Full Review of the Momcozy Baby Monitor BM01
Could this be one of the best baby monitors we've tested? Let's find out!
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When it comes to babies, Momcozy knows a thing or two.
From breast pumps to baby carriers and monitors, they have quickly developed a reputation for high-quality products at affordable prices.
One of the newest additions to their lineup is the award-winning BM01 baby monitor, offering a large 5" display and an impressive set of features.
On paper, it looks like it could be one of the best baby monitors of the year - but first, let's see how it performs!
Our Momcozy Baby Monitor Review
Full disclosure, Momcozy donated their baby monitor for testing. Thanks, Momcozy!
To review the Momcozy BM01 Baby Monitor, we put it through our full testing process:
- Unboxing.
- Pairing & setup.
- Feature testing.
- Night vision.
- Range test.
- Battery test.
The Momcozy is a welcome addition to the increasingly saturated baby monitor market.
As a non-WiFi baby monitor, it has an impressive set of features that appear to work very well. We loved the intuitive and easy-to-use menu, the high-resolution display, the excellent range and battery life, and its reasonable price point.
Is it worthy of a spot on our list of the best baby monitors? Let's find out!
Overall Rating
Overall, we give the Momcozy baby monitor a 4.3 out of 5, which puts it far ahead of most competition.
Keep reading to see how we reached this conclusion!
Take-home Message
Most people don't want to read this entire article to see what we found. So here is the summary of what we loved, and what we didn't.
✔️ High definition (1080p) display.
✔️ Large 5" display.
✔️ Intuitive menu system.
✔️ Highly customizable.
✔️ Expands to 4 cameras.
✔️ Two-way audio.
✔️ Clear night vision.
✔️ Remote zoom & pan.
✔️ Lullabies.
✔️ Cry alerts.
✔️ Nursery temperature sensor.
✔️ Wide-angle lens.
✔️ Camera mounting bracket.
✔️ Good battery life (5000mAh).
✔️ USB-C charging.
✔️ Great range.
✔️ Feeding reminders.
❌ No battery in camera.
❌ No belt clip.
❌ Volume button inconvenience.
Overall, the Momcozy baby monitor has a lot to love, especially for parents looking for a great baby monitor at a reasonable price.
Some thoughts on the minor drawbacks:
If the power goes down, the parent unit will keep working, but it will lose its connection to the camera. That's because the camera has no battery backup.
It's extremely rare to have a battery in the camera, but we think more baby monitors should consider this feature. You can always use an uninterruptible power supply, but those aren't cheap!
Two very minor inconveniences: first, there is no belt clip on the parent unit and it's too large to fit in most pockets. Second, the volume button doesn't let you hold it down to adjust volume, you need to press the button several times to increment through volume levels.
Unboxing the Momcozy Baby Monitor
The baby monitor arrives in a sleeved box about the size you would expect, specifically 7" x 7" x 5".
The back of the box showcases the basic specifications:
Additional specifications not listed on the box:
- Camera dimensions: 5" H x 3.25" W x 2.75" D
- Camera specs: 1080p resolution, H.264 compression, 5V at 2A, 2x or 4x zoom, night infrared LED at 940nm
- Monitor dimensions: 3.25" H x 6.5" L x 0.75" D
- Monitor specs: aspect ratio 16:9, 1080p resolution, 960ft operating range, 5V at 2A
- Cord length: 78"
- Cord type: USB-A to USB-C
- Mount kit: Two screws and anchors
- Battery: Rechargeable Li-ion polymer, 5000mAh, 18.5Wh, 3.7V DC Model DY955465
- Connectivity: 2.4GHz FHSS
It's worth pointing out that the charger plugs are relatively compact, allowing you to plug them both into an outlet right next to each other.
The camera, parent unit, and accessories are very well packaged and unlikely to be damaged upon arrival.
The first few minutes of this video demonstrate the unboxing:
On the bottom of the camera is a universal tripod mounting hole. This provides superior versatility for basically any camera mount you can imagine. In other words, if you don't like the included wall mount, you can purchase basically any camera mount with a 1/4-20 UNC thread and it will fit.
The back of the parent unit has a speaker and kickstand.
It also has some basic specifications listed.
As expected, the camera and parent unit are made in China.
Pairing and Start-up
One unique feature of the Momcozy baby monitor is its expandability of up to 4 cameras.
The cameras can be viewed picture-in-picture or cycled through in series (one after the next).
When we powered on the camera and parent unit, they immediately paired with each other. No delays or searching.
We thought the startup screen animation was adorable and showcased the parent unit's high-definition display.
Adding Additional Cameras
We added a second camera and it was surprisingly easy.
Enter the menu and choose the option that looks like a camera. Then select Add and press the PAIR button on the camera itself.
