Review Summary
We give Petcube Cam a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
What Is the Petcube Cam? How Does It Work?
The Petcube Cam is a camera that allows you to stay connected and keep tabs on your pet no matter where you are in the world. It provides 1080p HD video and offers 8x digital zoom. In addition, the 110-degree wide-angle lens provides a broad view of your space so spotting your pet is easy.
This is a fixed-position camera, so you cannot adjust the camera view in-app. Instead, you’ll need to choose the perfect position in your home to place or mount the camera so as to have a non-obstructed view of your space at all times. The camera itself is on the “cube” portion of the device, which you can manually rotate 360 degrees, making it a bit easier to get your camera set up in the right spot.
The Petcube Cam provides smooth two-way audio so you can talk to your pet while you’re on vacation or at work and also hear them “talk back” to you. This feature is excellent for pets with separation anxiety as it allows them to hear your natural voice with little to no distortion, which can provide comfort to them while you’re away.
You must download the Petcube app to access your camera’s live feed. The app has many interesting features, such as access to a veterinarian 24/7 and audio recognition of barking and meowing (both for an additional fee). You can also take images and record videos through the app to share with your family and friends.
The Petcube Cam – A Quick Look
The Petcube Cam Pricing
The Petcube Cam comes with all you need to get set up in less than five minutes. The camera quality is fantastic considering the low price, and the easy-to-use app is appreciated in a world of unnecessarily complicated tech. Considering all of this, I feel comfortable saying that the Petcube Cam is a great entry-level pet camera that provides the absolute best value at its current price.
The Petcube Cam is available directly through their website, as well as through Amazon or Chewy.
What to Expect from the Petcube Cam
The Petcube Cam arrived just a few days after placing my order. It came in an adorably tiny box with all the cables, plugs, and instructions necessary to get it set up. The manufacturer advertises that it only takes 30 to 60 seconds to set this up, and they weren’t lying. It’s so easy that I didn’t even need the instructions. It also comes with a magnetic disk and adhesive tapes that allow you to place the camera anywhere you need it.
The Petcube Cam Features
Unobtrusive Design
One thing I really appreciated about this camera is its compact and unobtrusive design. Its dimensions are just 2.4 x 2.1 x 3.2 inches, making it much more discreet than some of the other, much larger pet cameras on the market. You can display it in any room of your home and have it blend into the background, which is great for any pet parent wanting a more minimalist camera design.
Its small size makes it lightweight, which can be a “pro” but can also work against the camera. A happy dog or mischievous cat can knock it over if you choose to have it sit on a surface. Your other option would be to mount it using the metal disk in the packaging. I recommend mounting the camera if you cannot place it somewhere your pet won’t have access.
It’s worth noting that the included cable is around two meters long, so you may be limited to where you can set up the camera depending on the outlet situation in your home.
Easy Setup Process
The Petcube Cam can get set up and running in less than 60 seconds. First, you’ll need to download the Petcube app, which is the most time-consuming part of the entire setup process. Once it’s finished downloading, you’ll need to create a profile and connect the device to your home’s Wi-Fi network. The app guides you through the installation process, so it’s entirely foolproof.
While we’re on the topic of the app, it is straightforward to navigate and use. When you open the app, you’ll see your camera(s) listed, and all you need to do is click the camera you want to view, and the live feed will begin.
Adjusting the settings for each camera in the app is also simple. You can adjust the video and audio settings, the speaker volume, and choose which night vision mode you’d like (automatic, always on, or always off). The app settings will also allow you to control the camera notifications, such as motion and sound detection. You will receive a push notification on your phone if the camera detects any significant movement or noise.
App Features
The Petcube app is full of fantastic features outside of the high-quality live stream. In addition, you can sign up for a Petcube Care subscription which will provide you with several benefits not available to free users.
Petcube Care will begin video recording when it senses any sound or motion in the vicinity of the camera. These recordings are available to view on the app so you can see what you missed while away. It also provides smart alerts, so you’ll receive notifications if your pet is barking or meowing, which can alert you to potential issues if you’re not at home. Petcube Care also lets you view and download recorded videos on your personal computer.
One other unique feature of the app is that it provides you with 24/7 access to a veterinary team. This is another paid feature, but it offers unlimited messaging with vets if you are concerned about your pet’s health. It is worth noting that online vets cannot diagnose your pet or provide care in emergencies.
