The resurgence of digital photo frames is driven by everyone's desire to enhance the value of photos that tend to lose their appeal as they accumulate in the memory of our smartphones. Once unfashionable in its early days, the modern photo frame is now connected and allows you to see, review and share all your most beautiful memories.

From the small, poor-quality screen of the 2000s to the giant 17-inch screen offered today by the Pix-Star Lux 17″ photo frame, there is a whole world… a world of high technology. And that’s good for us!

Pix-Star provided me with a copy of their photo frame for this review, so let's see what it has to offer!

Unboxing and getting started with the Pix-Star Lux 17″

The first thing that strikes you when you receive the Pix-Star Lux 17″ is the size of the box! A big screen means a big box… But I wasn’t expecting something so big, being used to smaller photo frames.

The box packaging lets you know a little more about the device before opening it, but what really interests us is what's inside.

The photo frame is well packaged and protected. It comes with a remote control (with 2 Duracel batteries... it's rather unusual to have a brand name!), a support stand, a power cord with a French plug, a quick start guide... and something increasingly rare, a user manual!

It should be noted, however, that the plastic used for the frame is a bit "cheap" and the finish could be improved. On the frame I tested, the screen is offset by a few millimeters from the frame on the left side and the image seems to pass under the frame on the right side.

A fairly easy start… but not always intuitive to use

There's not much to say about the setup, which is very smooth. You'll need to insert the remote's batteries, attach the support foot, plug in the power cable, and then slide the switch to the on position.

When using the Pix-Star Lux 17″ for the first time, you will need to follow a few configuration steps: language and connection to the WiFi network. All you have to do is register your frame on the Pix-Star website using its serial number. At the same time, you will need to create a user account on the brand's platform. This account will be used to remotely control all your Pix-Star frames.

A remote control that is not very ergonomic

The included remote control, while useful for navigating locally on the frame, is one of the least successful elements of the product. It suffers from a unergonomic design, and the button layout is not very intuitive. Result: it's a bit confusing, especially at the beginning, and this can be a hindrance for novice users.

While getting started is fairly straightforward, mastering the device is a bit more complex. You'll need to invest in the device to fully understand all of its features and settings, which are numerous. The interface isn't always very clear, and you feel that ergonomics are not up to standardNavigating menus, changing settings, or scheduling slideshows can quickly become a headache, especially for those who are not comfortable with technology. If the idea is to give this frame to grandparents, it's best to set everything up in advance... and hope they don't press the buttons too much.

More than a digital frame, a real multimedia center

What really sets the Pix-Star Lux 17″ apart from most digital photo frames today is its wealth of connected features. It’s not just a beautiful screen that scrolls through images, it’s a true memory management center, capable of receiving, organizing, displaying and even animating your digital life in images.

A host of sharing methods

The strength of the frame is its connectivity, which allows you to send photos and videos in several ways, depending on your preferences:

• By email : each frame has a mail address unique. You or your loved ones can simply send photos as attachments, and they will automatically appear in a gallery or slideshow.
• Via the Pix-Star Snap mobile app (iOS and Android): A convenient solution for quickly sending multiple photos or videos from a smartphone, in just a few clicks. This only allows you to add photos, but it's impossible to remove them... and don't count on it to access the device's settings. Too bad.
• From a computer via the Pix-Star.com web interface : very useful for remotely managing the frame, sending content or changing settings without being physically there.
• By synchronization with cloud services : The frame can connect to Google Photos, Dropbox, OneDrive, Flickr, and others, to automatically display pre-existing albums. All it takes is a link or an account, and you're good to go!

The benefit? For example, you can create a shared Google Photos album with your family, and any new photos you add will automatically appear on the frame—no manipulation, no stress.

Smart, free cloud storage

Another strong point: the frame has a 16 GB internal storage, which allows you to store tens of thousands of photos locally. But that's not all:

• You can also add a USB flash drive or SD card (up to 32GB) to expand capacity or read files directly.
• The frame comes with access to a free cloud for life — no monthly subscription required, unlike what more and more competitors are offering.

This cloud not only allows you to store your photos, but also to synchronize multiple frames with each other. If you have a frame at home, one at your parents', one at your grandparents'... you can manage and update all of these frames from a single account.

Full remote control

One of the strongest arguments of the Pix-Star Lux 17″ is its remote management system. Once logged into your user account, you have the option to:

• manage the albums visible on the frame,
• modify the reading settings (display duration, transitions, on/off times, etc.),
• control the volume or mute the sound,
• restart or update the framework,
• Send a photo instantly to have it displayed as a priority.

And it works no matter where you are, as long as the frame is connected to Wi-Fi. A real plus, especially if you're giving this product to someone who's elderly or not very comfortable with technology.

On the other hand, the user interface is really dated and I find it really too unintuitive to be comfortable.

Setting up the frame ultimately turns out to be much easier on the frame itself… provided you get used to the remote control and its lack of ergonomics.

And much more…

In addition to photo and video, the frame offers a whole host of additional features that make it even more versatile:

• Web radio : you can listen to online radios directly from the frame.
• Local and international weather : display of weather forecasts updated in real time.

• Calendar and reminders : useful for displaying important events (birthdays, appointments, etc.).
• Simple memory games : a few built-in mini-games to pass the time.
• Background audio playback : your photos can scroll while you listen to music Music courses or an audio message.

A large, bright screen… but not impressive

The screen of 17 inches in 4:3 format This is clearly what sets this frame apart from most of its competitors. It is sufficiently bright (up to 350 cd/m²), with good viewing angles, and the 4:3 format allows photos to be displayed without black bars or unwanted cropping.

But again, the 1280×960 pixel resolution is disappointing a little. On a panel of this size, the pixels are visible, especially if you get close to them. It's not catastrophic, but a full HD screen would clearly have been welcome for a sharper rendering and less pixelated effect as you approach the frame.

Technical characteristics

My opinion after several days of use

After using the Pix-Star Lux 17″ for some time, I have to say that my opinion is mixed.

Yes, it's a frame feature-rich, very practical for sharing photos remotely, and ideal for keeping in touch with familyIt can really strengthen the intergenerational bond, especially if you use it to regularly send photos to your parents or grandparents.

But in return, the build quality is not quite up to par interface is too complex, and theuser experience could be greatly improvedWe feel that Pix-Star is aimed at a tech-savvy audience, capable of configuring, synchronizing, adjusting... but not necessarily at Mr. or Mrs. Average.

Finally, to finish, the Pix-Star Lux 17″ photo frame is available for €299 on the Pix-Star website.