One of the easiest ways to enhance your PC experience is to get a better monitor. It doesn’t require any upgrades for your desktop or laptop, and it shines up the primary way you interact with almost everything: the visuals. Prime Day is upon us again, but even before it lands on July 8th-11th, there are early deals to be found. (Here’s how to get Amazon Prime for free so you can get in on the extravaganza.) With U.S. tariffs affecting prices, to say nothing of general consumer trends, it might not be the smorgasborde of discounts we saw in previous years. But there are still savings to be had, on OLED monitors, gaming monitors, and standard office designs — and I’ve hunted down the best monitor deals in the list below. Even though it’s Prime Day, some of the best discounts juiciest can be found elsewhere on the web, so I’ve included those in the list as well. Best early Prime Day 2025 deals on OLED monitors ASRock 27-inch 1440p 240Hz OLED gaming monitor — $479.99 ($166 off at Newegg) Alienware 27-inch 1440p 360Hz OLED gaming monitor — $619.99 ($280 off at Dell) Sony 27-inch 1440p 480Hz OLED gaming monitor — $714.99 ($385 off at Amazon) Gigabyte 34-inch 1440p 240Hz ultrawide OLED gaming monitor — $679.99 ($390 off at Newegg) Gigabyte refurbished 49-inch 1440p ultrawide OLED gaming monitor $729.99 — ($120 off at Amazon) Alienware 32-inch 4K 240Hz OLED gaming monitor — $849.99 ($350 off at Dell) OLED monitors are the cream of the crop for gamers, thanks to incredible color vibrance and contrast, even if they’re not the absolute fastest on the market right now. But if you do need ludicrous speed, Sony is offering a 27-inch, 1440p panel with 480Hz (about double the current standard at this size) for hundreds less than the alternatives. For my money, Gigabyte has the best deal at the moment…but then I’m an ultrawide fanboy. If you’re looking for an OLED upgrade at the lowest price, ASRock is leading the pack with a rare 27-inch pick under the $500 mark. There will probably be a few more offerings like that on Prime Day, but I’d bet you won’t find a name brand for much lower. Best early Prime Day 2025 deals on gaming monitors KTC 24-inch 1080p 165Hz gaming monitor — $93.99 ($46 off at Newegg) ASRock 27-inch 1080p 240Hz gaming monitor — $104.77 ($85 off at Newegg) Alienware 34-inch ultrawide 1440p 180Hz gaming monitor — $329 ($70 off at Dell) Gigabyte 28-inch IPS 4K 144Hz gaming monitor — $399.99 ($200 off at Newegg) Samsung 32-inch 3K 240Hz gaming monitor — $499.99 ($700 off at BuyDig, use coupon code YFF23) For more affordable options for gamers, ASRock once again delivers with a 27-inch, 1080p display at just a hair over a hundred bucks. But I’d say that Gigabyte is giving the best bang for your buck with its 28-inch 4K option. Not only is it using an IPS panel for greater color accuracy, it’s packing a USB-C port for flexible video. It’s a great, affordable centerpiece to a setup that works for both, well, work and gaming. Pre-Prime Day 2025 deals on office monitors Acer 27-inch 1080p IPS 120Hz monitor — $109.99 ($40 off at Best Buy) Asus 24-inch 1080p IPS monitor — $119.00 (regular price at Amazon) Dell 27-inch 1440p IPS monitor — $179.99 ($40 off at Dell) Samsung 34-inch 1440p ultrawide monitor — $219.99 ($110 off at Amazon) MNN 15-inch portable USB-C monitor — $59.97 ($30 off at Amazon) I can personally recomend Dell’s 27-inch, 1440p IPS monitors, because I’ve been using them for years on either side of my ultrawide center display. It’s a perfect way to expand your desk space, but unless you need some gaming-grade speed, it works great as a primary display too. For laptop users, there’s no easier way to expand your mobile capabilities than with a USB monitor (especially since they now include power and video). And there are a bunch of affordable options now, too. FAQ 1. What size of monitor should I buy? Monitor size depends on personal preference and location.  A 24-inch monitor is fine for a desk that is around 24 inches deep, or less. Its small size will still be sufficient because the monitor is closer to you. Most people, however, will want to go with a 27-inch monitor. The added size will make the monitor easy to see. This also opens up a wider range of 4K monitor options, as 4K is very rare on a 24-inch monitor. Larger monitors, such as a 32-inch widescreen or 34-inch ultrawide, are great for deep desks and people who want an immersive experience. Monitors this large can serve as a TV replacement in a small room.  Displays of even larger size, such as 42-inch or 48-inch HDTVs, are best for home theater setups or an unusually large office. You’ll want to sit four to six feet away from a display of this size. 2. What display input is best? (HDMI vs. DisplayPort vs. USB-C) USB-C is the best display input for most people. It works by bundling DisplayPort into USB-C, so offers all the same features as DisplayPort. Yet it retains the features of USB-C including optional support for Power Delivery to charge external devices. This is why we recommend a USB-C monitor for most people. DisplayPort is generally second-best. It supports higher resolutions and refresh rates than HDMI. This input is particularly common on desktop computers.  