Philips Hue system light your home smartly with Philips Hue light your home smartly with Philips Hue If you can afford the start-up costs, you won't find a more compatible and easier-to-use smart lighting system on the market. . Read More is the big kid on the block when it comes to smart lighting, but there are some worthwhile alternatives. We've selected three of the best that offer the same basic feature set and hackability.
According to Limitless LED about page, both brands are owned by the same company and manufactured by the same partner. There is some difference between the Wi-Fi bridge supplied by each carrier, but the brands appear to be interoperable. From here on, I'll call them unlimited LEDs.
ONE a lot As a cheaper alternative, an unlimited LED bulb costs between $18 and $27, depending on the wattage (MiLight sells 6W and 9W bulbs). Downlights and spotlights are also available, and a starter kit of what appears to be the MiLight (sold as a "Bargain" on Amazon) can be had for $66. Like the Hue LEDs, the Limitless also require a Wi-Fi bridge. -Fi.
Although these bulbs look suspiciously like cheap knock-offs of other lighting systems, they have relatively good reviews and are much cheaper than the major brands. And while they don't include the features of some of the others (no "music match" mode, or time-based dimming, for example), they do provide a solid 820 lumens on the 9W bulb, and they're hackable, so which can potentially make them do whatever they want. And at 50,000 hours of life, you won't be replacing them for long.
There are some differences in the Wi-Fi bridge, but you should be able to use the open source Limitless LED API to hack either set of lights.
Visit the Limitless LED store or the MiLight store to shop now.
Although they are slightly more expensive than Hue bulbs at $99 each, LIFX bulbs do have some advantages. The most convincing is that there is no need for a bridge, so all you need is a smartphone with the companion app. The bulb itself, available in white or gunmetal grey, looks great too, and not all smart lights light up your home with smart lamps – here are your options light up your home with smart lamps – here are your options What exactly is a smart lamp? and what's out there Read more can you say.
LIFX Original A21 Wi-Fi Smart LED Light Bulb, Multicolor, Adjustable, Dimmable, No Hub Hubed, Pearl White, Works with Alexa LIFX Original A21 Wi-Fi Smart LED Light Bulb, Multicolor, Adjustable, Dimmable, No Hub Required, Pearl White, Works with Alexa Shop Now on Amazon
The companion app doesn't have great reviews, but the bulbs have been well received and can deliver a wide range of vibrant colors at up to 1,000 lumens. They're also rated at 40,000 hours, so you won't have to worry about replacing them for long. The number of features in the LIFX bulbs isn't quite enough to match the hue, but geo-fencing, IFTTT integration, morning/evening dimming, music sync and social media alerts are currently available, with other plans in the works. . And a light bulb (pictured above right) is coming soon.
Buy a LIFX bulb on Amazon or visit the LIFX store for 4-packs, 10-packs, and slightly lower prices ($80 per bulb)
Misfit is best known for their personal fitness devices, but they're making an entrance into the smart home. What is a smart home? What is a smart home? We recently launched a Smart Home category on MakeUseOf, but what is a smart home? Scene More with its bolt light bulbs, which have an expected release date of mid-March. They're looking to rival the Hue in terms of light and color quality, and at $50 per bulb (and $130 for a pack of three), they provide solid value. They also don't need a Wi-Fi bridge or smart home hub. Battle of the Smart Home Hubs:What's Out There and What's Next? Battle of the Smart Home Hubs:What's Out There and What's Next? Read More You can even control it from Misfit fitness equipment.
Millions of colors, over 800 lumens, simulated sunrise and the ability to sync the bulbs to your sleep cycle with a Misfit training device make the Bolt a very attractive option. While it's not known so far how hackable the light bulbs will be, or if there will be an open API, I'm sure someone will find a way to give users the ability to customize their smart light bulbs. Same goes for IFTTT integration The Ultimate Guide to IFTTT:Use the Web's Most Powerful Tool Like a Pro The Ultimate Guide to IFTTT:Use the Web's Most Powerful Tool Like a Pro if this aka IFTTT is a free web-based service. so your apps and devices work together. Not sure how to build your applet? Follow along with this guide. Read More
Of the Philips Hue competitors I've seen, this seems to be the most promising.
Pre-order the Misfit Bolt
The market for high color LED bulbs is currently a bit thin, with Philips leading the way. But other companies are trying to catch up, and they are certainly making headway in the field. Of course, if you're looking for bulbs that don't change color, and just want to be able to control regular energy-saving LED lights from your phone, you have more options:Insteon and WeMo (strengthen your lamps with Belkin). WeMo 3 Ways The Belkin WeMo Can "Smarten" Your Regular Household Lamps 3 Ways The Belkin WeMo Can "Smarten" Your Regular Household Lamps We took the time to look at the possibilities of turning your regular household lamps into smart lamps. Read more) both Offer lights that fit your needs..
Have you used any of these smart light bulbs? Or do you know others who are good Hue competitors? Share your thoughts below!
