Motorola Nursery VM85 Connect baby monitor review

How easy is it to set up the Motorola Nursery VM85 Connect baby monitor?

When it comes to technology, I always want a product that is quick and easy to set up. Parenting can be stressful enough at times, so I don’t need the added stress of spending hours to set up a simple product! The Motorola Nursery VM85 Connect baby monitor was as stress-free as it gets to set up. From the moment I removed the product from the box, it was ready to use within 10 minutes.

Firstly, the monitor has to be plugged in for 14 hours to fully charge the battery before it could be used without being plugged in, however, you are able to complete the set up whilst it is charging.

The instructions on the monitor are simple and clear, as is the pairing button on the back of the camera. It took less than two minutes to pair and connect, and I didn’t experience any issues which I had to troubleshoot.

There is also an app (the Motorola Nursery app) which can be downloaded onto a smartphone, which allows for remote monitoring. Again, pairing this took a matter of minutes - even someone who considers themselves a technophobe would be able to complete this easily. All of the instructions to pair the camera with both the monitor and the smartphone app are on the respective screens, and are simple and easy to follow. This meant that I didn’t need to refer to the manual at all during the installation process.

What is the video quality like on the Motorola Nursery VM85 Connect baby monitor?

There is a difference in the quality of visuals between the 5-inch monitor athe nd smartphone app, but that is to be expected given the price point of this product. In the Motorola Nursery app, you get brilliant 1080p full HD resolution, whereas on the monitor, you get 480x272 resolution.

The quality isn’t the best I’ve seen, but also not the worst. However, it really boils down to the simple fact of ‘can I see my baby clearly enough to check they’re okay?’ – to which the answer is yes.

The night vision on the camera is great, which for me is really important as my little one doesn’t sleep in the light at all! All nap times have to be like nighttime, so the night vision quality is appreciated. I tested the monitor in various different locations, both at home and whilst we were away on our staycation, and I never experienced any lag or interference with the camera.

Is the sound quality on the Motorola Nursery VM85 Connect baby monitor good?

The sound quality is just as strong as the visuals – it is crisp and clear. However, I did notice when the camera is playing lullabies and white noise, that it didn’t always pick up my son crying/moaning quietly, it only came through once it got louder. Whilst this isn’t a deal breaker, I did end up playing white noise from a different device elsewhere in the room so that I didn’t miss when my son woke up or got upset.

What is the Motorola Nursery VM85 Connect baby monitor's range and connectivity like?

I live in a three-storey townhouse, with Ollie’s cot placed in the master bedroom on the top floor, so I was slightly sceptical that the connectivity would remain as strong if I were on the ground floor of the house. However, I was proved wrong! As I moved around the house from room to room to compare the footage, it remained consistent throughout. This is really reassuring in a monitor, as you are not worrying about whether the connectivity will drop out or lag.

We also tested the camera and monitor away from Wi-Fi in a caravan, in a location that had no phone signal either. I wasn’t sure whether this would have an impact or not; however, the connectivity was just as strong as when we were at home. It’s reassuring to know you have a reliable product to take away on holiday, so gives you peace of mind whilst your baby is sleeping in a different room.

The remote monitoring on the smart app was also just as strong as the baby monitor when it comes to connectivity. The only time I experienced lag/drop out was when I had a bad signal on my mobile network, which obviously can’t be helped by Motorola.

How easy is it to use day-to-day?

On the whole, the Motorola Nursery VM85 Connect baby monitor is simple and easy to use. The controls are clearly laid out on the display, and navigating between the different features uses a simple arrow touchpad.

I did find that the tilt and pan features for the camera are very sensitive, and the lightest touch moved the camera more than anticipated – it did take a bit of getting used to! I also felt as though the zoom could be improved on the camera. You get the option of either X1 or X2, there is no in between. The X1 setting is already quite close in comparison to some other cameras on the market which offer a wider field of view, and I would have liked to be able to zoom in to my preferred view rather than just pick between two.

What are the standout features of the Motorola Nursery VM85 Connect baby monitor?

With the continual advances in technology, I feel that as a generation, we have come to expect more from this type of product. Some products in the top price range offer features such as breathing monitoring and humidity. However, for a product at this price point, I feel the Motorola Nursery VM85 baby monitor does everything you would expect.

