33 Scoring Factors Researched in this Comparison

Blink Mini Smart Camera Review

Section Scores
Technical
83
80 (avg)
Alerts
75
81 (avg)
Storage
73
82 (avg)
Features
67
75 (avg)
Design
89
80 (avg)
What makes it better?
Blink Mini Smart Camera Average Pet Camera
Has more frames-per-second (30 FPS vs. 15 FPS)
Has a better rotation range (Pan 350° Tilt 80° vs. Doesn't rotate)
Has better connectivity (2.4GHz WiFi / Ethernet vs. 2.4GHz WiFi)
Has sound alerts (Yes vs. No)
Can detect pets (w/subscription vs. No)
Has a siren (N/A vs. No)
Has cloud storage (6-months free vs. w/subscription)
Can record 24/7 (Yes vs. No)
Has better night vision (Up to 30 ft vs. Yes)

Technical

Video Resolution

Blink Mini Smart Camera: 1080p HD
Average Pet Camera: 1080p HD
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Video resolution is important for how clear you see things on your screen. It shows the number of pixels or dots that are displayed for video at any given height. The more pixels, the clearer things will be.

Frames Per Second

Blink Mini Smart Camera: 30 FPS
Average Pet Camera: 15 FPS
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The frame rate is the number of frames that are captured per second by the camera sensor. The more frames per second, the smoother video will appear to viewers.

Field of View

Blink Mini Smart Camera: 110° diagonal
Average Pet Camera: 110° diagonal
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Field of view is the width and height of the area that a camera can see. It's not more technical than that, really!

Rotation Range

Blink Mini Smart Camera: Doesn't rotate
Average Pet Camera: Pan 350° Tilt 80°
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Smart pet cameras with rotation feature help you eliminate any blind spots. Just rotate your smart camera left or right to find your pet sleeping on the armchair.

Internet Connectivity

Blink Mini Smart Camera: 2.4GHz WiFi
Average Pet Camera: 2.4GHz WiFi / Ethernet
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Between the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies, the 5GHz will be faster to load live video feed on your phone. An Ethernet connection is also faster than 2.4GHz, but slower than a 5GHz wavelength connection. So, if you're looking for a fast video load speed, 5GHz is the best option.

Power

Blink Mini Smart Camera: Plugged-In
Average Pet Camera: Plugged-In
This is how you power the camera. Normally, all the cameras require an outlet to power on.

Battery Back-up

Blink Mini Smart Camera: No
Average Pet Camera: No
Some smart cameras come with a back-up battery to stay on in case of power outage.
Best
Technical
Scores
Our Score
90
Our Score
90

Alerts

Motion Alerts

Blink Mini Smart Camera: Yes
Average Pet Camera: Yes
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Every time the smart pet camera detects movement, you'll get a notification on your phone, so you can check straight away the live feed.

Sound Alerts

Blink Mini Smart Camera: No
Average Pet Camera: Yes
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Just like motion alerts, some cameras can send notifications whenever they detect sound.

Bark/Meowing Notifications

Blink Mini Smart Camera: No
Average Pet Camera: No
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Some cameras have advanced sound detection.

Motion Zones

Blink Mini Smart Camera: Yes
Average Pet Camera: Yes
With motion zones you can specify certain areas you want to keep a close eye on. You'll get motion notifications only when there's motion in those areas.

Pet Detection

Blink Mini Smart Camera: No
Average Pet Camera: w/subscription
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Some cameras are smart enough to distinguish between people and pets movement.

Movement Auto-tracking

Blink Mini Smart Camera: No
Average Pet Camera: No
Focus on your loved ones with an auto-movement tracking feature. The camera will rotate automatically and follow the movement of your pet wherever they go within camera's field of view.

Siren

Blink Mini Smart Camera: No
Average Pet Camera: N/A
You can use your smart pet camera like a smart security camera. With a siren built-in, you can scare off intruders and uninvited guests.
Best
Alerts
Scores
Our Score
97

Storage

Local Storage

Blink Mini Smart Camera: w/USB flash drive
Average Pet Camera: w/USB flash drive
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Local storage allows you save all the video history locally on an SD card or a USB. In case your router starts acting up, it's good to have local storage as a backup.

