In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Owlet Cam Review

Frustrating to use option with poor video and sound compared to other WiFi monitors
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Owlet Cam Review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $129 List
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Manufacturer:   Owlet
By Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz  ⋅  Mar 25, 2022
66
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#8 of 12
  • Range - 20% 10.0
  • Sound Clarity - 20% 5.0
  • Video Quality - 30% 6.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 3.0
  • Battery life - 10% 10.0
  • Features - 5% 6.0

Our Verdict

The Owlet Cam is a WiFi video monitor designed to work with the Owlet Sock monitor we've tested in prior movement monitor reviews. While it offers WiFi range and connectivity, we had significant difficulties maintaining a WiFi connection in the first few weeks, something the best baby monitor competition did not struggle with. In addition, the monitor produces subpar sound and disappointing images that cannot compete with the real-life quality images of the other WiFi competitors. We think that no matter what your goals are for choosing to video monitor your little one, the Owlet is generally disappointing and doesn't hit the mark as much as it strikes a nerve.
REASONS TO BUY
Lower price
Internet connectivity
REASONS TO AVOID
Challenging to setup
Disappointing sound
Subpar video
New Version
The Owlet camera has a new version available, and the version we tested has been discontinued. We now link to the new version.

Compare to Similar Products

 
owlet cam
This Product
Owlet Cam
Awards  Top Pick Award
Great for Long-term Use
Best Value Award
Best Video Monitor on a Budget
  
Price $129 List
$119.00 at Amazon
$100 List
$94.30 at Amazon
$36 List
$35.65 at Amazon
$150 List
$129.95 at Amazon
$69 List
$49.95 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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59
Star Rating
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Bottom Line Hard to use monitor with disappointing video compared to our WiFi competitorsIf you value video and sound over baby-centric features, the Nest Cam is a good choice for youThis wallet-friendly WiFi option offers great video even if lacks baby-centric featuresIf you want a WiFi option with a dedicated parent unit, this is the unique option for your needsThis straightforward monitor has impressive battery life, but the sound and video are subpar
Rating Categories Owlet Cam Google Nest Cam 2nd... Wyze Cam V3 VTech Upgraded Smar... VTech VM819
Range (20%)
10.0
10.0
10.0
7.0
6.0
Sound Clarity (20%)
5.0
7.0
5.0
6.0
4.0
Video Quality (30%)
6.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
5.0
Ease of Use (15%)
3.0
5.0
8.0
8.0
7.0
Battery life (10%)
10.0
10.0
10.0
4.0
10.0
Features (5%)
6.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
6.0
Specs Owlet Cam Google Nest Cam 2nd... Wyze Cam V3 VTech Upgraded Smar... VTech VM819
Communication Technology 2.4 GHz 2.4 / 5 Ghz 2.4 GHz 2.4 GHz 2.4 GHz
Indoor Range Test Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity 3 walls, 155 Feet
6 walls, 80 Feet
3 walls, 155 feet
6 walls, 75 feet
Open Field Range Test Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity 390 Feet 400 Feet
Manufacturer's Claimed Range (*buyer beware!) Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity 1000 Feet
*OR*
Anywhere You Have Connectivity
1000 Feet
Max Sound 93 db @ ~1ft 110 db @ ~1ft 100db @ ~1ft 82db @ ~1ft 67db @ ~1ft
Screen Size n/a n/a n/a 5" 2.8"
Max # of Cameras Not Listed (Unlimited?) Not Listed (Unlimited?) 5 4 2
Temperature Yes No No Yes Yes
Movement Detection No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Sound Activation No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Talk-to-Baby Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Pan/Tilt/ Zoom Zoom Zoom Zoom Pan/Tilt/Zoom Zoom
Battery Life n/a n/a n/a 5 hours 6 minutes 16 hours 28 minutes
EMF @ 6 Feet from Camera 0.82 V/m 0.6 V/m 1.47 V/m 1.63 V/m 0.22 V/m
Warranty 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year

Our Analysis and Test Results

Four fathers co-founded Owlet in 2013 who wanted to use technology to protect their children by creating an at-home pulse oximeter to monitor their baby from a distance. The first Owlet Sock ships about two years later, with an international launch two years after that. In 2018, Owlet launched its WiFi camera monitor, followed by a pregnancy band in 2019.

Considering a WiFi Monitor?

If your internet isn't fast enough to support your monitor, we recommend buying from a retailer like Amazon that offers a simple return policy.

  • We suggest you give your monitor a test as soon as you get it to ensure that it will work in your home with your internet. This allows you to troubleshoot or return the product before the return time has expired.
  • We suggest you use a secondary device for monitoring your baby. Using your main phone could result in a loss of monitor connection if you get a phone call.
  • Frequently change the password! Don't give hackers the upper hand by keeping the password that comes with the device.

