How to connect the Aluratek Wi-Fi digital photo frame?
To connect to the Aluratek Wi-Fi digital photo frame, you have to bind your phone to the frame using the Aluratek mobile app. Once your phone binds to the Aluratek frame, you can use Wi-Fi to transfer photos to the frame’s internal storage. Additionally, you can send photos via email, Facebook Messenger, and Twitter.
Note that the Aluratek Wi-Fi digital photo frame needs to stay connected to power at all times to work properly. These are not battery-operated frames, as many users wrongly assume.
Connecting the Aluratek digital frame to the mobile app is relatively smooth. Follow the on-screen instructions when you download the app to your phone.
It’s important to note that you can only connect the mobile app to your Aluratek frame. There is no web interface for sharing photos wirelessly from your computer.
Unlike other top digital frame brands like Pix-Star, Aluratek doesn’t work with photo-sharing and cloud storage sites. For example, Pix-Star’s frames can connect to and import photo albums from Dropbox, OneDrive and SmugMug. Read our comparison between Aluratek and Pix-Star to learn more.
What size is the Aluratek Wi-Fi digital photo frame?
The Aluratek Wi-Fi digital photo frame comes in several different sizes ranging from 7-inches up to 17-inches. All of Aluratek’s Wi-Fi frames use touchscreens, which is why they’re more expensive than almost all other similar-sized digital frames.
Aluratek Wi-Fi digital photo frames are available in the following sizes; 7-inches, 8-inches, 10-inches, 11.6-inches, 15.6-inches, and 17-inches. This size measurement refers to the frame’s display size measured diagonally from the top corner to the bottom corner.
Note that these measurements depend on the aspect ratio that the frame uses. Most of Aluratek’s Wi-Fi digital photo frames use a 16:9 aspect ratio – known for being wider and shorter. Other digital frames like the Pix-Star use a 4:3 aspect ratio, which is arguably much better for displaying photos (as most smartphones have 4:3 camera sensors).
Does the Aluratek Wi-Fi digital photo frame work with USB and SD cards?
Aluratek Wi-Fi digital photo frames support USBs and SD cards smaller than 128GB. Aluratek’s smaller Wi-Fi frames (namely the 7-inch and 8-inch frames) likely won’t work with USB/SD cards larger than 64GB.
Note that Aluratek does support USB & SD card plug & play functionality. This means that you can simply insert the USB or SD card into the Aluratek frame and play slideshows directly on the frame (without having to copy anything to the frame’s internal storage first).
For reference, Pix-Star also offers a plug & play feature with their digital frames. The main differences are that you can play audio files over slideshows from the USB/SD card and Pix-Star accepts USB/SD cards up to 2 TB. You have access to plenty of storage space as you don’t need to store photos on the frame to view them in slideshows.
Do Aluratek Wi-Fi digital photo frames use touchscreens?
All of Aluratek’s Wi-Fi digital photo frames use touchscreens to navigate through slideshows, adjust settings, etc. Note that some of Aluratek’s frames come with a remote controller – but you’ll have to be close to the frame and point the remote directly at the sensor.
We rarely recommend buying a Wi-Fi digital photo frame with a touchscreen as they are less durable, more expensive – and as a result – often pack fewer useful features. This is the case with Aluratek digital photo frames.
If you look at competing Wi-Fi digital frames like the Pix-Star, they offer far more features, a better build quality, and more user/family-friendly functions. Pix-Star also allows remote configuration, allowing you to manage and control up to 25 Pix-Star frames from anywhere in the world. Here you can adjust their settings, start slideshows, manage local and cloud storage, and much more.
Does the Aluratek Wi-Fi digital photo frame have a mobile app?
One of the most important features of Aluratek Wi-Fi digital photo frames is the mobile app. You have to manually bind each phone or tablet (with the Aluratek mobile app installed) to each of your Aluratek frames. Once bound, you can send photos and short video clips wirelessly.
Aluratek also supports sending photos to their frames by email and through some alternative media like Facebook Messenger and Twitter.
While having a mobile app is an essential digital frame feature, Aluratek’s app is very limited. When compared to other top digital frame’s mobile apps like the Pix-Star Snap, you’ll notice several missing features.
Pix-Star Snap lets you send up to 250 photos to several frames at the same time (a lot more than Aluratek offers). You can send 2-minute video clips and audio recordings (Aluratek’s video clips need to be shorter than 1-minute).
Pix-Star is even adding remote configuration to the Pix-Star Snap mobile app. This will let you adjust your Pix-Star frame’s settings, start slideshows, and more – directly from your phone or tablet – from anywhere in the world.
Can I remotely configure my Aluratek Wi-Fi digital photo frame?
Aluratek Wi-Fi digital photo frames do not support remote configuration, control, or management. Many competing digital frames at similar price points such as the Pix-Star and Nixplay frames offer remote configuration to some extent.
Remote configuration is a feature that allows you to remotely access, control, and manage your digital photo frame over Wi-Fi. It’s usually offered through a supported web interface or mobile app, though some digital frame brands offer both. You can adjust your frame’s settings, manage storage and slideshows, and much more.
