Comparing the Pawbo vs. Petcube can be a challenge as they are both excellent examples of a remote treat camera for pets. They do, however, have their differences that could influence your decision one way or another.
The Pawbo is an excellent two-in-one device that lets you both treat your pet and play with them as well. The Petcube offers two different products — the Bites and Play models — and you’ll need to choose between playing and feeding your pet.
Both the Pawbo and Petcube could be an excellent fit for your pet, but let’s dive into the specifics so you can get a better sense of which option will suit you and your furry friends the best.
Pawbo vs. Petcube — Differences
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Difference #1: Video Quality – Having a high-quality video feed is important to a lot of owners, as checking in and playing with your pets is less enjoyable with a grainy picture. Both product families have high-quality video, but the Petcube models pull ahead with full 1080p HD footage.
The Petcube Bites and Play also pull ahead by a slim margin in field of view with 138 degree visibility versus the Pawbo’s 130. However, the Pawbo is the superior choice if you’re looking to zoom in when you’re pet is across the room, with 4x zoom versus the 3x on the Petcube models.
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Difference #2: Built-in Laser Toy & Treat Dispenser – Perhaps the most obvious difference between the Pawbo and Petcube pet cameras is the fact that only one of them features options for both play and feeding. The Pawbo is a two-in-one device, while you would need to purchase two separate cameras in order to both feed and play with your pets if you decide to go with Petcube.
If you’re just looking for one or the other functionality, this likely won’t be a major concern for you. For the best of both worlds, however, it’s pretty clear that Pawbo has an advantage.
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Difference #3: Sound & Motion Alerts – One advantage that the Petcube Bites and Play have over Pawbo is support for sound and motion alerts. While both devices allow you to tune in at any point in the day, only the Petcube cameras will send you an alert when it senses sound or other activity.
The ability to receive instant alerts upon motion or sound allows you to catch your pet’s attention as they’re walking past the camera. The alerts also serve a security function as well, as it could potentially report on intruders — giving you adequate time to alert the authorities rather than coming home to a disaster.
The Pawbo, unfortunately, does not include sound or motion alerts.
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Difference #4: Triggered Video Recordings & Cloud Storage – The sound and motion alerts mentioned above are one of the main reasons that the Petcube models are so fantastic. However, their functionality extends even further with triggered video recordings and cloud storage.
Chances are that you’re not absolutely glued to your phone throughout the day, so the Petcube will conveniently store video footage for up to 4 hours completely free. This allows you to rewatch footage at your convenience, ensuring that all is well with your pet without completely interrupting your schedule.
The Pawbo model has the ability to record, but it isn’t triggered by sound or motion alerts. While viewing the feed, you can take a picture or video in real time and share. Because the alerts aren’t saved for you to view in the future, there is no cloud storage and no monthly fee associated with the device.
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Difference #5: Monthly fees – While both the Pawbo and Petcube work flawlessly as is, the latter offers a “Petcube Care” service that offers a few new features and discounts on other pet-related sites.
There are several different tiers of plans available for Petcube Care that offer different levels of benefits.
With the basic plan, you’ll enjoy 3 days of video history rather than the 4 hours that are available for free, as well as a small discount on purchases on Petcube and with several other retailers.
The middle of the road plan is twice as expensive, but has pretty significant discounts at a number of online pet retailers that may make it more than worth the cost if you’re a frequent online shopper. You’ll also have access to 10 days of video storage.
The top tier plan doesn’t offer any additional storage over the mid-tier plan, but includes a lengthy list of retailers where you’ll enjoy some pretty exceptional sales.
Exact details on the Petcube Care plans are available on their site. Many won’t get a lot of use out of anything other than the basic plan, but if you frequently make purchases at these included sites, the subscription may pay for itself several times over.
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Difference #6: Works with Amazon Alexa – With the advent of voice-activated assistants like Amazon Alexa, more and more people are taking advantage of hands-free operation across a number of smart devices. The Petcube Bites and Play integrate well with Alexa, allowing you to tell your camera to play with your pets or dispense treats at a certain time.
With the voice assistance of an Echo or Echo Dot, you can keep your pets entertained and happy without having to take the time out of your busy schedule to play with the app.