Here is a photo of the pair button:
Once paired, each camera will be shown with a number (1, 2, 3, etc).
We loved the ability to have the parent unit automatically cycle through each camera (every 10 seconds).
When both cameras are displayed simultaneously in split screen mode, they are relatively small and more difficult to see.
Overall, we thought pairing and setup were easy and intuitive. We appreciated the intuitive icons and range of adjustability.
Features we Loved
There were so many features to test!
In the above video, we cycle through most of the features. But here are some worth mentioning:
- Zoom: The camera can be zoomed between 1x (normal), 2x, and 4x. At 1x and 2x the image is relatively clear, but at 4x it is pixelated. This is not surprising for digital zoom (rather than optical zoom) and applies to every baby monitor we've tested.
- Panning: The range of panning was impressive. We estimate that it rotates up and down by about 90 degrees. For right-left rotation, it basically goes 360 degrees around.
- Lullabies: You can choose between 6 different lullabies, or you can choose to cycle between them.
- Sleep mode: You can customize how long to wait before putting the screen to sleep (but keeping the parent unit on), between 1 to 60 minutes.
- VOX: This is a basic cry detection feature that will power on the screen, set off an audible alarm, and flash the noise indicator LEDs. You can choose low, medium, or high sensitivity, which correspond to 75dB, 65dB, or 60dB noises. If your baby is relatively loud when they cry, you can put the device on low sensitivity, and vice-versa.
- Two-way talk: This button on the parent unit looks like a microphone and allows you to talk to your baby. In our testing, the sound quality was pretty decent.
- Feeding reminders: You can set feeding reminders at regular intervals (e.g., every 2 or 6 hours), which will sound the audible alarm (with adjustable volume) when the time arrives.
- Temperature sensor: This was surprisingly sensitive and accurate (according to our test thermometer), and can be displayed in F or C.
- Languages: Available languages are English, German, French, or Spanish.
All the features worked relatively well.
For convenience, we do wish the volume button would let you hold it down to change the volume rather than pressing the button multiple times.
The camera mount was also great if you plan on mounting to a wall, allowing for a wide range of adjustment:
Overall, the Momcozy offers a nice set of features for even the most advanced users! Just as importantly, they were very easy to use.
Day and Night Vision
One of the most critical features of a great baby monitor is high quality night vision.
Baby monitors use an array of infrared lights and cameras to "see in the dark" and keep an eye on your little one during even the darkest nights.
In our testing, we thought the daytime screen had decent color quality and contrast. It wasn't the best we've seen, but also not the worst.
It's likely the best we've seen at this price.
During the night, the camera will switch to night vision with an audible click.
The night vision will show only shades of gray.
Here is what the night vision looked like:
Pretty good, and on par with some of the best baby monitors on the market.
Battery and Range
The 5000mAh battery capacity is compelling, but we also realize that it's a large (5") and high resolution (1080p) display, which likely consumes a lot of battery.
In our testing, the battery lasted about 11 hours when the screen was on.
When the screen is off (in standby mode), the battery lasts about 22 hours.
For range, the antenna is rated for up to 960ft of operating range. Of course, this assumes no interference or obstacles (walls, trees, floors, etc), which is unrealistic unless you're camping in an open field.
For practical purposes, we found that the system works across 2 levels of a home (from the 1st to 3rd floor), and about 200 feet into the back or front yard.
In our experience, that is on par with most other baby monitors. If you're looking for a more extended range, definitely consider a Wi-Fi-compatible baby monitor.
Some Minor Cons
We only encountered a few minor cons.
First, while the parent unit has a battery, the camera does not. If you lose power, the system will no longer work. This is common for baby monitors, but worth pointing out.
Second, the parent unit doesn't have a belt clip and is relatively large. It's unlikely to fit in your pocket, so a belt clip would have been a convenient addition.
Third, the volume control at the top of the parent unit doesn't allow you to simply press down on a button to quickly change the volume. You need to click it multiple times to move through the volume levels. Obviously a very minor concern, but worth mentioning.
Conclusions
In conclusion, the Momcozy BM01 baby monitor impressed us with its array of features and solid performance.
With a high-definition display, wide-angle lens with night vision, remote zoom and pan, and several important functionalities, it offers convenience and peace of mind for most parents.
While minor drawbacks such as the lack of a battery backup in the camera and the absence of a belt clip on the parent unit were noted, the overall experience was positive.
In conclusion, with its user-friendly interface, excellent battery life, and reasonable price point, the Momcozy BM01 stands out as a strong contender in the baby monitor market.
Prices and Where to Buy
Coming in at about $130 (after discounts), you can purchase the Momcozy baby monitor at most major retailers, including Amazon.
Click the below image to check the current prices.
References Cited
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