Duo 5in LCD Video Baby Monitor

Update March, 2022: Once again, the charging port on the monitor broke (this time, in less than 2 years), rendering it useless. It shouldn't break with normal use (just from removing the charger). The customer service is awful. They don't care what you say; they just keep telling you that there's nothing they can do because it's outside the 1-year warranty. I'll never buy another Summer monitor. When my son was a baby in 2014, I bought a Summer video monitor. The battery life was terrible, so I had to unplug it carry the plug to whichever room in which I was using the monitor. It was a pain, but the monitor was fine, so I did it. Fast forward to 2020. I had a new baby early this year and was happy using the monitor again until the prong inside the charging port broke one night and rendered the monitor useless once the battery died. After using it for probably 5 years, I couldn't complain when the port broke. I went on the search for a new, affordable video monitor and bought this one, and two others for comparison. After trying all three, I chose this one and below I'll outline the pros and cons: Pros: Great night vision - this one was improved even over the one I used 6 years ago. I can clearly see my baby at night which is the reason I bought a video monitor to begin with. This one had the best night vision of the three brands I tried. Price - the price I paid for 2 cameras is fantastic and better than other brands I researched. No, this monitor doesn't have the bells and whistles of some (no night light, no lullabies) but I wasn't looking for those things in a video monitor. Ability to see the entire crib - I know that some people really want to be able to see their baby up close, but I was finding that with the other monitors, there was no place for me to mount the camera that would allow me to see the entire crib. I want to see if my baby's face is up against the side of the crib or if her arm is hanging out. With this monitor, I can zoom in if I want to, but in its regular mode, I can see all 4 sides of her crib. Cons: Thermostat - don't even bother to look at it. It's awful and completely inaccurate. I know that the camera is mounted close to the ceiling and heat rises, but in the middle of the summer, it was saying that it was 90+ degrees in my daughter's room but it was only around 74. I purchased an inexpensive wi-fi thermostat that I keep near my daughter's crib so I can easily see the true temperature from my phone. The on/off button - the button is flush with the top of the display monitor but it's way too flush! In the middle of the night, if I want to check on my baby, I have to fumble around feeling for the button to turn on the display or I need to turn the light on in my bedroom so I can find the button. If it were raised just a bit, it would make a huge difference. The navigation wheel (awful design): The old monitor had a small button on the side of the display monitor that you could press and speak to your baby. On this model, there is a navigation wheel that does everything. So, you press it up/down/right/left or in the middle to do different things. In the middle of the night, if I want to speak to my baby, I need to try to remember which way to press to get the microphone to work. Often, I turn on the menu instead and then need to scroll through all the options (brightness, zoom, camera, etc.) to exit. By then, I'm annoyed that I can't just easily talk to my daughter like I used to be able to do. Volume - even on its lowest setting, it's LOUD. I put a piece of tape over half of the speaker so that when my baby cries out, I don't feel like the fire alarm is going off. Battery - it's still awful. I can run it for maybe 5-6 hours without the battery dying, and I suspect this length of time would shortly dramatically the more I used it (as it did with the other one). Fortunately, I have the plug from my old model so I keep one near my bed and one in the living room so I don't need to rely on the battery. I'd suggest buying a 2nd plug from Amazon if you're going to buy this monitor. In summary, this is a good price for what you get. If you want no frills and a clear picture, this is a good choice. That said, I wish they would rethink the overall design to make it easier for exhausted parents to use in the middle of the night. Some slight tweaking could go a long way!