No dog owner enjoys leaving their dog at home alone.
The process can be very stressful – and that’s even before you step out of the door.
If you’ve got dogs that suffer from separation anxiety like me, you’ll be fully aware of the distress exiting your home can cause both pets and pet parents.
However, pet cameras can at least give you the possibility to check up on your dog to make sure your precious pooch is doing fine.
Where To Buy: www.amazon.com
This review will look at Petcube Play 2, which is one of Petcube’s latest offerings on the pet camera market.
We’ll take a look at Petcube Play 2’s features, what customers are saying about the product and whether it represents value for money.
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Petcube Play 2 – The Basics
Petcube Play 2 (Photo: Petcube)
If you’re a regular visitors on hellobark.com, you’ll know that we’ve reviewed Petcube Play 2’s predecessor, Petcube Play.
Petcube released an updated version called Petcube Play 2 in 2019.
The device has a smart HD pet camera with laser toy, 180 degree lens and voice control.
Petcube Play 2 promise on their website that their product will ensure you can stay connected to your pet, wherever you are.
In doing so, you can see, talk to and exercise your pet remotely to ease their separation anxiety – and perhaps yours too!
Petcube Play 2 has a built-in laser (that is safe for dogs) which allows you to interact with your dog using your smartphone.
There’s an autoplay mode so you don’t even have to lift a finger and your pet will be entertained by the laser game.
With the brief summary of Petcube Play 2 complete, let’s look in closer detail at the device.
Treat Dispenser
Petcube Play 2 doesn’t come with a treat dispenser. We really value the ability to fling treats to dogs as a good tool to reward pets that are behaving well. Alternatively, it gives you the flexibility to give your pooch some snacks if you’re delayed on your way home for dinner.
However, Petcube’s pet camera does have a laser game, which is an alternative tool to keep your dog entertained and active. So you won’t be left without any fun tools at your disposal.
HD Camera And Two-way speaker
Petcube Play 2 has a wide-angle view and HD video for ultimate monitoring. You’ll be able to keep tabs on your pet live with their 1080p video and 4x digital zoom. It has 180 degree lens to give you full room coverage.
Their website says pet parents can enjoy duplex sound with 4-microphone array and a speaker bar. Petcube liken it to being on the phone with your precious pooch.
Audio And Movement Detection
Petcube Play 2 (Photo: Petcube)
We value the ability to get audio and movement alerts, because it’s not possible to watch a livestream of your pet throughout the day at all times.
Petcube explain online that they will notify dog owners in real time about “potentially dangerous events” thanks to their audio and movement sensors. Not only that, but the device can tell the difference between pets and people.
Thanks to the sound and motion detection, you’ll never miss a moment.
Night Vision
You won’t have to worry about leaving your pet in the dark if you’re stuck at work or in traffic in the evening. Petcube Play 2 has night vision so you’ll be able to see your cat or dog whether it’s day or night.
Ease Of Use
Petcube Play 2 (Photo: Petcube)
Petcube Play 2 make a big deal of the Alexa built-in to the product. They believe it’ll make everyday life easier for pet parents.
RELATED: The three best dog cameras on the market
Petcube Care is an optional membership for pet parents. If you decide to subscribe to the plan, you’ll get multi-day cloud video history, pet and human detection, meow and bark alerts, easy to download video clips and member-only pet savings.
The set up is straightforward. You download the app and create an account or log in using your Facebook account. Once in the app, you tap “Connect Petcube device” and select Petcube Play.
You will need to plug one end of the USB cable into the device and connect the other end of the USB cable to the adaptor and plug into an electrical outlet.
Design And Size
Petcube Play 2 (Photo: Petcube)
Petcube’s website claims that the Petcube Play 2 device has “unparalleled beauty” inside and out. They explain that the product is made of high-quality aluminum and hard plastic.
Petcube go on to state that the pet camera is “pet-proof”.
The sleek cube design will fit seamlessly into an interior, Petcube say.
Price
Petcube Play 2 is priced at $199 on online retailer Amazon for our US readers.
If you want the comprehensive Petcube package, you can buy PetCube Play 2, PetCube Bites 2 and Petcube Care, it’ll set you back $495 on Amazon.
What Are Customers Saying About The Product?
Petcube Play 2 (Photo: Petcube)
Petcube Play 2 gets 4.7 out of 5 stars based upon 67 customers reviews on Amazon. That’s extremely impressive.
One customer was delighted with the improvements to Petcube Play 2:
Petcube Play is a huge improvement compared to the previous version (Petcube Camera). The device got significantly smaller, lighter and has much slicker design. It now uses full potential of its camera: in addition to live HD video stream it also has motion and sound detection, night vision, and record capability to store videos triggered by motion. This turns Petcube Play from just a pet care device into a home surveillance camera. The videos are stored on remote servers and remain accessible even if Petcube Play goes offline.
An Amazon user was thrilled with the product’s performance:
Being an avid traveler, one of the problems that come into play when we go out of town is our pets! Of course we have people lined up to help out with feeding and walking them, but 3-4 days in to each trip my wife gets gets overwhelmed with FOMO of what our pets are up to and the fact she can’t play with them. I stumbled upon the Petcube Play prior to our most recent trip it relieved a majority of her anxiety. It sent us fun alerts of when our cat crossed it’s path and even allowed us to play with him using the cool laser pointer.
Finally, a pet lover with two dogs loved being able to play with his canines:
Two dogs make for lots of fun but also more worry when we’re not home to monitor their play or possible mischief. Petcube Play has eliminated the mystery! With incredibly sharp video image and audio housed in a very sleek, compact case, it has been a riot watching our furry kids via the PetCube app, playing, napping & interacting with the fun laser pointer!
Any Negatives?
As you can see, Petcube Play 2 gets rave reviews on Amazon.
The only negative that we can see is that it doesn’t have a treat dispenser. We’d love to see the laser game complement a reward system.
However, if you’ve got the funds, you can invest in both cameras to get the ultimate Petcube experience.
Is This The Best Dog Camera?
We previously rated Petcube Play as one of the best pet cameras on the market.
With the improvements made to the device, including the addition of built-in Alexa, we’re very impressed.
For that reason, we do consider Petcube Play 2 to be one of the best dog cameras currently available.
You can check out our updated guide on the best dog cameras available right now by clicking on the link below.
RELATED: The three best dog cameras on the market
Anything Else To Consider?
Petcube Play 2 comes with built-in Alexa.
Petcube Play 2’s website says everyday life is made easier with Amazon Alexa built in. Play dog music for Buddy, order treats for your pet or find the nearest vet.
Furthermore, you can use the pet camera as a smart speaker. You just have to activate your voice assistant to access over 80,000 Alexa skills.
Conclusion
Petcube Play 2 (Photo: Petcube)
So there you have it, that’s everything that Petcube Play 2 has to offer pet parents.
We’re very impressed with the product given the array of features that are included.
It’s encouraging to see Petcube Play 2 get 4.7 stars from Amazon customers.
The product lives up to its billing as a great pet camera for cat and dog owners.
