Smart light bulbs are arguably the most crucial tech product to launch in the last decade. Without these, the smart home industry in general could never have started.
Philips Hue and LIFX are two of the most prominent smart lighting brands:Philips Hue or LIFX? Choose the best smart light bulb for your home Philips Hue or LIFX? Choose the best smart light bulb for your home Are you overwhelmed by the number of smart lighting products available? Here you will find everything you need to know before choosing smart light bulbs for your home. Read more in the world. Generally speaking, they offer similar products:Both product lines allow you to change colors, intensities, and lighting schedules at will. Beneath the surface, however, there are differences between the two.
In this article, you'll learn more about the LIFX and Philips Hue product lines and see how they compare. By doing so, you'll have a better idea of which solution is right for you.
By definition, smart lighting is a technology designed for energy efficiency. Unlike traditional LED bulbs, which are becoming more energy efficient, smart lighting offers automated controls that can make adjustments based on external conditions, such as the availability or availability of natural light.
To determine if a lighting product is smart, consider two simple gifts. First, the product will have "Smart" somewhere in its title. Second, look at the product description for the language that states it's controllable with an app.
When smart lights were introduced, most could change colors. Smart light bulbs are now available in colorless versions called "white" or "ambient white," depending on the company. The former offers a shade of white and is similar to traditional light bulbs. The latter provides shades of white that can be automatically adjusted depending on the time of day.
The most important benefit of using bulbs that do not change color is the price. These smart bulbs are less expensive and still offer most of the features found in the multi-color versions.
Founded in September 2012, California-based LIFX's first lighting product launched as a Kickstarter project. Since then, the company's offerings have grown considerably.
Today, you can buy the traditional LIFX bulbs and the ones marked "LIFX Mini." The company also offers feature lighting products such as LIFX Tile and LIFX Beam.
LIFX Wi-Fi Smart LED Light Bulb (A19), Adjustable, Multicolor, Dimmable, No Hub Required, Works with Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant LIFX Wi-Fi Smart LED Light Bulb (A19), Adjustable, Multicolor, Dimmable, No Hub Required, Works with Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant Buy Now on Amazon $44.99
The company's traditional bulbs offer over 1,100 lumens per bulb, which is incredibly bright and is equivalent to a traditional 75-watt incandescent bulb. Available in various sizes, these bulbs offer 16 million colors to create the perfect mood in combinations of red, blue, yellow, orange, purple, green, pink, and cyan.
The company's newest LIFX Mini line features a more compact design than the original and offers 800 lumens of light at maximum brightness, which is comparable to a traditional 60W incandescent. These lights come in three varieties:the full-featured LIFX Mini Color, the Day &Dusk mood changer, and the fixed LIFX Mini White.
Setting up LIFX lighting products is as simple as adding a light bulb to your existing light fixtures. To control the lights, use the official LIFX app for iOS, Android, or Windows 10. LIFX does not require the purchase of a separate hub to operate the bulbs. Instead, they connect using your existing home Wi-Fi system. Once connected, you can use the lights with other smart products and services, such as Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Nest, and IFTTT. LIFX promises that each bulb will last 22.8 years, assuming average usage is three hours per day.
As for the cons of using LIFX lighting products, there aren't too many.
First, keep in mind that if your internet connection fails, you can't control your lights with your smartphone or computer. Instead, you'll have to turn them on and off manually, the old-fashioned way. Second, for Apple HomeKit Compatibility 4 Apple HomeKit-Compatible Products You Never Knew You Needed 4 Apple HomeKit-Compatible Products You Never Knew You Needed There's so much more to the world of Smart Home than lighting and gadgets. These HomeKit-enabled devices can change your home for the better, but you may not even know they exist! Read More
Traditional LIFX bulbs can be expensive when purchased individually, but you may find slight discounts when purchasing more than one fixture at a time. LIFX also offers bulbs that use 950nm infrared light to help improve the night vision of infrared cameras. These bulbs are about $20 more than the regular version.
You'll pay about $20 less for LIFX Mini Color bulbs compared to traditional lamps, and even less for LIFX Mini Day &Night and LIFX Mini White bulbs.
Philips Hue color changing LED lamps arrived in 2012, and it is still the most famous smart lighting brand. Philips Hue alternatives that are really worth it. Philips Hue alternatives that are worth it. The Philips Hue system is a leader in smart lighting. , but there are some worthy alternatives. We've picked three that offer the same basic feature set and hackability. Read more around. The company's product line is divided into three main categories based on the type of bulb involved. The most popular of these are marked. “white and color environment.” These lighting products provide the full experience, offering nearly unlimited colors and the ability to sync with your music, TV, and games.
The company's White Ambiance bulbs can help you gently fall asleep and wake up by adjusting your natural white light based on the time of day. The Phillips Hue White line of products, such as the LIFX Mini White, is a basic smart bulb with one fixed light.
Philips Hue lights offer 800 lumens per bulb, and each bulb is designed to last 25,000 hours.
Philips Hue Single Premium Smart Light Bulb, 16 million colors, for most lamps and overhead lights, Hub Hubed, Works with Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant Philips Hue Single Premium Smart Light Bulb, 16 million colors, for home most overhead lamps and lights, Hub Hubed , Works with Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant Buy now on Amazon Too low to show
When it comes to compatibility, Philips Hue works 8 great apps for Philips Hue Lights 8 great apps for Philips Hue Lights The Philips Hue system has its own app, but why settle for the default when there are so many great options out there? These 8 apps give you fabulous options for some really cool effects. Read More It is currently compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Nest and IFTTT.
The benefits of Philips Hue are pretty self-evident. This line offers a greater variety of products than LIFX, and its products tend to be available in more locations.
But the traditional LIFX bulbs are the best Philips Hue when it comes to brightness:1,100 lumens vs. 800 lumens. And, perhaps the biggest downside:You'll need to buy a separate Philip Hue bridge (about $50) to use these lights.
Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance lamps are about $10 less than a comparable LIFX bulb. You will pay less for White Ambiance and White only products. Also, you can find small discounts when buying more than one lamp at a time. In addition, Philips Hue offers How to set smart lights so they don't bother everyone How to set smart lights so they don't bother everyone Sometimes all you want is a smart light bulb that does what it's supposed to do:turn on or off Sometimes it can be very difficult to get your smart light to work properly! Read more starter kits How to set up smart lights so they don't bother everyone How to set smart lights so they don't bother everyone Sometimes all you want is a smart light bulb that does what it's supposed to do:turn it on or off. Sometimes it can be very difficult to get your smart light to work properly! Read More
There's a lot to love about LIFX and Philips Hue lighting products. In many respects, you can't go wrong with buying from either company. However, depending on your situation, choosing one over the other may be a better option.
LIFX products are an ideal option for those who don't need a lot of smart lights installed. For example, college students living in a dorm or apartment, or someone who just needs to add lighting to one room in their home. Not having to buy a $50 bridge is another benefit to selecting LIFX.
Philips Hue offers more of a total solution compared to LIFX, and is ideal for homeowners looking to add smart lights to every room in their home. From a pricing standpoint, Philips Hue lights are slightly less expensive. How to turn lights on or off with your phone cheaply How to turn lights on or off with your phone cheaply In this article, you will learn about the many ways to control the lights in your home with your phone. You'll also see how each solution compares in terms of pricing. Read More
What kind of smart lighting products do you use in your home and why? Let us know below.
