Meural Canvas II by Netgear Review

Full Review

The Meural Canvas II is not a typical digital picture frame. It is a 21.5-inch digital art display that happens to also show your family photos.

The screen uses an anti-glare matte finish that looks like a real canvas. From across the room, it genuinely looks like a painting on the wall. This is the Meural's biggest selling point, and it delivers.

Gesture control replaces the touchscreen. Wave your hand near the frame to change the image, adjust brightness, or navigate menus. It takes a few tries to get the hang of it, but once you do, it works well.

The Meural app lets you upload your own photos and set playlists. But the real draw is the art library. Over 30,000 works from museums and artists around the world are available. A membership gives you full access to new collections and curated galleries.

For family photos, the Meural works fine. Upload through the app or USB. Photos look great on the big matte screen. But the frame does not connect to Google Photos, iCloud, or social media. You have to upload photos manually.

At $400, this is the most expensive frame on this list by a wide margin. It is built for people who want a piece of art on their wall that can also show family photos. If you just want a photo slideshow frame, this is overkill.

But if you love art and want a large display that blends into your home like a real painting, the Meural Canvas II is the only real option.