In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Owlet Dream Duo 2 Review

A high-end option that offers exceptional sound features like sound activation, but it will cost you and you can't remotely move the camera
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Owlet Dream Duo 2 Review
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Price:  $400 List
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Manufacturer:   Owlet
By Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz  ⋅  Nov 26, 2024
86
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#2 of 15
  • Video Quality - 30% 8.0
  • Sound Quality - 25% 9.0
  • Range - 20% 10.0
  • Ease Of Use - 15% 8.0
  • Battery Life - 5% 7.0
  • Features - 5% 8.0

Our Verdict

The Owlet Dream Duo 2 is a versatile baby monitor with video, sound, and vital monitoring capabilities. This video monitor comes with a camera, base station, and dream sock and connects via WiFi so you can view it all from your smart device. This option offers better-than-average video images, excellent sound capabilities with silent sound activation and noise cancellation, and pairs with an easy-to-use app loaded with features that don't cost extra. This monitor is all that and almost a bag a chips (sadly, no snacks provided). The Owlet is expensive, which could be a deal breaker as it costs significantly more than most competitors. However, if you want to monitor sleep and vitals, it doesn't charge you a subscription fee, which could make it less expensive over time than those that put their best features behind a paywall. Overall, we think this one-and-done monitor is a great choice for families who want all the bells and whistles and enjoy a little tech gadget. We especially think it is a great fit for those who sleep lightly and need a quiet monitor to reach deep sleep.
REASONS TO BUY
Silent noise cancellation
Compact
Great video quality
Advanced functions
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
No remote camera control

Compare to Similar Products

 
owlet dream duo 2
This Product
Owlet Dream Duo 2
Awards Top Pick Award
Best Video Monitor for Light Sleepers
Editors' Choice Award
Best WiFi Baby Monitor
Best Value Award
Best WiFi on a Budget
Editors' Choice Award
Best Dedicated Monitor
Best Value Award
Best Video Monitor on a Budget
Price $400 List
$359.99 at Amazon
$280 List
$279.99 at Amazon
$170 List
$159.00 at Amazon
$160 List
$99.99 at Amazon
$100 List
$79.98 at Amazon
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Bottom Line More expensive choice with great video, movement monitor capability, but the lack of remote camera control is a bummer for the priceImpressive monitor with great video and sound, a remote camera, and loads of features for a slightly higher priceMounting options are plentiful, but the video is only so-so, and the subscription service is a disappointmentSimple and easy-to-use monitor with a single parent unit, good video and sound but can be a little priceySubpar video drags down an otherwise less expensive, useful, easy-to-use option
Rating Categories Owlet Dream Duo 2 Eufy S340 Lollipop Babysense MaxView HelloBaby HB6550
Video Quality (30%)
8.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
5.0
Sound Quality (25%)
9.0
9.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
Range (20%)
10.0
10.0
10.0
8.0
8.0
Ease Of Use (15%)
8.0
8.0
6.0
7.0
7.0
Battery Life (5%)
7.0
7.0
7.0
8.0
8.0
Features (5%)
8.0
9.0
7.0
7.0
7.0
Specs Owlet Dream Duo 2 Eufy S340 Lollipop Babysense MaxView HelloBaby HB6550
Measured Range Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity 7 walls, 190 Feet 7 walls, 190 Feet
Sound Activation Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Max Sound 103 dBa 103 dBa 101 dBa 86 dBa 100 dBa
Pan/Tilt Pan: 330°
Tilt:110°
Pan: 360°
Tilt: 90°
Pan: 360°
Tilt: 120°
Max # of Cameras Unlimited 4 Unlimited 4 4
Movement Detection Yes Yes For Purchase No No
Temperature Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Talk-to-Baby Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Screen Size App Based App Based App Based 5.5" 5"
Measured Run Time Device Dependant Device Dependant Device Dependant 12.0 hrs 11.5 hrs
EMF 0.98 V/m 0.92 V/m 0.83 V/m 1.91 V/m 1.04 V/m
Manufacturer's Claimed Range (*buyer beware!) Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity 1000 Feet 1000 Feet
Open Field Range Test Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity 830 Feet 1330 Feet
Communication Technology 2.4 GHz 2.4 GHz 2.4 / 5 GHz 2.4 GHz 2.4 GHz
Warranty 2 year 1 year 1 year 2 Year 2 year

Our Analysis and Test Results

In 2012, Owlet was founded by several parents. Their mission is to empower parents with the right information at the right time for peace of mind. They believe every parent deserves peace of mind and good sleep.

