BT baby monitors are a solid choice for parents who want a reliable and tested brand. When it comes to using battery-operated baby monitors, one of the key concerns will be how long the battery will last.
In this article, we take a look at how BT baby monitors hold their charge so that you can be sure that a BT baby monitor is right for your needs.
Here’s The Battery Life On BT Baby Monitors:
The BT Smart Baby Monitor is BT’s flagship device and claims to have a battery life of 4 hours. However, tests have shown that the BT Smart Baby Monitor can exceed this with: An 8-hour-long battery life with the screen enabled. A 16-hour duration with ‘audio-only’.
In comparison, the BT Video Baby Monitor 7500 will only provide 6.5 hours of charge but does have a replaceable battery.
This is on the low end compared to the battery life on baby monitors from Owlet.
What BT Baby Monitors Have The Longest Battery Life?
BT has produced some fantastic baby monitors over the years, but there is one that has not only stood out from the crowd, it has even hit the number one slot of ‘best baby monitors’ on many lists.
That particular baby monitor also has the best battery life of any of BT’s baby monitors to date.
Introducing The BT Smart Baby Monitor
The BT Smart Baby Monitor was given the award of best baby monitor for 2022 by Wired.com, and rightfully so.
Despite BT claiming it only has a 4-hour battery life, it was found that in testing it actually achieved much better results.
- Mumsnet.com proved that after a full charge the BT Smart Baby Monitor lasted for 16 hours on ‘audio only’ and up to 8 hours with video enabled. That’s pretty impressive!
However, battery life is not the only thing that this baby monitor has up its sleeve:
- WiFi-enabled to allow worldwide range.
- Intuitive controls and easy to set up.
- Can be controlled with voice commands and an app.
- Two-way talkback allows communication with your child.
- Completely portable.
- Night-vision feature.
- Can be used in conjunction with both Alexa and Google Assistant.
- Includes a total of 5 lullabies.
- Can sense temperature changes.
- Remote-controlled camera.
- 1080p video.
- Motion detection sensors.
- Advanced Encryption Standard is in place to prevent hacks.
This top-of-the-line ‘smart’ baby monitor has all the bells and whistles that you could need to ensure you can have the peace of mind you need.
The fact that its battery can hold its charge for longer than expected is a bonus that should make any parent happy.
How Long Do Batteries Typically Last On Baby Monitors?
In general terms, baby monitors that provide video streaming use far more power than a monitor that only provides audio.
This is why typically you’ll find that an audio-only baby monitor will have better overall battery life.
The testers at Which.co.uk found that, on average, an audio-only baby monitor will last for around 13 hours, whereas, video monitors averaged around the 7-hour mark.
However, it should also be noted that this is not always the case.
You will find that there are some models of video-capable baby monitors that can outperform audio-only units.
In fact, during testing, it was found that some audio monitors didn’t even last the night and run out of charge after a measly 6 hours.
In comparison, there are video monitors that far exceeded this and provided over 12 hours of battery life.
Remember, not all baby monitors will provide the same battery life so it is worth checking what the specific model you are looking at provides.
- The average battery life of an audio-only baby monitor is 13 hours but can be as low as 6.
- The average battery life of a video and audio baby monitor is 7 hours but can be up to over 12.
- Understanding that there is a great disparity between battery life and the models on the market is key to ensuring you buy a baby monitor with a battery life that suits your particular needs.
Are There Any Ways To Prolong The Battery Life?
Getting the most out of your baby monitor’s battery is very worthwhile.
Let’s face it, parents have enough on their plate without having to remember to charge their baby monitor every couple of hours.
To get the most juice out of your baby monitor try using the following tips and you may find that your baby monitor lasts that bit longer:
- Lower The Screen Brightness
- Just like your mobile phone, you can adjust the screen brightness to save on battery power. The brighter the screen, the more energy your baby monitor is using.
- Bring Down the Volume
- Hearing your baby cry out is obviously a key feature of any baby monitor, but make sure you’re volume settings are not overdoing it.
- Lower those levels to an appropriate volume and you could save both your ears and battery from being overworked.
- Set Your Monitor To Conserve Energy
- Many baby monitors offer a ‘power save‘ mode.
- Activating this setting will conserve battery power by reducing certain features, such as picture quality, for example.
- Disable The Video Feed
- Only have the video feed enabled if you are using it.
- If you’ve got your video feed running constantly then it will be continually draining your battery.
- If you have the option, schedule automated shut-downs of your video feed to ensure that you’re not using it unnecessarily.
- Adjust Your Motion Sensors
- Motion sensors can drain the battery life of your baby monitor if they are continually set off.
- If your motion sensors are being triggered when it is not appropriate then it is worth lowering their sensitivity.
- Remember, the placement of your camera is also important – do not have it facing a road or environment that causes the sensors to be triggered unnecessarily.
- Keep Your Firmware Updated
- You should always keep up with any updates available from the manufacturer as this has the potential to ensure that your baby monitor is running efficiently.
- Not only will your baby monitor be glitch-free, but it also may improve the overall battery life.
- Ensure That There Are No Signal Issues
- If your baby monitor is struggling to achieve a connection to either the parent unit or the WiFi router it will drain the battery.
- The placement of your baby monitor is crucial in order to avoid signal dropouts or interference.
- Your user manual should inform you of the optimal proximity that needs to be adhered to in order for a strong signal to be maintained.
- Don’t Overwork The Night Vision Feature
- Ambient light changes can cause your infrared sensors and night vision features to activate.
- These features drain the battery so they should only be activated when necessary.
- Avoid placing the camera in a room in which there are shifts in lighting.
- Never Use The Wrong Charging Cables
- Using the incorrect charging cables can damage your battery, cause it not to charge, and even damage your baby monitor.
- Swap In A New Battery
- Some baby monitors allow parents to replace the batteries inside their units.
- By replacing the battery inside your baby monitor you can prolong the lifecycle of the unit and it should last as long as it did when you first bought it.
How Do I Know If My BT Baby Monitor Is Fully Charged?
To ensure that your BT baby monitor is fully charged you need to pay attention to the on-screen indicators.
- There is a battery symbol that will appear full when the unit has completely charged.
- When it is in the process of charging the same symbol will have a scrolling animation.
- You can also tell that the battery is charging when the LED light is blue.
- When the battery is low that same LED light will be red.
- A fully charged battery will cause the LED to become green.
It’s worth noting that the positions of these LEDs or colors of them will differ slightly between models.
Can BT Baby Monitors Work While Plugged In?
BT baby monitors have rechargeable batteries which allow portability and flexibility in terms of location and setup.
However, as we’ve seen, it is important to charge the batteries in order to place your baby monitor wherever you need it to be.
If you’ve forgotten to charge up your baby monitor, but you still need to use it then it is possible to power your BT baby monitor by plugging it into the mains.
Having your BT baby monitor plugged into the wall will still provide you with the same features, however, you are limited in terms of placement choice.
How Long Does It Take To Charge BT Baby Monitors?
Understanding how long it takes to charge your BT baby monitor is helpful as it allows you to plan accordingly.
The BT Smart Baby Monitor needs a 12-hour charge for full battery life, but you can also give it a quick 30-minute charge to get it up and running for a short duration.
The same charging times also apply for the BT Video Baby Monitor 6000.
What Type Of Batteries Do The Models Use?
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