33 Scoring Factors Researched in this Comparison

VStarcam Pet Camera vs. XM Smart Home Camera

Section Scores
Technical
84
89
Alerts
64
75
Storage
90
92
Features
91
79
Design
68
82
Major Feature Differences
VStarcam Pet Camera XM Smart Home Camera
Has a better rotation range (Pan 355° Tilt 120° vs. Doesn't rotate)
Has better connectivity (2.4GHz WiFi / Ethernet vs. 2.4GHz WiFi)
Has sound alerts (Yes vs. No)
Has toy laser (Yes vs. No)
Has more frames-per-second (20 FPS vs. N/A)
Has a better field of view (130° wide-angle view vs. 107° wide-angle view)
Has motion alerts (Yes vs. Yes, w/SD card)
Has motion zones (Yes vs. No)
Has cloud storage (6-months free vs. w/subscription)
Has better night vision (Up to 33 ft vs. Up to 32 ft)
Has snapshot notifications (Yes vs. No)
Has better warranty (1-year limited warranty vs. 0.11)

Technical

Video Resolution

VStarcam Pet Camera: 1080p HD
XM Smart Home Camera: 1080p HD
Below Avg Above
Rating
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

VStarcam Pet Camera: N/A
XM Smart Home Camera: 20 FPS
Below Avg Above
Rating
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

VStarcam Pet Camera: 107° wide-angle view
XM Smart Home Camera: 130° wide-angle view
Below Avg Above
Rating
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

VStarcam Pet Camera: Pan 355° Tilt 120°
XM Smart Home Camera: Doesn't rotate
Below Avg Above
Rating
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

VStarcam Pet Camera: 2.4GHz WiFi / Ethernet
XM Smart Home Camera: 2.4GHz WiFi
Below Avg Above
Rating
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

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

Battery Back-up

VStarcam Pet Camera: No
XM Smart Home 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

VStarcam Pet Camera: Yes, w/SD card
XM Smart Home Camera: Yes
Below Avg Above
Rating
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

VStarcam Pet Camera: Yes
XM Smart Home Camera: No
Below Avg Above
Rating
Just like motion alerts, some cameras can send notifications whenever they detect sound.

Bark/Meowing Notifications

VStarcam Pet Camera: No
XM Smart Home Camera: No
Below Avg Above
Rating
Some cameras have advanced sound detection.

Motion Zones

VStarcam Pet Camera: No
XM Smart Home 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

VStarcam Pet Camera: No
XM Smart Home Camera: No
Below Avg Above
Rating
Some cameras are smart enough to distinguish between people and pets movement.

Movement Auto-tracking

VStarcam Pet Camera: No
XM Smart Home 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

VStarcam Pet Camera: No
XM Smart Home Camera: No
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

VStarcam Pet Camera: Yes, w/SD card
XM Smart Home Camera: Yes, w/SD card
Below Avg Above
Rating
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

VStarcam Pet Camera: w/subscription
XM Smart Home Camera: 6-months free
Below Avg Above
Rating
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

VStarcam Pet Camera: Yes, w/SD card
XM Smart Home Camera: Yes, w/SD card
Below Avg Above
Rating
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

VStarcam Pet Camera: Optional
XM Smart Home Camera: Optional
Below Avg Above
Rating
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

VStarcam Pet Camera: No
XM Smart Home 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

VStarcam Pet Camera: Yes
XM Smart Home Camera: Yes
Below Avg Above
Rating
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

VStarcam Pet Camera: Up to 32 ft
XM Smart Home Camera: Up to 33 ft
Below Avg Above
Rating
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

VStarcam Pet Camera: Yes
XM Smart Home 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

VStarcam Pet Camera: Yes
XM Smart Home Camera: Yes
Check out what your pet is doing right now with a live view mode.

Laser For Playing

VStarcam Pet Camera: Yes
XM Smart Home 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

VStarcam Pet Camera: Yes
XM Smart Home Camera: No
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

VStarcam Pet Camera: No
XM Smart Home Camera: No
You can use Google Assistant to control the camera with your voice.

HomeKit Compatibility

VStarcam Pet Camera: No
XM Smart Home Camera: No
You can use Siri to control the camera with your voice.

