Hatch Rest vs. Rest Plus vs. Rest Mini

Once you comprehend the features and compare them to your needs, selecting between Hatch products is easy. The original Hatch Rest is a high-quality sound system and nightlight that can be managed through a smartphone. The Hatch Rest+ has features including a clock, audio monitor, and voice control in addition to a built-in battery for cord-free operation. Hatch Rest Mini is the size that fits in a diaper bag, however it has fewer features and no light.

Choosing between the Rest, Rest Plus, & Rest Mini

For those who like the short version and don’t want to read for ten minutes:

Select the Rest or Rest+ if you want a night light in addition to the sound machine.

The Rest+ is your only choice if you want a portable sound system that can be utilized without a direct power source.

Choose the Rest Mini if you want a sound system that is small enough to fit in a diaper bag or piece of baggage.

Hatch Rest — The original

Hatch Rest is one of the premier sound machines for babies and toddlers. The company’s early claim to fame was a 2016 appearance on “Shark Tank,” but has grown tremendously since then, and continues to add quality products to its lineup.

Hatch Rest is a good mid-range option for most users. It features a sound machine, night light, and can be controlled with an app or with physical buttons on the device. Like all the devices on this list, the Hatch Rest has a stylish design that looks nice on a dresser or bookshelf.

There are more sound selections on the sound machine—11—than there are on the Hatch Mini—which only has 8. All three Hatch devices, however, are subject to the frequent criticism that they cannot be utilized as speakers for playing other noises or music. The night light has ten preset settings, and an app feature lets you alter the light’s hue to any color on the color wheel.

The app allows for customization of sleep schedules. With the Time-To-Rise feature, which is intended for toddlers, you can set the clock on the gadget to inform your child when it is time to get up for the day.

The Rest has a compact, space-saving design of 4 x 4 x 6.25 inches and 13 ounces. This is still substantial for a diaper bag or piece of luggage, though

We never noticed the device getting heated, and the LED lights remain cool. The light on the device sometimes draws criticism because many users feel that it doesn’t get bright enough.

There shouldn’t be any issues as long as you are aware that the light is not ideal for use as a reading light or to light an entire room.

Although the product’s design is modern, its plastic exterior is easily fingerprinted and smudged.

The software is useful and has received favorable ratings. However, connecting and logging in can be difficult, and the few technical issues we encountered seemed unnecessary given how straightforward the device is. Additionally, the device only connects via Bluetooth, unlike the Rest+, which also supports WiFi connections.

Thankfully, in addition to the app, there are physical buttons on the Rest that allow you to navigate between preset power and light combinations and regulate the power, brightness, and volume. Some users claimed that the buttons were faulty, but in our testing, we had no such problems. The buttons’ placement on the device’s bottom is the one thing we dislike about them. We appreciate that the buttons are out of the child’s reach and hidden. But picking up a sound machine and using the buttons on the underside at an opportune time is nearly never possible.

Sound quality is excellent, especially when compared to other off-brand competition. Though this is typical of most sound machines, some of the preset sound settings did appear to have lesser audio quality than others. The inability to customize the sound is its main flaw. The option to add music and/or utilize the device as a speaker is a feature that many customers have desired, but none of the Hatch devices have it.

Hatch Rest+ — the upgrade

Hatch Rest+, a more expensive variation of the Hatch Rest, was incorporated into the portfolio in 2019. The Rest+ offers added benefits in addition to all of the characteristics of the Rest.

The Rest+ features a built-in, rechargeable battery, which is the first and possibly most crucial feature. Therefore, the Rest+ is more portable in some aspects, even though the Hatch Rest Mini is smaller and lighter. This was a necessary addition that makes the device more practical.

An audio monitor, clock, voice control (using Amazon Alexa), and WiFi (rather than Bluetooth) connectivity are additional features that have been introduced.

An audio monitor, clock, voice control (using Amazon Alexa), and WiFi (rather than bluetooth) connectivity are additional features that have been introduced.

Although the baby monitor is a good function, it should be noted that it only transmits audio. You can change the brightness of the clock or turn it off. If you’re willing to install a smart speaker in your nursery, the voice control proved to be reliable throughout tests and provides convenience.

Additionally, the WiFi connection, of course, facilitates remote access. Although we had no trouble connecting to any of the devices, users have complained about frequent problems with the original model’s Bluetooth-only connection.

The product has about the same dimensions as the original, at 4 x 4 x 6.5 inches and 14.5 ounces. Additionally, the Rest+ has the same functionality and illumination settings as the original.

The Rest+ has physical buttons on it, just like the Hatch Rest. The buttons are similar in that you may browse between pre-set power and light combinations as well as adjust the power, brightness, and volume with them. The Rest+ has the buttons on the back of the gadget, which is a significant improvement. They are still hidden, but much easier to access.

With this device, there can be more than one user using the app. To be completely honest, we didn’t test this functionality.

Hatch Rest Mini — The portable option

The newest model in the lineup, the Hatch Rest Mini, was introduced in 2021.

The Rest Mini is more affordable, lighter, and smaller. However, some of the features are lost, such as the nightlight.

The Rest Mini is substantially smaller than the Rest or Rest Plus at 4′′ x 4′′ x 2′′ and 0.58 pounds. It will be simpler for travelers to pack the Rest Mini in luggage or a diaper bag. But keep in mind that since the Rest Mini doesn’t have a battery within, it needs a separate power supply. In other words, although small, the device is not genuinely portable.

The Rest Mini features no lights and only 8 sound selections (as opposed to the other models’ 11). For a gadget in its price bracket, the sound quality is outstanding, being comparable to the Rest and Rest+. The buttons are on the top of the gadget, but they have a discrete design that preserves the Rest Mini’s sleek aesthetic. The buttons let you cycle among the sounds and regulate the power and volume. The buttons on the Rest Mini have a different design from those on other Hatch products, and we’ve found that they can occasionally be tricky and challenging to use.

Through the app, a timer with a customizable duration can be set.

The app requires a WiFi connection, and many users report having trouble using it in places without WiFi.

Similarities between Hatch sound machines

Now, regardless of model, we’ll talk about some similarities that exist in all Hatch sound machines.

The app comes first. Although many users find the software to be user-friendly, using a mobile app for a device as basic as a sound machine can be tiresome. Even though Hatch sound machines have a ton of functions, some individuals would like to buy a machine that is less complicated and doesn’t have any apps. There are alternative, less expensive solutions available if all you need is a white noise generator and a night light. However, any of the Hatch Rest devices are worth the extra money if you want more features, such as an app-controlled toddler lock (which prevents your child from manipulating the buttons when you don’t want them to).

Another issue is that the app contains premium features that may be unlocked for a cost, which is annoying for those of us who don’t want to utilize them. After purchasing an expensive product, getting upsold on a membership is never pleasant.

Next, quick and simple setup is a hallmark of every Hatch sound machine. Despite the devices’ extensive feature sets, it is convenient to simply plug them in and start using them right away.

We concur with numerous consumers who mention the speaker’s unexpected volume and excellent sound quality. They cannot, however, be utilized as speakers for other noises or music, as was already mentioned.

And as a final intriguing point, many users—including myself—fall in love with white noise machine when their children are young and then miss them when they are gone. In this circumstance, a product called The Hatch Restore is targeted at adults.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the ideal Hatch product for you should be simple if you are aware of the qualities you require. Along with numerous other premium features, Hatch Rest+ incorporates a battery for cord-free use. Hatch Rest Mini is an inexpensive, bag-friendly size that lacks light. You can’t go wrong with the Hatch Rest if you want a traditional, top-notch music system with a night light and extra features.