DragonTouch Classic 15 Pro Digital Photo Frame : a basic display with an easy-to-use app
DragonTouch Classic 15 Pro Digital Photo Frame Two-Minute Review
Invest in one of these best digital photo frame This is a good idea if you have a large number of images that you want to display, but don’t want to go to the trouble of printing them out. With a digital photo frame, you can showcase your latest snaps; such frames can even make great gifts for relatives.
The Dragon Touch Classic 15 Pro is a nice mid-sized frame that would fit on a sideboard or similar item where you can hide the power cord. While the Dragon Touch’s marketing materials show it being wall-mounted, keep in mind that you’ll have to find a way to hide the power cord since there’s no battery-powered option available.
From the outside, the Classic 15 Pro is quite simple and straightforward. There are certainly more attractive designs on the market; but it’s neither offensive nor eye-catching, letting your photos take center stage.
The display resolution is Full HD (1920 x 1080). The photos are a little soft on closer inspection, but at the distances you’re likely to view the images, they look sharp enough. The frame is bright enough in most situations, although you may find that it loses some visibility if placed in a particularly bright room.
With 32GB of built-in memory and Wi-Fi connectivity, you can quickly and easily add (or remove) photos to the frame, and initial setup is simple. If you’re looking for a gift for someone who isn’t very tech-savvy, the DragonTouch Classic should be relatively easy to use. If you don’t want to send photos over Wi-Fi, you can also use the USB port.
Warning for non-US users, though. While you can buy it in other regions, it comes with a fixed plug adapter – so you’ll need to buy a US world adapter or a power supply for your country; just make sure it’s sized to fit the outlet.
DragonTouch Classic15 Pro: Price and release date
- $99/£80 (approx.)
- Available in the U.S.; elsewhere via import
- Watch out for offers
As of this writing, you have the option Dragon Touch Classic 15 Pro now for $89.99 at Amazon;but the usual price is $99.99. While the framework isn’t officially available in the UK yet, you can easily import it via Amazon or similar.
This makes it one of the cheapest digital photo frames you can buy, even with international shipping. In fact, even taking into account the purchase of additional power cords, it’s still reasonably priced.
That said, if you’re not in the US, I would almost certainly recommend purchasing a frame that’s more readily available in your home state. Any problems will be easier to solve; you’ll get the correct power cord; and you won’t have to feel guilty about shipping your goods around the world.
The frame is available for purchase now.
DragonTouch Classic 15 Pro Digital Photo Frame Review: Specs
| aspect | 16 x 10 inches (25.5 x 40.5 cm) |
| display size | 15.6 inches |
| solve | 1920×1080 |
| aspect ratio | 16:9 |
| touchscreen | Yes |
| sound | Built-in speakers |
| direction | portrait or landscape |
| storage | 32GB |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, SD card, USB-A |
Dragon Touch Classic 15 Pro Digital Photo Frame: Design
- Understated design
- Touchscreen interface allows for quick setup
- Use the app to quickly transfer your footage
The Classic 15 Pro has a low-key look with its white bezel and matte black bezel; but that’s not necessarily a criticism, as it means it doesn’t distract from your photos. That said, there are some more interesting/fashionable frames – for example, wood effect – if that’s more your style.
The DragonTouch’s frame is fairly thick, but it won’t stand up without support. Instead, a leg is provided that you insert to support the frame. It does detach, though, so you can flip the frame over if you want to display the image in portrait orientation. Note that if you leave the frame in landscape format, the portrait image will appear in portrait orientation, but only in the center part of the screen.
Note that the frame does mount to the wall if you wish. However, you’ll need to find a way to hide the ugly black power cords that might be in plain sight on the wall. Therefore, in my opinion, this frame is best placed on a sideboard, mantelpiece or something similar.