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Difference #7: Design – The final difference between the three models is the way that they look. The Pawbo and the Petcube Play are lighter than the Petcube Bites at around 1 pound compared to 3.5. The Petcube Bites has the advantage in color, however, with availability in Matte Silver, Rose Gold, Carbon Black, and Snow White (Limited).
The Petcube Play has the same color options as the Bites, minus the limited edition Snow White model.
With the Pawbo, you’re basically limited to white. This may not be a major concern considering that white will work with pretty much any decor situation, but it definitely doesn’t provide you with the same options that are available with the Petcube models.
![[2017 Item ] Petcube Bites Pet Camera with Treat Dispenser: HD 1080p Video Monitor, 2-Way Audio, Night Vision, Sound and Motion Alerts. For Dogs and Cats, Matte Silver (PB913NVTD)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41-bDi+NeGL.jpg)
Pawbo vs. Petcube — Comparison Chart
| Pawbo | Petcube Play | Petcube Bites | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video Resolution | 720p | 1080p HD | 1080p HD |
| Field-of-view | 130° | 138° | 138° |
| Zoom | 4x digital zoom | 3x digital zoom | 3x digital zoom |
| Video streaming | One-way | One-way | One-way |
| Has sound | Two-way | Two-way | Two-way |
| Night Vision | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11b/g/n, 2.4GHz | 802.11b/g/n, 2.4GHz | 802.11b/g/n, 2.4GHz |
| Built-in Laser Toy | Yes | Yes | No |
| Treat Dispenser | Yes | No | Yes |
| Sound Alerts | No | Yes | Yes |
| Motion Alerts | No | Yes | Yes |
| Free Cloud Recording | No | Up to 4 hours | Up to 4 hours |
| Triggered Video Recordings | No | Yes | Yes |
| Monthly fees | No | Optional | Optional |
| Works with Amazon Alexa | No | Yes | Yes |
| Designed for | Dogs/Cats | Dogs/Cats | Dogs/Cats |
| Dimensions | 4.4 x 4.4 x 7.9 in (11 x 11 x 20 cm) |
3 x 3 x 3 in (8 x 8 x 8 cm) |
7.2 x 3 x 12.9 in (18.3 x 7.8 x 32.7 cm) |
| Weight | 1 pound | 1.1 pound | 3.5 pound |
| Color | White | Matte Silver Rose Gold Carbon Black |
Matte Silver Rose Gold Carbon Black Snow White (Limited) |
Pawbo vs. Petcube — Things in Common
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Two-Way Audio – While a visual feed of your pet is important in order to check up on them throughout the day, your experience is limited without being able to hear and talk to your pet. With two-way audio, both the Pawbo and Petcube allow you full freedom to interact with your cat or dog at will.
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Night Vision – When it’s time to turn the lights out, you’ll still be able to tune in to the live video feed with support for night vision on both models.
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Connectivity – Both the Pawbo and Petcube support 802.11b/g/n(2.4GHz) wireless standards, which allows you stay connected with pretty much any WiFi setup.
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Designed for – The Pawbo and Petcube are both designed with either cats or dogs in mind. With products that both feed pets treats and allow for play with a pet-safe laser, your canine or feline friend will be likely be more than happy with your choice.
Pawbo vs. Petcube Accessories
The Petcube Play is especially easy to install in a variety of positions when you purchase the optional adjustable mount. With a variety of angles and setups available, you should be able to fit in the Play to just about any space.
With the Petcube Bites and Pawbo, you’ll need appropriate treats that can be easily dispensed. You can use pretty much any treats as long as they’re small enough to fit through the hole, but we do have some recommendations on compatible options if you’re not sure whether your pet’s favorites will work.
For the Petcube Bites, consider purchasing the Wellness Natural Grain Free Puppy Training Treats or the Wellness Petite Treats Small Breed Grain Free Dog Treats.
Pawbo vs. Petcube — Our Thoughts
Overall, we feel that the Petcube is more fun and the better choice over all. With better technical specifications, motion and sound alerts, triggered video recording, and expanded features through Petcube Care, it’s just difficult to beat.
With that said, if you’re looking for the ability to play and treat in a single device, your only option is the Pawbo. While it falls behind in specifications and features, the two-in-one design may make it the superior option for those who want the best of both worlds.
Last update on 2024-04-19 at 02:46 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
