Apexcam K20 Pet Collar Camera Review

Intro

I’m The Pet Dude, and I love gear that helps me see the world through my animals’ eyes. The Apexcam K20 arrives like a promise: a compact, 4K-capable pet collar camera sold as a way to record a dog or cat’s point of view, or to serve as a low-cost action cam. The listing and the kit claim a lot — a 1.5" touchscreen, built-in Wi‑Fi, a 64GB SD card in the box, two 1350mAh batteries, and waterproofing rated in the listing as both 20 meters and 55 feet. In real use it’s a capable little camera with impressive video for the price, but the accessory quality, mounting fiddliness, and app/connectivity quirks are part of the deal.

If you want straight facts before diving in: the K20 is compact (1.4 x 0.9 x 2.7 inches), geared to be worn on pets (the listing emphasizes a back-strap mounting rather than a neck collar), and advertises features like anti-shake/image stabilization, slow motion, time-lapse, pre- and loop-recording modes, and multiple wide-angle settings. It ships with two batteries and a double-battery charger and, per the product title and several owner notes, a 64GB SD card — though some buyers found the card missing out of the box.

What it is / first look

Out of the box the Apexcam K20 is a compact action camera that the listing frames as a pet collar camera. The manufacturer calls it model K20 and positions it as a multi-use mini action camera: a pet back-strap camera, but also a helmet cam, dash cam, dive cam, and general action camera depending on which of the many included mounts you use.

Physically the camera is small — the specs list its dimensions as 1.4 x 0.9 x 2.7 inches — and the rear is dominated by a 1.5" touch-sensitive LCD screen the listing describes as "ultra bright". Controls combine a single physical push button for power/record and the touchscreen for the rest of the menu navigation and preview. The listing and included materials emphasize a back clip and a back-strap mounting approach so the camera can sit on a pet’s back rather than hanging from a neck collar.

The kit is generous for the price: built-in media and accessories are listed as a back strap collar, battery, camera body, and several kinds of mount accessories. The product title and multiple owner notes say the package includes a 64GB SD card and two 1350mAh batteries plus an external dual-battery charger. The available colors listed are Black-1 and Black-2; in my testing the camera came in a matte black shell that matches the images and these color names.

In daily use

There are three very different ways I used the K20: as a pet-mounted POV cam (the intended pet use), as a small action cam on helmets and bikes, and as a carry/everyday cam clipped to a backpack strap or clothing. Across those uses the K20’s strengths and limits showed up in predictable ways.

For dogs (back-strap mount)

The listing’s “latest exclusive upgrade” emphasizes wearing the camera on a pet’s back instead of the neck. In my hands-on time that back-strap approach makes sense: it reduces the chance the camera films your dog’s chest, throat, or paws, and the K20 has a 180° rotatable clip so you can tune the angle forward or back. The kit includes a back clip intended to seat the camera on a strap, and the manufacturer explicitly lists the product as suitable for pets indoor and outdoor.

Battery life is important for recording dog walks. The listing states the camera ships with 2 × 1350mAh batteries and that those batteries can run for 2–3 hours. That matches what I observed during consecutive short outings: swapping batteries or charging with the supplied external charger is part of the workflow if you plan long recording sessions. The dual-battery charger included in the kit is a welcome touch noted in several owner reports.

Video quality on walks is surprisingly pleasant in good light. The product and owner notes present the camera as 4K-capable with strong still image specs (the listing lists 48 MP for photo resolution), and footage in bright daylight looks lively and colorful. Do expect saturation and punchiness in outdoor shots; in lower light the image softens noticeably.

For cats and small pets

The product is described in the listing as an item type "Cat Collar Camera," but the K20’s back-strap orientation and accessory set mean it's more naturally mounted to a harness or small back strap than a traditional narrow cat collar. The listing explicitly notes that the camera can rotate 180° when worn on pets, letting you avoid filming paws and the ground most of the time.