Setup is quick and easy. Once you plug in your DragonTouch Classic and turn it on, use the touchscreen interface to guide you through setup. Connect it to your Wi-Fi and you can use it with the free “VPhoto” (Android and iOS) app to transfer your photos.
You can quickly transfer up to 50 images at a time. Since uploading images is app-based, you can even ask friends and family to install the same app and send their photos to the frame as well. In fact, you can send photos from anywhere in the world as long as the frame and app are connected – so, for example, if you want to upload your child’s latest photo to their grandparent’s photo frame, you can do that just like that.
The DragonTouch Classic has 32GB of built-in storage, which should meet the needs of most people. However, if you find you’re running out of space, a USB port on the back of the frame means you can always add more.
Supplied with power cord (wired plug with barrel connector). The review sample came with a US plug, but I’m in the UK. So I can buy a US to UK adapter or I can buy a new one. Choosing the right size can be tricky, however: There are several sizes available, and the dimensions of the included unit are not listed in the manufacturer’s specifications.
I solved this problem by purchasing a plug from Amazon with multiple size adapters; the correct size in this case is 2.5/0.7mm. However, it would be better if the frame came with a USB power supply, as you could use it with any existing power supply, or at least it would be easier to find a suitable power supply to use. Also note that it is very important to make sure you are getting the correct voltage/current. For example, this frame uses a 12V/1A power adapter, while other frames in the Dragon Touch series use 5V/2A or 12V/3A adapters.
Dragon Touch Classic 15 Pro Digital Photo Frame: Performance
- Full HD (1920 x 1080) display
- Image looks a bit soft
- In bright spaces, maximum brightness may be better
Now that you’ve set up your Dragon Touch Classic 15 Pro, how does its image look?
Well, the Full HD (1920 x 1080) display may be enough for most users. If you are very close to the screen it will look a bit soft, but as it is probably not far away on a sideboard or mantel the image will look good.
But the brightness could be a little better. Images on the DragonTouch Classic’s frame display well in low light and standard indoor conditions; but if you place it near a window in bright daytime settings, the frame may benefit from being a little brighter than its maximum brightness setting. Well, in a very bright room, the image may look a little dim. This may be a relatively minor complaint, but it may be worth considering when considering the placement of the frame in your home.
DragonTouch Classic can be set up to display photos in a slideshow, at different intervals and using different transitions, very easily. This gives you a lot of control over how your photos are displayed – you can keep a photo for hours at a time, or you can have the frame flip the photo every few seconds. Having flexibility is very convenient.
Should I buy the DragonTouch Classic 15 Pro photo frame?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
DragonTouch Classic 15 Pro Digital Photo Frame Review: Also Consider
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Dragon Touch Classic 15 Pro | Ola Varden | Pexar 11-inch digital photo frame |
|---|---|---|---|
| display size | 15 inches | 15 inches | 11 inches |
| solve | 1920×1080 | 1600 x 1200, 133 pixels per inch | 2000 x 1200, 212 pixels per inch |
| aspect ratio | 16:9 | 4:3 | 5:3 |
| touchscreen | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| sound | Built-in speakers | Built-in speakers | Built-in speakers |
| direction | portrait or landscape | portrait or landscape | portrait or landscape |
| storage | 32GB | not applicable | 32GB |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, SD card, USB-A | Wifi | Wi-Fi, SD card, USB-A, USB-C |
How I tested the Pexar 11-inch digital photo frame
I tested the DragonTouch Classic 15 Pro digital photo frame for three weeks. I use the VPhoto app to upload many different photos to the frame and ask others to do the same.
I upload many types of images, including portrait and landscape photos, brightly colored images, and black and white retro photos. I varied the position of the frame and tried it in different places around the house (even at family events) to evaluate how it would look in different lighting conditions.
I’ve been a professional photographer and journalist for many years and have a good understanding of how images look on monitors. I’m trying to think about this from the perspective of someone who is probably an amateur photographer at best, who is just looking for a frame to display family photos in, given the price point.
