Become a Petful InsiderA Closer Look at the PetCube Cam 360: Our In-Depth Review
The Petcube Cam 360 offers pet parents peace of mind with 1080p HD video, two-way audio, and 360° coverage. Easy to set up and use, this smart pet camera lets you watch, talk to, and monitor your pets anytime—right from your phone.
Did you ever wonder what your pets do when you aren’t home? The Petcube Cam 360, a small device with huge functionality, knows. If you feel separation anxiety when leaving your dog or cat behind at home, you aren’t alone. The Washington Post says at least 47 percent of Americans get separation anxiety when leaving their pets behind.
Investing in a costly home monitoring system is one way to watch your pets in your absence. Unfortunately, not everyone has the time, money, or desire to invest in an expensive camera setup. Enter the Petcube Cam 360, which is affordable, easy to set up, and allows pet parents to see and speak to their pets.
I’ve been eager to try a pet camera so I know what my Cocker Spaniel is doing while I work or run errands. Whether you are at work, on vacation, or out and about doing chores, a high-quality pet camera is peace of mind and more. Here’s what happened when I put the Petcube Cam 360, 1080p HD Wi-Fi Smart Pet Camera to the test for this in-depth, unbiased review.
Don’t Guess When It Comes To Your Pet’s Care
Don’t Guess When It Comes To Your Pet’s Care
What is the Petcube Cam?
The PetCube Cam 360 model I reviewed (P360IOUS) is under $35, weighs 0.66 pounds, and measures 3.7” x 2.6” x 4.65 inches. It is unassuming and small in appearance, which I enjoy, so I can place it just about anywhere in my home.
Its Wi-Fi functionality allows you to spy on your pets anytime, anywhere, even at night or when they move around your residence (I tested the motion sensitivity on my dog, and wait until you see the results)! The Petcube Cam 360 works with the official Petcube app, available for Android and iOS, like having a doggy detective on your phone.
What’s In the Box
When the Petcube Cam 360 pet monitoring camera arrives, you’ll receive the following items in the box:
- Petcube Cam 360 device
- One 6-foot USB cable
- Petcube power adapter
- Hardware to mount the Petcube Cam to a swivel base
- Quick start guide
Key Features and Benefits
The most important aspect of the PetCube Cam360 is the ability to see, hear, and respond to your pets in real time, utilizing these smart features:
- Indoor wi-fi real-time monitoring of your pets.
- 1080p HD video for crisp, detailed images.
- Quick installation and easy to set up. It took me five minutes to unbox and get started.
- 350-degree horizontal rotation and a 55-degree vertical tilt, eliminating blind spots (one of my favorite features).
- The PetCube Cam 360 model prioritizes movement and flexibility. It offers a full-room view that doesn’t rely on a fixed wide-angle lens.
- 8x digital zoom so you can zoom in on your pets without losing clarity.
- Night video is for indoor use only, so you can get a clearer picture of your pets in low-light situations (up to 30 feet away in the dark).
- The built-in microphone and speaker provide two-way audio so that you can talk with your dog or cat in real time.
- Motion and sound alerts are sent to your phone if movement or sound is detected.
- Simple connection to any home wi-fi network.
- Optional cloud storage so you can access the PetCube Cam 360’s history and share clips, too.
- PetCube’s app is user-friendly and intuitive, so you won’t struggle with complicated features.
- No glare or distortion, unlike lower-quality pet cameras.
- Privacy mode to temporarily disable recording.
- Enhanced features are available with a Petcube Care subscription.
As a pet product expert and lifelong dog mom who sees thousands of products yearly, I’ve yet to invest in a pet monitoring camera. I didn’t want to invest in something costly, so the PetCube Cam 360’s affordable price point is very appealing (and makes a great gift).
How to Use PetCube Cam 360 Effectively
I am not an uber techie when it comes to setting things up. If you’re like me, get ready to celebrate; the Petcube Cam 360 is mega easy to set up and use. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Remove Contents From the Box: Once you’ve laid out the components, follow the user guide’s easy steps (located on one page: super simple)!
- Mounting Bracket: Use the mounting bracket to mount the camera to a clean, flat surface. Don’t worry, you can move the camera anywhere.
- Download the Petcube App: Register your account by following the easy step-by-step instructions. To use the camera, you’ll need 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. Note: Petcube Cam 360 does not support 5 GHz networks.
- Plug the Camera In: Use the provided cord to insert one end into a power socket and the other into the PetCube Cam 360.
- Press the Startup Button: It will give you an audio message that you’ve done it right.
- Follow the App Instructions: The app will walk you through everything you need to do to go live.
Regarding Petcube Cam 360 placement, position it in a room with a height and angle to capture your pet’s typical activity space. If your dog spends most of their time in the living room, it makes sense to place it there. If your cat likes to hang out in your bedroom, put the Petcube Cam 360 there.