HDMI comes in third due to lower resolution and refresh rate support. This is improved by HDMI 2.1, but this feature remains hard to find and often adds to a monitor’s price. All three of the options above handle 1080p at 60Hz, which is the most common resolution and refresh rate available today. It’s also important to buy a monitor that has an input compatible with your PC. 3. Are all monitors compatible with Windows and MacOS? Modern monitors are compatible with all recent versions of Windows and MacOS. They’re plug-and-play, which means the monitor should display an image without the need to install driver software or mess with Windows or MacOS settings. 4. Are tariffs affecting monitor prices? Yes. Deals for monitors around this sale aren’t as good as they were during Amazon’s last big sale in October, particularly for the largest, most expensive models. That said, we have managed to avoid the complete shutdown of imported stock that seemed likely during the most tumultuous back-and-forth tariff negotiations…so that’s something. Prices are unlikely to improve later in the year, so if you find a delectable deal on a monitor you’re interested in, Prime Day may be one of your best bets of the year. Especially if you buy on day one of the event — President Trump says additional reciprocal tariffs will return on July 9, the second day of Prime Week, and could plunge prices into chaos. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Sharp, colorful QD-OLED panel 120Hz refresh rate with Adaptive Sync Excellent five-speaker sound system Good HDR with Dolby Vision support Undercuts competitors on price Cons Video connectivity limited to two video inputs Limited downstream USB connectivity, as well Could use more image quality options Not as bright as alternatives in HDR Our Verdict The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED delivers great image quality, solid audio, and good motion clarity, yet undercuts most competitive 32-inch 4K OLED monitors on price. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED Monitor S3225QC Retailer Price $821.24 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitors are among the most alluring computer monitors ever sold. They all provide exceptional contrast and color alongside sharpness and a big, bold display size. The catch? Often, it’s the price, as many models have an MSRP above $1,000. The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED, however, undercuts competitors with a rock-bottom MSRP of $849.99. That makes it easy to look past the monitor’s downsides. Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED S3225QC specs and features The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED’s basic specifications are typical for a 32-inch QD-OLED monitor. It provides 4K resolution (3840×2160) and a 120Hz refresh rate with Adaptive Sync. Display size: 32-inch 16:9 aspect ratio Native resolution: 3840×2160 Panel type: QD-OLED Refresh rate: Up to 120Hz Adaptive Sync: Yes, Adaptive Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 Certified Ports: 1x HDMI 2.1 with FRL/HDR/VRR, 1x USB-C upstream with DisplayPort 1.4 and 90 watts of Power Delivery, 2x USB-C 5Gbps downstream with 15 watts Power Delivery Audio: 3D Spatial Audio speakers included, total 25 watts output Price: $849.99 MSRP A closer look at the details, however, reveals many differences between other 32-inch 4K QD-OLED displays. The Dell supports both HDR10, which is common, and Dolby Vision, which is unusual. It also has just two video inputs, which is roughly half as many as the average competitor. But the monitor strikes back with a five-speaker spatial sound system with a total power of 25 watts. By comparison, most similar monitors have a pair of 2-watt stereo speakers, if they have any at all. Dell’s pricing is low given the monitor’s features, as it carries an MSRP of just $849.99. Most other 4K QD-OLED monitors have an MSRP between $999.99 and $1,299.99, though sale pricing can bring some models (like the Samsung Odyssey OLED G80SD) close to the Dell 32 Plus 4K. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best monitors for comparison. Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED S3225QC design The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED monitor makes an outstanding first impression. The company opts for a white hue that’s attractive and distinctive. It’s a far starker, ultra-bright look than Dell’s photos of the monitor let on, and rather close to the tone and color of the material used on some past Alienware monitors, like the Alienware AW3225QF. I also like the fabric material covering the speaker system at the bottom of the monitor. Dell has used that design touch on past monitors with built-in speakers, but it still looks attractive. Matthew Smith / Foundry The design is functional, too. It ships with an ergonomically adjustable stand that has a moderately sized flat base and doesn’t intrude too much on your desk. The stand adjusts 110mm in height, tilts 25 degrees, and swivels 60 degrees, which is a typical range of adjustments for this category. The monitor doesn’t rotate into portrait orientation, however. The monitor also has a built-in power supply. Some QD-OLED monitors use an external power supply due to their higher peak power requirements, but that’s not the case here, so you won’t have a power brick lurking under your desk. Matthew Smith / Foundry Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED S3225QC connectivity I’ll