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Our pick for best digital picture frame is the perfect gift for Mother's Day and it's on sale today

Katelyn Mullen
Our pick for best digital picture frame is the perfect gift for Mother's Day and it's on sale today

In a world of tech-savvy gifting, it doesn't have to be all Apple Watches and robovacs, especially on Mother's Day. There are plenty of other high-tech gadgets that make life more fun and make great gifts, like digital picture frames. I've both given and received this as a gift and it remains at the top of my list. It's a great way to stay connected with loved ones near and far sparking joy each time a new photo is added. With an easy-to-use app on your phone, you can give anyone access to add photos anytime, from anywhere.

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Our research team here at AOL has tried and tested many frames and brands to find the best digital frames for all different needs and budgets and the Aura brand wins for our best overall digital frame. Specifically, the Aura Walden 15-inch frame is our tech editor's top pick (see all the reasons why, below) for digital frames, and today, it's on sale. We think it would make a great gift for Mother's Day, but hurrty before the deal runs out.

AURA

Aura Walden 15-inch WiFi Digital Picture Frame

Best big digital picture frame

Screen size: 15 inches | Resolution: 1,600 x 1,200 | Storage: Cloud (unlimited) | Touchscreen: No | Orientation options: Landscape/portrait | Motion sensor: Yes | Dedicated email address: Yes

Aura makes some of the most stylish photo frames you can get, so it's a bit surprising the company's new Walden model looks fairly plain: Just a basic black frame and white matte surrounding a roomy 15-inch screen. 

But that screen is glorious, one of the brightest and sharpest I've seen, and Aura is still a top choice if you're looking for a gift: You can upload photos in advance and even set it up for use with the recipient's Wi-Fi network — great for grandparents or anyone who's not super tech-savvy. This works a little differently depending on whether you purchase from Aura proper or a retail partner like Amazon; be sure to read Aura's gifting page to learn more.

Setup is easy, and the Walden accepts photos from your phone, iCloud and Google Photos — but not Facebook, Instagram or other services. The Aura app is one of few that flags photos you've already sent, handy for avoiding duplicates. Friends and family can use that app as well, or send photos directly to the frame via email. The built-in motion sensor not only detects when people are present, but also adjusts screen brightness depending on the room's ambient light.

This is the rare frame that doesn't have a touch screen. All settings are managed in the app, though there are touch bars embedded on the top and side edges; you swipe these to page through your photos. I thought this a bit inconvenient at first, but it actually makes sense: It keeps the screen free of fingerprints.

Because the Walden relies solely on cloud storage, it requires a full-time Wi-Fi connection. If there's an outage, or you try setting this up somewhere without a Wi-Fi network, you won't be able to see any photos.

That's my only real complaint — and it's a minor one — with the Aura Walden, an excellent choice for yourself or as a gift.

Pros
  • Easy to set up
  • Can be preconfigured for gifting
  • Big, beautiful screen
  • Unlimited cloud storage with no monthly fees
Cons
  • Must be connected to Wi-Fi
  • Lacks the design flair of Aura's other frames
  • Limited integrations
  • Brightness setting can't be adjusted manually
$299 at Amazon
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$299 at Walmart$300 at Kohl's

Digital photo frames are not totally new gadgets; there have been different, less high-tech versions for years. In fact, you may have had one years ago that had a much clunkier user experience and lower-quality photos. But that's not the case any longer. The high-quality picture and ease of use make this an item perfect for almost anyone on your list, including yourself. The Mason version below is a nice stone grey color and is on sale right now ahead of Mother's Day, but there are tons of other frame designs to choose from. We also love the Carver matte version, too.

Aura Frames

Mason by Aura Frames,

 This 9-inch Wi-Fi-enable digital picture frame will let you easily share photos from your phone to display. With free unlimited storage, you won't need to worry about it filling up or having to purchase additional space.

$185 at Amazon
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$199 at Macy's$199 at Walmart

We've been curating lists of Mother's Day gift ideas for all the mom figures in your life, so if you're looking for more ideas, shop below for some of our favorites this year.

  • Tula Rose Glow & Get It Cooling & Brightening Eye Balm

    $30 at Amazon