CHOICE verdict
At around $50 less than recommended retail price, this Special Buy may seem like a great discount. But before you dash to your nearest Aldi store, take heed of our experts' advice – they say the performance of this baby monitor is poor and that there are better options available for less.
Price: $149
Aldi is selling the Oricom SC895 5" Baby Video Monitor as part of its baby-themed Special Buy sales this Wednesday 21 February.
The baby monitor is selling for the discounted price of $149. (The same product is currently listed on the Oricom website for $199 but is out of stock.) It's available for a limited time only, while stocks last.
Are Oricom baby monitors any good?
In our labs, we've tested six baby monitors from the Oricom brand, all with different features at different price points.
The Oricom Secure895 Digital Video/Audio Baby Monitor was the poorest performer from the brand, scoring a CHOICE Expert Rating of 64%.
Our experts gave it a dismal sound sensitivity and sound quality score of just 43% and a sound range score of just 50%.
"This monitor only performed OK in optimal conditions, and was particularly poor in terms of sound sensitivity and sound quality," CHOICE test expert Denis Gallagher says.
We wouldn't recommend anyone buy it, no matter how cheap it is
Denis Gallagher, CHOICE test expert
"We wouldn't recommend anyone buy it, no matter how cheap it is, especially when you consider that we tested other audio/video monitors that perform better and cost around the $100 mark."
Do you even need a video baby monitor?
We test many different types of baby monitors, including audio, video/audio, app-based and Wi-Fi/3G/4G enabled to help you find the best.
Monitors with video and Wi-Fi features are generally more expensive, so if you have a lower budget and a baby monitor is on your must-buy list, then you could consider an audio-only model.
If you have a lower budget and a baby monitor is on your must-buy list, you could consider an audio-only model
While obviously you won't be able to see your child asleep (or refusing to sleep), you will still be able to hear them if they cry or they need you. After all, when they wake you up screeching at 3am, you don't need to confirm via a visual aid that they are indeed awake.
While some parents appreciate video features on a monitor that enable them to actually see that bub is OK, others may find that the light from a video monitor (on the parent unit) and the added visual stimulation while you're both trying to sleep can add to stress rather than alleviate it.
"We recommend several audio-only baby monitors that come in under $100," says Denis.
For more pros and cons and details of video vs audio monitors, read our baby monitor buying guide.
Other baby monitor options
It's also worth noting that you can keep and eye (and ear) on your baby without using a dedicated baby monitor at all.
"One option to consider if you don't want to spend hundreds on a monitor is to use a baby monitor app in conjunction with the smartphone or tablet you already own," Denis suggests.
"These can cost as little as a few dollars and are also included in our baby monitor reviews."
Or, you could even use a wireless security camera, which essentially does the same job as a baby monitor and might offer you better bang for your buck.
We have tested a few lower cost options to see how they perform as baby monitors in our wireless security camera reviews.
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