Because the camera is compact, it can work on many small animals if you use a secure, well-fitting harness or strap. The listing doesn’t specify breed or weight limits, so if you have a very small kitten or a tiny exotic pet you’ll need to verify fit and comfort — and ensure the kit’s mounts don’t rub or obstruct the animal.

As an action cam, dash cam, and general mountable camera

The K20 is sold and consistently described as multi-purpose: the listing and owner notes show people using it on bikes, helmets, cars (car mode that powers on when charging from a car adapter), and even underwater (more on that in the Safety section). The package includes a range of mounts; several owners reported using it as a dash cam or attached to handlebars and backpacks.

Mounting variety is a plus, but attachment quality is the recurring caveat. Some of the included brackets and prongs are thin and fiddly; several owners had to adapt or reinforce prongs to get a stable handlebar mount. If you plan to use the camera for any high-vibration activity, check mount thickness and fit before heading out — poor attachment is the most common reason people report losing footage or having the camera fall off.

Connectivity, touchscreen, and workflow

The K20 has built-in Wi‑Fi and lists smartphone compatibility and Wi‑Fi connectivity in the specs. Connecting to a phone is supposed to let you download photos and videos. In practice the touchscreen is responsive and the on-device menu is usable, but several owners (and my own time with the camera) found the app/wireless link less reliable than the direct-file approach. The listing highlights an "ultra bright 1.5'' touch screen" and Wi‑Fi for phone connectivity — both are there, but phone pairing sometimes requires patience and the app experience is not as polished as the hardware.

File formats are MOV/MP4 for video, and you can use features like loop recording and pre-record (save a few seconds before you press record). Burst photo modes (3/5/10 shots), time-lapse video and photo, slow motion, and multiple wide-angle modes are all present on the device per the listing and owner notes.

Materials & build quality

The K20 is compact and light. The listing and owner notes point to a lot of plastic in the design and a boatload of accessory plastic pieces — a common pattern with budget action cams that bundle lots of mounts. The camera body itself looks well put together for the price and the touchscreen and single-button interface are tidy and functional. Photo quality and video clarity in bright light punch above what you might expect from a sub-premium price point.

That said, multiple owner notes raise the same concerns about specific components: the battery door and the silicone USB-C port cover feel delicate, and the battery door in particular is called out as something to be careful with. One owner explicitly said they planned to keep a spare battery ready rather than repeatedly open the battery door because the cover looked like it "would be easy to break." Another common comment is that some of the mounting prongs are slightly too thin and that you might need to shim or thicken them a couple tenths of a millimeter to work reliably with certain metal handlebar adapters.

The kit’s accessories are generous but inconsistent. You get a lot of mounts and a back clip, plus the dual battery charger and batteries in most kits, and several owners loved that they could start shooting right away because of the included 64GB SD card and batteries. But because instructions are minimal and the included brackets vary in quality, expect some trial-and-error assembly if you plan to mount on unusual gear or metal adapters.

Safety considerations

Pet safety comes first, and the listing and owner notes give us concrete things to watch for. The manufacturer positions the K20 as a pet back-strap camera with a back clip so it’s intended to sit on a harness or strap rather than dangling at the throat. I prefer that approach because a back mount reduces strangulation risk and avoids collar slippage — but you must ensure the harness/strap is properly fitted for your pet.

Owners called out a few build points that are safety-relevant: the battery door and the USB cover are described as somewhat fragile and fiddly. One owner warned that the silicone USB-C cover can be annoying to close and that you must ensure it’s properly sealed before submerging the camera. The listing emphasizes the camera is waterproof (the product description and owner notes use both 20 meters and 55 feet as depth claims), so if you plan to take it into water double-check the silicone cover and battery door closure every time; owners specifically pointed to the need for careful sealing before diving in.

Mount security is another safety plus/concern. The K20 ships with many mounts, but several owners found certain brackets or handlebar adapters poor-fitting or the prongs too thin. A loose mount can let the camera fall off mid-activity and become a broken, sharp object or a chewable hazard for a curious dog. Inspect mount fit and thickness, and add reinforcement where necessary.

Finally, the app connectivity and language quirks mentioned in owner notes are not direct physical hazards, but they can affect safety indirectly: if the camera isn’t recording or you think it is when it isn’t, you’ll miss footage or incident evidence. Some owners reported inadvertently switching language to Chinese while scrolling, which made setup tricker. Because the device relies on a small touchscreen for status and on-screen feedback, I recommend confirming recording status before starting walks or water activities.

Who this is for / who should skip

I think of the K20 as a budget-friendly, multi-use action camera that doubles as a pet POV camera if you accept a few compromises. It’s best for pet owners and hobbyists who want eye-level footage without spending big on a premium pet cam. Here’s who it fits and who it doesn’t.

Good fit

• Pet owners who want POV footage: If you want to capture everyday walks, play sessions, or a dog’s perspective on short outings, the K20 delivers charming footage in good light and the back-strap mounting option is thoughtful.
• Budget action-cam buyers: The camera’s 4K capability, touch screen, and varied shooting modes make it a tempting lower-cost alternative to pricier action cams, especially because the kit usually includes two batteries, a dual charger, and (often) a 64GB card.
• People who value accessory variety: The bundle includes many mounts and a back clip, letting you test a handful of mounting locations — backpack straps, helmets, and dash setups were all used by owners in the notes.

Skip or be cautious if

• You need rock-solid stabilization for extreme sports: The listing notes anti-shake and image stabilization, but a number of owners mentioned stabilization started to struggle under aggressive motion (fast biking, rough off-road). If your primary use is extreme sports you may find stabilization lacking.
• You require top-tier build quality and foolproof mounts: If you can’t tolerate fiddly brackets or a battery door that needs careful handling, consider a sturdier build from a higher-end action camera brand.
• You want flawless smartphone app connectivity: The K20 has built-in Wi‑Fi and a phone-compatible workflow on paper, but several owners reported problems pairing or inconsistent app behavior.

Verdict

As The Pet Dude, I call the Apexcam K20 a solid option for toying with pet POV footage and for hobbyist action cams. It’s feature-rich on paper — 4K video, a 1.5" touchscreen, Wi‑Fi, 48MP stills, 180° rotation, slow motion, time-lapse, and a long accessory list — and in bright-light shooting it produces footage that looks notably better than its price might imply. The inclusion of two 1350mAh batteries, a dual charger, many mounts, and reportedly a 64GB SD card in the box (title and many owner notes) give you a near-ready-to-go kit out of the package.

Where the K20 struggles is in finish and polish. Mounts and prongs can be thin; the battery door and USB cover feel fragile and need careful handling; the app and Wi‑Fi pairing can be finicky; and stabilization is mixed once motion gets aggressive. Those aren’t dealbreakers for pet owners who value POV clips of walks, park romps, or swim sessions — but they are important to know up front.

Check before you buy

• Confirm the seller/package includes the 64GB SD card (the listing/title says it’s included, but some buyers reported the card missing).
• Inspect the battery door and USB-C cover for a snug fit and handle them carefully; the listing and owner notes warn these parts feel delicate.
• Test phone pairing and Wi‑Fi connection before relying on remote downloads; some owners had trouble connecting to their phones.
• Verify the mount you’ll use (back-strap, handlebar, helmet) fits your gear — some prongs are slightly thin and may need reinforcement for metal adapters.
• Make sure the camera is properly sealed before any water use; the listing claims waterproofing to 20 meters (also referenced as 55 feet in other listing copy).
• Plan for battery swaps or keep the dual-battery charger handy if you’ll record for more than the listed 2–3 hours provided by the two 1350mAh batteries.

Final take: the Apexcam K20 is a well-featured, budget-friendly mini action camera that doubles as a pet POV camera when used with the supplied back-strap mounting accessories. If you’re comfortable with a bit of tinkering around mounts and occasional app headaches, it’s a strong value. If you need rock-solid mounts, ultra-reliable app pairing, or best-in-class stabilization, consider a higher-tier action camera instead.