Pros
ConsThe details
With the Infant Optics DXR-8 baby monitor, you get two parts: the camera unit and the portable display screen also called the parent unit. The camera is decent quality with three lenses that you can quickly switch in and out: a standard lens, a higher resolution zoom lens, and a wide-angle lens. This feature is something unique for the baby monitor world. As seen on the reviews, the camera is made of decent quality. It is not the greatest, but it gets the job done. The portable viewfinder has a 3.5-inch LCD screen with an excellent and clear image, even if it is not HD. The parent unit is elementary to use with an automatic pairing system and long battery life. The range of the devices is not the best, so it is not recommended for larger houses.
Infant Optics DXR-8 is a relatively older baby monitor released to the market back in 2018. In 2020 it won the Babylist Best Baby Monitors Of 2020 award. It is one of the most sold baby monitors globally with its solid design and basic structure. Let’s take a closer look at this smart monitor’s details and features to see if it worth the money.
Features
The parent unit screen of the monitor measures 3,5 inches, a reasonably decent one, and pairs with up to 4 cameras that can be bought separately. The main characteristic that makes DXR-8 unique is the additional lens option that you can place on the camera. The zoom lens allows the parents to have a closer look at the baby. This way, the camera’s lower resolution is compensated. This feature can be convenient for parents who are concerned with EMF exposure. With the zoom lens, the camera can be placed further away from the baby to decrease the exposure. Otherwise, most parents are unlikely to use the lens since changing them constantly does not come in handy. The camera also has options to adjust pan, tilt, digital zoom for a better monitoring experience.
This monitor offers several additional features many parents may like. In many cases, only a few of the features are regularly used, but it is good to have them just in case. Firstly, the device has a temperature sensor on the camera which is handy for ensuring the baby’s room temperature is in a suitable range and avoiding too high or low temperature in the room.
The DXR-8 baby monitor video and audio feed is transferred with a secure internal 2.4GHz channel with FHSS technology. No information is shared through the internet, unlike other baby monitors, meaning that your privacy will never be compromised.
Effectiveness
The video quality is decent with enough light, and in the dark, it is usually blurry due to the night vision. It doesn’t provide HD clear quality, but it is good enough for the task. The battery has 10 hours of runtime with the screen off; with the screen on, it lasts around 6 hours. The 1200 mAh battery life is more than reasonable. The wireless reception is one of the weak points of the device. Although its range is 200 feet, the signal is highly affected by the walls and objects. There are many reports and reviews that show the feed was cut out many times during the day. Another weak point of the device is the lack of movement of the camera unit. In terms of rotating and adjusting, it is not very flexible, making it hard to find a good angle.
Ease of use
One of the merits of DXR-8 is that it is highly user-friendly. The setup is extremely straightforward. The devices get paired with just a button. The monitor is 4.88 x 3.13 x .88 inches, with a horizontal, 3.5-inch screen. The buttons (Menu, On, Shortcut, Talk, and four arrow buttons) are also easy to navigate.
The camera unit measures 4 x 2.5 inches and is a little heavier than the alternatives, but it is super sturdy. It is great to adjust the camera with the monitor if the baby moves to a different area on his bed. When the camera is working, there’s a very green light, nothing to disturb the baby. Overall, the devices are portable and extremely easy to use.
Value
The Infant Optics DXR-8 Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens has a high price tag, making it one of the expensive monitors in the market. But the performance and features make this a solid investment for your nursery.
Final verdict
The Infant Optics DXR-8 Baby Monitor has almost everything you would expect from a decent baby monitor. It has all the essentials and does not have unnecessary features that confuse the parents. The parent unit has a bright display screen and an easy-to-use system. The camera unit has valuable features like zoom to help to monitor your little one. Of course, it would be better if the wireless system would be more reliable, and there would be a mobile app option for remote control and monitoring. But for the price, DXR-8 is definitely a solid choice.