Performance Comparison



The Owlet camera needs to be positioned manually as the camera cannot be altered remotely. This limits its potential field of view.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Audio / Visual


Bot video and sound are important when monitoring your baby. The sound activation and volume of the monitor are what alert you that your attention is required so you can view the video. It is important that sound is clear, offers good quality, and helpful features like noise cancellation and sound activation.


The maximum volume 103 dBa at full volume. The sound quality is good and very clear, with no distortion or static. The sound is identical to what is happening in the nursery. The tones are somewhat muffled, but not enough to make a difference for monitoring your baby and not something we'd consider a deal breaker.

We tested the Owlet for its features including sound activation and noise cancellation.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

The noise cancellation results in a quiet monitor with a reading of only 36 dBa. It is virtually silent and helps encourage deep and restful sleep for parents. The sound activation is also excellent and, when used, creates a monitor with decibel levels equal to the patient room ambient level, meaning the monitor is making no noise unless the baby is actively making noise. If you are a light sleeper, this is the one for you!

The day images of the Owlet Cam 2 is better than its predecessors;...
The day images of the Owlet Cam 2 is better than its predecessors; this is an image of the actual nursery.
Compared to the actual nursery image, the Owlet shows it has enough...
Compared to the actual nursery image, the Owlet shows it has enough clarity and life like colors to work well during daytime napping.

The Owlet Cam 2's video quality is better than average. While it falls short of being the best, it is good enough to get the job done. The Owlet is a 1080p resolution camera that is not remotely controlled. It has a limited field of view that is suitable for a crib space, but could disappoint if full room view is something you want. The overall tone of daytime images is pretty accurate and better than the cam 1. They are more punchy and saturated but not as uniform as some competitors. The letters on the eye chart are not as clear as we'd like, but they are better than the cam 1 images.


For night images, there is a big improvement over the cam 1 we've tested in the past. Cam 2 offers better contrast and sharpness, with the first two lines of the eye chart being legible.

owlet dream duo 2 - some details and clarity are missing in the owlet nighttime images...
Some details and clarity are missing in the Owlet nighttime images. Notice the pattern on the crib sheet is largely gone and there is lack of crispness to the eye chart and lack of differentiation between color shades.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

There is also a reasonable separation in the shades of grey from the color chart. It has a bright spot in the center of the image with almost a darkened tunnel look around the edges. While this can work given that the field of view typically has a baby in the middle, the competition shows it doesn't need to be like this. With a unit this expensive, it is a disappointment, but likely, much of the cost is based on the vitals tracking sock.

owlet dream duo 2 - while the owlet is a wifi monitor and has better range than...
While the Owlet is a WiFi monitor and has better range than dedicated options, the sock and base station need to connect and that range is shorter as it is not WiFi reliant.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Range


The Owlet is a WiFi-enabled camera that connects to a base station and relays information from the included “sock.” This means you should be able to connect this unit wherever there is internet. One thing to note that we discovered about the Owlet is it cannot connect to open networks (like hotels) for privacy reasons. This means you'd be unable to use public WiFi of any kind, which would make traveling with it a non-starter.


Also, as we understand you do need a split router that offers 2.4 GHz to connect. Many users report being unable to connect the monitor to their WiFi routers that lack this split. It then uses the 5 GHz to run the monitor. Last, the Owlet manual says the sock and base station can only be about 100 ft apart. This is based on a Bluetooth connection between the two and could be a deal-breaker if the location where you plan to put the base station (assuming your bedroom) is further than 100 ft from the sock being used on the baby. This range was hard to test as the app doesn't provide a signal indicator for the sock and only indicates when it is out of range. We were unable to get an out-of-range alert.

The Owlet is an easier to use option assuming you are familiar with downloading apps and navigating smartphones and WiFi.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Ease of Use


The Owlet is one of the easiest options to use, assuming you are comfortable and familiar with technology and apps. It requires downloading an app, setting up an account, switching between WiFi types, and pairing the camera with your account. It isn't difficult, but if you aren't used to doing these activities, it can feel daunting. However, the manual is one of the better options we've seen and offers good step-by-step instructions.


The app is easy to use but perhaps not as intuitive as some competitors. We think Grandma could use it, but she'll need a tutorial, and only the basics should be covered. We like that the app includes help boxes for most icons in case you aren't sure what they do. But most are obvious and not confusing. There isn't a lot of clutter and the best part is there are no advertisements for a subscription service because there is no paywall with Owlet.

owlet dream duo 2 - the owlet app is a clean and direct app with no subscription ads or...
The Owlet app is a clean and direct app with no subscription ads or business.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

This option has picture-in-picture ability, so you can continue monitoring while using other apps or streaming on your phone. It can be used while on a phone call, but you first need to accept the call and then go back to the app to open it for monitoring.