have a lot of positive things to say about the Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED monitor through the rest of this review, but there’s one weakness that will take it out of contention for some. The connectivity. The monitor has just two video inputs: one HDMI 2.1 input and one USB-C input with support for DisplayPort 1.4. Both can drive the monitor at its full 4K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, but two video inputs are slim for a monitor in this category. Many competitors offer at least three video inputs, and many have four. The USB-C port at least handles both DisplayPort and up to 90 watts of USB-C power delivery, so it’s a solid option for connecting a Windows or Mac laptop that supports USB-C. Downstream connectivity is limited, too. You’re looking at just two USB-C ports, both supporting 15 watts of USB Power Delivery and 5Gbps of data. One port is on the back and the other is hidden in a pop-out hub on the front. I can see what Dell is going for here, as the Dell 32 Plus 4K’s price is reasonable considering its other features. Dell clearly decided to keep connectivity to the essentials and spend the monitor’s budget elsewhere. Ultimately, you’ll have to decide for yourself if that makes sense for you. If you have a desktop computer and a laptop, this is enough. But if you also want to connect game consoles (or other HDMI devices), you’ll need to buy an HDMI hub. Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED S3225QC menus and features The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED’s settings can be adjusted with a joystick located behind the monitor’s lower-right bezel or with Dell’s Display and Peripheral Manager software. Both options work well, as Dell has clearly labeled menus that are easy to understand. However, the monitor’s image quality settings are a bit limited. The monitor has a variety of preset modes including a creator mode, which supports the sRGB, BT.709, DCI-P3, and Display P3 color spaces. There’s also a custom color mode for manual R/G/B adjustment. But that’s it. There’s no precise color temperature or gamma adjustments. It’s fine for most situations, but demanding content creators who want a high degree of control over image quality will be disappointed. The monitor includes a dark stabilizer, a feature common for gaming monitors. It can elevate the brightness of dark areas of the display to make foes easier to see. You won’t find other gaming features like an on-screen crosshair, however. Other features include a 4:3 aspect ratio mode and multiple picture-in-picture and picture-by-picture modes. The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED’s speakers are louder, clearer, and offer far better bass than the underpowered stereo speakers common to PC monitors. Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED S3225QC audio The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED’s audio performance deserves special mention, as the monitor has five speakers, each with 5 watts of power for a total of 25 watts. It also has support for spatial audio, which means it can adjust the audio across the speakers to provide a 3D effect. To do this, the monitor includes a camera in the lower bezel. Dell doesn’t intend it for video conferencing (and, in fact, Windows doesn’t detect it). Instead, the camera keeps track of the user’s head position to adjust the spatial audio. The spatial audio feature works reasonably well, providing some sense of 3D surround in test clips. The main issue will be finding content that supports it, because it’s rare, especially on a PC. Most people use a monitor for PC software, games, and streaming Spotify or YouTube through a web browser. Aside from some AAA games, like Cyberpunk 2077 and Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, there’s not a lot of spatial audio to enjoy. I’m also not convinced the speaker system delivers a good spatial experience. Spatial Audio certainly sounds different, but I didn’t hear the same pinpoint precision I’ve heard from headphones that support it. Fortunately, the 25-watt speaker system has other advantages. The speakers are louder, clearer, and offer far better bass than the underpowered stereo speakers common to PC monitors. The Dell’s speaker system can still sound muddy at very high volume, but it’s clear at more modest levels. Also, because the speakers are so loud—and a couple feet from your face—you’ll likely want to keep them at 25 to 50 percent of their maximum.   The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED’s speakers are solid for games, music, watching Netflix—you name it. Audiophiles will still want a system with a subwoofer and better separation between stereo channels, but for most people, this will completely remove the need for external PC speakers. Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED S3225QC SDR image quality As its name implies, the Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED has a Samsung QD-OLED panel. This type of panel is incredibly popular in 4K OLED monitors, and it generally provides outstanding image quality. Matthew Smith / Foundry First up is SDR brightness. This is a traditional weak spot for QD-OLED monitors, and the Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED maintains that with a maximum sustained SDR brightness of 246 nits. That is right in line with other OLED monitors. However, IPS monitors like the Dell U3225QE and BenQ PD2730S will often exceed 400 nits. The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED also has a glossy display coat, so glare can be an issue. The monitor’s brightness is more than adequate for a room with blinds or shades, but you may have an uncomfortable viewing experience in a room with bright, sunlit windows. Matthew Smith / Foundry Contrast is where QD-OLED typically leaps ahead of monitors with an LCD panel. OLED monitors can achieve a perfect minimum luminance of zero nits, which leads to an immersive, contrast-rich image. The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED follows the trend here. It provides a great sense of dimensionality that will draw in your eye, and it’s clearly a cut above LCD rivals. With that said, all modern OLED monitors can deliver a similar experience. The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED’s contrast is fantastic, but it’s not an advantage over its peers. Matthew Smith / Foundry QD-OLED also leads in color gamut, meaning QD-OLED can display more colors overall. It leads the Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED to provide a color gamut that spans 100 percent of sRGB, 97 percent of DCI-P3, and 94 percent of AdobeRGB, which is similar to other QD-OLED monitors. Some LCD panel monitors can rival QD-OLED, but most can’t. LG’s WOLED also tends to fall a bit behind QD-OLED in this area. Matthew Smith / Foundry The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED delivered an incredibly low color error that’s among the best I’ve seen from any monitor. And this, mind you, is an uncalibrated result straight out of the box. While some monitors can achieve similar values, most don’t. It’s also superb to see this level of color accuracy from a monitor that’s not sold as a “professional” content creation display. Though it certainly lacks image quality features that the most demanding professionals crave, the out-of-box image is outstanding, and makes this monitor a good fit for many video, photo, and digital art workflows. Consider how the Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED compares to the Asus ProArt PA32UCDM, for example. The ProArt’s out-of-box color accuracy is a tad behind the Dell, and the two are equals in color gamut. However, the ProArt is priced at $1,899—over twice as much as the Dell! The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED reached mixed results in gamma and color temperature. It nailed the target gamma curve of 2.2, which means content should look about as bright as intended. But it missed the color temperature target of 6500K with a value of 6100K, which means the image is warmer than ideal. Personally, I don’t mind a warmer display, but a value near 6500K would be more neutral. The monitor also lacks color temperature controls that target precise values, so owners may have trouble calibrating the monitor to hit their preferred color temperature target. This is an area where the Asus ProArt PA32UCDM has a big advantage, as it hits better color temperature results and provides users a lot more control over the image. The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED’s sharpness is solid. The monitor’s 31.5-inch QD-OLED panel provides 3840×2160 resolution, which works out to about 140 pixels per inch. That’s a bit less than the 160 ppi of a typical 27-inch 4K monitor, but much better than the roughly 100 ppi of a 27-inch 1440p monitor. True sharpness freaks might notice pixelation around small fonts, but it looks plenty sharp when playing games or watching Netflix. Of course, all 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitors look similar in this regard. Overall, the Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED delivers a bright, vibrant, accurate, high-contrast image. Its overall SDR image quality is rather similar to other QD-OLED monitors, and most shoppers won’t see much difference between the Dell and QD-OLED competitors from Samsung, Asus, or even LG. Still, the Dell does notch a few wins, most notably in color accuracy and gamma results, both of which are better than average. Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED S3225QC HDR image quality The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED is VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black certified, which is typical for a QD-OLED monitor. But it also supports Dolby Vision, which is unusual and hints at above-average HDR performance. Unfortunately, the monitor didn’t live up to that expectation. Matthew Smith / Foundry A look at the graph tells a simple story. The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED is about as bright as the alternatives when large portions of the screen are lit. However, it falls behind in HDR highlights. Small, bright, high-contrast objects don’t have the same pop that’s found on some competitive monitors. This was true across a variety of HDR modes, and oddly, the Peak HDR 1000 mode was a little dimmer than the Movie HDR mode. That’s not to say HDR looks bad, as the Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED still delivers the contrast and color required to help HDR look great. But the lack of brightness is an issue, so consider a different QD-OLED monitor if you want HDR highlights to sizzle. Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED S3225QC motion performance The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED has a refresh rate of up to 120Hz and can handle Adaptive Sync with official AMD FreeSync Premium Pro support (Nvidia G-Sync also functioned in my testing, but support is unofficial). While there’s certainly similarly priced monitors with high refresh rates and broader Adaptive Sync support, like Alienware’s AW3425DW, the Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED’s enhanced refresh rate and Adaptive Sync support are notable, as it’s sold for general use rather than gaming. Motion clarity isn’t at the top of the pack, but it’s good. The refresh rate of 120Hz, paired with OLED’s low pixel response times, provides modest motion blur behind fast-moving objects, and fast camera pans in 3D games deliver good clarity. Scrolling text is also much easier to read than on a 60Hz monitor. Once again, gaming monitors have the edge here: Most 4K QD-OLED monitors can now handle 240Hz. But the Dell 32 Plus 4K’s motion clarity is great for its category. It’s also worth pondering if a 240Hz refresh rate could provide a meaningful upgrade for your use. You’ll only enjoy the full benefit in games that can hit frame rates up to 240 frames per second, which can be difficult to achieve at 4K resolution. Gamers with beefy GPUs will see gains from a 240Hz gaming monitor, but 120Hz is a fit for users with more modest hardware. Should you buy the Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED? The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED is an easy recommendation for most shoppers. It has outstanding image quality, good motion clarity, supports Adaptive Sync, and includes built-in speakers that beat the competition. The monitor’s downsides include limited connectivity, which provides just two video inputs (one HDMI 2.1, one USB-C with DisplayPort), and modest HDR performance despite Dolby Vision badging. If you can deal with that, the 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED is a great do-it-all monitor sold at an appealing $849.99 MSRP. Read...

It used to be the case that nothing worth having came easy–an old adage that kept us going as we powered through repetitive manual chores, such as the ongoing maintenance required to establish a perfectly manicured lawn. Today, the biggest draw of smart home tech is its ability to unlock free time for its users. That’s time to spend with family, time to socialize, time to sit back and relax–above all, it’s time not spent mowing the lawn. If you’re guilty of obsessing over the prospect of having a green and luscious lawn, but tired of the effort it takes to maintain, robot lawn mowers such as Segway’s Navimow X3 are for you. This is the robot you’ve been looking for The Navimow X3 was built to tackle more than just your lawn—this robot lawn mower was designed to remove all your frustrations regarding robotic mowers and lawncare in general. Cordless design Segway Segway’s robot lawn mower has a wire-free setup, and that means no more trip-hazards and unsightly cable mess. If your garden is oddly shaped, then not requiring boundary wires will be a blessing. Instead, the Navimow X3 uses ultrasonic sensors and 3D vision to navigate the yard and avoid obstacles, including pets and kids who might be playing in the yard. It doesn’t matter how complex is the garden layout, how uneven is the terrain, or how steep is the slope, its larger-than-average cutting blade and accelerated mowing tech will precision-cut your lawn at pace. Autonomous operation Segway Once installed, the Navimow X3 operates fully autonomously. Tasks are scheduled based on the weather, mowing happens automatically and, when done, it will return to the charging station to prepare itself for the next outing. Not only can this robot recharge itself, but it will do so twice as fast as many other robotic mowers on the market. Keeping larger lawns in top shape typically requires a lot of manual labor. The idea of a using a robot to remove some of this hard work is welcome, but the robot also needs to be able to quickly and efficiently make its way around the yard, and complete the full job properly. Thanks to its speedy mowing skills, large cutting blades, and ability to quickly recharge itself when needed, the Navimow X3 is more efficient for maintaining larger lawns than many of its competitors. And that means it can process enormous lawns up to 5,000 square meters in just 24 hours. Wake up to the smell of freshly cut grass The beauty of this robot lawn mower is you can even set it up to run super-early in the morning, or super-late at night. Since it doesn’t make much noise—just 60db— it won’t bother your neighbors. Using the app you can configure the mowing schedule, customize cutting areas, and track progress at a glance. Make the neighbors jealous Your neighbors might watch over the fence with curiosity and awe, but you needn’t worry about anyone borrowing your little yard helper. Segway fits the Navimow X3 with antitheft GPS tracking, which lets you immediately track the robot’s location, and causes it to blare out an alarm if it’s lifted and removed from the boundary you set. This app is easy to integrate with Google Home and Alexa, so you can give voice commands to your smart home assistant to send out the Navimow X3 to do its job. Automate your lawncare today If you just can’t wait to get started, Segway Navimow has an Online to Offline service for the X3 Series robotic mowers. This means you can order the mower online and go pick it up in person from an authorized retailer in your vicinity, or stop by for a product demo or usage tips. View Segway Navimow X3 Series The Navimow X3 Series retails for $2,299. You can also get various accessories to make your lawn even more beautiful, like an edge trimmer, or a signal enhancement antenna. For small-to-medium lawns, Segway is currently offering an early Prime Day deal of 25% off the Navimow i Series. