Hubble Nursery Pal Cloud review: our in-depth review of Mumsnetters' best baby monitor

Price on writing: £108 | Buy now from Amazon

If you want your baby monitor to work around your lifestyle, the Hubble Nursery Pal Cloud is a versatile option with a choice of methods to monitor your baby while they sleep. 

You can choose between the robust and stylish parent unit or or opt for real time remote access using the Hubble app on a compatible mobile phone or tablet. With the ability to provide access to multiple care givers, you can share your baby’s bedtime routine with your partner even when you can’t physically be there. 

As well as monitoring your child overnight and during naps with pan, tilt, zoom and night vision functionality, the Hubble app also provides motion detection, built in lullabies, a recording option and even a variety of different nightlights - ideal for sleep training with older babies and toddlers. 

What we like

• Lots of extra features available on the app

• Infrared night vision

• Motion detection

• Shareable access

• Remote camera controls

What we don't like 

• Thermometer accuracy is questionable 

• Battery life could be better 

• Picture slightly grainy on the handset

• Functions on main monitor quite limited

• App may drain phone battery quickly

Key features

• 5" Smart HD screen

• Temperature Sensor

• 2-way talk

• Night vision

• 7 colour night light

• Digital zoom pan and tilt 

• Remote viewing via a smart device 

• Smart assistant compatible 

Key specs

Range: 300m | Warranty: 12 months | Dimensions: 25.6 x 8.5 x 13.7 cm | RRP: £160  

Read next: The 14 best baby monitors, according to Mumsnetters

What’s in the box? 

• 5" parent unit/monitor 

• Hubble camera

• Power adapter x 2 

• Quick start guide

• Optional magnetic wall mount 

How we tested

Parent tester Catherine tested the Hubble Nursery Pal Cloud set with her baby, using both the parent unit and Hubble Connected app during daytime naps and overnight periods of sleep. 

When testing the Hubble Nursery Pal Cloud, Catherine considered video and audio quality, safety and stability, set-up, range and connectivity, screen size and battery life, as well as features such as lullabies and two-way talkback, aesthetics, cleanliness, and how easy it was to use day-to-day. Crucially, she also considered whether the device offered good value for money.

While Catherine put the Hubble Nursery Pal Cloud through its paces, we researched wider feedback from the Mumsnet community and retailer sites, as well as scrutinising impartial views of consumer champion Which? to ensure our tester’s views were consistent with the wider user experience. 

How easy is the Hubble Nursery Pal Cloud to set up?

The Hubble Nursery Pal Cloud comes with a handy easy set up guide, but our parent tester Catherine found that she didn’t really need to use it, with a fairly intuitive set up process that made it quick and easy to get started.

Hubble recommend that the parent unit is charged for around four hours before use, however it does come with some initial charge - Catherine found that the parent unit switched on straight away and that the menu was relatively self-explanatory and simple to navigate. 

Catherine downloaded the Hubble Club app to her phone (which is compatible with both android and apple devices) and synced to the camera using her WiFi connection. You need to create a family account and set it up with a strong password for security, after which the app can send notifications directly through to your mobile device. 

The Hubble Nursery Pal Cloud comes with an optional magnetic mount, but can also be placed on a table top using the built in stand. 

What is the audio and video quality like?

Our parent tester Catherine found that the video quality on the Hubble Nursery Pal Cloud parent unit was not as clear as some of the other monitors tested, particularly the  VTech. That said, she did find the picture quality to be much clearer on the app - with your baby still clearly visible at night thanks to the infrared optimised night vision technology. You can easily zoom in and pan around the cot using the monitor or the app and even record short clips should you wish to do so. 

Catherine found that the volume range was good, with sound quality that was crisp and clear. You can also select VOC mode, which provides notifications only when motion is detected. 

Mumsnet user FTM2022SS agreed saying: “We have the Hubble Connected and it's fab - app and parent monitor, and you don't hear the white noise from the baby's room, just when the baby makes an actual movement/noise which I personally prefer!”

