‘Digital photo frames are perfect Father’s Day gifts – they’re so good I got four’

Currently half price at Amazon, this is a gift that combines sentimentality and technology

Father’s Day is an opportunity to show the men in our lives how much they mean to us. And while whiskey, aftershave and grooming sets are all worthy gifts, they can sometimes feel a bit repetitive. Dor those looking for a gift a little outside of the usual suspects this June, I’ve got the perfect present idea.

The Frameo 10.1 inch digital photo frame from Amazon, is the ultimate combination of thoughtful and practical. And the best part is that they’re currently half price, making them cheaper than they were on Black Friday . And if you’ve left it last minute and happen to be a Prime member, next day delivery is free, too.

Usually £99.98, the frames are currently reduced to £49.98 , saving 50% on the RRP for the plain black frame. Those wanting something slightly more premium looking could opt for one of the wood effect frames for £69.98, but the sleek black version will fit in with most decor choices with ease.

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The frame is really easy to set up. After plugging it in, it walks you through the set up, which includes downloading the compatible free Frameo app, which is what the owner, and their family and friends can use to upload images to the frame.

There are other similar apps available, for example Kodak has their own digital photo frame available at Argos for £79.99 . Their version uses its own app, and has earned 14 reviews from shoppers, one of which wrote: “Bought this as a christmas present for my parents and they love it, it’s so nice to be able to share photos with them while I’m away from home.”

For a more premium option, the AURA Carver Mat 10.1 Inch Digital Photo Frame is £179 and uses Photo Match to share images.

Personally, I’ve only ever used the Frameo app and find it really easy to navigate . So easy in fact, that when I gifted both sets of grandparents the frame, they were able to set it up themselves with no assistance.

Once set up, the Frameo app allows unlimited user connections via a pin code, so each family member can send photos and videos to the frame from anywhere in the world. The frame has a large 32GB storage , which allows for approximately 60,000 photos. For context, I’m a content creator and serial photo taker and haven’t quite hit that number on my camera roll in five years. It’s ample for the average person.

The quality of the photos is great, too, with a 1280×800 HD IPS screen with vibrant colours. It’s also touchscreen, so you can browse through photos, delete pictures or videos, and pause the slideshow in seconds. Again, even the most tech-wary users can manage it.

A few other standout features are that it can be freestanding or wall mounted, and auto rotates between portrait and landscape. Users can also choose how long each image stays on the screen, and can set it to turn on and off at certain times of the day. My nan recently told me hers comes on at around 5pm, and switches off when she heads to bed at 10pm.

My grandparents loved their frames so much, I decided to get my mum one for Mother’s Day this year and it was gratefully received. She loves how my brother, sister and I can send her photos of her kids, grandchildren, dogs, family days out, holidays and more. And for the security conscious, the Frameo app doesn’t store or access your media either, ensuring it remains private – ideal for my sister-in-law who has her frame on her bedside displaying photos of her little boy.

The Amazon frame has a 4.5 star rating based on more than 400 reviews, too. One said: “This is the fourth Frameo picture frame I have purchased. They have all been excellent and I love the large screen on this model. The picture quality is outstanding. Everyone who sees it is captivated. I believe these offer good value for money. It is easy to use, has some useful features, and I appreciate the SD card slot which makes it easy to transfer images from my PC. I’ve never had a problem with the touch screen. The only downsides are: it takes a while to boot up; I would appreciate more options for display order, including the ability to remember where it left off when it goes to sleep (if you set a sleep interval); and the ability to display the file name or other selected metadata from the image.”

Another said: “This is my third Frameo digital frame. I bought the first one for myself and I was amazed by the quality of pictures and the product itself. The second one was a gift for my Dad and the third one a gift for my son’s grandmother. Frame always comes in a very nice box, it looks already like a gift. The screen and photos look clear and bright. The Frameo app is quick and easy to use. I like the fact i can add photos and videos as well. Sleeping mode is a great advantage so you don’t have to always turn it on and off. My family is more than happy that i can share with them live pictures in the app. We all admire modern design, I can also add that the wood style looks even more fancy than I expected. Overall I think its a great product and value for money.”

While the Frameo app is free, there are some paid extras, which saw one shopper leave a three star review. They wrote: “Brought this as a Xmas present, good clear picture, lots of settings, loses some stars as you can only transfer a few photos wirelessly at a time unless you pay for the premium software. Lots of storage built in! Finally the mains adapter could have been longer as if you’re wall mounting it then it has to be fairly close to a mains plug.”

For fathers in particular, this is a gift that combines family sentimentality and technology. I know my dad loves gadgets, and has often mentioned what a great gift mum’s frame was, so for that reason, I think this is one of the best, most considerate and unexpectedly fabulous gifts you can get the father figure in your life this June. Shop the half price digital photo frame on Amazon here.