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VTech VM819 Review 2022

VTech VM819 has been touted as one of VTech’s feature-packed monitors but this video monitor has plenty of critics too. Today, we’ll be looking at the features with keen highlights of this monitor’s bad and good features.

As of this update in November 2022, this monitor has been rated by over 5k customers on Amazon with an average rating of 4.6/5. This high good rating (92% approval) may be driven mostly by the fact that this model is among the cheapest video baby monitors that are secure with FHSS non-wifi technology.

What are some key highlights of this VM819 monitor?

The Good highlights:

What stood out for me about VM819 model is the 2 calming melodies and 2 sets of ambient sounds which have been super handy when getting the baby to fall asleep. For less than $70, this model presents what some top-rated non-wifi models such as Infant Optics DXR 8 Pro lacks. DXR 8 Pro doesn’t have lullabies or ambient sounds. It also has a wall-mounting kit which you won’t need to spend more money on.

As a big advocate of less EMF radiation in the nursery, I also liked that this model switches off after 50 seconds if your baby is quietly asleep and the sound from the nursery does not exceed the set threshold. Voice-activated monitors turn back on the second your baby makes a sound.

The not-so-good highlights.

Disappointing battery life:

While many users were quick to point out in many reviews that the advertised 19-hour battery life of this VM819 brand is misleading, I knew this would be the case as the battery capacity of this unit is only 2600 mAh. This battery capacity is significantly lower and I was very skeptical that it can last for a whole day. On average, you can expect the battery to last for 5 to 7 hours in the first few months and by the 6th month, it will barely last 3 hours – and remember it takes up to 12 hours to fully charge. In other words, this monitor will be getting charged most of the time. If you want monitors with long battery life, check out battery-operated video baby monitors here.

Losing signal constantly:

Despite the advertised 1000 ft. connection range, I found the connection to be very spotty and not stable at all. It keeps losing connection even when one wall is separating it.

No remote PYZ

I also don’t like the small screen which doesn’t even have high resolution. As someone who enjoys the PTZ feature in monitors, I was disappointed that this model doesn’t allow remote adjusting of the camera to face different angles.VTech recommends VTech RM7764HD and RM5764HD as alternative models with remote PTZ capability.

When looking for a reliable baby monitor for your family, the VTech brand is a good place to start. In this post, I review VTech VM819, providing details you need to know about this no wifi baby monitor. VTech is a globally recognized manufacturer of electronic products including, phones, kids learning toys, baby monitors, and more. The company is headquartered in Hong Kong, but its manufacturing facilities are based in mainland China, Malaysia, and Mexico. All its baby monitors are made in China.

VTech has a wide range of baby monitors, so whether you are a budget-conscious shopper, or like a few bells and whistles, or are tech-savvy, you will certainly find a Vtech baby monitor that will meet your needs. Vtech baby monitors range from audio-only to non-wifi monitors with audio and video, and even wifi-based monitors.

Below, we will review some of the newer VTech monitors to help make your decision much easier.

This is one of the best-rated non-wifi video baby monitors offering high-quality audio and video monitoring along with multiple useful functions that make your parenting life much easier. It ranks 5th position on Amazon in the best video baby monitor category.

Best-in-class range and battery Life – The VTech VM819 is perfect for a parent with an extremely busy schedule. Vtech designed this monitor to help you know how your baby is doing from anywhere within your house and even in your backyard. With up to 19 hours of video recording on a single charge, this monitor allows you to keep an eye on your child all day and night. The reliable long working range of up to 1000 feet allows you to move about easily and stay connected to your child from a distance.

It comes with a single camera for your baby’s room and a handheld parent unit that you take with you. Both devices have a sturdy built to last. The parent unit is basically weightless (1.25 pounds) and compact enough to fit in your pocket, just like your smartphone. It has a 2.8-inch screen that is not the largest compared with non-wifi baby monitors, but it is still sufficient to see your baby. It is equipped with lullabies and ambient sound to help soothe the baby to sleep, and you can also calm them down remotely from the intercom. It also has sensors to track your baby’s room temperature to ensure they are safe and comfortable for your little one.

The VM814 baby monitor transmits your baby signal via 2.4 GHz frequency and uses FHSS technology which is highly secure and unhackable. And the fact that it doesn’t need to use your phone is also a plus.

You can place the baby unit on the tabletop or mount it on the wall, and the angle can be adjusted a little bit manually. The Vtech VM819 is a fantastic option if you are looking for a simple video baby monitor at low pricing that you can take on trips or to your grandpas.