Performance Comparison


owlet cam - the owlet is a wifi monitor that works with your smart device and...
The Owlet is a WiFi monitor that works with your smart device and Internet connectivity.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Range


With WiFi connectivity, you should be able to connect to your baby anywhere you have internet access. This means it has a superior range compared to dedicated monitors limited by square footage, walls, and other forms of home interference. However, in our tests, the Owlet struggled to stay connected to the WiFi consistently when the competing WiFi monitors didn't have any challenges in our best video monitor review.

owlet cam - the owlet was tested for decibel levels in our tests for sound.
The Owlet was tested for decibel levels in our tests for sound.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Audio / Visual


This monitor has below-average sound clarity compared to the competition but is similar to the other WiFi options. The sound may not seem that important when you buy a video monitor, but don't forget it is the sound of your baby crying that will alert you to look at the video images. Without good sound clarity and features, you could miss your baby's cries.

The daylight video images for the Owlet is better than the night...
The daylight video images for the Owlet is better than the night images, but still not on par with most of the other WiFi monitors in this review.
The Owlet camera creates a hot spot center with darker edges that...
The Owlet camera creates a hot spot center with darker edges that could impact the viewing area.

Despite 1080p HD video technology, the Owlet offered subpar video quality in our tests compared to the other WiFi options in our review. With an average score for video, it has more in common with basic dedicated monitors than the impressive WiFi competition that provides clear, true-to-life images in the day or night. The daytime color is a little off, and it has similar distortion trouble as one other WiFi option, but it is the darkest of the WiFi options.

owlet cam - the setup of the owlet hurt its overall ease of use results as it...
The setup of the Owlet hurt its overall ease of use results as it took us over two hours using the App and we eventually had to initiate setup on a computer instead.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use


This monitor was challenging to use and earned a very low score for ease of use compared to the other options in this review. While it was very easy to set up using the app and the limited features prevent it from getting complicated but that is where the easy to use ends. We had significant problems keeping a WiFi connection over the first week, and once it disconnects, you need to start over to get it going again. In fact, it appears to be a known issue for Owlet, and many users complain that the product “doesn't work consistently.” Of course, the goal of monitoring your baby is for peace of mind that you will be alerted if they need your attention if you lose connection in the middle of the night. This could happen without your knowledge, leading to a lack of sleep worrying about the monitor disconnecting without your knowledge.

Battery Life


This camera does not have a battery and must be plugged in to operate. The battery life tests we perform focus on the battery in the parent unit. WiFi monitors rely on your personal device for viewing. Traditionally, smartphones and tablets have longer battery lives than the parent devices that come with dedicated monitors. Of course, this depends on how you use your device, what else it is running and how old it is.

owlet cam - the owlet comes with a cord containment device to help manage cords...
The Owlet comes with a cord containment device to help manage cords and prevent strangulation hazards when mounting.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Features


The Owlet has fewer features than most of the competition, and if you want a lot of bells and whistles, it isn't going to meet your needs. It does not have baby-centric features like nightlight or lullabies, and it doesn't have sound activation, which is our favorite and one we think makes a good monitor even better.

owlet cam - the owlet rests in the included mounting block but is not adjustable...
The Owlet rests in the included mounting block but is not adjustable remotely.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

  • Works in the background while you use other apps
  • Two-Way Talk
  • 4x Digital Zoom
  • Works with Smart Sock
  • Temperature sensor

owlet cam - we test each monitor with n emf reader so that you can compare the...
We test each monitor with n EMF reader so that you can compare the emissions of the Owlet to other monitors.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Levels


All WiFi monitors emit some EMF levels, so we test them all under the same conditions so we can compare values to the competition as opposed to saying the readings are absolutes. The Owlet has an average reading of 0.82 V/m, with the reader placed 6 ft from the monitor. Of course, you can decrease your baby's exposure by placing the monitor as far from the baby as possible without hindering its performance.

owlet cam - the owlet camera cannot be moved remotely.
The owlet camera cannot be moved remotely.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Security/Privacy Concerns


The Owlet website has little to say about security or privacy related to the Cam. The only thing we could find on their website was this:
SECURE, ENCRYPTED WIFI
Only those you choose can stream video from your Cam

We prefer more information and transparency from the company on how they work to prevent hacking and ensure the safety of children.

General tips to help keep your monitor safer:

  • Update firmware regularly
  • Immediately change the password it comes with
  • Choose a new password that is 8-10+ characters using lower & upper case letters, numerals, and other characters
  • Change your password frequently
  • Limit the monitor field of view
  • Unplug the monitor when you aren't using it as it can be remotely activated

Should You Buy the Owlet?


The appeal of the Owlet is that it does it all in one; it has video, audio, and movement in one package with an app that relays information like oxygen levels. However, it has been recently recalled for use as a movement monitor, and the camera was largely disappointing. Given that movement monitors have the shortest lifespan of any monitor, we don't like the idea of shelling out a lot of money for something that has such a short lifespan. The sound clarity isn't great either, so what you end up with is a monitor that doesn't do anything well except the movement-related components that you won't use after nine months.

What Other Video Monitor Should You Consider?


If you want a baby-centric WiFi monitor, we love the iBaby M8 2K Smart Baby Monitor. It has loads of baby features and great video quality. The app is easy enough to use, and we think it offers everything most parents want or need in a great video monitor. If you are interested in something with a movement monitor potential, the Nanit Pro is a high-ranking monitor with great visuals and movement monitoring capabilities with other baby-centric features. The Nanit is more expensive than most of the competition, but we think parents who want a one-and-done product it is worth the money, and it provides the visuals you expect from modern technology.

Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz