With the recent tariff imposed, many families including mine are becoming more selective with smart home gadgets, prioritising versatility and value. For under $70, the dual-purpose Lorex 2K WiFi Lightbulb Security Camera combines a security camera and a 400-lumen LED lightbulb, making for an excellent choice for a budget-friendly security upgrade.
With the security camera hidden within an LED lightbulb, the product offers a sleek way to monitor homes without shouting “security camera”, all while brightening up your home. Once connected to a WiFi network, everything can be set up from the Lorex app.
The security camera features a 360° motorized pan-tilt function, allowing you to adjust the direction of view on the Lorex app. Everywhere from the front porch to the driveway, you can now monitor a large space without having multiple cameras in place. Powered by the built-in edge AI technology, the camera is capable of motion detection, informing homeowners with instant alerts when person or vehicle movement is detected.
What I particularly like about this model is its on-demand privacy mode that isn’t seen in other smart bulbs yet. Whenever I have guests over, I could just deactivate the camera with one tap on my phone to have the camera lens turned inwards, giving my guests more privacy. I find this feature exceptionally useful for when I am doing maintenance or cleaning up too. I can simply have the camera function turned off to avoid flooding my phone with unnecessary alerts. It seems like a small detail, but always comes in handy because there is no need to unplug anything.
With 2K resolution, I could easily zoom in on the Lorex app and view all the details without compromising image quality. Besides, the camera with Color Night Vision works great after dark even when light intensity is lower, making it easy to distinguish faces, colors or other details.
I wasn’t initially sold on the idea of a security camera doubling as a lightbulb, but having tried the different light modes on this lightbulb camera, I can see its added value compared to a conventional smart light. With flexibility design in mind, the 400-lumen dimmable LED light offers customization in different perspectives. Whether it’s brightness, schedule or activation mode, everything can be adjusted from the Lorex app.
Like any motion-activated light, the Motion-Activated Mode would automatically put the lightbulb to work when the in-camera edge AI detects movement, whether of a car or a person. Not only do I get an instant alert from the app when someone is approaching the door, but the lightbulb also shines for convenience or otherwise, deterrence.
You can also try out different settings with the Manual, Smart Scheduling or Vacation modes to find one that works best with your family’s schedule, with the ambience you like.
In cases where multiple lightbulb cameras are required to keep eye on different areas for a large space, you can synchronize and apply the same settings across balcony, front porch and patios with the Grouping feature.
An added bonus of this lightbulb camera is its DIY aspect. The lightbulb screw works with standard E26 or E27 sockets and can be installed without messy wiring or help from a technician. The entire setup can easily be done in minutes. With compatibility with Google Home and Amazon Alexa, it also makes for a great choice for smart home integration.
Lorex also offers flexible storage options, either with an SD card or a cloud subscription.
For a limited time, you can now grab the 2K Lightbulb Camera bundled with a 1-year Cloud Subscription at US $74.99, saving US$25 on the cloud subscription.