The Hubble offers two-way talk both via the app and the main parent unit, meaning you can easily communicate with your baby if they wake during the night. 

How about the signal?

Alternatively, you can use over WiFi with the Hubble app and set up an account which also syncs with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant should you wish to use them. The app is end to end encrypted for security when connecting to the app, with a QR code created that links the camera to your phone. 

Catherine did find that the Hubble lost local connection a couple of times, but was generally reliable.

How long does the battery last?

Whilst the camera of the Hubble needs to be plugged into the mains, the parent unit can be used on battery alone. Our parent tested Catherine mostly used the Hubble Connected app on her phone due to the improved picture quality, but did find that using the app regularly drained her phone battery quite quickly. 

According to Which? testing, you can expect around six hours battery life from the parent unit when fully charged. It will also notify you when there is around 30 minutes of battery power remaining, providing plenty of time for you to plug it in long before it runs out of charge. 

How does the Hubble Nursery Pal Cloud look?

The camera has a long ‘neck’ that sits higher than some other baby monitor cameras, providing a good view even without the magnetic mount. The parent unit is compact and lightweight, but is quite slim, so may not be as robust as some of the more bulky parent units.

What’s the Hubble Nursery Pal Cloud like to use day-to-day?

Our parent tested found the Hubble Nursery Pal Cloud worked well. Whilst the parent unit  is fairly basic it has all the key information she needed, with an intuitive interface that is easy to use. 

Does the Hubble Nursery Pal Cloud have any extra features?

Whilst the main parent unit offers fairly limited features, the app also includes a recording feature (for capturing short clips of your baby in the cot). Catherine felt this feature wasn’t really necessary “but it seems to be a popular addition that many of the apps offer.”

We love the different coloured night lights which can be used for sleep training with older babies and toddlers and the option to create a sleep schedule.

The app also includes built in music, motion detection and a room temperature sensor. Catherine says “The thermometer is useful to see if the nursery has become too hot or cold, but it does tend to read rather higher than the actual temperature.” 

Related: The best cribs and bedside co-sleeper cots for babies

Is the Hubble Nursery Pal Cloud safe?

This monitor can be used with a local connection or via wifi/data using the Hubble Connected app. The app is password protected and access can be shared with more than one caregiver using a unique QR code.  

Mumsnet user Appleandcinnamon says “The Hubble is brilliant. It works via WiFi with secure passwords. You view it via your phone from anywhere.”

Is the Hubble Nursery Pal Cloud easy to clean?

Yes, with a white plastic parent unit and camera, the Hubble Nursery Pal Cloud can easily be wiped down with a damp cloth to clean as and when required. 

Is the Hubble Nursery Pal Cloud good value for money?

The Hubble Nursery Pal Cloud retails at £160 which our parent tester Catherine felt was a little on the expensive side given the simplicity and video quality on the parent unit. In comparison, it’s a similar price to the V-Tech which is also app and monitor connected but offers superior video.

Our verdict

A great option for parents looking for a baby monitor with an app to allow real time monitoring both inside and outside the home. Whilst the video quality isn’t the best we’ve seen, we love the choice of monitoring method and the optional extras that can help your baby’s bedtime routine as they grow. 

Read next: The best travel cots, tried and tested

About Mumsnet reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing – this includes recommendations from the Mumsnet Talk boards. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage. Read our how we test page to find out more.

For more information about what to look for when buying a baby monitor, check out our buyer's guide.

All prices correct at time of publication

About the author

Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and a Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child and lifestyle product reviews and round-ups. Having written product reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of baby products, scrutinising reviews and consumer feedback to help parents make confident purchases that benefit their families.  

Lucy developed a real passion for blogging and writing when her children were young, and has used and reviewed a number of baby monitors with her daughters, testing key features to ensure quality and value for money.  

She has since gone on to write for several online publications including US parenting site Pregistry and the Evening Standard. When she’s not manically tapping the keys of her laptop, Lucy loves nothing more than to cosy up with her Kindle and enjoy the latest thriller, or compete in Nintendo Switch rallies with her daughters aged six and 10.