You don't have to be a tech enthusiast to understand that something is changing in the world of home art. The new PocketBook digital frame, presented at CES 2025, could represent a turning point: zero energy consumption when showing a static image, no blue light, a year of battery life. Sounds too good to be true? There is a “but”, in fact, and it concerns the price.
Technology that changes domestic art
The traditional digital frame is like that friend who never stops consuming energy: even when it's not doing anything, it's there devouring kilowatts. PocketBook he thought of solving this problem with a completely different approach, using technology E Ink Spectra 6.
Think of an electronic sheet of paper: once the image is “printed”, it stays there without needing energy. This digital frame does exactly that: it consumes energy only when you change the image, then he goes into total zen mode. And that's not all: no backlight means no annoying blue light that keeps us awake at night. It's like having a traditional painting, but with the magical power to change on command.
Three sizes for all tastes
If you are thinking of hanging one of these beauties on the wall, PocketBook gives you three options. There is the 13.3-inch model, perfect for those who want to start without exaggerating. Then we have the bigger 31.5-inch brother, for those who want to do things in a big way. But the real gem is the 28.5-inch model with technology IGZO di Sharp. It's like having a Ferrari instead of a small car: the images change faster, and the quality is top notch. For the more patient, an A1-sized version is also coming by the end of 2025.
The battery? It lasts a whole year on a single charge. It's like your smartphone lasts 365 times longer. A dream.
The Price of Revolution
And here's the moment you've been waiting for (while sitting down, I hope). The base 13.3-inch model costs $599 (about 485 euros). Not bad, you might say. For me, it's already bad. But wait: the 31.5-inch model goes up to $1.700 (1.380 euros), and the top-of-the-line 28.5-inch with IGZO reaches 2.400 dollars (1.945 euros).
To put things into perspective: with this money you could buy a small art gallery of REAL paintings. Or a decent supply of traditional frames that, coincidentally, also have zero energy consumption. The question arises: is it worth spending so much on a digital frame, even if it is super efficient? At the moment, in my opinion, no. But don't tell the company, or they won't send me press releases anymore.
The Art of Compromise
The PocketBook app offers access to thousands of works of art, and you can also upload your own photos. The frame can be used both horizontally and vertically, just like a traditional painting. If you are an art enthusiast with a generous budget and want the flexibility to change your artwork every day without impacting your electricity bill, well, this could be your chance to bring a piece of the future into your living room.
I, for not knowing how to read or write, am waiting for the real future, in which (I am sure) this type of picture will be very widespread and much, much less expensive: it is good to witness the first steps of this trailblazer, but in a few years it will be a standard :)
