Motorola AM24 Review

Motorola has an extensive history in consumer electronics with a diverse portfolio spanning from mobile phones to baby monitoring devices to modems and beyond. Throughout the years, Motorola has consistently offered quality items that combine innovation and affordability, making them the favored brand for many consumers seeking dependable solutions.

Sound Clarity

While the Motorola AM24 has a few strengths, it's outweighed by some drawbacks in this metric, positioning it below the average when compared to the competition. It boasts sound clarity that's a cut above the rest. The audio was notably clear with minimal distortion, although it did face challenges with higher pitches. But, we noticed that the Motorola AM24 is never totally quiet as it doesn't offer sound filtering. This means you can constantly hear ambient noise from the nursery on the parent unit. While you can turn it down low enough for most parents to snooze, parents or caregivers who are light sleepers may struggle with constant noise. Also, the Motorola is not the loudest monitor on the highest volume setting, with an 86.6 dB reading in our test. This result is lower than most, and we could notice the difference.

Ease of Use

Navigating the Motorola AM24 wasn't exactly the most straightforward device to use. Turning on the baby unit involved pressing the power button multiple times, and the parent unit's interface wasn't easy in terms of user-friendliness. Navigating the menu also felt cumbersome, as the icons scroll left or right, not up or down. Sometimes, changing settings took more time, too. Eventually, you will figure it out, but the experience of using it might not be as enjoyable due to these quirks. If you're the set-it-and-forget type, you might not have a problem with this sound monitor. However, if you're frequently making adjustments, you may not enjoy this sound monitor as much.

Range

The Motorola AM24 isn't a standout option for range. In our open field range test, there was an initial cutting out of the sound around 350 feet; however, you still could hear if a baby was crying or make out distinct noises until 750 feet. However, it did not meet the manufacturer's range claim of 1000 feet. For our indoor range test, it had a mediocre performance. It made it through 7 walls and 110 feet before the signal was lost. This can be a drawback for those in larger homes, as the main purpose of a baby monitor is to provide reliable communication and monitoring.

Battery Life

The Motorola AM24 nursery unit must be plugged in to operate and has no battery backup for unexpected power outages. The parent unit has a rechargeable battery with 10 hours of playtime.

Features

Choosing a sound monitor with valuable features can make the monitoring process more convenient and tailored to your liking. The Motorola AM24 offers some features, but not all.

Here's a breakdown of the features it includes:

• Two-way talk
• Sound level indicator
• Sound activation
• Out-of-range alert
• Low battery indicator
• Page
• Vibration alert
• Room temperature sensor
• 1.5" LCD black and white display with orange backlight

The Motorola AM24 misses out on some features, like lullaby music, battery backup, a belt clip, night light functionality, and adjustable microphone sensitivity. We suggest evaluating how a product aligns with your sound monitoring goals and needs.

EMF

When it comes to EMF emissions, the Motorola AM24 emits less EMF compared to its rivals.

At a distance of 6 feet from the nursery unit, the maximum EMF reading for Motorola is 1.01 V/m. This reading is comfortably below the average benchmark set by the competition.

Should You Buy the Motorola AM24?

Looking at the sound monitors, the Motorola AM24 doesn't offer anything particularly valuable or unique to the competition. Without a compelling reason to purchase this monitor, we suggest exploring other options that might better align with your needs.

What Other Sound Monitor Should You Consider?