The basic expectations are all met – high quality display, motorised pan, zoom and tilt and temperature display. The camera also provides audiobooks/stories and lullabies, with 10 available of each. In comparison, other products I’ve experienced have between five and eight, so it’s definitely a bonus to have a bigger selection.

The system also has two-way talk, and whilst I didn’t use this to its full potential with Ollie (as he’s only 7 months and doesn’t talk yet!), it was really nice to be able to communicate with him as he woke up, so that he heard a familiar voice before I made it upstairs into his room.

You also get motion detection and sound alerts via the Motorola Nursery app, which is a standard feature across all monitoring apps I’m familiar with. However, personally, I don’t actually use these as I always have the monitor on and by my side.

How well does the Motorola Nursery app work?

The app has a really simple interface – basic, but it does exactly what you need it to. Half the home screen on the app is for the camera display, which goes to full screen once clicked on. I only tested out one camera. However, it is my understanding that you can connect up to four different cameras to the app, which is great if you have multiple children.

The app also has a gallery, which can store photos and videos from the baby camera. And there is also a journal where you can store information such as feeding, sleeping, health, growth and teething. The ability to log it all in one place alongside the sleep monitor is a really nice feature from Motorola.

How portable is the monitor?

The Motorola Nursery VM85 Connect baby monitor has its own little stand on the back, which means taking it between rooms is really easy. The 5in display is big enough that you don’t need to have the monitor directly next to you either, you can still see it over the other side of the room. We also took the monitor and camera away on holiday with us, and packed easily into our suitcase.

What's the battery life like on the Motorola Nursery VM85 Connect baby monitor?

The battery life on the monitor isn’t the greatest – it is listed as being five hours. However, I felt as though I was having to plug it in after around three hours. In comparison, a much cheaper monitor I have been using, the battery lasts for around 24 hours before needing to be recharged.

How durable does it feel?

The Motorola Nursery VM85 Connect baby monitor's camera can be placed on a flat surface or attached to a wall, and it feels sturdy and stable. I did notice that the base of the camera swivelled slightly on a flat surface when the camera was panning, so this could be improved.

With such a recognisable brand at this price point, you expect the product to be robust and that it will last, and it definitely feels like it will. The build quality is strong, and over the course of the few weeks in which I tested the monitor, my toddler accidentally knocked it on the floor a couple of times, but there was no noticeable damage or complications.

Are there additional accessories available?

There’s a nice range of accessories available from Motorola. As standard, you can get replacement cables, wall mounts and additional cameras to connect to the Motorola Nursery app.

Additionally, there is the S1 Night Light & Sounds Soother (£34.99) – whilst I haven’t used this, my son loves a coloured mood light to help him settle before bed, so I can imagine this product is a great addition to the bedtime routine. You do get mood lighting with the Motorola Nursery VM85 Baby Monitor, but it's just a small ring around the bottom of the camera.

What's in the box?

• 5in monitor
• Baby camera
• Power cables for both monitor and camera
• Instruction manuals

What are the sustainability features of the Motorola Nursery VM85 Connect baby monitor?

When the product arrived, it arrived in fully recyclable packaging. The cardboard box was filled with colourful pieces of shredded paper instead of the classic bubble wrap, so that was a nice touch!

Is the Motorola Nursery VM85 Connect baby monitor worth the money?

There are a lot of baby monitor products on the market across a range of different price points. This monitor and camera are high-quality, have some lovely features, and I never once had an issue with reliability. In comparison to other products at the same price point, I feel the features sit on a level with the others.

It really depends on what you want from a monitor. If you want to just keep an eye on your baby, then there are certainly cheaper products on the market which allow you to do just that. But if you want the additional features such as the lullabies/audiobooks, zoom, pan and tilt and great connectivity, then this is one of the best on the market.

Where can I buy the Motorola Nursery VM85 Connect baby monitor?

It's available at Amazon, Currys and Very.

MadeForMums verdict:

I really like the Motorola Nursery VM85 Connect baby monitor – it’s reliable, robust and comes with a host of features. The key for a monitor is that it allows you to monitor your baby. Does this product have all the bells and whistles? No. But it does exactly what you need it to do, both at home and away.