Leaving your pet home alone used to mean filling a giant bowl and hoping they don't eat it all in five minutes. In 2026, smart feeders don't just dispense food; they manage diets, mix ingredients, and even video call you.
Two devices lead the pack for different reasons. The Petkit YumShare Dual is a luxury dining station with a built-in camera and dual food hoppers. The Aqara Smart Pet Feeder C1 is a connectivity masterpiece designed to integrate perfectly into a Zigbee-based smart home. Do you want a standalone robot nanny, or a feeder that talks to your smart curtains? Let's feed the beast.
The Hopper: Single vs. Dual Mix
This is the main physical difference.
Petkit YumShare Dual (The Mixer)
As the name implies, it has two separate storage compartments inside.
Why it matters: You can put standard cheap kibble in one side and expensive freeze-dried treats in the other. The machine will mix them into the bowl based on your recipe (e.g., 80% kibble, 20% treats). It’s perfect for picky eaters who get bored easily.
Aqara C1 (The Standard)
It has a single large 4L tank. It dispenses one type of dry food only. It is simple, effective, and holds enough food for a cat for about 2-3 weeks.
Intelligence: AI Camera vs. Smart Home Logic
Petkit (The Watchful Eye):
It features a built-in 1080p Camera with Night Vision.
AI Features: It records a "Vlog" of your pet eating. It detects if the pet approached the bowl but didn't eat (sickness alert). It’s a complete monitoring system in itself.
Aqara (The Automation King):
It has no camera (though you can link it to an Aqara G3 camera). Its power lies in Zigbee 3.0 connectivity.
The Scenario: You can set an automation: "When the Motion Sensor detects the cat in the kitchen AND it's between 5 PM and 7 PM, dispense 10g of food." It allows for complex logic that Petkit simply cannot do. It also works with Apple HomeKit, Alexa, and Google seamlessly.
Reliability: Wi-Fi vs. Zigbee
What happens if your internet cuts out while you are on vacation?
- Petkit: Relies on Wi-Fi. If Wi-Fi dies, the app control dies, but the stored schedule usually continues to run from internal memory (with battery backup).
- Aqara: Uses Zigbee. Even if your Wi-Fi is down, if you have a local hub, the scheduled automations will still fire perfectly. Zigbee is generally more stable and consumes less power than Wi-Fi.
Comparison Table: 2026 Specs
| Feature | Petkit YumShare Dual | Aqara Smart Feeder C1 |
|---|---|---|
| Food Storage | Dual Hopper (Mixes 2 foods) | Single Hopper (4L) |
| Camera | Yes (Built-in AI) | No (Sold separately) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi (2.4GHz) | Zigbee 3.0 (Requires Hub) |
| Price | ~$160 - $200 | ~$90 - $100 |
FAQ: Can it feed wet food?
Can I put wet food in them?
NO! Both machines are designed strictly for dry kibble or freeze-dried pellets. Wet food will rot inside the tank and jam the motor. For wet food, you need a refrigeration-style feeder (which is a different category).
What about ants?
Petkit has a sealed door that snaps shut over the dispensing hole after every meal to block ants and keep air out. Aqara has a gravity flap but isn't as tightly sealed against tiny insects.
Buy Petkit YumShare Dual if: You want a premium, all-in-one solution. The dual hopper is amazing for mixing diets, and the built-in camera saves you from buying a separate pet cam.
Buy Aqara Smart Feeder C1 if: You are an Apple HomeKit user or a smart home enthusiast. Being able to use Siri to "Feed the Cat" or automating feeding based on your location is a superpower that Petkit doesn't offer.