Baby monitors...one of the items parents spend a lot of time looking into and easily getting frustrated about. Should I get sound only, a video monitor, wifi enabled, FHSS or smart features? Take some time and decide what features best fit your needs before you register or buy a product you might end up hating down the road.
We decided right off the bat that we wanted video capabilities so that filtered us down to FHSS systems or wifi based smart cameras. I will say right off the bat both have their pros and cons and I want to explain them a little before I give a review of the product because those reasons are why we went with this product.
If you do go with a wifi enabled smart camera (Nest, Arlo etc) I recommend getting a camera that is designed for babies in mind. We got the Arlo Baby and really liked it because it was really designed for a nursery with climate warnings (tempature, humidity, pollution), crying and motion alarms, two-way talk, night light, music, and easily paired to my Alexa devices. Then of course being connected to wifi so that I could see the nursery from anywhere on my smart phone via the app.
BUT, there are some downsides to wifi cameras like these. More spotty connectivity. If the internet goes down so does the camera. Hacking concerns (really did not concern me) if privacy is your issue and for me what became my biggest issue was network setup. I am a pretty tech savvy person and I had a lot of trouble getting this onto my network for reasons I still don't understand (Apple's HomeKit might be the culprit...though I don't use their HomeKit). But this also means if you travel...maybe for the holidays to the in-laws, in order for this camera to work you have to get it setup onto their wifi network. No Wi-Fi, no camera. Wifi pairing issues? No camera. Or maybe you're going to have your parents watch the baby for a day or two. In order for them to access the camera they need to download the app and either login into you account or you have to set them up as an authorized user. Parents don't have a smart phone? No camera. So I LOVE this camera for at home, even with the occasional signal issues and I think smart cameras are fantastic in the long term for the nursery especially as the baby gets older and is moving. But when you're dealing with a newborn and an infant having something that is easily setup in a matter of seconds that works is really beneficial.
Enter this review. I was very close to going with the Infant Optics DXR-8. If you've looked at any reviews you will see it consistently at the top of the list. It's been around for awhile and is the go-to monitor in the mid-price range. But in a few review websites I saw the Eufy win out and it got me curious. If feels like a direct competitor to the DXR-8, with the same price and from what I can tell nearly identical features and IMO some improvements.
Both are closed networks using FHSS which is more reliable than wifi. So check for both. BUT DXR-8 runs on a 2.4Ghz and I've read that this can cause interference issues if you're running other devices on your 2.4Ghz wifi. Just something to think about.
Both have cameras that can pan and tilt. Eufy wins on pan (330 vs 270 degrees) and DXR-8 wins on tilt (110 vs 120 degrees)
Both have attachable wide angle lenses and can zoom in. The DXR-8 wins on range at 700ft. BUT with 460ft in the Eufy I have no issues in a medium sized house (two story, 2400sqft).
Both have night vision which is critical. Both also have very similar features like temperature readings and alerts. I honestly don't really care about either and it's not a deal breaker regardless.
So where does the Eufy outshine the DXR-8? The monitor and screen. the DXR-8 is 3.5" and the resolution is only 240p. For as much praise as the DXR-8 gets that resolution surprised me. Some won't care but I like to watch my kid breathing since he's a stomach sleeper and I'm irrationally paranoid about SIDS. After watching several user reviews I was just overall disappointed with the screen quality of the DXR-8. The Eufy however boasts a much larger 5" screen with a 720p resolution. It's not as clear as a smart phone per say but it is very nice and that screen size really helps. User navigation and design is also much simpler and cleaner on the Eufy. Overall product design is just much cleaner as well.
Then there is battery life, the one consistent complaint I've read about the DXR-8. They boast 6 hrs of on-screen mode and 10 hrs in power saving mode. Most friends I know who use the DXR-8 get no more than 4 hours and are on their second or third battery. Honestly they look like the cheap lithium ions I put in my mini drone. I can't comment on the quality of the Eufy battery and the one downside is it's not user replaceable. But it claims to have a battery life of 7 hours display and 15 hours in power saving mode. and as of now I've read no complaints to indicate similar battery issues at the DXR-8.
If you want a smart app features, or the ability to record then Eufy is not the camera for you. This camera is about simplicity and at this point it's absolutely perfect. I just need something to watch my kid and let me know he's awake, asleep or not in distress. There is ZERO SETUP. Plug them in and instantly paired....which makes travel a breeze. I've experienced almost no lag or connection issues and compared to most dedicated video monitors this has one of the better screens I've seen.
If I have issues I will update this review, but for now I highly recommend this camera and give it the edge IMO over the DRX-8 if you are on the fence about them like I was.
EDIT 7/21: both camera still work very well. Eufy has remained my primary. I still enjoy the Arlo a lot and I believe a firmware update helped solve my connection issues. Eufy is still the easier one to connect since it isn’t smart.
The big downer on my Arlo smart camera…a lag of about 10-20 seconds. That lag wasn’t quite as significant when I first bought it. Food for thought.
| Product Dimensions | 4.15 x 3.2 x 3.2 inches |
|---|---|
| Item model number | T8300 |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included) |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Material Type | Plastic |
| Additional product features | Portable, HD Resolution, Night Vision, Motion Sensor |
| Number Of Items | 1 |
| Style | Baby monitor |
| Communication technology | FHSS, do not support 2.4GHz wifi |
| Power Source | Battery Powered |
| Batteries required | Yes |
| Alert type | Audio and Motion |
| Standing screen display size | 5 Inches |
| Display type | LCD |
| Number of channels | 2 |
| Sensor technology | Nightvision |
| Item Weight | 1.32 pounds |
