iBaby M8 2K Review

iBaby Labs hoped to change baby monitoring by using technology related to Apple's iOS cloud. Their first monitor launched in 2011, providing a range to anywhere with WiFi connectivity. iBaby continues to create new and innovative baby monitors with improvements to hardware, firmware, and their app.

Performance Comparison

Audio / Visual

Interestingly, most of the video monitors lack stellar sound, which is what you need to alert you to look at the video monitor. However, sound quality only needs to be good enough to relay crying or other concerning noises.

This monitor offers decent quality compared to the competition, and we think it is good enough that most parents will be impressed. It can pick up vocals and make them sound human (shockingly not true of all monitors), and there is only a little bit of a tinny quality that is significantly lower than competing monitors.

This monitor has a general quiet fuzz sound all of the time, no matter how we adjust the sensitivity. To us, it didn't seem disruptive to sleep, and it was fairly good at filtering out room noise for a quieter monitor when the baby is sleeping. No matter what, there was always a soft fuzz sound being transmitted. There is a sound alert option where you turn the sound off, but we worry it is something parents would sleep right through as it is not ongoing. We do not recommend using this feature, especially at night.

iBaby offers exceptional daytime video images, some of the best in the bunch, no matter what kind of monitor you are looking for. It isn't quite as good as some of the WiFi competition, but it only lost a point based on the poor camera control that lacks a more concise movement. It is hyper-sensitive to movement, and it is difficult to fine-tune your view remotely. The images are crisp and clear, and the zoom feature works well without diminishing the image much. The color is also relatively good and similar to real life.

Nighttime images are also very good and clear, with details that provide enough information to know what is happening in the nursery. While zooming in, we were almost able to read the fourth line on the text image sheet. Once again, the pan and scan can be frustrating, but for most parents and the wide field of view, you will not be regularly moving the camera about, and zoom will be your go-to.

Range

As a WiFi-connected camera, the range of the iBaby is only limited by your internet connectivity. This makes it a good choice for larger homes or locations with more than 4-5 walls between the nursery and the parent device.

How well your iBaby works will depend on your internet capabilities, so you should set up and check your connectivity within your window of potential returns. Internet demands for monitoring are different from those for other things, like streaming movies.

Ease of Use

The M8's ease of use is about average, with some of the headaches you might expect from an app-driven monitor. However, it isn't a nightmare; it is just more challenging than a simple plug-in-and-go dedicated monitor.

To set up the monitor, you need to download the app and plug the USB end of the charger cord into your device, then follow the steps on the screen. Alternatively, after the camera is plugged in and the app is downloaded, you can scan a QR code with the camera from your phone for a faster set-up process. There are voice prompts to guide the entire set-up process. It's astonishingly easy to follow. The app is simple and easy to navigate, even though there are loads of features and menus to shuffle through. When we set it up, it required a new app on day two, and then we couldn't connect to the old app or the new app. We also experienced significant camera lag when moving it around. These instances hurt its overall ease of use score.

Battery Life

Our battery life testing is on the parent device only. Given that your specific device will vary, we gave the WiFi monitors higher scores than the dedicated ones because, in general, they should last longer than others. The camera is plug-in only.

That being said, we think it is best to use an alternate device outside your smartphone when monitoring from home. This provides a dedicated unit that is not impacted by competing apps, calls, texts, or social media alerts. With no other applications running, the device should have a long-running battery life.

Features

This monitor has more baby-centric features than the majority of the WiFi competition. From sensors for reporting on the room temperature and humidity to lullabies and projection, this monitor offers a feature for just about everyone and every need you may not even know you had.

While these features aren't truly necessary for monitoring your baby, some parents like the idea of having them, even if they don't use them.

• 2-way talking
• Digital Zoom
• Songs, white noise, and bedtime stories
• Moonglow projection on the ceiling
• 360-degree pan and 140-degree tilt
• Remote camera control
• Air quality/temperature/humidity sensor
• Timers for diaper changes and feeding schedule
• Motion detection and sound alerts
• Save photos and record video

Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Levels

Studies are still considering the effects of EMF on human development and health, but we like to err on the side of caution by limiting EMF exposure to little ones. For this reason, we test the EMF levels emitted by all monitors we test so parents who have concerns can make informed decisions about what is important to them.

With an average reading of 0.23 V/m, the iBaby has one of the lowest readings in the group of WiFi monitors and one of the lowest overall. You can further limit exposure by placing the monitor as far from your baby as possible without impacting its usefulness and unplugging it when not in use (good for security, anyway).

Security/Privacy Concerns

WiFi monitors include security risks that are not a consideration with dedicated options. Despite any manufacturer's efforts to limit, prevent, or mitigate potential security/privacy-related problems, there will always be potential risks to consider when choosing your monitor.

We aren't aware of any security concerns for the M8, but you should use your best judgment and follow safety protocols.

Should You Buy the iBaby?

If you want a WiFi camera that is designed with babies in mind, this is your jam. This excellent monitor has wonderful video and a lot of baby-centric features with an easy-to-use app. While there are less expensive WiFI monitors, you'll be hard-pressed to find a cheaper one with so many fun features for little ones that make monitoring and soothing easier.

What Other Video Monitor Should You Consider?

If you want a WiFi monitor or one that can also track movement indicative of breathing, the Eufy S340 is one to watch. This monitor offers the best video quality in the group, useful sound activation, creating a virtually silent monitor unless the baby cries, and it comes with a sock to track various vital sleep-related components for a full picture of what is happening in your baby's nursery. The Eufy is a bit more expensive, but the added features and long term use make it a value in our book. If price is a concern, the Lollipop is a cheaper WiFi option that works well, is easy to install, and can be used for movement monitoring with the purchase of a monthly subscription. If your goal is movement, however, we caution against a subscription plan, which will quickly pass the price of the Eufy after only a few months.

Manufacturer Video