Nanit Pro Review

Nanit is a fairly young company operated collectively by “scientists, parents, and designers.” Nanit is relatively unique and is trying to go beyond basic monitoring and offers “breathing wear” that utilizes learning algorithms to determine human behavior to monitor a baby's breathing.

Performance Comparison

Range

The Nanit works with your internet connection, so your WiFi will determine the range. The camera connects to WiFi, while your parent device can use WiFi or a cellular data plan. This connection type means it is a good choice for those with more square footage or homes with more than four walls separating the baby camera and the parent unit, making monitoring more difficult with dedicated-style monitors.

Audio / Visual

Sound clarity in a best video baby monitor is just as important as it is in a sound monitor because it is sound that draws your attention to the screen. The Nanit sound performance and clarity are better than some of the WiFi competition, but it really isn't anything to write home about.

It has a maximum volume decibel level of 89db, with clarity decreasing after 79db. The sound is hollow, but the clarity is good enough to hear voices and details from the nursery. While you can turn the sound component off during viewing, this also turns off notifications so that you won't be altered to any auditory changes in the nursery. Alternatively, if you leave the sound on and close the app, you will continue to get notifications about sound (aka crying) in the baby's room.

The video quality is better than the sound quality, with images superior to the dedicated products in this review. Still, it didn't perform as well as the WiFi cameras in our lineup, despite the increase to 1080p that comes with the Pro version. The Nanit images have colors that aren't exactly the same as real life, and they look somewhat dim compared to the more vibrant competition. The images offer good clarity, but the quality goes down when you zoom in as it becomes pixelated since it is digital zoom, not optical.

Night images are slightly more disappointing, with a bright spot in the center with fuzzier edges. The important details are visible and clear, but it doesn't compare to the other WiFi products.

Ease of Use

The Nanit is one of the easiest WiFi products in the review to use, with a high score compared to the dedicated and some of the WiFi products.

Setup for this monitor is fairly easy if you are comfortable with apps and technology. It has a quick start guide and app that is intuitive to navigate. It pretty much sets itself up, but you do have to pair the camera with your account once it is set up. The app and setup process is easier than much of the WiFi competition in this review.

The Nanit app has the most used features directly on the home screen, and frequently used features are located on the video screen. When you open the app, you have to turn the background sound setting on. If you turn the sound off, you won't receive sound notifications. We experienced only a 1-2 second delay during testing between what was happening in the room and what we observed on the app. This lag time, while not perfect, is still suitable for monitoring a baby as a second between your little one starting to cry and you hearing it is still better than no monitor and is unlikely to impact how quickly you respond.

Battery Life

The Nanit monitor does not include a battery and only plugs in. Therefore, when testing battery life, we look at the parent's device, where battery life is highly dependent on the use of apps and calls. Another reason to use a separate device outside your phone for regular monitoring.

Most personal electronic devices have the potential for longer battery life than the parent devices included with the dedicated monitors we tested.

Features

The Pro comes with various features, but it doesn't have as many baby-centric features as some of the competition or what you might expect.

• Breathing band
• Temperature & humidity sensors
• Two-way talk
• Screen sleep in night mode
• Movement detection
• Glow nightlight
• Birdseye mounting for full crib view
• Continue monitoring while using other apps or when the screen is locked
• Save images
• White noise and nature sounds
• Up to 5 users
• Compatible with Alexa

Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Levels

We test EMF emissions under the same for each product to compare the results in an apples-to-apples method. This Nanit proved to have lower EMF than the previous Nanit, and we applaud their efforts to decrease EMF emissions. Given the potential for outside EMF impacting results, we don't claim that our results are the same as what you could experience. The Nanit Pro has a reading of 0.37 V/m 6 ft from the EMF reader. This is one of the lower results we saw during testing. Because EMF exposure decreases the further your little one is from the camera, we suggest putting the camera as far from your little one as you can for it to function as intended.

Security

Locating information on the company website about security was harder than it should be for this kind of product. There is no specific security page, which left us searching for more details. After extensive searching, we found vague assurances.

When asked, “Can Nanit be hacked?” Nanit replied:

Nanit uses 256-Bit AES Encryption technology.

Should You Buy the Nanit Pro?

We think this is a great choice if you're looking for an excellent WiFi monitor and want the potential for movement monitoring. The Nanit is a high-quality choice with various features useful for monitoring babies and potential security in the future. It has good video quality and is easy enough to use.

What Other Video Monitor Should You Consider?

The Nanit Pro is expensive, especially if you opt for movement accessories. This could make it outside the budget of some parents. Alternatively, the iBaby M8 2K Smart Baby Monitor can save you some money and give you great images with more baby features than you can shake a stick at. We think most parents will be happy with this choice and can easily add a clip-on movement monitor if that feature is important. If your goal is a product for long-term use and you prefer buying products you can use for years, the Google Nest Cam 2nd Gen is the best option. While it doesn't include baby-specific features, it is one of the highest-performing options in the group and still less expensive than the Nanit. This camera can be used for years after your little one doesn't require monitoring.

Manufacturer Video