In-app Vet Chat

VStarcam Pet Camera: No
XM Smart Home 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

VStarcam Pet Camera: No
XM Smart Home Camera: No
Create entertaining time lapses of your pets shenanigans.

Snapshot Notifications

VStarcam Pet Camera: No
XM Smart Home Camera: Yes
Get a notification with a snapshot of detected motion. It can save you time checking false motion alerts.

Home & Away Modes

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

Design

Dimensions

VStarcam Pet Camera: 7.8 x 6 x 5.4 in
XM Smart Home Camera: N/A
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

VStarcam Pet Camera: White
XM Smart Home 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

VStarcam Pet Camera: Stand / Screws
XM Smart Home Camera: Stand
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

VStarcam Pet Camera: Indoors
XM Smart Home Camera: Indoors
Below Avg Above
Rating
While most of the cameras are for indoor use only, there are a few that can operate outside as well.

Warranty

VStarcam Pet Camera: 0.11
XM Smart Home Camera: 1-year limited warranty
Below Avg Above
Rating
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

VStarcam Pet Camera Average Pet Camera
Technical
Video Resolution 1080p HD
VStarcam Pet Camera
1080p HD
Pet Camera
Frames Per Second N/A
VStarcam Pet Camera
20 FPS
Pet Camera
Field of View 107° wide-angle view
VStarcam Pet Camera
130° wide-angle view
Pet Camera
Rotation Range Pan 355° Tilt 120°
VStarcam Pet Camera
Doesn't rotate
Pet Camera
Internet Connectivity 2.4GHz WiFi / Ethernet
VStarcam Pet Camera
2.4GHz WiFi
Pet Camera
Power Plugged-In
VStarcam Pet Camera
Plugged-In
Pet Camera
Battery Back-up No
VStarcam Pet Camera
No
Pet Camera
Alerts
Motion Alerts Yes, w/SD card
VStarcam Pet Camera
Yes
Pet Camera
Sound Alerts Yes
VStarcam Pet Camera
No
Pet Camera
Bark/Meowing Notifications No
VStarcam Pet Camera
No
Pet Camera
Motion Zones No
VStarcam Pet Camera
Yes
Pet Camera
Pet Detection No
VStarcam Pet Camera
No
Pet Camera
Movement Auto-tracking No
VStarcam Pet Camera
No
Pet Camera
Siren No
VStarcam Pet Camera
No
Pet Camera
Storage
Local Storage Yes, w/SD card
VStarcam Pet Camera
Yes, w/SD card
Pet Camera
Cloud Storage w/subscription
VStarcam Pet Camera
6-months free
Pet Camera
24/7 Non-Stop Recording Yes, w/SD card
VStarcam Pet Camera
Yes, w/SD card
Pet Camera
Subscription Optional
VStarcam Pet Camera
Optional
Pet Camera
NAS Support No
VStarcam Pet Camera
No
Pet Camera
Features
Zoom Yes
VStarcam Pet Camera
Yes
Pet Camera
Night Vision Up to 32 ft
VStarcam Pet Camera
Up to 33 ft
Pet Camera
Two-way Audio Yes
VStarcam Pet Camera
Yes
Pet Camera
Live View Yes
VStarcam Pet Camera
Yes
Pet Camera
Laser For Playing Yes
VStarcam Pet Camera
No
Pet Camera
Alexa Compatibility Yes
VStarcam Pet Camera
No
Pet Camera
Google Assistant Compatibility No
VStarcam Pet Camera
No
Pet Camera
HomeKit Compatibility No
VStarcam Pet Camera
No
Pet Camera
In-app Vet Chat No
VStarcam Pet Camera
No
Pet Camera
Time Lapse No
VStarcam Pet Camera
No
Pet Camera
Snapshot Notifications No
VStarcam Pet Camera
Yes
Pet Camera
Home & Away Modes No
VStarcam Pet Camera
No
Pet Camera
Design
Dimensions 7.8 x 6 x 5.4 in
VStarcam Pet Camera
N/A
Pet Camera
Color White
VStarcam Pet Camera
White
Pet Camera
Mounting Options Stand / Screws
VStarcam Pet Camera
Stand
Pet Camera
Usage Indoors
VStarcam Pet Camera
Indoors
Pet Camera
Warranty 0.11
VStarcam Pet Camera
1-year limited warranty
Pet Camera

Leave a Comment