Pro Wide range of colors
The Hue app comes with default color pallets, but you can take control and customize the colors any way you want. The bulbs support up to 16 million different colors covering all areas of the spectrum.
Pro Supports IFTTT recipes
There are many fun IFTTT App Recipes that you can sync with your phone and Websites. If THIS happens then do THAT to the lights, i.e. IF your team scores a touchdown(ESPN), THEN turn the lights the color of your team.
Pro Tons of utility and customization
Philips has released the Hue API, allowing individual developers to create their own apps that utilize the Hue bulbs. These apps are often more robust than Philips' own app, letting lights change color in sync with music, flickering whenever you get a tweet, or can change colors to reflect the...
Con Requires a central hub
The Hue bulbs need to be connected to a hub which needs to be wired into your router. This adds another device to the mix, and also increases the cost (it's $60 on its own, but it is also included in some of the bundles).
Con Bulbs aren't super bright
The first gen bulbs (what are available right now) have a maximum brightness of 600 lumens - similar brightness to a 50-watt bulb. The second gen bulbs will have an increase to 800 lumens, which is in-line with the amount of light that 60-watt bulbs produces - however these aren't available qui...
Con Some colors can be difficult to create
Blue tones tend to come out purplish, and green tones tend to be more yellowy than they should be.
Pro Very bright
While few other SmartBulbs get as bright as a regular 60 watt bulb, the Lifx gets even brighter. Instead of just using it for accent lighting, these smart bulbs are some of the only ones that can effectively be used as a primary lighting source.
Pro Simple setup
As soon as they are plugged in, the lights will turn on and start broadcasting a Wi-Fi signal. To pair it to your phone, just connect to that Wi-Fi signal. After you connect, you're done and can switch back to your home Wi-Fi.
Pro Third-party integrations
The bulbs can hook into the Nest Thermostat, Nest Smoke Detector, as well as IFTTT (If This Then That - a popular automation app based on 'recipes').
Con App lacks features
The app doesn't allow for light scheduling or custom color cycles.
Con High brightness washes out colors
The colored RGB lights can only achieve 50% brightness on their own; after 50% white LEDs are also turned on to achieve a very high total brightness. However, mixing white light with colored light will dilute the colors so that red light at 70% brightness will look more washed out than red light at...
Con Heavier, and warmer than other LED lights
To achieve their high brightness, the Lifx need more diodes than other LED bulbs, which means that they get hotter. To help deal with the heat, there are more heat sinks which adds the weight (they weigh 10.4 ounces each). Despite the heat sinks though, they still run a bit warmer than other LED bu...
Pro Rich, stereo audio
Ion is traditionally an audio company, so it isn't really surprising that they managed to create a product that offers good audio quality. These won't provide the same boom as dedicated speakers, but they'll do the job for most tasks. It should also be noted that these don't need a...
Pro Easy to use app
The app is very basic - you can control the brightness for the bulbs or turn them on and off.
Pro Simple setup
There's no hub required, and the bulbs pair easily directly to your phone. The process isn't any harder than pairing a bluetooth speaker.
Con Limited to 2 speakers
While you can have virtually endless numbers of Ion Shines hooked up at once, only 2 can play audio at once. It would be really handy if you could connect more up, as their sound would compound making it seem louder and richer.
Con White light only
While the lights are dimmable from your smartphone, most smart bulbs offer a RGB LED which lets you illuminate your room/house with different colors and shades of white. These lights only have 1 shade of white, and can be dimmed.
Pro Very configurable lighting options
In addition to basic timers and schedules, you can set the lights to dim over a set amount of time - from 1 minute to an hour - which can help get into and out of bed. The lights are also able to begin turning on with the sunrise (through IFTTT)
Pro Configurable recipies
Thanks to IFTTT (If This Then That - phone app for automation based on triggers) support, you can build your own custom recipes that suit you. There are also plenty of already created recipes from other users that you could use as well.
Pro Compatible with multiple smart bulb ecosystems
Of course its compatible with WeMo's ecosystem, but it is also compatible with SmartThings and Revolv. This allows for more options down the road, and the ability to mix different bulbs in a single setup.
