Owlet Cam vs Cam 2: Similarities & Differences
By Naila Syifa
Updated March 2024
If you're a parent to a newborn baby, you know very well how difficult it can be to keep an eye on them 24/7. You want to make sure your baby is safe and sound, but you also need to rest or do other tasks around the house. This is where baby monitoring technology comes in handy.
Smart video baby monitors like Owlet Cam and Cam 2 allow you to keep an eye on your baby while you're in another room or even outside the house. When something is amiss, you'll be alerted instantly. This gives you peace of mind and helps you attend to your baby's needs promptly.
However, how does the new generation Owlet Cam 2 compare to the original Owlet Cam? Let's dive into the similarities and differences between the two!
Key Takeaways
One key new feature that the Owlet Cam 2 has over the original Owlet Cam is cry detection. While the Owlet Cam can only notify you of general sound and motion, the Owlet Cam 2 can specifically notify you when the baby is crying. Additionally, the Owlet Cam 2 has a new video clip feature and is available in more color options.
Owlet Cam
Smart Video Baby Monitor
✓ Video and Audio Live Stream
✓ Two-Way Audio
✓ Sound & Motion Notifications
✓ Room Humidity & Temperature
Owlet Cam 2
Upgraded Smart Video Baby Monitor
✓ Video and Audio Live Stream and Clips
✓ Two-Way Audio
✓ Sound, Motion, and Cry Notifications
✓ Room Humidity & Temperature
#1 Price
Owlet Cam
As a newer model, the Owlet Cam 2 is more expensive at US$159. Meanwhile, the original Owlet Cam retails at US$119. The price difference is not big, but it takes careful consideration to decide whether purchasing or upgrading to the newer model is worth the extra cost. Keep reading to find out!
#2 Design
Owlet Cam 2
Owlet Cam 2 retains the visual appearance of the original Owlet Cam, except that it is now missing the silver bezel around the body. However, this difference doesn't have any impact on functionality and the Cam 2 still looks as modern and sleek as the original Owlet Cam.
The camera body of both models rests on the included magnetic base, which can serve as a stand for placement on a flat surface or as a wall mount for placement above the crib. You can also adjust the camera angle as needed, so you can have a clear view of your baby no matter where you place the camera.
One improvement that the Owlet Cam 2 brings over the Owlet Cam in terms of design is the varying color options it offers. You can choose between white, bedtime blue, dusty rose, or sleepy sage, while the original Owlet Cam only comes in white.
#3 Video Quality
Owlet Cam
In terms of video quality, both Owlet Cam and Owlet Cam 2 are equally impressive with no significant difference between them. Both offer high-definition video at 1080p resolution and you can even zoom up to 4x for a closer look at your baby.
The field of view of the camera is decent at 130°, so you can see a good portion of the room where your baby is sleeping. The camera also comes with auto-adjusting night vision, so you can still see your baby clearly even in low-light conditions.
#4 Features
Owlet Cam vs Cam 2
Owlet Cam and Owlet Cam 2 have many common smart features. In the Owlet Dream app, you can live stream video and audio for real-time monitoring of your baby, use two-way audio to talk to your baby or sing a lullaby to soothe them, and even get room temperature and humidity readings to gauge the comfort level of your baby's sleeping environment.
Owlet also understands that you may be busy with other tasks, so both models support picture-in-picture viewing, which allows you to keep an eye on your baby's video feed while using other apps on your phone, and background audio, which lets you listen to audio even when the app is running in the background or your phone is locked.
The Owlet Dream app also offers a Predictive Sleep feature, which will calculate your baby's wake and sleep windows by using data like the baby's age, last sleep time, and sleep duration. To use this feature, you can manually log your baby's nap times or purchase the Owlet Dream Sock baby monitor to have your baby's sleep patterns tracked automatically.
Owlet Cam 2
Both the Owlet Cam and Owlet Cam 2 also send notifications when there is motion or sound detected in the room, so you can quickly check on your baby and ensure they are safe. However, the Owlet Cam 2 has an added cry detection feature, so it can specifically alert you when your baby is crying. This feature is very useful as general sound detection may not be enough to differentiate between crying and other sounds.
Another new feature that the Owlet Cam 2 offers is the ability to access and download video clips, which is a 7-day video history of motion, sound, and cry events. This can be very useful when you want to review your baby's activity throughout the week or share clips with family or caregivers.
Owlet Cam vs Cam 2
Final Thoughts
Owlet Cam vs Cam 2
Owlet Cam and Owlet Cam 2 are great smart video baby monitors that can help parents keep an eye on their baby's safety and well-being. Both models are on par when it comes to video quality, but the newer Owlet Cam 2 does offer some added features like video clips and cry detection.
This new ability to send a specific notification when your baby is crying makes the Owlet Cam 2 more suitable for parents who want to be alerted only when their baby is in distress and not just when there is general noise in the room.
If you like to read more about Baby Monitor, check out our other relevant guides here:
Owlet Dream Sock vs Smart Sock: Are They the Same Thing?
Owlet Smart Sock 2 vs 3: Key Improvements
Nanit vs Owlet: Which Baby Monitor is Better?
Nanit Pro vs Cubo AI Plus: Which Baby Monitor is Better?
Nanit Pro vs Miku Pro: Which Smart Baby Monitor is the Best?
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