LIFX A21 SuperColor Sensible Gentle overview: Reasonably priced Hue different

I really like a superb sensible gentle. With sensible lights, there aren’t crippling inconveniences like standing up and strolling throughout the room to show a lamp on. With a telephone close by, all it takes is the push of a button, and the sensible gentle is on and pulsing to a Milky-Means-galaxy-inspired coloration scheme or a theme derived from feelings like invigoration — no matter that may be. And if a telephone is not close by, then all it takes is a minute or so of shouting backwards and forwards with Google.

Sensible lights are available in many varieties. There are good string lights, floodlights, lamps, and easy gentle bulbs, just like the LIFX A21 SuperColor. Sensible bulbs are often reasonably priced (in comparison with different sensible gentle sorts), simple to put in, and match proper into your present gentle fixture. They’re a wonderful solution to stage up your sensible dwelling. However let’s examine if the LIFX A21 SuperColor may very well be an ideal match in your dwelling.

Value, availability, and specs

Hopefully, you’ve a Residence Depot close by

Priced at $40 per bulb, the LIFX A21 SuperColor is fairly cheap, given all its options and brightness. Sadly, there aren’t plenty of shopping for choices. This LIFX bulb (not like older LIFX fashions, that are extra extensively accessible) is just accessible via the US and Canada {hardware} and residential retailer, Residence Depot.

What’s good concerning the LIFX A21 SuperColor Sensible Bulb?

Unparalleled temperature vary and brightness

There’s lots to rave about relating to the LIFX A21. Nonetheless, as a purveyor of Google-centric sensible dwelling devices and solely one of the best vibes that sensible lights can provide, I prioritize two issues above all else: sensible dwelling integration and coloration high quality.

First, connecting this bulb to a wise assistant is not essential, particularly for those who aren’t controlling a number of sensible gentle manufacturers concurrently. The LIFX companion app is a pleasant device for setting schedules, creating customized scenes, and grouping a number of LIFX lights.

With a single bulb, you’ll be able to’t fully get the coolness of among the animated coloration results, however there are nonetheless schemes to select from primarily based on paintings, holidays, and moods. The bulb can cycle via colours primarily based on such a theme or in an order you specify. I particularly appreciated the circadian rhythm characteristic provided within the LIFX app, which mechanically adjusts the bulb’s shade primarily based on one of the best gentle temperature to eat at any given time of day.

In my dwelling, the LIFX bulb joined a number of Philips Hue bulbs and a number of other sensible Govee lights, so sensible dwelling integration was important. Including the LIFX A21 SuperColor to my Google Residence took seconds, and as soon as that was achieved, it may very well be grouped and managed with every part else in my workplace. As with all sensible gentle, you will nonetheless must reference the native companion app for in-depth coloration scheming, however Google Residence at the least provides easy coloration modifications.

Gentle and coloration high quality

For a portion of its testing, the A21 SuperColor was put in in a Tiffany stained glass flooring lamp. This lamp sits within the nook of my workplace and should provide shiny, room-illuminating, cool-to-neutral white gentle, whereas additionally providing dimmer, hotter choices for night ambiance.

The A21 SuperColor is the bulb for the job. At 4000K (which is a shade of white proper on the fence between chilly and heat gentle), it shines at round 1,600 lumens, equal to a 100W conventional incandescent bulb. A comparable bulb by Philips Hue, the BR30 E26, solely achieves about 1,200 lumens at this temperature.

I used to be extremely happy with the A21 SuperColor’s temperature vary — 1500K via 9000K, a various spectrum able to stark blue-white chilly gentle, and deeply orange heat gentle. The acute ends of the vary in all probability aren’t lengths you’d usually discover, nevertheless it’s good to know they’re accessible. (The Philips bulb I referenced above, by comparability, provides a variety of 2000K via 6500K.)

The A21’s Colour Rendering Index (CRI) is 90, placing it above the comparable Philips Hue’s CRI of 80.

This worth displays how properly the bulb’s white and heat lights will illuminate pores and skin tones, wooden tones, and different surfaces generally misconstrued by poor gentle. To place it merely, most lighting professionals contemplate a CRI of 80 to be okay coloration high quality, and a CRI of 90 to be good or superb, when it comes to coloration richness, brightness, and readability.

When it comes to precise coloration, the LIFX A21 known as SuperColor for a purpose. Its total vary is phenomenal. The reds and pinks are the brightest, whereas the blue shades solely attain a brightness of about 170 lumens. Even so, each shade examined met my expectations in vibrancy and depth, and the bulb solid is extensive sufficient to evenly cowl the encircling area, whether or not it’s a desk, studying space, or kitchen desk.

What’s unhealthy concerning the LIFX A21 SuperColor Sensible Bulb?

$40 for a single bulb nonetheless is not a discount

With regards to the performance, design, and options of the A21 sensible bulb, I’ve nothing to complain about. It is value noting that $40 per bulb nonetheless is not a low-cost solution to gentle up your own home by any means. Nonetheless, it is nonetheless extra reasonably priced than upgrading to a completely sensible gentle fixture, like a Govee Ground Lamp 2.

The LIFX A21 would’ve additionally obtained an ideal rating if it weren’t for this gentle bulb’s disappointing availability. The one retailer you should purchase this bulb from is Residence Depot — not even LIFX itself or Amazon, which is baffling because the model’s different bulbs are on the market via Amazon at the least. Perhaps this may change, given the A21’s relative newness.

Do you have to purchase it?

Model loyalty would possibly complicate issues

LIFX provides high quality sensible bulbs, a user-friendly companion app, and simple Google Residence integration. They are not the most affordable bulbs you should purchase, however they are not the costliest, both — completely priced to replicate their worth, for my part.

In the event you’re already a whiz with the Philips Hue companion app, and have the Hue bridge, the A21’s notable spec checklist might not be compelling sufficient to cross model lights, particularly if you do not have a wise assistant and doing so would imply yet one more app to make use of for controls. Nonetheless, if the A21 is your first sensible bulb or if there is a sensible assistant in your house that may group the LIFX with different manufacturers, you should not overlook the A21. It is one of many brightest and most moderately priced methods (so far as sensible bulbs go) to outfit your sensible dwelling.