Cloud Storage

Blink Mini Smart Camera: w/subscription
Average Pet Camera: 6-months free
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Some cameras offer cloud storage so you can review the video history from your camera later. However, it almost always comes at additional cost.

24/7 Non-Stop Recording

Blink Mini Smart Camera: No
Average Pet Camera: Yes
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With non-stop recording you won't miss a single move. You can always look back in video history to check who exactly ripped sofa pillows into small pieces.

Subscription

Blink Mini Smart Camera: Optional
Average Pet Camera: Optional
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Some brands lock additional features or cloud storage behind subscription. It's always better to check if there's any subscription required to save video history or use motion alerts.

NAS Support

Blink Mini Smart Camera: No
Average Pet Camera: No
One more convenient way to store video history instead of paying for cloud subscription.
Best
Storage
Scores
Our Score
100
Our Score
92

Features

Zoom

Blink Mini Smart Camera: Yes
Average Pet Camera: Yes
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The smart pet cameras use digital zoom. This enlarges the pixels so you can see more. The zoom will focus on a certain area of your screen, but there are no new pixels being added. This might make the image look blurry.

Night Vision

Blink Mini Smart Camera: Yes
Average Pet Camera: Up to 30 ft
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Night vision is the ability to see clearly during nighttime or low-light conditions. While most of the smart pet cameras offer black & white night vision, there are some cameras that offer colored image.

Two-way Audio

Blink Mini Smart Camera: Yes
Average Pet Camera: Yes
With two-way audio, you can talk to your pets even when you're miles away! Hear them reply back and share your love by supporting them with your voice from afar.

Live View

Blink Mini Smart Camera: Yes
Average Pet Camera: Yes
Check out what your pet is doing right now with a live view mode.

Laser For Playing

Blink Mini Smart Camera: No
Average Pet Camera: No
Does your cat love playing with a laser? Well, good news! Some of smart pet cameras have a built-in laser toy so you can play with your furry friend even when you're not at home.

Alexa Compatibility

Blink Mini Smart Camera: Yes
Average Pet Camera: Yes
With Alexa compatibility you can control the cameras with your voice and add the camera to a list of your smart home devices.

Google Assistant Compatibility

Blink Mini Smart Camera: No
Average Pet Camera: No
You can use Google Assistant to control the camera with your voice.

HomeKit Compatibility

Blink Mini Smart Camera: No
Average Pet Camera: No
You can use Siri to control the camera with your voice.

In-app Vet Chat

Blink Mini Smart Camera: No
Average Pet Camera: No
Is your pet acting weird? Consult with a vet right from a smart pet camera app for quick recommendations and support.

Time Lapse

Blink Mini Smart Camera: No
Average Pet Camera: No
Create entertaining time lapses of your pets shenanigans.

Snapshot Notifications

Blink Mini Smart Camera: No
Average Pet Camera: No
Get a notification with a snapshot of detected motion. It can save you time checking false motion alerts.

Home & Away Modes

Blink Mini Smart Camera: No
Average Pet Camera: No
If you chose home mode, you won't get any motion/sound notifications.
Best
Features
Scores
Our Score
91

Design

Dimensions

Blink Mini Smart Camera: 2 x 1.9 x 1.4 in
Average Pet Camera: 2.39 x 2.13 x 3.22 in
Dimensions can help you visualize how big or small the camera is. If you want it to be less noticeable, it's better to opt for a smaller size.

Color

Blink Mini Smart Camera: White
Average Pet Camera: White
Most of the smart pet cameras come in white, which makes it easy to mix them with your home's decor.

Mounting Options

Blink Mini Smart Camera: Stand / Screws
Average Pet Camera: Magnetic
Before buying a smart pet camera, it's good to think in advance about the placement of the camera. Some cameras only allow stand option, while others can also be mounted on a wall. So heads up!