Is The Petcube Cam a Good Value?
The Petcube Cam provides fantastic value in my opinion. It is much more affordable than many other pet cameras out there and has a host of features that these other pricier cameras don’t offer. The video quality is top-notch considering the camera’s price, and the night vision blew my expectations out of the water.
Though the subscription feature on the app may turn many people off, please know that it is optional. You do not need to subscribe to view the live feed, speak to your pets, or receive sound or motion notifications. In fact, I have not subscribed to any of the additional app features, like Petcube Care or the online veterinary text messaging, and I still find this product to be of exceptional value.
FAQs: Petcube Cam
Can I use multiple Petcube cameras at once?
Yes, the Petcube app will allow you to switch between cameras. You can have up to six cameras on your Petcube account, allowing you the flexibility to mount multiple cameras in your pet’s favorite areas of your home so you can always have eyes on them.
Do I need to pay for Petcube Care to receive sound or motion alerts?
No. In the app’s settings section, you can control what notifications you’d like to receive and how often. For example, you can select if you’d like to receive a push notification when the camera detects sounds, motion, or both. The app also allows you to adjust the motion sensitivity and notification frequency, ultimately influencing how many notifications you’ll receive.
The Petcube Care has a Smart AI feature to alert you if it senses any meowing or barking. Unfortunately, you will not receive these notifications if you are not subscribed; though your camera may pick up on meows and send you a push notification to let you know it detected a sound, it can not tell you that the sound it heard was meowing.
What phones and Internet speed is the Petcube Cam compatible with?
The Petcube app is available on both iOS and Android devices. To operate the app, your iOS device must be 11 or higher or if you have an Android, 7.1.2 or higher.
You must have 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi to operate the camera. The camera will not work for you if you have 5G Internet speed. We would recommend their Bites 2 camera if you have 5G connectivity.
Can I adjust the camera angle via the app?
The Petcube Cam is a fixed-position camera that is not adjustable via the app. You will need to move the camera yourself to change its positioning. I recommend placing the camera on a shelf that allows maximum coverage with its wide-angle lens. You’ll want to set it up where you know your pet spends a lot of time, so you won’t need to worry about adjusting the camera angle when you’re away (since it’s impossible to do so remotely).
What is the warranty for the Petcube Cam?
The Petcube Cam comes with a one-year limited warranty. This warranty protects your purchase from any defects in the materials used to make the product or its workmanship.
Petcube will repair any hardware defects or exchange your Cam for a new or refurbished product if you encounter any hardware defects in the first year. They may also request that you repair the defective parts with new or refurbished parts provided to you by Petcube.
The warranty does not apply if your product is damaged by environmental disasters, accidents, or misuse.
Our Experience With The Petcube Cam
I set the Petcube Cam up in my basement as I have another one of Petcube’s products, the Petcube Bites 2 Lite, set up in my main living area.
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect with this camera because it’s so affordable and because I set up in a dark basement. But, truthfully, I was pretty surprised by just how excellent the quality is. The night vision is extremely clear and surprisingly high-quality.
The video and audio quality is on par with Petcube’s Bites 2 Lite camera, but the Cam is available at a much more budget-friendly price. Of course, the Petcube Cam does not have treat dispensing capabilities like the Bites 2 Lite, but that’s beside the point.
I wasn’t blown away with the 8x zoom, but this isn’t a feature I find myself using often.
I love the flexibility with mounting and that the camera can rotate 360 degrees, so finding the perfect position for it was easy.
I found the audio to be pretty good, given the price point. I have had other pet cameras in the past that would distort the incoming and outgoing audio so my voice would come out robotic and creepy. This is not the case with the Petcube Cam, which I am sure my cats are very thankful for.
Conclusion
The Petcube Cam is one of the most affordable pet cameras today. It’s a standard camera that doesn’t come with the bells and whistles of higher-priced options, but its camera quality is excellent, and that’s all that truly matters in a pet cam. If you want a no-frills, straight-to-the-point camera that allows you to talk to and view your pet while you’re away, the Petcube Cam should fit the bill.
I’ve been disappointed by many pet cameras in the past, but the Petcube Cam far exceeded my expectations.
