Looki L1 AI Pendant Review: A Quirky and Surprisingly Charming Wearable

The Looki L1, a unique wearable showcased at CES 2026, caught my attention. It’s a small camera shaped like an obscure Pokémon that you wear around your neck. This device tracks your day, offers AI assistance, and provides feedback on your choices – at least, that was my experience when I tested it out during a day at the show.

Let’s dive into how the Looki L1 performed in Las Vegas.

Photo and Video Quality Variances

Looki claims that the L1 can capture 1080p videos and photos, which sounds impressive on paper. However, my testing revealed significant variations in the results. The outdoor footage looked surprisingly good, comparable to entry-level budget smartphones. Yet, indoor shots displayed noticeable graininess, akin to HD webcams. While better than expected, it falls short of perfection.

Indoor shots consistently exhibited graininess, likely due to the camera sensor similar to those in HD webcams. Although the L1’s performance indoors exceeded expectations, it still has room for improvement.

Additionally, the battery life of the L1 depends on usage. While the AI recording in “Story Mode” can last up to 12 hours, continuous video recording can deplete the battery quickly. This aligns with the energy-intensive nature of video recording, draining the device similar to smartphones or other wearables.

AI Assistant Experience

The L1 features an onboard AI assistant that tracks your day, offers comments, and responds to queries when prompted by touching the front touchpad. Despite functioning adequately for tasks like checking the time, weather, or specific information, the AI struggled to respond effectively in noisy environments, such as the CES show floor. Nevertheless, the AI functionality, while not flawless, provides a cost-effective alternative to previous similar devices.

Dave McQuilling / Foundry

Contextual Understanding

The standout feature of the Looki L1 is its ability to create a narrative of your day based on captured moments. However, its contextual interpretation can be inconsistent at times. For instance, a simple joke I made was misconstrued, leading to a humorous but inaccurate summary for the day. This highlights the device’s occasional misinterpretation of context.

Dave McQuilling / Foundry

AI-Generated Comics

Looki offers a feature to transform your day’s experiences into comic strips, showcasing various styles for visual storytelling. While this feature appears promising in social media posts, its execution can be more complex than anticipated. Users may encounter challenges navigating the app to generate comics, requiring a learning curve to fully utilize this functionality.

Despite its drawbacks, the novelty of the Looki L1 remains appealing. While it may not match the quality of smartphones, its convenience as a ‘set-and-forget’ device caters to vlog enthusiasts. With continued AI enhancements, the L1 could become a compelling choice for certain users. The L1 is priced at $199 and available for purchase on the Looki website.

While the Looki L1 may not dominate as a top CES product, it offers a unique perspective among the array of innovative technologies showcased at the event.