How does the Nix digital photo frame compare to Pix-Star?
While the Nix digital photo frame isn’t as well-known as many of Nix-Play’s other frames, it’s still quite popular. Both Pix-Star and Nix are among the top digital photo frames on the market – but that doesn’t mean they’re similar. They’re quite different when it comes to functionality and features, so here are a few points worth noting.
The biggest difference between the Pix-Star and the Nix digital photo frame is Wi-Fi compatibility. Nix digital photo frames aren’t Wi-Fi compatible at all. There are no features like sending or receiving media via email, mobile apps, web interfaces, etc. In practice, the only way to send media to a Nix digital photo frame is by connecting a USB/SD card.
On the other hand, Pix-Star’s digital photo frames are one of the most versatile and functional on the market – especially when it comes to sending media to your frame. You can send media via email, through a well-designed mobile app or web interface, and even by linking web albums from popular social media and photo-sharing platforms. Much like the Nix digital photo frame, you can also load media to your Pix-Star frame by USB/SD card.
Another key difference is the aspect ratio and screen size. Nix digital photo frames come in various sizes ranging from 8” up to 15”; whereas Pix-Star frames come in a 10” and a 15” version. Pix-Star digital photo frames use a much-desired 4:3 aspect ratio. This offers the best compromise for a mix of photos and videos while being one of the best aspect ratios for photos.
Nix digital photo frames have a far more awkward 16:10 aspect ratio. In practice, you’ll get black bars around almost all of your photos and videos, making the screen size appear much smaller than it is. This aspect ratio is especially bad for portrait photos (while viewed in landscape orientation). Oftentimes, portraits are encased so severely in black bars that they become almost too small to see.
Pix-Star frames offer you quite a lot of features when it comes to media playback, you can control the order, create playlists, and display newer photos only (or more frequently). It’s also much easier to create playlists and albums through the web interface. You can also link albums from social media accounts and photo-sharing platforms like Google Photos.
Contrast this with what you can do on the Nix digital photo frame and you’ll notice a big divide. Nix digital photo frames are severely limited when it comes to creating playlists and controlling the order of photo or video playback. Each photo needs to be numbered in order, and the numbering system is quite confusing and time-intensive.
Pix-Star’s digital frame also has quite a bit of added functionality and features. You can remotely control the frame from anywhere; all you need is an internet connection, the web interface, and an online frame. Features like weather and listening to the radio further widen the gap between Pix-Star and Nix.
While Nix digital photo frames are slightly cheaper for the smaller frames, their largest 15” frame is nearly the same price as Pix-Star’s 15” frame. This is surprising considering both frames have similar screen sizes and image quality, yet Pix-Star’s frame is far more functional and versatile.
In summary, when it comes to general performance and usefulness, Pix-Star’s digital frames are the better choice. While the Nix digital photo frame has some benefits like unlimited video playback, they aren’t without fault – and it’s simply not enough to trump Pix-Star’s Wi-Fi compatibility and rich set of features.
Is the Nix digital photo frame any good?
The Nix digital photo frame’s main selling point is its plug-and-play functionality. This is meant to let you connect a USB/SD card directly to the frame to instantly play their content. While this seems like quite a handy feature, it comes with a host of issues.
Any photos and videos you load onto the USB/SD card need to be in a specific format. If you load a photo that isn’t .jpg or .jpeg, the frame won’t be able to play them. Videos need to be .mpeg-4 and less than the frames native resolution – or they won’t play. This means if you’re sending .mov videos from an iPhone, they most likely won’t play on a Nix digital photo frame.
Aspect ratio is another important feature to consider. While Nix’s largest digital photo frame comes with a 1080p display, the 15.6” screen has an awkward 16:10 aspect ratio. In practice, almost all of your photos and videos will have black bars on the side, and in some cases (especially with videos), even boxed-in by black bars. This negates the larger screen and higher resolution image and reduces the quality of your viewing experience.
Auto-on/off is controlled by a motion sensor – as is the case with most top digital photo frames. The issue with the Nix digital photo frame’s sensor is that it’s not very consistent. With a limited range of only 2.5m, the frame isn’t great for larger rooms. Even when you’re in the sensor’s range, there’s a good chance it won’t wake up without a few tries.
Other more minor issues like irregular and wrong auto-orientation of photos sent from iPhones make it hard to justify buying this unit. Issues with the magnetic remote control being difficult to use and easy to hit the wrong button don’t help much.
When you consider that Wi-Fi compatible frames (e.g. Pix-Star) with far richer feature sets aren’t much more expensive; the Nix digital photo frame gets harder to choose. Unless you’re set on the 16:10 aspect ratio, or unlimited video playback (in the right format) via USB only, the Nix digital photo frame shouldn’t be your first choice.
How to send photos to a Nix digital photo frame?
The only way to send and view photos and videos on a Nix digital photo frame is on a USB/SD card. Load the photos and videos onto the USB or card and connect them to the frame. The frame can then be set to instantly display these photos according to how they are numbered. Be warned that the numbering system it follows is confusing and every photo needs to be renamed manually.
Can a Nix digital photo frame play videos?
Nix digital photo frames have unlimited playback ability – this is one of the frame’s few advantages over the rest. That being said, videos can only be loaded to the frame via a USB/SD card. Videos need to match the frame’s native resolution and be in .mpeg-4 format to work. Any other format or resolution won’t work on Nix digital photo frames.
Is the Nix digital photo frame Wi-Fi compatible?
Nix digital photo frames are all offline. They don’t have any Wi-Fi or hotspot connectivity and rely on external devices like USB sticks and memory cards to display media.