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Extremely easy to install and set up Pan/tilt allows camera to monitor a wide area Users can choose between local and cloud storage or use both Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home Cons Night vision is only effective to ~25 feet Might be too large for some fixtures, so measure before buying QR Code on bulb is too small, making it hard to capture with a phone camera Not compatible with Apple HomeKit Secure Video Our Verdict The Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Lightbulb Camera is one of the easiest ways to add smart home security features to your home. Screw it into a light socket, connect it to the internet, and you’ve got a powerful pan/tilt camera to help protect your home. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Lorex 2K Wi Fi Lightbulb Camera Retailer Price $54.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices The Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Lightbulb Camera is a $69.99 pan/tilt security camera with an integrated, general-purpose, dimmable LED light source designed for homeowners who want a basic, no-hassle path to adding security cameras to their homes. That ease-of-use comes with a few tradeoffs; but if you’re looking for something simple that can get the job done, Lorex has you covered. If you install the Lorex 2k Wi Fi Lightbulbcam outdoors, it will need to be in a luminaire that offers some protection from the elements.Lorex Installation Actually, “installation” seems too complicated a word to describe setup for the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Lightbulb Camera. Pick a light fixture with a standard E26/E27 socket and screw in the unit just as you would with a standard lightbulb. Most users will want to use a ceiling fixture, but the Lorex app allows you to flip the camera lens’ orientation if you prefer to use a floor or table lamp. Note that the camera/bulb must be installed in a weather-protected luminaire if you install it outdoors (more on that in a bit). You’ll find plenty of similar lightbulb/camera combos, but none that carry the reputation and history of such an established brand as Lorex. Download the Lorex app for iOS or Android, turn on the light fixture, and scan the QR code on the unit to connect the app and set up a Wi-Fi connection for the unit. The QR code is incredibly small, so make sure you’ve got a plan (or at least a stepladder and a flashlight) before you start your scan. Once the install is complete, the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Lightbulb Camera looks like a slightly overgrown lightbulb. Hardware You can flip the camera’s video stream if you install it upside down in something like a torch lamp. James Barber/Foundry The Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Lightbulb Camera looks like a standard bulb at first glance, but this is a substantial device—measuring about 7 inches tall and more than 3 inches wide. The bottom half houses a 2K (2560 x1440 pixels) motorized pan/tilt camera that sweeps a full 360 degrees. Its stationary field of view is 107.9 degrees diagonal, 92.2 degrees horizontal, and 50 degrees vertical).  The light is a 400-lumen, 6,500?K LED ring, which is roughly the brightness of a 40-watt incandescent. That makes the unit suitable as an accent light or for porch mood lighting (although its color temperature is relatively cool for that purpose), but it’s not at all capable of lighting up a driveway. The bulb carries an IP65 weatherization rating. According to our IP code guide, that means it’s impervious to dust ingress and that it’s protected against water projected in jets from any direction. As I’ve already mentioned, the bulb’s LED element must be covered if installed outdoors. Put it a transparent sconce or some other type of indoor-outdoor fixture. The camera’s pan/tilt motor is remarkably quiet, and its entire housing is a sturdy plastic that should hold up to years of use. Video quality Lorex’s app has all the features you’d expect to find for a modern security camera. James Barber/Foundry Like many smart home devices we’ve tested, the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Lightbulb Camera is limited to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection. Its 2K video, captured at 15 frames per second, features excellent image quality, with details that remain clear when using its digital zoom. Motion detection effectively identifies people and vehicles when they enter the camera’s field of view. Lorex doesn’t include a microSD card, but users can add their own (up to 256GB). Of course, limiting yourself to local storage means that you could lose access to your video in case of theft, accident, or natural disaster. As a backup, Lorex also offers a cloud subscription plan that gives users access to the last 30 days of live recordings for $2.99/month or $29.99 year. If you want to use multiple Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Lightbulb Cameras or pair them with Lorex video doorbells or security cameras, you’ll need to pay $9.99/month or $99.99 year for up to 10  devices in one location.  