{"id":13245,"date":"2021-12-29T10:30:26","date_gmt":"2021-12-29T09:30:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woocommerce-331985-2347979.cloudwaysapps.com\/owlet-monitor-duo-preview-pcmag\/"},"modified":"2022-01-18T16:20:33","modified_gmt":"2022-01-18T15:20:33","slug":"owlet-monitor-duo-preview-pcmag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smartmileco.com\/owlet-monitor-duo-preview-pcmag\/","title":{"rendered":"Owlet Monitor Duo Preview | PCMag","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"
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Editors' Note: Owlet has stopped selling the Smart Sock included in the Baby Monitor Duo in the US in response to a request from the FDA. According to the company: “We plan to offer a new sleep monitoring solution, which we believe will be available soon. We also plan to continue to support our current customers.” In light of this, we have removed our original 4-star rating and Editors' Choice designation from this review. Our original article from November 20, 2021, is below.<\/em><\/p>\n Baby monitors are useful for seeing and listening to your little one when you aren't in the same room, but there's only so much you can track through a camera. Owlet's Monitor Duo includes the company's Owlet Cam, along with a smart sock that lets you easily track your infant\u2019s vital signs. This isn't entirely unique\u2014the Nanit Pro Complete Monitoring System (starting at $299) tracks breathing and growth\u2014but Owlet's ability to track heart rate and blood oxygen level is especially useful for parents who fear SIDS<\/a> or have a baby with special needs. And while neither system is cheap, Owlet's doesn't require a subscription fee, making it a better buy over the long run and earning it our Editors' Choice award.<\/p>\n Our Experts Have Tested 41<\/span> Products in the Home Security Cameras Category This Year<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Owlet was one of the first companies to offer a smart sock that can alert parents if their sleeping infant isn't breathing or lacks a heartbeat\u2014and, of course, if they've somehow pulled off the sock. The latest version included here\u2014the Smart Sock 3\u2014has a new sensor and design compared with the previous model, and sells separately for $299. On its own, the Owlet Cam is $149. Therefore, the Owlet Monitor Duo bundle saves you $49. (If you want to use the sock on a child older than 18 months, you need the $69.99 Smart Sock Extension Pack.)<\/p>\n Nanit is the top competitor in this category, but its system is ultimately pricier. For instance, Nanit requires you to purchase special clothes for your child or fabric for their crib's mattress. It also charges a subscription fee for its baby sleep training program, Nanit Insights. Although I didn't test it, Owlet also offers something similar called Dream Lab<\/a> for a one-time fee of $99.<\/p>\n You control both the Owlet Cam and Smart Sock 3 via the Owlet Care app for Android and iOS. There's no web-based monitoring option for desktops, which is unfortunately the norm in this category. <\/p>\n The Owlet Cam isn't quite as fancy as competitors. That said, the vaguely egg-shaped device offers all the typical features of a Wi-Fi-enabled baby video monitor. It streams 1080p video at a 130-degree angle of view, includes effective night vision via infrared LEDs, has two-way audio in case you want to speak to your child remotely, and supports background audio so you can listen to your kid even if you switch to another app on your phone. The camera lets you digitally zoom in up to 4x.<\/p>\n It also has a temperature sensor, the result of which is prominently displayed in the app. That said, you can't set up any alerts about temperature thresholds of your choosing\u2014the app will say the room is just right until it goes below 63 degrees Fahrenheit or over 83 degrees Fahrenheit. Owlet also shuns prerecorded sounds or music playback to soothe a child to sleep\u2014a feature I too find superfluous because the speaker on most cameras, including this one, isn't capable of quality audio.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n To get started, create an account in the Owlet Care app, plug in the camera, wait for it to say, “ready to pair,” and enter your home Wi-Fi credentials. A QR code will appear on the screen; hold it in front of the Owlet Cam until you hear a chime. Then, the camera will join the network and show up in the app. You also can create one or more child profiles and pair a child with one or more Owlet products. You can enter lots of demographic data about your kid if you choose.<\/p>\n Aside from setting the camera on a table or shelf, you can also mount it on a wall to look down into a crib or bed. The package includes mounting hardware, plus cord covers to stick the power cable to the wall so that prying hands can't yank it down. I prefer Nanit's movable floor stand, although it costs $125 extra.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can turn off the Owlet Cam status light using the app so the glow won't bother your baby\u2014otherwise, it's red when the video stream is active and blue if it's just connected to Wi-Fi but not streaming. It doesn't have a night-light option like Nanit's camera, but the status light may work in a pinch. You can add multiple Owlet Cams to your account and monitor all of them in the same app, but you can't invite multiple people to the account. That means if a babysitter or remote family member wants to see your kid sleeping, you need to give them your Owlet credentials, which isn't ideal.<\/p>\n
\nOwlet Pricing and Competitors<\/h2>\n
\nApp, Design, and Setup<\/h2>\n