Wyze’s new security cam screws into a standard light socket

Looking to skip the hassle of wall-mounting a security camera in your backyard and wiring it for power? If you have an available outdoor light socket, this new Wyze cam and smart bulb combo can be screwed right into it. 

Available now, the Wyze Blub Cam ($49.98) is pretty much what it says: a smart bulb with an integrated security camera. 

Screw-in security cameras are plentiful on Amazon, but they typically come from no-name brands and (generally speaking) offer only iffy quality. But we’re starting to see light socket-compatible cams from more reputable companies, including a recent 2K model from Lorex, and now we have Wyze’s entry in the market. 

Compatible with Alexa, Google Home, and IFTTT, the Bulb Cam has a standard E25 base, meaning you can screw it into a typical light socket, either indoors or out. (It’s worth noting that the clear outdoor light fixture that’s pictured above isn’t included.) 

The camera component of the Wyze Bulb Cam is attached to the main housing by a short rod, which can be extended up to 3 centimeters, while the lens can be turned 360 degrees or tilted up to 110 degrees. To be clear, this isn’t a pan-tilt camera with app-based directional controls; instead, you’ll need to point the camera lens manually. 

The bulb, meanwhile, shines at up to 800 lumens, good for casting ambient light, but nothing on the order of flood- or spotlight brightness. Tuned to a white-color temperature of 3000 Kelvin, the dimmable bulb should give off a warm glow.

As for the camera itself, it boasts 2K resolution with a 160-degree field of view, complete with color night vision. The integrated speaker and microphone enable two-way audio chat with anyone in range of the cam, while customizable motion zones will let you determine the areas within the camera’s view that trigger movement alerts. 

Event videos can be stored locally on a microSD memory card, which slots into the bottom of the camera component. Cards with capacities up to 256GB are supported, but you’ll need to supply your own, as one isn’t included with the camera. 

If you prefer cloud storage, Wyze offers subscription plans starting at $2.99 a month for a single camera; the plan unlocks 14 days of event storage, along with person, vehicle, package, and pet detection, plus suspicious sound alerts. The Wyze Cam Unlimited plan covers all your Wyze cams while adding multi-cam timelines, smart arm/disarm modes, and “friendly faces” detection. Finally, the $19.99/month Unlimited Pro plan serves up AI-powered “Descripted Alerts” of video events, along with AI video search and 24/7 emergency services dispatch.

The Bulb Cam comes with an IP65 rating, meaning it should be dust-proof as well as resistant to powerful water jets from any direction; in other words, the cam should have no trouble withstanding the elements.

This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best security cameras.

Along with the Bulb Cam, Wyze is also unveiling the Wyze Accessory Bulb, which matches the smart bulb on the Bulb Cam. You can pair up to five of the Accessory Bulbs ($16.98 each) to the Bulb Cam, with the additional bulbs capable of “auto-connecting” once screwed in. The Accessory Bulbs will mirror the state of the main bulb, meaning they can’t be individually controlled via the Wyze app.

The Wyze Bulb Cam and the Wyze Accessory Bulbs are available now on Wyze’s website. I’m expecting a sample unit soon and will write a full review once I’ve given the Bulb Cam a thorough test drive.