Petcube Cam Review: Petcube’s Most Affordable HD Camera

2023-01-10 | Yvonne

Tip: The Petcube Cam makes keeping an eye on pets affordable. I tested Petcube’s budget cam for weeks with my two pets, a tiny cat and a great big dog.

Petcube Cam Review: Petcube’s most affordable HD cameraThe Petcube Cam is an easy way to keep your pet safe. Petcube Cam Review: I tried the budget camera for several weeks along with two of my pets, a small cat and a large dog.

Petcube Cam

We like this

Night vision automatic mode
Wide-angle lens covers entire room
Setup in a snap
Option for magnetic mounting
It's affordable

The Things We Hate

There is no interactivity for pets
Buffering during video stream
Video storage requires a subscription
Additional subscription required for virtual vet service

Petcube Cam can be used as a supplementary camera to other Petcube products. The Petcube Cam isn't equipped with any pets-specific interactivity, which sets it apart among budget home security cameras.

Petcube sent us a unit to review for one of the writers. For the complete review, please read on.

Petcube has developed some fun products just for pets, but the Petcube Cam was designed for people—or for their wallets, anyway. It is discreet and affordable enough to serve as a home security cam. Although it lacks the interactive capabilities that pet cams have, there are still some benefits to joining the Petcube community. It was tested for several weeks by me and my two furry companions.

Design: Minimalist design for low-key pet lovers

Petcube Cam measures 2.4x2.1x3.2 inches. This is about the same size as an apple. Although it can be placed on any flat surface, its small size makes dog tails dangerous. Another option is to use a small metal plate to mount the camera. You can mount the camera in almost any orientation thanks to its ability to flip inside its plastic housing.

If the Cam's purpose is security, mounting it is the best choice.

It is 2m long so the Cam cannot be placed on the USB cable. If the Cam's purpose is security or to be able to monitor pet sitters, mounting it is the best choice. However, I decided to try the Cam on a table to get close-ups on my pets' noses.

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In less than a minute, you can set up your account

First, you need to install the Petcube App in order to use the Cam. The setup of previous Petcube products was quick and easy. However, the Petcube Cam took even less time. The Cam was detected by my phone immediately. Pairing the Cam and the app QR code were as easy as showing it the QR code.

After I entered my Wi-Fi password the setup was complete. It took less than a minute. Although the firmware update took only a couple of minutes, it was not long enough for me to be sad about my pets.

A performance pet camera with minimal frills

Petcube Cam records at 1080p. It has a 110 degree field of vision, which covers the entire room. An infrared sensor can activate the night vision automatic mode when there is low lighting. Unfortunately, the Cam only supports 2.4GHz WiFi. This can lead to some buffering or choppiness in recording quality.

Petcube Cam records at 1080p with a 110 degree field of vision, which covers the entire room.

Even though my pet was just playing, the picture quality was excellent. The Cam lacks interactive features that other Petcube products offer, so my pet was rarely doing any activity in front of it.

Two-way audio is available on the Cam. This can be adjusted within the app to allow push-to talk. My voice was thin and lacking depth because the speaker is not powerful enough. It is loud enough to fill a whole house.

No matter what room the dog was located in, he ran every time I asked him for his camera.

No matter what room the dog was sleeping in, he ran to me every time I asked him. Being a pet sitter occasionally, it gives me some security knowing that my pet parents are available to check on their pets and that I am available for any questions.

Support and software: You can continue your subscriptions

Fuzzy Pet Healthcare and Petcube have teamed up to offer live chat via the Petcube App. Fuzzy Pet Health is $5 per month. Fuzzy Pet Health might be of some benefit to people with pets that have chronic health issues and require regular monitoring. However, this is not something I recommend for pets who are relatively healthy and young. I think $60 per annum is too much to pay for the opportunity to chat with my vet each time my cat finds something on the ground.

Talking to a veterinarian could prove useful in checking the symptoms and determining if there is an immediate need. All of these things can be done by my vet, who also answers the phone free.

Petcube Care memberships are a completely different thing. This subscription costs $4 per month and allows you to save your video history on Petcube's cloud storage. Subscribers will be notified when the Cam senses pets instead of people.

The Cam does not fling pets treats, or use a laser to tease them with treats. It is unlikely that it will capture any video of me and my pet doing funny or cute things. If the Cam was my only Petcube product, I'd skip the subscription. The clips and the video history are nice, though.

Petcube's most economical pet cam

Petcube's Cam is a simplified version of its other products. These are typically at the top end of the market. The Cam is $40 more costly than similar pet cams. The Cam is a great addition to any home that has other Petcube products. Cheaper options are better for those who want to be able look at their pet's progress.

Petcube Bites 2 vs. Petcube Cam

The Petcube Cam is small and magnetically mountable so it can be placed almost anywhere. It draws less attention than home security cameras and fits in any space. The Cam performs as well as other budget security cameras. The Cam is a great addition to existing Petcube products. However, it doesn't scream 'petcam'. The Cam was designed to help bridge the cost gap between pet-focused security devices and affordable security.

The Petcube Bites 2 makes a great pet cam. The Bites 2 can be used by both dog and cat owners, unlike the Play 2 which uses a laser to lure cats into playing. The Bites 2 dispenses—or rather, flings—treats across the room to great effect: once pets learn that the chime means they're likely to get a snack, they will never need to be called to the camera. Pets were the focus of The Bites 2.

Final Verdict

Petcube Cam is a bridge between home security cameras, and fun spending for pet owners. Although it is an inexpensive pet camera, many of the features of more expensive models are missing.

Specifications

Product name Cam
Petcube Product Brand
UPC CC10US
Prices from $49.99
Publication Date: July 2020
Weight 8.47 oz.
Product dimensions 2.4x2.1x3.2in
Colour White
Petcube Care membership includes a 1-year warranty and a 2-year guarantee.
Connectivity Options Wi Fi, iOS 11 or higher, Android 7.1.2 or higher
Audio Quality 1080p with 8x optical zoom
Night Vision Automatic, IR

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