In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Infant Optics DXR-8 Review

Spendy monitor that is easy to use, but has a limited indoor range
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infant optics dxr-8 video monitor review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $166 List
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Manufacturer:   Infant Optics
By Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz  ⋅  Mar 25, 2022
61
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#11 of 13
  • Range - 20% 5.0
  • Sound Clarity - 20% 5.0
  • Video Quality - 30% 6.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 8.0
  • Battery life - 10% 8.0
  • Features - 5% 5.0

The Skinny

The Infant Optics DXR-8 video monitor didn't perform well compared to the competition in our best video baby monitor review. This monitor has an easy-to-use parent unit, automatic pairing for devices, the best images for a dedicated monitor, and a long battery life. It also comes with an additional zoom lens to increase camera placement options, which is something unique to the Infant Optics monitors. Unfortunately, the camera is relatively average in most ways, with disappointing clarity on daytime visuals and night images where the baby has no face. The indoor range is functional up to 4 walls, one of the fewest in the group, and we think the Infant Optics is a monitor] that might struggle in larger homes with more space and rooms between baby and parents. There there are better options to be found in our best baby monitor review.
REASONS TO BUY
Easy to use
Long battery life
REASONS TO AVOID
Limited range
Fewer features
Price
Editor's Note: We gave this video monitor review on update on March 25, 2022, with new information designed to help you determine the best monitor for your goals.

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Price $166 List
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Overall Score Sort Icon
61
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Star Rating
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Pros Easy to use, long battery lifeWiFi range, lots of features, great images, easy to useGreat video quality, lots of features, low EMF readingHigh-quality video, clear & loud audio, can be paired to multiple cameras, infinite viewersBudget-friendly, good video quality, WiFi connectivity
Cons Limited range, fewer features, priceSub-par sound, higher price, internet dependantDelayed camera control is annoying, no precision adjustment to camera, connectivity issuesNo baby-specific features, requires a Google account, a barebones app that isn't intuitivePast security concerns, no baby-specific features, must physically move the camera, poor sound quality
Bottom Line Spendy monitor that is easy to use, but has a limited indoor rangeCool WiFi option with all the bells and whistles that is easy to useThe 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 modelA great option for those looking for sharp video and crisp audio who aren't as concerned about baby-specific featuresThis barebones model is easy on the wallet and doesn't compromise on video quality
Rating Categories Infant Optics DXR-8 iBaby Care M7 WiFi iBaby M8 2K Smart Baby Google Nest Cam 2nd... Wyze Cam V3
Range (20%)
5.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
Sound Clarity (20%)
5.0
4.0
6.0
7.0
5.0
Video Quality (30%)
6.0
9.0
9.0
9.0
8.0
Ease of Use (15%)
8.0
9.0
6.0
5.0
8.0
Battery life (10%)
8.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
Features (5%)
5.0
9.0
10.0
6.0
7.0
Specs Infant Optics DXR-8 iBaby Care M7 WiFi iBaby M8 2K Smart Baby Google Nest Cam 2nd... Wyze Cam V3
Communication Technology 2.4GHz FHSS 802.11 b/g/n 2.4/5GHz 2.4 / 5 Ghz 2.4 GHz
Indoor Range Test 4 Walls
65 Feet
Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity
Open Field Range Test 650 Feet Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity
Manufacturer's Claimed Range (*buyer beware!) 700 Feet Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity Anywhere You Have Connectivity
Max Sound 86 db @ ~1ft 82 db @ ~1ft 85 db @ ~1ft 110 db @ ~1ft 100db @ ~1ft
Screen Size 3.5" n/a n/a n/a n/a
Max # of Cameras 4 Not Listed (Unlimited?) Not Listed (Unlimited?) Not Listed (Unlimited?) 5
Temperature Yes Yes Yes No No
Movement Detection No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Sound Activation No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Talk-to-Baby Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Pan/Tilt/ Zoom Pan/Tilt/Zoom Pan/Tilt/Zoom Pan/Tilt/Zoom Zoom Zoom
Battery Life 11.5 hrs n/a n/a n/a n/a
EMF @ 6 Feet from Camera 1.89 V/m 1.42 V/m 0.23 V/m 0.6 V/m 1.47 V/m
Warranty 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year

Our Analysis and Test Results

Infant Optics began in 2011, developing and manufacturing baby monitors. The company continues to advance its designs and manufacturing techniques using feedback from users. This Optics model is the only camera we reviewed with external changeable lenses.

