I’ve been looking for a small gift for my nephew for a while now, and then I randomly came across the Buggy Lens. I immediately bought it, thinking it would be a cute, kid-friendly camera for him, something simple, fun, and safe to use. But the moment it arrived, things took a very different turn.
What Is the Buggy Lens?
Buggy Lens is marketed as a kid-safe “smart camera” that lets children record videos, take pictures, and supposedly learn through different “AI-powered” features. It’s sold mostly through ads and pop-up sites, often with heavily edited promotional videos and exaggerated capabilities. In reality, it’s a small plastic toy camera with basic photo/video functions.
Why I Bought It
I wanted a tiny gadget my nephew could play with, something to keep him busy without handing him a real phone or expensive camera. The ads made Buggy Lens look interactive, durable, and surprisingly advanced for the price. So, I bought it, hoping it would be a fun little surprise.
My Experience Using It
When I opened the package, I immediately felt the difference between what I was promised and what I actually received. The camera felt very lightweight… not in a cute kid-toy way, but in a “this might break if it drops once” way. It didn’t have any real sturdiness or quality feel.
Setting it up wasn’t hard, but the interface was slow and laggy. The buttons didn’t always register, and navigating the menu felt like something from 2007. I tried taking a few sample photos and videos before handing it to my nephew, and that’s where the disappointment kicked in. The photo quality was extremely grainy, the colors were off, and videos stuttered. It wasn’t even close to what the ads showcased.
When my nephew finally started using it, it held his attention for about five minutes. The screen froze twice, and at one point, it just shut off completely, even though it was fully charged. He kept trying to press the buttons, but the delay frustrated him, and he eventually handed it back and said he didn’t want it anymore.
After that, I gave it another chance to see if maybe I was being too harsh, but no. The “AI features” are basically filters and stickers… the speaker is faint, and the overall experience feels more like a novelty item than an actual functional kids’ camera.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Cute design for very young kids
- Lightweight and easy to hold
- Simple interface (when it doesn’t lag)
- Affordable if you buy the AliExpress version
Cons
- Very cheap build quality and feels like it could break instantly
- Camera quality is extremely poor
- Freezes, lags, and shuts down randomly
- Battery drains fast
- Overpriced on many reselling websites
- The “AI features” are not real AI
- Kids lose interest quickly because it’s too slow and glitchy
Is It a Scam?
Not a full scam, but definitely misleading. The promotional videos show crisp videos, smooth performance, and features that this device simply doesn’t have. Buggy Lens is basically a low-budget toy camera being sold as a “smart AI learning device,” which it is not.
Alternatives
- VTech Kidizoom Camera
- Ourlife Kids Waterproof Camera
- Prograce Kids Action Camera
Conclusion — Would I Recommend It?
Not really. Buggy Lens looks adorable in ads, but it doesn’t perform well in real life. It’s laggy, cheaply made, and kids get frustrated with it quickly. If you want a fun, functional camera for a child, you’re better off choosing one of the alternatives that actually work as advertised.
Also read – Curvebaby.com Review: Unreliable Online Shop We Don’t Recommend