Con Requires the WeMo Link hub
The bulbs are connected through the WeMo Link which is a central hub, which then connects to your phone. It adds cost to the setup, but thankfully you only need 1 to control a large collection of WeMo Links. This hub doesn't have any wired connections - it plugs into any ordinary wall power out...
Con Limited connectivity
There is no option for a remote control or web-based control.
Pro Self automated
Equipped with a motion sensor to automatically turn on the light when somebody walks in, as well as an ambient light sensor to determine how bright the light needs to be, the BR30 are some of the smartest bulbs out there. They are currently some of the only bulbs that work on their own without need...
Pro Custom programming
These lights are compatible with IFTTT (If This Then That) - a powerful automation tool that lets you use recipes from the community or create your own from thousands of triggers and actions.
Pro Easy to use presets
The app is where you can make changes to the lights. While they aren't RGB, they do have adjustable color temperature as well as an automatic mode which uses a blue-ish hue in the morning, and a warmer hue closer to evening. You can also manually set the color temperature if you prefer. You c...
Con Requires a hub
The hub needs to be plugged directly into your router, adding one more thing cluttering the likely already busy area. This also means that you have little choice in the placement of the hub, while other systems have a wireless hub that can be plugged into a wall socket in a closet or somewhere else...
Con Limited colors
These lights are limited to color temperatures - they don't offer full RGB coloring. They can do shades of blue and yellowish as well as bright white, but no deep blues, reds, greens or other colors.
Con Learning feature needs some work
These lights have a hard time adapting to certain activities. For example, if you are reading and being fairly still, the lights will think that the room is empty and turn off automatically. Because of the learning ability, in the future sometimes the lights will think you are reading and stay on e...
Pro Default gateway without internet access
Mitigates security risks.
Pro Very hackable
Compatible with most open source home automation systems.
Con Default gateway without internet access
Be aware, if you're planning to switch your lights when away from your local wifi
Pro Music synchronization
'Rhythm' is the feature which lets your Nyrius bulbs react to music - changing color with the beat. It works fairly well, although it uses your phone's microphone to do so which means that voices or other loud noises can affect it.
Pro Doesn't require a centralized hub
Nyrius smart LED bulbs connect directly to your phone without the need for a centralized hub. This reduces the cost of the system.
Con Dim lights
These bulbs only produce 490 lumens - equivalent to 40-watt bulbs. They aren't bright enough to light up a room on their own, and unless you have multiple in one room they will only effectively be used as accent lighting
Con 8 bulb limit
While other systems can handle up to 50 bulbs, the Nyrius app can only manage 8 bulbs. The bulbs aren't too bright either, so you will be limited to 2...maybe 3 rooms before you'll have to look for another smart bulb option.
Con Limited to bluetooth range
The Nyrius bulbs use bluetooth, which is limited to around 100 feet. This means that you can't change the lights over WiFi when you are away from the house.
Pro Affordable
At just $10, these don't cost much more than a regular lightbulb. They offer RGB lighting, there's no need to pay for a hub, and offer scheduling options as well. This is a fully featured smart bulb for half - or even a quarter the price of the competition.
Pro Basic setup
Because there's no hub to hook up, the setup process is simple. Just pair the bulbs with your phone, and you can connect up to 32 bulbs. Giving access to family/friends is easy too - as long as you both are on the same Wi-Fi.
Con A bit dim
At 600 lumens, these bulbs are 25% dimmer than most other bulbs. This will make illuminating rooms - the primary function of light bulbs - a bit more difficult although not impossible. The bulbs may not be sufficiently bright to simply replace existing bulbs...you may need to add an extra lamp or l...
Con Unintuitive app
While the app contains everything needed to make the most of the smart bulbs, it places features inside menus where you wouldn't expect to look. For example, one of the sections is called "Lab" where you can find the Colorful, Game, Music, and Night Light settings. The timer button is...
Con Limited range
Bluetooth has its benefits, although it only has a short range. You need to physically be near the bulbs in order to change their settings, while other Wi-Fi bulbs (or bluetooth bulbs connected to a Wi-Fi hub) let you control your lights from around the world as long as you have an internet connect...
Pro Inexpensive
At just $15, this is one of the most inexpensive smart bulbs available. It's great not only as a first step into smart bulbs, but also as an inexpensive addition into a Philips Hue or other compatible bulb system.