Battery Life


We tested the battery life of the parent devices included with the dedicated monitors. The Owlet uses a personal device as the parent unit, and therefore, battery life will vary. For our purposes and scoring, we used the average iPhone battery time of 9.6 hours.


Some things that can impact your battery life are the age of the unit and the other applications you use the device for. If you have concerns about battery life and continued monitoring, it is a good idea to keep your device plugged in whenever possible or limit use outside of monitoring. One solution could be using someone other than your primary phone for most monitoring needs.

owlet dream duo 2 - you can continue to monitor your little one when using your phone...
You can continue to monitor your little one when using your phone for other things, but you do need to go into the menu to turn the feature on everytime.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Features


The Owlet has a bunch of features. The best part is they are free when you purchase the monitor. There is no subscription with this monitor. While it is one of the more expensive options in the group, we love that it is a one-time cost without a lifetime of fees to get the cool features like some competitors.


  • Prompts for baby needs help with sleep
  • FDA-Cleared Dream Sock (intended for healthy infants 1-18 months)
  • Track live pulse rate & oxygen
  • Receive notifications for low/high pulse rate, low oxygen
  • 4x zoom
  • Eligible for purchase with HSA/FSA
  • Track sleep cycles and waking
  • Sound, motion, cry detection
  • Temperature, humidity sensor
  • Picture-in-picture
  • 2-way talk
  • 4x zoom
  • Unlimited cameras
  • 5 viewers
  • Sound activation
  • Motion detection (gross motor movements in the crib or nursery)

owlet dream duo 2 - the owlet comes with many parts, but most of these are related to...
The Owlet comes with many parts, but most of these are related to the camera component setup, which isn't necessary if your goal is tracking vitals.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

In the Box


  • Owlet Cam 2
  • Dream Sock Sensor
  • 4 Fabric Socks
  • Base Station
  • Cam Mounting Kit

owlet dream duo 2 - we tested the owlet camera emf emmissions and used an average value...
We tested the Owlet camera EMF emmissions and used an average value from 3 tests about 6 ft from the camera.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Levels


Every monitor emits some level of EMF. The jury is still out on the health effects of EMF, especially on developing systems, but we believe in erring on the side of caution. For us, that means less EMF is better.


The Owlet average EMF over 3 readings was 0.98 V/m. This is only the EMF from the camera, not the sock. This is comparatively higher than competitors, but you can reduce this by moving the camera farther away from the baby. While this kind of test may not matter to all parents, we include the data for those who do find it compelling and might use it to make buying decisions.

Security


Owlet is not super transparent about security or encryption. It is not a searchable term on their website and took a lot of deep diving to find anything about it. The Encryption used by Owlet is Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 128.

Tips to help protect yourself from Hackers
  • Always allow firmware updates
  • Change the default password to a complex password with lower and upper case letters, special characters, and numbers that is 8-12+ characters long
  • Change your password frequently
  • Use 2 factor authentication whenever possible
  • Use a small field of view
  • Avoid remote camera control by turning it off and unplugging it when not in use

owlet dream duo 2 - if you want a one and done monitor, the owlet is a good choice, but...
If you want a one and done monitor, the Owlet is a good choice, but if you want the best video, the night images are not as good as some competitors.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Should You Buy the Owlet?


Yes, if you need all the features. This monitor is exceptional and works really well. We loved much about the Owlet, including the great video and exceptional noise cancellation and sound activation. It includes a dream sock for movement monitoring (it is not a health or medical device), and the app is easy to use with picture-in-picture capabilities, so you can monitor while doing other things on your phone. However, this is a tech gadget monitor with multiple components and features that add to the expensive price. If you plan to use all the features, the value is there, and it is tough to beat, but if you don't want movement monitoring capabilities, then it is one of the most expensive cameras in the group and could be a waste of money for your needs.

What Other Video Monitor Should You Consider?


The Eufy S340 is a similar monitor to the Owlet, but it costs less. It has many of the same features and functionality and earned better or equivalent scores for video and sound. However, the Eufy has a remote-controlled camera with 360 views and a cool swivel-around design that is mesmerizing. Alternatively, if you want a baby-centric WiFi option and do not need or want movement monitoring, the iBaby M8 2K is a cool option with good video, adequate sound, and a ceiling projector for baby soothing.

Manufacturer Video



Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz