We knew about bulbs with integrated speakers, like the Sengled Pulse or the Awox StriimLIGHT Color. Today, a completely different type of equipment is being introduced into this essential part of our homes with Imou: a surveillance camera. The Bulb Cam is certainly not the first “surveillance bulb” to see the light of day, but it is the first that we find from a major manufacturer – remember that Imou belongs to the Dahua group – and others should follow. We were also able to see them on the Ezviz stand during the IFA, but the firm is apparently not yet ready to market them here.
A completely wireless, battery-free camera
Imou also showed its Bulb Cam at the Berlin show, and the firm is now preparing to launch it commercially. It is an E27 base bulb, which is therefore compatible with the majority of lamps and lighting fixtures. The idea is to be able to benefit from a surveillance solution that is completely invisible, or almost, since the camera does not really go unnoticed. We will therefore still avoid installing it on the ultra-design pendant light in the living room. In general, you should also avoid lampshades, which risk obstructing the camera’s field of vision, but Imou seems above all to intend its Bulb Cam for outdoor use despite the lack of protection against bad weather; none is mentioned in any case.
It must be said that it does not require a new power supply if a light fixture is already installed around the house – just like a battery-powered camera -, and it is therefore not necessary to drill holes to fix it or reload. The connection is via wifi and, to adjust the framing, the camera is motorized. Although many motorized cameras take advantage of this to follow movements, Imou does not mention it. However, we note that the Smart Bulb must be able to distinguish people and vehicles to filter alerts after detecting movement.
2K or 3K images and detection of people and vehicles
It can also record the scene and delivers images in 2K or 3K depending on the version chosen, since two are provided: 3MP or 5MP, in reference to the resolution of the sensors. Infrared vision is also planned for the night, although the on-board lamp should provide enough light to film in color, and recordings can be stored on a microSD card or in the cloud with Imou Protect. The Bulb Cam is finally also equipped with a microphone and a speaker to record sounds, communicate live and launch a siren in the event of detection.
It is not yet available for sale, but should be soon since it is currently possible to claim a €10 reduction voucher by entering your email on the official website. It can obviously be used at launch. The exact date, however, has not been specified, as has the price of the Bulb Cam whatever its version.