ClearFrame Acrylic Digital Photo Frame

A 5-inch IPS screen set into a clear acrylic body, so the picture appears to float rather than sit behind a bezel. It is a neater solution than most digital frames, which tend to announce themselves as gadgets; this one reads as an object on a shelf that happens to change what it shows.

The IPS panel is the part that matters. It holds colour and contrast when viewed from the side, unlike the cheaper panels that wash out unless you stand square to them, and at 1080p a photo looks like a photo rather than a screen. It plays video and audio as well as stills, supporting JPG, PNG, BMP, MP4, MOV and MP3.

There is 4 GB of built-in storage, expandable by USB stick or SD card, and a 1200 mAh battery gives around four hours away from a socket, so it can be carried to a table or handed round. It charges over USB. As a gift it works well loaded in advance with photos of the recipient. Wipe the acrylic with a soft dry cloth; paper towel will scratch it.

• Screen: 12.7 cm (5 inch) IPS display
• Resolution: 1080p Full HD
• Material: acrylic body
• Storage: 4 GB built in, expandable via USB or SD card
• Battery: 1200 mAh, up to 4 hours playback
• Formats: JPG, JPEG, BMP, PNG, MP4, MOV, MP3
• Power: USB charging
• Use: bedrooms, living rooms, desks, offices, gifts