It’s well designed and available in two colors, gravel and sea salt. The Aura Carver Luxe’s specs, design, and functionality are similar to those of the Aura Mason, for about $20 less the main differences are that the Carver has a slightly larger screen, a 16:10 aspect ratio (compared to the Mason’s 4:3, which better accommodates photos taken with a smartphone camera), and can only be displayed in the landscape orientation (an “intelligent pairing” feature can match up related vertical shots to display them side-by-side). Photo sharing and storage: Unlimited cloud storage no built-in storage, USB port, or MicroSD slot Wi-Fi required | Screen size and resolution: 10.1-inch screen, 1200p resolution | Design and photo orientation: Landscape | Video and sound: Video: yes Sound: yes And if you’re planning to give the frame as a gift, Aura makes it super-simple to preload the frame with photos so that all your recipient has to do is plug in the frame and connect it to their Wi-Fi. The frame also has an ambient sensor that can adjust the brightness of the frame or let it go to sleep depending on the light level in the surrounding area. There is a discreet touch bar on the edge of the frame that lets you swipe through photos and videos. The Mason can be displayed in landscape or portrait orientation its nine-inch screen has a 4:3 aspect ratio that is perfectly proportioned for smartphone camera photos, and the frame will automatically adjust photos when you rotate it from one orientation to the other. The frame itself is attractive and minimalist with a sculptural ridged design, and it’s available in two colors, graphite or white quartz. It also supports video and Apple Live Photos (something no other frame we tested offered) and has a built-in speaker for sound. Because the frame requires Wi-Fi and uses cloud storage, having the app allows you to upload photos remotely, and you can invite multiple people to add photos to the same frame, turning it into a potluck of photos from family and friends (there are even social features in the app, including comments and likes). Within the app, there is also a scanning feature to add printed photos or artwork to your frame. The Aura Mason doesn’t have any built-in storage, but you can upload unlimited photos to the frame using its dedicated app, linking the frame to a Google Photos or Apple iCloud account, sending photos to the frame’s unique email address, or using Aura’s web uploader. The stylish, freestanding Aura Mason offers the best balance of features and ease of use, so even less tech-savvy folks can still get the hang of it.

The Aura Mason comes recommended by several Strategist writers and editors who not only have the frame in their own homes but have gifted it to loved ones. Photo sharing and storage: Unlimited cloud storage no built-in storage, USB port, or MicroSD slot Wi-Fi required | Screen size and resolution: 9-inch screen, 1200p resolution | Design and photo orientation: Landscape or portrait | Video and sound: Video: yes Sound: yes

And if you want to display photos that were not originally digital - whether they were taken recently or years ago, some frames offer scanning options within their dedicated apps that make it easier to upload vintage photos and other printed photos, or even a child’s artwork, if you happen to have a young Picasso (or simply an enthusiastic crafter) on your hands. On the flip side, if you want to be able to add photos straight from your phone via an app, or to remotely add photos to a frame you’ve given as a gift, you’ll want one with a good app for uploading new images, or a frame that can pull from a specific Dropbox folder or photo album in your camera roll. Many digital frames require an internet connection to receive photos, so if you are buying a gift for someone who doesn’t have access to the internet at home, you’ll want to choose one that is usable without Wi-Fi. Others are exclusively cloud-based, and require you to upload photos through an app, or you can email photos to the specific frame using a unique email address and those images will be uploaded directly (though those frames may require a subscription to their cloud service, which costs about $5 per month). Some digital picture frames have built-in storage, where photos are saved locally on the frame or accessed from a MicroSD card that you insert into the frame, and which you can expand using a larger MicroSD card or cloud storage.

Digital photo reader