In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

iBaby M8 2K Smart Baby Monitor Review

The great video quality and tons of baby-help features make this a standout pick, but the delay in the camera control causes a big setback for this model
gearlab tested logo
ibaby m8 2k smart baby monitor video monitor review
Credit: iBaby
Price:  $220 List
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Manufacturer:   iBaby
By Wendy Schmitz ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Oct 11, 2022
83
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#2 of 13
  • Range - 20% 10.0
  • Sound Clarity - 20% 6.0
  • Video Quality - 30% 9.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 6.0
  • Battery life - 10% 10.0
  • Features - 5% 10.0

The Skinny

It is hard not to love a monitor that tries this hard to please babies and parents alike. The iBaby M8 is a baby-centric WiFi monitor with more features than most competitors. Odds are, if you want it, it has it. The iBaby has an easy to app, cute round design, ceiling projection, night light, 2-way talk and more. With great video and better-than-average sound, it is clear there isn't much that will leave you wanting with this monitor. The only downside is the lag in camera time when making adjustments through the app and forget precision pan and scan, because you just won't find it here. However, this lag is likely not to affect everyday use as most parents will place the camera with a direct look into the baby's crib without the need for panning until little ones get significantly older. Overall, if finding a baby-specific monitor is your goal, the M8 should be at the top of your list. With a reasonable price tag and useful sound activation, we think it will make most parents and babies smile.
REASONS TO BUY
Great video quality
Lots of features
Low EMF reading
REASONS TO AVOID
Delayed camera control is annoying
No precision adjustment to camera
Connectivity issues

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Editors' Choice Award Editors' Choice Award Top Pick Award Editors' Choice Award Best Value Award 
Price $220 List
$169.95 at Amazon
$150 List
$119.99 at Amazon
$100 List
$98.25 at Amazon
$300 List
$245.99 at Amazon
$30 List
$33.95 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
83
83
82
81
80
Star Rating
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Pros Great video quality, lots of features, low EMF readingWiFi range, lots of features, great images, easy to useHigh-quality video, clear & loud audio, can be paired to multiple cameras, infinite viewersEasy to use, WiFi range, lower EMFBudget-friendly, good video quality, WiFi connectivity
Cons Delayed camera control is annoying, no precision adjustment to camera, connectivity issuesSub-par sound, higher price, internet dependantNo baby-specific features, requires a Google account, a barebones app that isn't intuitiveSub-par sound, expensivePast security concerns, no baby-specific features, must physically move the camera, poor sound quality
Bottom Line The great video quality and tons of baby-help features make this a standout pick, but the delay in the camera control causes a big setback for this modelCool WiFi option with all the bells and whistles that is easy to useA great option for those looking for sharp video and crisp audio who aren't as concerned about baby-specific featuresA relatively expensive option that is easy to use and has many features with lower EMFThis barebones model is easy on the wallet and doesn't compromise on video quality
Rating Categories iBaby M8 2K Smart Baby iBaby Care M7 WiFi Google Nest Cam 2nd... Nanit Pro Wyze Cam V3
Range (20%)
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
Sound Clarity (20%)
6.0
4.0
7.0
5.0
5.0
Video Quality (30%)
9.0
9.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
Ease of Use (15%)
6.0
9.0
5.0
9.0
8.0
Battery life (10%)
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
Features (5%)
10.0
9.0
6.0
7.0
7.0
Specs iBaby M8 2K Smart Baby iBaby Care M7 WiFi Google Nest Cam 2nd... Nanit Pro Wyze Cam V3
Communication Technology 2.4/5GHz 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 / 5 Ghz 2.4GHz and 5GHz 2.4 GHz
Indoor Range Test Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity
Open Field Range Test Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity
Manufacturer's Claimed Range (*buyer beware!) Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity
Max Sound 85 db @ ~1ft 82 db @ ~1ft 110 db @ ~1ft 89 db @ ~1ft 100db @ ~1ft
Screen Size n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Max # of Cameras Not Listed (Unlimited?) Not Listed (Unlimited?) Not Listed (Unlimited?) Up to 5. If you plan to use more than 5 cameras contact customer support 5
Temperature Yes Yes No Yes No
Movement Detection Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Sound Activation Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Talk-to-Baby Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Pan/Tilt/ Zoom Pan/Tilt/Zoom Pan/Tilt/Zoom Zoom None Zoom
Battery Life n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
EMF @ 6 Feet from Camera 0.23 V/m 1.42 V/m 0.6 V/m 0.37 V/m 1.47 V/m
Warranty 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year

Our Analysis and Test Results

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 WiFiconnectivity. iBaby continues to create new and innovative baby monitors with improvements to hardware, firmware, and their app.

WiFi Considerations
  • Buy from a location with an easy return policy. If your WiFi isn't up to the challenge, you'll be glad you have hassle-free returns.
  • Run a test as soon as you can after you get it. Trouble-free movie streaming doesn't always translate to successful camera monitoring due to bandwidth needs.
  • We recommend using a device that is not your primary smartphone for monitoring to avoid app interaction problems and ensure long battery life.
  • Change the password frequently to avoid potential hacking concerns.