Usage

Blink Mini Smart Camera: Indoors
Average Pet Camera: Indoors
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While most of the cameras are for indoor use only, there are a few that can operate outside as well.

Warranty

Blink Mini Smart Camera: 1-year limited warranty
Average Pet Camera: 1-year limited warranty
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In case of camera malfunction, it's good to have warranty to be able to replace it.
Best
Design
Scores
Our Score
100
Our Score
90
Our Score
89

Full Comparison Chart

Blink Mini Smart Camera Average Pet Camera
Technical
Video Resolution 1080p HD
Blink Mini Smart Camera
1080p HD
Pet Camera
Frames Per Second 30 FPS
Blink Mini Smart Camera
15 FPS
Pet Camera
Field of View 110° diagonal
Blink Mini Smart Camera
110° diagonal
Pet Camera
Rotation Range Doesn't rotate
Blink Mini Smart Camera
Pan 350° Tilt 80°
Pet Camera
Internet Connectivity 2.4GHz WiFi
Blink Mini Smart Camera
2.4GHz WiFi / Ethernet
Pet Camera
Power Plugged-In
Blink Mini Smart Camera
Plugged-In
Pet Camera
Battery Back-up No
Blink Mini Smart Camera
No
Pet Camera
Alerts
Motion Alerts Yes
Blink Mini Smart Camera
Yes
Pet Camera
Sound Alerts No
Blink Mini Smart Camera
Yes
Pet Camera
Bark/Meowing Notifications No
Blink Mini Smart Camera
No
Pet Camera
Motion Zones Yes
Blink Mini Smart Camera
Yes
Pet Camera
Pet Detection No
Blink Mini Smart Camera
w/subscription
Pet Camera
Movement Auto-tracking No
Blink Mini Smart Camera
No
Pet Camera
Siren No
Blink Mini Smart Camera
N/A
Pet Camera
Storage
Local Storage w/USB flash drive
Blink Mini Smart Camera
w/USB flash drive
Pet Camera
Cloud Storage w/subscription
Blink Mini Smart Camera
6-months free
Pet Camera
24/7 Non-Stop Recording No
Blink Mini Smart Camera
Yes
Pet Camera
Subscription Optional
Blink Mini Smart Camera
Optional
Pet Camera
NAS Support No
Blink Mini Smart Camera
No
Pet Camera
Features
Zoom Yes
Blink Mini Smart Camera
Yes
Pet Camera
Night Vision Yes
Blink Mini Smart Camera
Up to 30 ft
Pet Camera
Two-way Audio Yes
Blink Mini Smart Camera
Yes
Pet Camera
Live View Yes
Blink Mini Smart Camera
Yes
Pet Camera
Laser For Playing No
Blink Mini Smart Camera
No
Pet Camera
Alexa Compatibility Yes
Blink Mini Smart Camera
Yes
Pet Camera
Google Assistant Compatibility No
Blink Mini Smart Camera
No
Pet Camera
HomeKit Compatibility No
Blink Mini Smart Camera
No
Pet Camera
In-app Vet Chat No
Blink Mini Smart Camera
No
Pet Camera
Time Lapse No
Blink Mini Smart Camera
No
Pet Camera
Snapshot Notifications No
Blink Mini Smart Camera
No
Pet Camera
Home & Away Modes No
Blink Mini Smart Camera
No
Pet Camera
Design
Dimensions 2 x 1.9 x 1.4 in
Blink Mini Smart Camera
2.39 x 2.13 x 3.22 in
Pet Camera
Color White
Blink Mini Smart Camera
White
Pet Camera
Mounting Options Stand / Screws
Blink Mini Smart Camera
Magnetic
Pet Camera
Usage Indoors
Blink Mini Smart Camera
Indoors
Pet Camera
Warranty 1-year limited warranty
Blink Mini Smart Camera
1-year limited warranty
Pet Camera

Blink Mini Smart Camera Review

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