Performance Comparison


infant optics dxr-8 video monitor review
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Range


The Infant Optics has an average indoor range working up to 4 walls and 65 ft. Infant Optics worked up to 600 ft in our open field test and began breaking up at around 650 ft. We lost all signal at 750 ft.

infant optics dxr-8 video monitor review - the daytime images of the infant optics dxr-8 are average compared...
The daytime images of the Infant Optics DXR-8 are average compared to the competition, with better detail in baby's face, but no discernible letters on the eye chart.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Audio / Visual


The Optics has an average sound clarity with a maximum decibel level of 86 dB. The sound clarity is better than most of the competition, and we did not experience any distortion, echo, or interference during testing. However, it doesn't offer sound activation or sensitivity adjustment, so you need to set the volume on the parent unit at 1 or 2 to cut the background noise. However, this could result in sound sleepers failing to wake when the baby starts to cry.

infant optics dxr-8 video monitor review - the infant optics dxr-8 night image is worse than the daytime...
The Infant Optics DXR-8 night image is worse than the daytime images, with no face on baby and blurred letters on the chart.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The Optics has below-average video quality than the top-ranked video baby monitors we tested. The daytime images are not bad, with slightly darker colors than the real color in the baby's room. The letters on the eye chart are a bit fuzzy, but they tend to clear up when you zoom in, which also lets you see the baby's eyes and facial expression. Night vision is a little darker than average, but the zoom feature helps make things clearer and more evenly lit. The image itself has decent contrast for night vision but is a little fuzzy around the edges.

infant optics dxr-8 video monitor review - we think it would be nice if the volume buttons were on the face of...
We think it would be nice if the volume buttons were on the face of the Infant Optics DXR-8 parent device, as opposed to inside a menu or shortcut option.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use


The Optics is one of the easiest monitors in the group to use both dedicated and WiFi options. This monitor is a plug-and-play option that automatically pairs the parent unit with the camera.

The user interface for the Optics is one of the easiest to navigate. It has straightforward buttons. It does have a shortcut button for volume and brightness, but the shortcut is almost the same as going through the menu features, so we still wish it had buttons outside the menu options on the body of the parent unit. Maybe the only downside reported by testers was a choppiness to the pan of the camera after a few weeks of continued use. The image didn't seem to match the navigation on the screen. This navigation problem requires turning the device off and back on to fix it.

Battery Life


The Optics has a fairly impressive battery life, with a runtime of 11.5 hours in our tests. The monitor parent device has a rechargeable Li-ion battery that Infant Optics claims will run 10 hrs on standby mode and 6.5 with the screen on continuously. Given that we experienced a longer run time, we feel the manufacturer's claims are probably accurate enough for parents to trust.

infant optics dxr-8 video monitor review - the menu options on the infant optics dxr-8 are intuitive and few...
The menu options on the Infant Optics DXR-8 are intuitive and few require more than one click; this is where you find most of the features of the monitor including pan, tilt, and zoom. This monitor earned the highest score for the features metric out of the dedicated monitors.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Features


The Infant Optics is average for the features metric. This parent unit screen is a fairly standard 3.5 in and pairs with up to 4 cameras (sold separately). It does not offer a belt clip or other features for wearing the unit.

The main feature that makes Infant Optics unique is the additional lens you can manually place on the camera. This "zoom" lens allows for a closer look at the baby, but we aren't sure it is a handy tool unless you use it as a permanent part of the camera so you can place the camera further from your baby for a decrease in EMF exposure. Otherwise, we think most parents are unlikely to use it rather than regularly adding and removing it to the camera. It certainly isn't something you can do for a better look while the baby is sleeping.

This monitor offers additional features many parents may want. In our experience, only a few are features you'll use regularly, but the others may be something you want "just in case." This monitor has a temperature sensor on the camera, which is handy for ensuring the baby's room is a suitable temperature for avoiding SIDS, but only if the sensor is accurate. Our Optics sensor read 73.4 degrees in a nursery that was actually 75. This disparity is not the largest in the group, but the lack of accuracy is concerning.

infant optics dxr-8 video monitor review
Credit: Abriah Wofford

This monitor also features:

  • Two-way talk
  • Silent mode with LED light indicators when the baby cries
  • Alarm
  • Auto screen sleep (but not wake)
  • Zoom and additional zoom lens
  • True camera pan and tilt
  • Night vision

Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Levels


The Infant Optics camera has an average EMF reading of 1.89 when placed 6 ft from the reader, making it one of the highest in our tests. The further you place the camera from the baby, the less EMF exposure. The parent unit placed at 3 ft has an average reading of about 3.6. We assume the parent device will be within arm's reach, so the level can vary and be higher the closer it is to you.

Should You Buy the Infant Optics?


The real appeal of the Infant Optics is the interchangeable lenses. However, we think they aren't practical and, over time, will be lost or unused. While it is a higher-scoring dedicated option, it is also a somewhat spendy one given how it stacks up to the competition. As one of the most expensive options in the group, it is hard to recommend this lackluster option that doesn't have WiFi and only offers sub-par sound.

What Other Video Monitor Should You Consider?


The LeapFrog LF920HD 7" Display is the better-dedicated choice in our lineup with a lower price and better overall score than the Infant Optics. Overall, it is a better monitor. If you want the best of the best with a variety of baby-centric features or movement monitoring, we love the WiFi Nanit Pro that scored well overall and provides some of the best videos around that you can watch anywhere with internet access.

Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz
 

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