Miku Review
Pros: Easy to use, Internet range
Cons: Very expensive, average sound and video, no zoom
Manufacturer: Miku
The Skinny
Compare to Similar Products
![]() This Product
Miku | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||
Price | $400.00 List $399.00 at Amazon | $299.00 List $229.95 at Amazon - 23% off | $199.00 List $120.48 at Amazon - 39% off | $30.00 List | $200.00 List $185.99 at Amazon - 7% off |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Easy to use, Internet range | Awesome images, face recognition, easy to use, lots of features | Internet range, great images, versatile long term use | Wi-fi capable, budget-friendly, quality images | Good visuals, lots of features, easy to use |
Cons | Very expensive, average sound and video, no zoom | Not baby specific, expensive, poor sound, some features require subscription | No internet / no monitor, disappointing sound | Requires internet, disappointing sound | Sound could be better, harder setup |
Bottom Line | Spendy monitor with fewer features and subpar images for a Wi-Fi monitor | Great video and loads of feature but the price is high for features that aren't baby specific | Great camera with versatile uses that produces quality video and sound | No frills wi-fi with good visuals and a low price | If you like Arlo products, this is a good one for long term use |
Rating Categories | Miku | Nest Cam IQ Indoor... | Nest Cam Indoor... | LeFun 1080p Wi-Fi | Arlo Baby |
Range (20%) | |||||
Sound Clarity (20%) | |||||
Video Quality (30%) | |||||
Ease Of Use (15%) | |||||
Battery Life (10%) | |||||
Features (5%) | |||||
Specs | Miku | Nest Cam IQ Indoor... | Nest Cam Indoor... | LeFun 1080p Wi-Fi | Arlo Baby |
Communication Technology | 2.4GHz FHSS | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11 a/b/g/n | 802.11 b/g/n | 2.4 GHz |
Indoor Range Test | 5 Walls 77 Feet |
Anywhere You Have Connectivity | Anywhere You Have Connectivity | Anywhere You Have Connectivity | Anywhere You Have Connectivity |
Open Field Range Test | 800 Feet | Anywhere You Have Connectivity | Anywhere You Have Connectivity | Anywhere You Have Connectivity | Anywhere You Have Connectivity |
Manufacturer's Claimed Range (*buyer beware!) | 500 Feet | Anywhere You Have Connectivity | Anywhere You Have Connectivity | Anywhere You Have Connectivity | Anywhere You Have Connectivity |
Max Sound | 98 db | 86 db | 86 db | 85 db | 93 db |
Screen Size | 2.4" | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Max # of Cameras | 4 | 10 Per Home with 3 Homes Per Nest App. Log In | 10 Per Home with Unlimited Homes | Not Listed (Unlimited?) | 5 simultaneous video streams free. Up to 20 cameras with paid subscription. |
Temperature | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Movement Detection | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Sound Activation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Talk-to-Baby | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Pan/Tilt/ Zoom | None | Zoom, Close-up tracking | Zoom | Pan/Tilt/Zoom | Zoom |
Battery Life | 12.75 hrs | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
EMF @ 6 Feet from Camera | 0.77 V/m | 0.91 V/m | 0.92 V/m | 0.84 V/m | 0.75 V/m |
Warranty | 2 Year | 2 Year | 2 Year | 1 Year | 1 Year |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Miku company has a singular focus at the moment on baby monitoring with a camera and algorithm that monitor baby's breathing in additional to providing video. The company includes engineers, fathers, and mothers who came together to create something that might lead to a "safer world for babies".
- In case your internet isn't robust enough to support your chosen monitor, buying from a retailer with a good return policy will ensure you aren't stuck with something you can't use.
- Test your new monitor as soon as you get it to ensure that it works.
- We suggest using a device besides your smartphone for monitoring. This secondary device helps you avoid losing connection when you receive a phone call.
- Be sure to change the default password that comes with the monitor! Keeping the default password leaves you open to potential hacking.