Pro Many options for automation
Robots is an easy to use automation tool that lets you take control and create your own recipes for your bulbs to follow (flash blue when you receive a text, flash red when the door opens, etc). Shortcuts are also supported - you can setup a cluster of lights to all enter a pre-determined mode with...
Pro Compatible with many ecosystems
At launch it was only compatible with Wink, but since then has added Staples Connect, SmartThings, and Philips Hue Bridge support. This allows for a wide range of hardware (at varying prices), as well as your choice of ecosystem.
Con Below average color rendering
The colors that the Cree connected provides are just below average for smart bulbs. At 80% of the spectrum, they fall behind the GE Link (90%), Belkin WeMo (88%), and Osram (81%) but a hair ahead of the Philips Hue (79%).
Con Hub required
You will need a hub, but at least you can pick your choice of hardware from cheap solutions ($30) that just control the lights to $50+ systems that can be the brains for your whole connected house.
Con Poor lightswitch dimming
As with all smart bulbs with in-app dimming, dimming from a lightswitch provides less than optimal results. The two dimming systems both try to take control, which results in flickering and some buzzing.
Pro Choice of hardware
Linked above is the classic bulb style, but Osram offers a few different products that fall into its Lightify family of products. These include an RGB flexible strip of LEDs (really cool desk/counter/home theatre accent lighting), and two other cheaper bulbs that don't offer RGB lighting (one h...
Pro Access to 2 major ecosystems
These bulbs aren't attached to their own proprietary ecosystem - they are built to be compatible with Wink and WeMo which are already established ecosystems which allow for third party automation as well as other features.
Pro Very efficient
While any LED will be more efficient than incandescent bulbs, the Osram Lightify is one of the most efficient smart bulbs currently available, providing 89 lumens per watt (beating WeMo at 87, Philips Hue at 81, and GE Link at 78).
Con Lacks polish
The app isn't as intuitive as the other higher-end competitors, and lights have a slight delay when turning on.
Con Short lifespan
While virtually every other smart bulb is rated at 25,000 hours, the Osram Lightify is only rated at 20,000 hours. While it isn't certain these lights will clunk out before the others, it seems more likely.
Pro Easy lighting management
Once you get the Wink App working, controls for the bulbs are simple. Whether you are modifying one bulb at a time, or grouping them to adjust many all at once, the controls are simple and work fairly well. Automating bulbs is just as easy - from basic scheduling (turn on in the morning, off when y...
Pro Great color range
These bulbs can manage to display 90% of the color index - more than any current RGB LED bulb. It scores very well in all colors, expect pure red (about 60%) and pure blue (about 74%). Different shades of these colors all perform well.
Pro Compatible with many products
The GE Link is part of Wink's smart home platform standard, and are compatible with other products that utilize Wink (Honeywell, Dropcam, Philips Hue and more).
Con Buggy software
Between installing, registering, and connecting, the setup process is very slow and buggy. Even once connected, changing the colors or settings takes longer and appears more choppy than competing bulbs. Updates can fail to install properly multiple times in a row (even with restarting your phone a...
Con Hub required
To access any smart features, you will require a hub. There are different hubs available, with more to come. Currently there is the Link Hub ($30) which will handle lighting, or the Wink Hub ($50) will be able to work the lights as well as other smart home systems. There's also the coming-soon...
Con Inefficient compared to other RGB bulbs
The GE Link requires 12 watts to produce 800 lumens - the TCP LEDs and Belkin WeMo provide the same lumens at 11 watts and 9.5 watts, respectively, and the Philips Hue provides 750 lumens using only 9 watts. The GE Link is one of the most inefficient RGB LEDs available, however it is still many ti...
Pro Different bulbs available
There are 3 bulbs that are part of Ilumi's lineup - the regular A19 LED bulb which replaces a regular 60-watt bulb, BR30 Flood LED bulb which offers more light ideal for track or recessed lighting, as well as an Outdoor Flood LED which is similar to the indoor flood light, but it has been trea...
Pro Selective integration
The Ilumi works with Google's Nest Thermostat as well as IFTTT (If This Then That - an app and web service that lets you automate actions based on variables...it works like coding, without needing to know how to code). This allows for cool things like flashing the bulbs when you receive a call...