Night vision is color during low-light, shifting to IR black-and-white imaging when pitch dark. The capture works well up to 20 to 25?feet; past that, details fade. It’s usable, but not the enhanced-video quality familiar to viewers of TV crime shows. App and AI You’ll need to scan this tiny QR code when you set up the Lorex 2k Wi Fi Lightbulbcam in the Lorex app.James Barber/Foundry Lorex touts its use of on-device AI (i.e., video is processed locally, vs being first uploaded to the cloud) to differentiate between people and vehicles when motion is detected, at which point it will send an alert to your smartphone. The camera also supports two-way audio and there’s an onboard siren should you need to deter an unwelcome visitor from hanging around. The app has a clean and simple interface, but you can dig down to access myriad options. A privacy slider on the app’s home screen disables the camera if you’re going to be in field of view for extended time and don’t want anything recorded. You can invite shared users to install the app, after which they’ll gain access to all the features of your installed unit. Two-way audio lets you hold a conversation with anyone who approaches the camera, and there’s a menu of responses that lets a pre-recorded voice tell a visitor things like “We’ll be there shortly” or “Please leave the package at the door” when motion is detected. You can choose from five levels of motion sensitivity, and you can limit motion alerts to the presence of people or vehicles. You can also adjust the audio sensitivity of the camera’s onboard microphone by decibels. The built-in light is controlled by a slider that shows up on the home screen just above the video image. There’s also a snooze button on the home screen that offers a variety of time spans to pause notifications. If you’re an Apple Watch user, the Lorex app sends notifications to your wrist and users can pause them from the watch screen. Lighting The dimmable integrated LED light bar produces a maximum of 400 lumens of brightness, roughly equivalent to a 40-watt incandescent bulb. James Barber/Foundry Think of the light fixture as an accessory for the camera more than a traditional light bulb. Lorex designed the light primarily to optimize the camera’s ability to capture video. The unit’s 400-lumen limit keeps it from being an effective primary light source in a basement or dark hallway. If you’re using it indoors, you’ll want lamps or other overhead lighting sources in the room for everyday use. While it’s an effective light source for nighttime video capture outdoors, don’t compare this product to such floodlight/camera combos as the Ring Floodlight Cam Pro (2,000 lumens), the Eufy Floodlight Cam E40 (also 2,000 lumens), or even the Eufy Wired Wall Light Cam S100 (1,200 lumens). Understand its limitations—as well as its benefits, given that each of those three devices must be hardwired to your home’s electrical infrastructure—and you’ll likely see past its limitations. There are plenty of low-cost, no-name 2K cameras that screw into a light fixture. Some of them even have light bulbs. A few even have a limited range of pan and tilt the Lorex. What you won’t get is the reputation and history of an established brand like Lorex, a concern that seems far more important to consider with home security systems than, say, a portable Bluetooth speaker. The pan/tilt camera has a privacy mode that covers its lens.James Barber/Foundry That feature also makes the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Lightbulb Camera a compelling option for renters. There’s no drilling or screws involved, and no extras cables. Unscrew the unit when you move and be set up at your next address in a matter of minutes. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best home security cameras. Should you buy a Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Lightbulb Camera? The Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Lightbulb Camera adds a security system to the kind of light fixture that everyone already has at their home. A simple swap can add with high-end smart surveillance, at least somewhat discreetly camouflaged inside a bulb. Image quality is above average, and features like local storage, voice control, and an on-demand lens cover for privacy demonstrate thoughtful design. Some users will be less impressed with its other performance metrics. The brightness of its onboard LED lamp will be the biggest sticking point for many, and the camera’s night vision fades with distance. Outdoor installations are limited to luminaires that offer some protection to the camera. Finally, setup can be a mild nuisance due to the tiny QR code on its base. Overall, however, this unit is a winner. You get a rotating, talking security camera that screws in like a light bulb for less than $70. 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