Pix-Star arguably offers the most robust and comprehensive remote configuration feature on the market at their price point. You can manage and control up to 25 Pix-Star frames from a single user account. Using the Pix-Star web dashboard, you can adjust your frame’s settings, manage local and cloud storage, start slideshows, manage the motion sensor or auto-on/off, and much more.
Pix-Star is currently adding the remote configuration feature to the Pix-Star Snap mobile app. Soon, you will be able to remotely manage and control your Pix-Star frames directly from the mobile app – no matter where you are in the world!
Is the Aluratek digital photo frame any good?
Aluratek has a large selection of digital photo frames ranging from the small and cheap to the big and expensive. While this looks like a great feature on paper, the real-world reality is quite different. The drawback of Aluratek having such a broad product line is that they struggle to compete at any level.
The smallest 7” Aluratek digital photo frame is one of the cheapest on the market – but you get what you pay for. There’s no Wi-Fi connectivity, no internal storage, and very limited on-frame features. You also have to use the on-board controls, which are borderline awful. The only way to view photos is to load them up on a USB/SD card and leave it connected to the frame at all times.
Unless you’re using a thumb drive or SD card, all USB drives will stick awkwardly out the side. You can also see the power cable sticking out the side of the frame. Several quality control issues are probably the result of Aluratek spreading its focus too thin.
From electric issues and screen issues; to failed photo uploads and non-compatible USB drives – these issues aren’t just limited to their cheapest models.
While some of the more expensive Aluratek digital photo frames aren’t too bad, they also have a lot of shortcomings. For example, Aluratek’s most expensive digital photo frame is a 17” behemoth. It has a high-resolution display and a large bright screen.
This seems like a great selling point, but it’s quickly dulled by small internal storage (compare to the size of 1920×1080 picture size), non-optimized apps like the weather app, and no cloud storage. This is further worsened by the 16:9 aspect ratio that winds up leaving you with ugly black bars around every photo – though 16:9 is admittedly great for video playback.
Several durability issues frequently pop up on user forums and Amazon’s customer reviews section. Many complaints about the frame running into electrical, charging, or screen issues after just 3 months is a big no when you consider the price of Aluratek’s more expensive frames.
When compared to brands like Pix-Star, Aluratek’s digital photo frames struggle to stand their ground. While some features on Aluratek’s best digital photo frames outshine all the competition (like 1080p displays), it’s not enough to undo the quality control and user experience issues.
While there is no perfect digital photo frame, Aluratek could perhaps benefit from a slightly narrower focus when it comes to the size of their frame catalog. That being said, some of their Wi-Fi-enabled frames are relatively good and do have a place on the market. If you’re only looking for a frame with a high-resolution display and don’t mind living with some quality control issues and lacking features – these frames might not be the worst choice. It’s just a hard sell when you consider how feature-rich and usable some of the competitors’ frames are (e.g. Pix-Star and Nixplay).
Why does the Aluratek digital photo frame have so many negative reviews?
Negative reviews of Aluratek’s digital photo frame are especially prominent on their Amazon page. There appears to be a lot of durability and quality control issues. This is understandable for their cheapest units as you know you get what you pay for.
For their more expensive units, quality control issues aren’t easily excusable. Most of the negative reviews have to do with promised features either not working, or being very difficult/buggy to use.
There are also several negative user reviews based on their tough return policy. Make sure you read through every available verified review before buying one of their frames.
It’s also worth noting that it’s very easy to confuse their frames. Aluratek sells almost a dozen different frames – each one has slightly different features or functions. This is also a source of a couple of negative reviews. Many of their Amazon product pages have a generic description that can be quite misleading when they aren’t weighed against the user reviews.
Do Aluratek digital picture frames play video and audio?
Aluratek digital picture frames only let you play video clips if they are shorter than 30-seconds. While these video clips can be looped when playback, you cannot include them in slideshows alongside photos.
For comparison, Pix-Star’s frames let you play 2-minute video clips and audio recordings. You can play video clips in slideshows alongside photos, set them to play muted by default, and even play music over slideshows (the music’s file source needs to be from a USB/SD card). Pix-Star’s frames can also connect to external speakers/headphones for a more immersive audio and slideshow experience.
Can I mount the Aluratek digital frame on the wall?
The Aluratek digital frame can mount on the wall as it supports a standard VESA mount. Unfortunately, Aluratek digital frames support landscape only. This means that you cannot rotate the frame while it’s all mounted or rested on a flat surface.
For comparison, Pix-Star digital frames – a similarly priced frame – offers both a standard VESA mount and dedicated hanging holes. You can mount the frame in landscape and portrait, rotate images within slideshows, and rest the frame in either orientation on a flat surface (using the provided attachable stand).
Unlike Pix-Star, Aluratek’s Wi-Fi digital frames don’t offer remote configuration or a motion sensor. Instead, Aluratek’s frames have an on/off timer that lets you set when the frame’s displays functions. Pix-Star’s setup is far more suited to families, modern homes, and elderly users.