The New York Times - Take photos out of the group chat

Shopping for my stepdad is difficult; that man has expensive hobbies. He’s a fervid photographer, and I can’t exactly afford to shell out to fund his latest lens predilection. Or order a siege of herons directly to his backyard for his own personal photoshoot. Every holiday season is a challenge.

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Luckily, last year I stumbled across Wirecutter’s guide to the best digital photo frames. Lo and behold: the perfect gift, the Aura Carver frame. It was a huge hit. It remains proudly displayed in his home office, featuring an ever-changing slideshow of photos that used to be relegated to the family group chat. They range from shots of the Milky Way, to close-ups of every single bird in the greater San Diego area, to high-res stills of the family dog.

Framed photos are always crowd-pleasing presents, and this gadget takes that sentiment to the next level. And in my experience, it won’t just spark joy for the recipient, but also for the giver. Despite some unflattering photos of yours truly in the mix, it’s always fun for me to swing by and see what’s on display.

Wirecutter’s favorite digital photo frame→