These electronic Polaroids are powered by your phone’s NFC chip | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.These electronic Polaroids are powered by your phone’s NFC chipComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...TechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsThese electronic Polaroids are powered by your phone’s NFC chipThey feature a color E Ink screen that only updates when you wirelessly upload a new photo.They feature a color E Ink screen that only updates when you wirelessly upload a new photo.by Andrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiSenior Reporter, NewsPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew LiszewskiMar 20, 2026, 6:05 PM UTCLinkShareAndrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew Liszewski is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.E Ink displays have expanded beyond e-readers. They’re now used in digital photo frames, smartphones, and even the price tags found on grocery store shelves. VidaBay’s Classic Plus NFC E-Ink Fridge Magnet — which looks like a Polaroid photo — features the same low power color E Ink screens used in those electronic price tags, but to display photos from your phone without the need for a battery.The small digital photo frames are now available globally in white, red, or yellow through VidaBay’s online store for $35.99 each (currently discounted to $29.99), or as a three-pack for $99.99 (now discounted to $86.99).One of the many unique benefits of E Ink’s e-paper display technology is that it only uses power when changing the text or image on screen. These small displays take advantage of that and don’t include a battery. Instead, all the power needed to update their E Ink screens comes from the NFC chip on your smartphone when you’re wirelessly transferring images using VidaBay’s mobile app. Once a new image is displayed, it will be there indefinitely.VidaBay White E-Ink Fridge Magnet$30$3617% off$30$30 at VidaBay$87 at VidaBay (three-pack)There is one definite downside to VidaBay’s E Ink Fridge Magnets. As Good E-Reader points out, the color screen they use, the E Ink Spectra 3100, is specifically designed for retail use and features just four colored particles: black, yellow, red, and white. So when compared to products like the Aura Ink digital photo frame, which uses an E Ink Spectra 6 panel capable of reproducing thousands of shades, the accuracy of the color reproduction on VidaBay’s smaller alternative will be lacking.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Andrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiSenior Reporter, NewsPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew LiszewskiGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularMarc Andreessen is a philosophical zombieValve’s huge SteamOS 3.8 update adds long-awaited features — and supports Steam MachineBelkin’s wireless HDMI adapter freed me from a long annoying cable when I travelGoogle Search is now using AI to replace headlinesA rogue AI led to a serious security incident at MetaThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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VidaBay has introduced a novel electronic picture frame, termed the “Classic Plus NFC E-Ink Fridge Magnet,” designed to display photographs sourced directly from a user’s smartphone. The device leverages the Near Field Communication (NFC) chip found in modern phones to facilitate wireless image transfer and display. Unlike traditional digital photo frames that require a power source, this product utilizes E Ink technology, a display method known for its low power consumption, capitalizing on the power provided by the phone's NFC capability. The E Ink screen only activates when a new image is uploaded, maintaining the displayed photograph indefinitely once the transfer is complete. The product is available in white, red, or yellow and is offered individually for $35.99 or as a three-pack for $99.99, both currently discounted.

However, a key limitation of this design stems from the specific E Ink Spectra 3100 display utilized by VidaBay. This screen, originally engineered for retail applications, is restricted to a palette of just four colors – black, yellow, red, and white. This contrasts with displays like the Aura Ink digital photo frame which utilize a broader range of E Ink Spectra 6 panels, facilitating significantly richer and more nuanced color reproduction. Consequently, while functional, the color accuracy of the VidaBay product will be noticeably less vibrant compared to alternatives employing a more expansive color gamut. Senior reporter Andrew Liszewski highlights this distinction, referencing Good E-Reader’s assessment. The product’s design offers convenience through a battery-free operation, but this comes at the cost of color fidelity due to the limitations of its chosen display technology.