Subscription services are offered for things like cloud video storage and sharing, smart alerts (barking, meowing, human detection, etc.), and access to professional veterinary advice 24/7 through Vet Chat.
The free plan suits my needs for live streaming and basic alerts, but the paid plans are ideal for pet parents who want the extras and advanced features.
Pros and Cons
I tested the PetCube Cam 360 pet camera for dogs and cats for several days in different situations. Here are some of the advantages and things to consider to determine if it’s right for your household and pet needs:
Pros
- Affordably Priced: Makes a nice gift for yourself or a friend, as the price point is fantastic for the spectacular quality I encountered.
- User-Friendly Petcube App: There was zero learning curve getting registered, starting, and using the app.
- Two-Way Audio: I could hear my dog barking and respond to him, which is ideal when away from home.
- Quality of Video: As an affordable pet monitoring camera, I was pleasantly surprised by the clarity of the video.
- 360 Pan Tilt Coverage: The 350-degree horizontal and 55-degree vertical rotation tracked my dog in real time.
- High-Definition Video: The 1080p HD streaming with the 105-degree wide-angle lens allowed me to see what my dog was doing easily.
- Digital Zoom 8x: I love zooming in on Sir Alvin and getting up close to his adorable face.
- Privacy Mode: Whenever I didn’t want the camera on, I could physically turn it off.
- Night Vision: Ideal for checking on your dog in the evening or early morning hours before the sun rises.
Cons
- Connectivity: The Petcube Cam 360 is designed to work only with 2.4 GHz, so be sure to connect it to your router’s 2.4 GHz band.
- No Treat Dispenser: This particular camera does not feature an option to toss treats to your dog through an automatic dispenser.
- Sound Variability: When my dog barked, sometimes it sounded a bit muffled, but I could still understand what he was doing.
- Price for Advanced Features: A Petcub Care subscription is required for additional features, such as smart alerts, cloud video history storage, and 24/7 vet chat.
- Indoor Use: This pet camera must be used indoors, as it is not weatherproof.
Overall Personal Review and Feedback
From start to finish, our experience with the Petcube Cam 360 was overall positive. Installation is a breeze, and the app is incredibly user-friendly. This comforted me because I don’t have much free time or desire to learn anything complicated. Major kudos to Petcube for creating an easy-to-use pet camera monitor for dogs and cats.
I didn’t pay for the advanced features, but the app is simple to use. I was most concerned with monitoring my dog and knowing where he was and what he was doing. The app asked a few times if I wanted to set up a “motion zone” because it noticed my dog spends time in the kitchen. He’s a Cocker Spaniel and loves food, so this gave me a chuckle. A motion zone sets up alerts for areas I care most about, like Sir Alvin’s bed area, living room, office, and kitchen.
To provide a comprehensive review of the Petcube Cam 360, I tried it in different scenarios, including:
- Monitoring how often my dog barks at passersby from the office window
- The living room where he hangs out a lot
- In real time while I played a game of bubbles with him, which you can see in the video below (spoiler alert: #impressive)
There was very little lag on the app each time. I could clearly see Sir Alvin and even told him not to bark twice. He looked quizzically at the Petcube Cam 360 and stopped. If only I could read his mind!
At the end of each day, you’ll receive a Daily Diary showcasing what Petcube deems your pet’s best moments, which is a feature pet parents will love.
Pro Tip: With an upgraded plan, you can save and share those videos, including to social media. I love this idea for Instagrammers, TikTokers, YouTubers, etc.
I did not test the night feature because I am generally home with my dog, but we tested it with low lighting while I was in another room. I could clearly see Sir Alvin following me from the living room to the office where I sat, so it works.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?
The Petcube Cam 360 is well worth its price and will repay itself with peace of mind. It is an affordable way to monitor your pets remotely. There is no price tag I could put on peace of mind, and I am sure millions of pet parents agree.
While it lacks laser functionality and a treat dispenser, its core functions are top-notch. We only encountered some lag during Sir Alvin’s rapid zoomies when running around the living room. However, I still knew what he was doing and could tell he was having fun.
The Petcube Cam 360 is ideal for:
- Pet parents who want peace of mind to monitor their pets remotely.
- People who have separation anxiety from their pets (like me).
- Pet parents who own dogs or cats with separation anxiety (to monitor them.)
- Gadget lovers who enjoy having the latest and greatest items for their pets’ safety.
- People who own a puppy, kitten, or mischievous pets to monitor their behavior. If you worry about pet accidents in your absence, the Petcube Cam 360 is peace of mind.
We highly recommend the Petcube Cam 360 and are thrilled to make this a permanent part of our dog-loving household.
Watch the Petcube Cam 360 in Action
Here’s a video (without sound) of Sir Alvin in action playing with bubbles as the Petcube Cam 360 captures his movements.
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