Performance Comparison
Range
The Miku has the benefit of Internet connectivity which means it is a good choice for larger homes or situations where more than 4 walls in play between the nursery and the parent device. Wi-Fi may be your only option depending on your situation, but you will need a robust Wi-Fi router or range extender for the monitor connection. Your chosen parent device will also need an internet connection and/or data plan if you are using a smartphone not connected to Wi-Fi.
Audio / Visual
Video monitors work best with adequate sound to indicate to parents that the baby has a need. Without the sound, you won't know when the baby needs you to look at the video. For this reason, we compare the sound from one product to the others. The Miku sound is better than some of the Wi-Fi options but it isn't impressive overall. Maximum sound is 86db and the sound is always on unless you turn it off. The sound quality is bright with almost no mid or low tones, but it is clear and does a relatively good job at indicating what is happening in the baby's room.
The visual images for this monitor are less impressive than the other Wi-Fi options we used. The video has more distortion than the competition and it is missing the ability to zoom in even with digital zoom, which seems like a huge oversight. The color is close to real life and the images are clear during the daylight. Nightvision is only so-so with darker images than the competition, but there are no hot spots of light and blurry edges found in some of the competition. If you are looking for great video from your Wi-Fi monitor the Miku is not going to offer the real-life video most parents hope for.
Ease of Use
The Miku is one of the easiest to use monitors we tested with a score rivaling the competition. The setup process for the Miku is extremely easy taking about a minute with an easy to use app that walks you through the process. The app itself is intuitive and the lack of features means there isn't much to manipulate or learn. All of the features are located on the home screen making them easy to find and use with the most used features appearing on the video viewing screen when in full-screen mode.
This camera will not work if you are talking on the phone, something it shares ith most Wi-Fi competition which is why we recommend using an alternate device besides your smartphone if you need constant monitoring. The app ad the sound will continue to operate if the app is minimized and running in the background while you use other apps. However, this will also run the battery down and may not be the best choice if you aren't plugged in.
Battery Life
The Miku camera does not have batteries so the battery matric is based on the parent device battery. The battery life of your device will depend on the type of device, how old it is, and what if any other apps or uses the device is being utilized for. In general, however we assume that most smartphones and tablets will have a longer battery life than the standard dedicated monitor.
Features
The Miku has a variety of features but took a hit in this metric because it lacks basic functionality parents might be looking for like a zoom feature. While most monitors only offer digital zoom, which is not the same as actual zoom, they at least offer something that allows parents a "close up" view of baby's face. Why doesn't the Miku have this? We aren't sure, but it feels like an oversight. What it does have includes the following:
- Two-way talk
- Breathing monitoring
- Temperature and humidity sensor
- Sound and motion detection
- Sleep analytics and reports
- Music playlists/sleep sounds
- Miku Analytics
The Miku has a unique feature that uses an algorithm and video images to monitor your baby's breathing and motion, which allows parents to use it somewhat as a movement monitor without the need for additional components. We did not test this feature, but it is one of the redeeming features that make the high price potentially justifiable if you want a movement monitor or sleep analytics.
Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Levels
Every Wi-Fi monitor emits some level of EMF, which is why we feel a responsibility to test and report on the levels we experienced during testing for a side-by-side comparison of values. While the values in your specific situation may be different as you will have other influencers than we did, it does give you an idea of which options emit less compared to others. The Miku emits an average of 0.77 V/m when placed 6 feet from the reader. This reading is one of the best in the group making it a good choice for parents concerned about EMF exposure.
Security/Privacy Concerns
Miku offers a little more information on security than some of the competition and not as much as others. On their website they say the following about security and privacy:
AES 256-bit
Crypto Chip Security
TLS/SSL
- Update the firmware upon activation and when updates are available
- Change the password when you set up the monitor and regularly thereafter
- The new password should be 8-10+ characters including upper and lower case letters, special characters, and numbers
- Limit the camera's field of view so it only sees what you need it to see
- Because cameras can be turned on and manipulated from a distance, you should unplug the camera when not in use
Manufacturer Video
— Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz