, and more. |
| Format Support | JPEG, JPG, BMP, PNG, GIF (including animated GIF) |
| Touch Screen | No, Remote Instead and Motion Sensor |
| WiFi | No |
| Setup Time | Few minutes (Super Easy) |
| Additional Software | None |
| Ease of Use | Super Friendly |
| Speed | Extremely fast |
6. Aluratek 13″ Distressed Wood Digital Photo Frame with 8GB Built-in Memory, Includes 2 Interchangeable Frames,1920 x 1080 (ADMPFD13F)
| Screen Size | 13 Inches |
| Screen Quality | LED – 16:9 |
| Screen Resolution | 1920×1080 |
| Mounting | Wall, Stand |
| Image Source | Facebook, Instagram, Dropbox, one drive, Flickr, Google Drive, Google Photos, 23Snaps, and more. |
| Format Support | JPEG, JPG, BMP, PNG, GIF (including animated GIF) |
| Touch Screen | Yes, No Remote |
| WiFi | Both versions |
| Setup Time | Few minutes (a little hard to set up) |
| Additional Software | None |
| Ease of Use | Not very friendly |
| Speed | Fast |
7. 14 Inch Full HD Digital Photo Frame 1920×1080 High Resolution IPS Screen, Support 720P Video, with 180° Viewing Angle, Motion Sensor, Auto-Rotate, and Display Photos with Background Music
| Screen Size | 14 Inches |
| Screen Quality | LED – 16:9 |
| Screen Resolution | 1920×1080 |
| Mounting | Stand |
| Image Source | Pendrive and SD Card |
| Format Support | JPEG, JPG, BMP, PNG, GIF (including animated GIF) |
| Touch Screen | No, Remote Control |
| WiFi | No |
| Setup Time | Few minutes (a little hard to set up) |
| Additional Software | None |
| Ease of Use | Very friendly |
| Speed | Fast |
