VTech Digital 7-inch Video Monitor Review

There's no shortage of baby monitors available today, many with the same core features: a camera that's placed in a nursery or bedroom and a small monitor for caretakers to view.

But those looking for a much bigger screen and more advanced features—like a companion app to view videos when outside of the home—might consider the VTech Digital 7-inch Video Monitor with Remote Access (available at Target for $149.99) , which is also available in a 2-camera model if you want to keep an eye on two kids (in different rooms).

While not a perfect 10, the VTech RM7766HD baby monitor is a great pick for parents of young kids. Check out our review, below.

About the VTech Digital 7-inch Video Monitor with Remote Access

• Dimensions (Monitor): 4.51 Inches (H) x 8.03 Inches (W) x 0.73 Inches (D)
• Connectivity: 2.4GHz and optional Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
• Power source: 1 non-universal lithium battery, required and included
• Camera/Monitor: 2K CMOS video sensor, 720p HD video (1280 x 720) on Monitor, and up to 1080p (1920 x 1080) HD video on app
• Monitor: 7-inch color LCD, two-way talk
• Pan/Tilt/Zoom: 360-degree horizontal panoramic viewing, plus up to 100-degree vertical tilt. Zoom is up to 30x via mobile app, up to 24x on viewer
• Night Vision: Black & white, via infrared LEDs
• Operating Range: Up to 1,000 feet (about 305 meters) via radio band, or unlimited with the app (can be used outside of home)
• Temperature and Humidity Alert: Yes
• Warranty: One-year limited warranty

What We Like

The large monitor screen is impressive

Most baby monitors that feature a video display, sometimes called "parent units," are usually between 3 and 5 inches—but this VTech boasts a much bigger 7-inch screen.

This makes it ideal for those who want a larger view of what's happening in the nursery or child's room, whether your reasons are simply a personal preference or because of vision challenges. The size of the display on the VTech really does jump out at you. Too bad it's not a touch screen—yes, I found myself trying to tap the display like a tablet—but it's still a real looker.

This all-white monitor houses buttons off to the right side of the screen, along with a four-way navigation wheel (like a video game controller's D-pad). On top is a retractable antenna and 3-level sound indicator: green is quiet, yellow is louder and red likely means the child is crying. On the back is an integrated kickstand to prop it up on a table, desk, or kitchen island.

And yes, this product does support an app, as well. More on that shortly.

Setup is easy for the devices and app

Simply plug the monitor into an AC outlet to charge up its integrated battery, then plug the camera into the wall as well. You'll immediately see the image captured by the camera on the monitor screen.

While the VTech uses a regular 2.4 GHz radio band to distribute the audio and video signal to the monitor, it's recommended to use the Wi-Fi connection instead for enhanced range, feature updates, and app support.

Setting up the Wi-Fi requires pressing a small button at the base of the camera for 3 seconds. When the beep is heard, you follow the prompts on the monitor to join both to your Wi-Fi.

To download and install the MyVTech Baby Pro app, use the camera on your device to scan the QR code displayed on the monitor screen. You'll then be asked to allow the Baby Pro app to find and connect to any cameras on your wireless network (remember, there's a 2-camera pack, too).

Within five minutes or so (you need to register first and then verify your email), your app will let you see what the camera sees, to keep an eye on your little one while out on a date night.

While no baby monitor is 100% unhackable, especially when it's joined to your Wi-Fi network, VTech has compiled a handy checklist of "best practices" to ensure no one is able to access your footage. There is also the option to add a security key to viewing the footage.

The battery life lasts longer than expected

Despite the large screen size, battery life lives up to VTech's claim of "up to 12 hours." In fact, since the screen dims when not in use for a while, it lasted a total of 15.5 hours on its battery alone.

You can also tweak the screen's brightness (dimmer = longer battery life) and enable "auto wake-up" if it detects sound or motion (with variable sensitivity settings).

The monitor is handy to keep in a highly-trafficked place, like a kitchen, but in testing, we used the app to check in more often than the monitor. After all, when are we ever without our smartphone?

At least you've got both the large screen monitor and smartphone or tablet app, as some monitors only support an app (like the Pixsee and Lollipop models).

Some other features worth mentioning: As you'll see in the photos, the camera also has a touch-enabled multicolored nightlight, which is cute; a temperature and humidity monitor; two-way talk (via the monitor or the app); and the ability for you to play melodies and soothing sounds through a small speaker. In fact, there's also a "WeeSleep" feature, that lets you apply a sound and light profile for your baby.

What we don't like

Video quality is underwhelming

We test many baby monitors at Reviewed, and some simply have better cameras than others.

While the VTech Digital 7-inch Video Monitor with Remote Access has a large display, the video quality is mediocre at best. Yes, it's allegedly a 2K CMOS video sensor, viewable in 720p Full HD on the monitor and up to 1080p HD on the app, but the image can look blurry.

You might expect this in infrared night-vision mode, of course, where the picture can look pixelated and grainy, but even the daytime, color videos aren't spectacular.

Perhaps it's because the 7-inch monitor is as much as twice the size as many other baby monitors that you notice these imperfections more, but competing baby monitors don’t seem to have the same issue.

The pan-tilt-zoom camera is flexible, though, so you can maneuver the lens to capture what you want, but naturally zooming into adds even more pixelation to the image.

Like a Ring video doorbell, which lets you see and share captured photos and videos, the VTech app will allow you to share still captures and videos from the monitor with family and friends. It's a nice feature not often found in baby monitors.

Camera doesn't have any mounting options

While we really like this baby camera and monitor, it's also missing a few nice-to-have features. The camera can't be used in a bird's-eye view of a crib or easily attached to crib bars like many wraparound models can, though you can always try something like a iTODOS extension. But otherwise you'll need to find a stationary surface to place this.

It's missing some features

The camera does not support color night vision, as some others do, such as the LeapFrog LF920HD Color Night Vision Video Monitor with 7-inch HD Display. (Interestingly, LeapFrog is now a subsidiary of VTech.)

Should You Buy It?

Yes, if video quality isn't your top priority

This VTech camera gets most of it right, especially for $149—which isn't a bad price for a feature-rich baby camera and monitor.

It offers a huge 7-inch display, simple setup, long battery life, good range, app support, and some advanced extras like a temperature and humidity sensor, white noise and lullabies, screen capture, and more. It may be missing a few things, like color night vision or a mount, but it ticks most of the boxes.

The video quality is just mediocre, though, evidenced by the photos in this review, but it might seem worse because of the larger display. The two-way audio is clear, and we like the integrated nightlight that can change from one of seven colors (or rotate through all of them).

Overall, this VTech camera and baby monitor delivers a lot of bang for the buck—especially given the huge monitor and the app options for those who want to see and talk to their baby or toddler even when away from home.