Performance Comparison



ibaby m8 2k smart baby monitor video monitor review - the m8 requires adequate wifi capabilities to ensure continued...
The M8 requires adequate WiFi capabilities to ensure continued connectivity.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

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, as internet demands for monitoring are different than those for other things like streaming movies.

ibaby m8 2k smart baby monitor video monitor review - ibaby offers various features to help ensure better sound and video...
iBaby offers various features to help ensure better sound and video, regardless of the time of day or nursery occurrences.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Audio / Visual


Interestingly none of the video monitors offer stellar sound, which is what you need to alert you to look at the video monitor, but certainly, it only needs to be good enough to rely on 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 other is only a little bit of a tinny quality that is significantly lower than competing monitors.

ibaby m8 2k smart baby monitor video monitor review - the ability to smoothly control the ibaby remotely is poor. it tends...
The ability to smoothly control the iBaby remotely is poor. It tends to move quickly and sharply, making minute adjustments more difficult as it spins wildly.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

This monitor has a general quiet fuzz sound all of the time, no matter how we adjusted 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.


The daytime images are clear, crisp, and true to life for the iBaby...
The daytime images are clear, crisp, and true to life for the iBaby M8.
Using the zoom feature on the iBaby M8 provides some of the clearest...
Using the zoom feature on the iBaby M8 provides some of the clearest images we've ever seen using digital zoom with very little pixelation.

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.

NIght images for the iBaby M8 feel sort of artificially bright in an...
NIght images for the iBaby M8 feel sort of artificially bright in an unnecessary way, but they are still good and easy to view.
WHile open eyes and night vision are no one's favorite combination...
WHile open eyes and night vision are no one's favorite combination, the iBaby does a good job of offering a clear and easy-to-understand visual even at night.

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.

ibaby m8 2k smart baby monitor video monitor review - the ibaby app is easy to use and has the most popular or readily...
The iBaby app is easy to use and has the most popular or readily used features on the main screen. However, we did have to download two apps and it was a problem we hope they've resolved.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use


Ease of use for the M8 is about average with some of the headaches you might expect from an app-driven monitor, but it isn't a nightmare, 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, or 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.

ibaby m8 2k smart baby monitor video monitor review - the ibaby m8 camera is plug-in only, and battery life for use will...
The iBaby M8 camera is plug-in only, and battery life for use will depend on your personal device and how you use it.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

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.

ibaby m8 2k smart baby monitor video monitor review - the ibaby m8 has an intuitive interface on its app with the most...
The iBaby M8 has an intuitive interface on its app with the most used features on the main monitoring view.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Features


This monitor has more baby-centric features than the majority of the WiFi competition. With sensors for reporting on the room temperature and humidity to lullabies and projection, we can say this monitor offers a feature for just about everyone and every need you maybe didn't even know you had.


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

ibaby m8 2k smart baby monitor video monitor review - the ceiling projector on the ibaby is fun and a nice addition...
The ceiling projector on the iBaby is fun and a nice addition. Still, we wouldn't recommend buying this unit just for the projector when other products can offer brighter displays with varying or moving visuals.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

  • 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. It is also 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.

Security Concerns 2020
In February 2020, Bitdefender and PCMag published security concerns they identified with the online structure of the Baby M6 monitor that potentially enabled hackers to access information and monitor controls. After attempting to contact iBaby for nine months, Bitdefender decided to publish its concerns. iBaby's response included acknowledging the problem and providing a solution. The company claimed they didn't know about the issue, had no knowledge of real-life breaches, and had not received the Bitdefender communication. iBaby quickly fixed the security issue, but we have lingering concerns about their customer service contacts being ineffective over a nine-month period and consumers potentially having similar challenges. We have not needed to contact iBaby for help, so we aren't sure what kind of issues the average user might have compared to Bitdefender's experience. Read more about this security concern and contact problems here.

For more information, you can read this relatedarticle we found.. For more on testing security, you might be interested in reading this article.

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

Safety Protocols
  • Keep firmware up to date
  • Change passwords frequently
  • Use an 8-12 character password with lower/upper case letters, numbers, and special characters
  • Use the smallest field of vision possible
  • Unplug the camera when not in use to help avoid the potential of remote camera activation.

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 something less expensive, aren't worried about baby-specific features, or hope to find a monitor you can use for security when your baby is grown, then the iBaby might not be the best pick. Both the Wyze Cam V3 and the Google Nest Cam 2nd Gen are straightforward video monitoring devices that are more budget-friendly and are discrete options you can use for other monitoring needs without the clutter or cost of the baby features. You can always get a separate top-ranked night light for kids or white noise and lullaby machine to supplement your camera.

Manufacturer Video



Wendy Schmitz
 

Honest, objective reviews. Led by a Pediatrician.

BabyGearLab was founded by a Pediatrician Mom with a mission to provide a reliable, independent, source of information to new parents. Our experts have tested thousands of baby and kids products to share key performance, health, and safety findings. We spend tens of thousands of dollars crash testing car seats to inform our ratings. And, we combine our review work with gobs of expert parenting advice. To assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing by people who care.

Learn More