Pro No central hub needed
Each bulb hooks directly up with your smartphone, removing the need for any central hub.
Con Limited to bluetooth range
The Ilumi bulbs only use bluetooth (no WiFi), but they work together through a mesh network so that if you are within bluetooth range of one of them, you are in range with all of them. Range is said to be about 150 feet away from the outermost bulb.
Con Slow response
Two headlining features of the Ilumi are slow to react - Music Sync should change the color of the bulbs along with any music that is playing, however it lags behind and doesn't respond well. The same can be said for the Torch Mode which is supposed to turn on your lights when it senses your ph...
Con Very expensive
$60 per bulb is very expensive, even for smart bulbs. They are energy efficient, and also rated up to 20 years of lifetime which can help justify the cost a bit.
Pro Easy bulb managing
You can select up to 5 bulbs to be part of a group, and a single bulb can be part of multiple different groups. This lets you manage the bulbs room by room, which is much easier than changing each bulb individually.
Pro Lighting modes for any occasion
Through the app, you have access to many lighting modes. From 'disco' which pulses in-beat with the music to timers and configurable color pallets to even selecting a color by using your phone's camera and looking at an object, these lights seem to have it all.
Pro Control the lights from anywhere
Because they use Wi-Fi, these bulbs can be controlled from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. That means that you can turn your lights on from work if you are expecting a delivery, you can turn them on while you're on vacation to deter buglers and more. Also, it's convenie...
Con No en mass controls
At most, you can adjust 5 bulbs at a time (if they are in the same group). That means that at night, you may have to go through the app and turn off 5-6 different rooms. There is no universal 'off' button to turn all the lights off, or change them all at once.
Con RGB or white
This bulb has a dedicated white LED, however you cannot use the white LED and turn on another LED to give it a splash of color - its either in RGB mode or pure white. You can attempt to re-create white using the RGB LEDs, and customize the color that way, however it is not possible to use all 4 LE...
Pro Easy-to-use app
The app isn't confusing at all. It gives you 9 dynamic lighting options to choose from, such as magic hour (simulates a sunset), northern glow (simulates the northern lights), and cozy flames (simulates fire). Each of these has an option to adjust the intensity, although instead of just adjusti...
Pro No hub needed
These bulbs hook up directly to your iPod/iPhone/iPad, with no need for a physical hub device.
Con Very dim light
The 430 lumens brightness of the Elgato Alvea is almost as bright as a 40-watt bulb, but not quite. These lights will be very expensive to use as primary light sources, as you'll need many of them to sufficiently light up a room. They are really only cost-effective as accent lighting.
Con Limited coloring options
While most smart bulbs let you pick from a color picker, for solid colors the Elgato Alvea has 7 to choose from (blue, green, orange, purple, red, white, yellow). Each shade is then adjustable in both brightness and shade, however it would have been much easier to just use a color palette like most...
Con No Android support
Unfortunately, Elgato Alvea doesn't support any Android devices. It only works with iPhone (4S or later), iPod (5th gen) iPad (3rd gen or newer), or Apple Watch.
Pro Lighting effects included
There are a number of preset modes, such as a sleep timer, a snore mode (breathing effect), and a flashing effect. Dimming is smooth as well, which is good to hear as some other bulbs seem to find this tricky sometimes.
Pro No hub required
While many smart bulbs require a hub to connect, the Oort bulbs connect directly with your phone which not only makes the initial setup easier, but also less costly (as you don't need to buy the hub).
Con Very dim light
180 lumens won't do much good in terms of lighting (for comparison, regular bulbs produce about 800 lumens - the Oort bulb provides less brightness than the typical refrigerator light). This is really only effective as a supplement to an existing lighting solution as mood lighting, and not a re...
Con Very short range
With a range of only 12m, don't expect to control your lights from far away. The good news is that the bulbs work together in a 'mesh' configuration, meaning that as long as you are within range of one bulb (and the other bulbs are in range of each other as well), you can control all t...
Con Poor color reproduction
The colors this bulb produces don't look saturated, and there isn't a very wide range of colors (about 20 noticeably different colors).
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