Specs of VM819:

Product Dimensions‎4.92 x 1.3 x 2.87 inches
Item model number‎VM819
Batteries‎1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included)
Target gender‎Unisex
Additional product features‎Portable, Night Vision, Motion Sensor
Number Of Items‎1
Style‎1 camera
Compatible products‎Video Monitor
Best uses‎Baby Monitor
Communication technology‎2.4Gz technology
Power Source‎Battery Powered, Corded Electric
Batteries required‎Yes
Standing screen display size‎2.8 Inches
Sensor technology‎Nightvision, room_temperature
Item Weight‎1.23 pounds
Country/Region of origin‎China

Features of VM 819

  • 1000ft operating range
  • 2600 mAH battery that lasts up to 19 hours of continuous video and 29 hours in audio mode only
  • Sound indicator lights
  • Automatic night vision with infrared lights
  • Sound activation mode
  • Temperature sensors
  • VOX mode with five levels of sound sensitivity
  • Two-way talkback feature
  • Two lullabies and two ambient sounds

While this brand doesn’t support split-screen viewing, it is expandable and you can get VTech VM819-2 Video Baby Monitor, a dual-camera unit that’s still going for less than $80

What people like about VTech VM819

Easy to use

VM819 is very easy to use. The setup is straight forward you just need to plug into AC for charging, and you are ready to view since the parent unit and camera are already configured. Also, the parent unit is large and intuitive, with icons showing functions and shortcuts that are not tricky for anyone to figure out.

Clear picture day and night

This monitor comes with a 2.8-inch screen with high resolution for high-quality colorful pictures.

Hack proof technology

Vtech VM 819 uses FHSS transmission technology which is hackproof. The FHSS (Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum), is a highly secure technology that was invented in 1941 for secret communication by the US military. FHSS guarantees 100 % privacy as the signal hops at supersonic speed from one sub frequency to another over 70 sub frequencies, making it impossible to hack.

Sound indicator lights

The parent device has sound indicator lights on the right side with three levels that show you how much noise is in your baby’s room so you can differentiate between soft cries and screaming. This enables you to get some peace and quiet and be alerted when your baby starts crying.

VOX mode

VOX mode stands for the Voice Activated Alert (VOX), and it allows you to save charge on the parent unit monitor. For example, you may want your screen to shut off when you are sleeping, and turn on when your baby cries. Vtech VM 819 has VOX mode with five sensitivity levels. The sensitivity levels help determine how sensitive the camera is to your baby’s cry, so it doesn’t startle you awake just because of some small noises from your baby.

Awesome battery life 

The VTech VM 819 offers the longest battery life anywhere in the market and promises up to 19 hours in continuous video mode and 29 hours in audio mode. Note that the battery life is only good during the first few months and should definitely not expect it to last for 19 hours. Read reviews on battery life here.

Longest transmission range

This monitor reaches up to 1000 feet to deliver a reliable signal to stay connected to your baby as you go about your day doing stuff at home. 

Great Price 

The Vtech VM 819 monitor is affordable, and many consider it to be a quality buy. It is currently retailing at less than $60 on Amazon, while most others in its class cost upwards of $100.

Cons

Limited field of view

VTech VM819 camera can be mounted on a tabletop or the wall, and the angle can be adjusted manually. However, the angle adjustment is limited in terms of range, and the view angle is also limited, which makes this monitor less ideal if you desire whole room viewing. You have to move the camera really far if for you to see around the baby’s crib or their bed.

Blinking light

There is a blinking light on the camera and parent device, which is bothersome for some when trying to sleep.

Limited features and low-quality screen

This baby monitor doesn’t have many camera options like pan and tilt, nor is it expandable like some other non-wifi video monitors. And even though its picture quality is good, an upgrade to the current high-definition resolution standard would be a nice touch.

No extra or additional camera for VM819:

Unfortunately, the camera of the VTech VM819-2 is not sold separately. The baby monitor only works with the camera that it will come with. You can get VM819 with one camera or VM819-2 with 2 cameras.

VTech VM819 Specs:

Product Dimensions‎4.9 x 1.24 x 2.8 inches
Item model number‎VM819-2
Batteries‎1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included)
Additional product features‎Night Vision
Number Of Items‎1
Style‎2 camera
Compatible products‎Video Monitor
Best uses‎Baby monitor
Communication technology‎Wi-Fi
Power Source‎Battery Powered
Batteries required‎Yes
Standing screen display size‎2.8 Inches
Number of channels‎2
Sensor technology‎Room_temperature, nightvision
Item Weight‎1.61 pounds
Country/Region of origin‎China

VM819 Manual:

Vtech vm819 video baby monitor manual you would like to learn more about how this baby monitor works, you can check and download the Vtech VM819 manual by clicking on this link.

VTech VM819 Video Baby Monitor with 19Hour Battery Life 1000ft Long Range Auto Night Vision 2.8” Screen 2Way Audio Talk Temperature Sensor Power Saving Mode and Lullabies, White

 in stock
18 used from $36.72
Free shipping
Amazon.com
as of September 9, 2023 1:36 pm

VTech VM819 vs VM923:

In April 2022, VTech released an upgrade to VM819 with the VTech VM923 which has similar features except with the addition of remote pan, tilt, and zoom capability in the VM923. VM819 doesn’t have remote PTZ and is also referred to as fixed-camera monitor.

In Walmart, the VM819 model is called VTech VM3254 Fixed Camera Baby Monitor

You can check VTech VM819 on Amazon here