16.10.2018

Initially I had problems connecting this bulb to the android app - the reason for this is that I don't have a home WiFi network; I have an unlimited mobile data plan which covers all my needs.However, this causes problems because the app looks for a WiFi source that can't come from the same device that it is running on. Eventually I got round this by:1) connecting a tablet to my phone hotspot.2) downloading the LIFX app onto the tablet, registering an account.3) connecting the bulb to phone hotspot via tablet app. Setting it up on app.4) downloading app on phone, opening with account registered at 2).5) the bulb is now controllable by phone (and tablet of course)That might be pretty obvious to some of you,but it's there for posterity anyway.In use, the app is very good - it's compatible with a whole host of different audio interface programmes such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smartthings, nest, IFTTT... the list goes on, and some of the names get a bit obscure.I assigned my bulb to my HOME, in the LIVING ROOM, and named it the STAND LAMP. This updated on both devices instantly. There are all sorts of options for controlling the lights as a whole room, a whole house, or individually. It's very flexible and, to a greater extent, intuitive.Even I managed to get to be able to turn the light on and off by voice, but the Google Assistant did keep trying to open my phone display settings every now and then.You can choose either a colour palette, or a white light palette (not the technical term); I was enthused by the latter because it ranges from a '2500w ultra warm' to a 9000w 'blue ice'. I'm trying to find out whether it would be effective as a SAD light remedy.If colour is your thing, then there's the full spectrum here. There's a central dimmer slide to adjust overall brightness in either of the two.Lots of setting choices - you can select from mood-based themes, special effects (not impressed with the music visualizer - it uses the phone mic for audio input, which didn't seem to work as the lights just flickered independently of the tunes, even when they went off. Candle flicker, timers and a dawn to dusk feature are just some of the many things to try out.There are things I haven't bothered doing - like seeing a timer for on and off times - because I'm using my phone and the WiFi connection is not ever-present.I was surprised at the cost of the bulb at first, and I'm still getting my head around the idea that a light bulb can cost this much. I'm just going to have to judge it on the functionality, because there's no way - even on a buying binge - that I would be spending that much on what amounts to an Osram that does tricks.It's good quality, easy to set up, and it really does have a vivid range of colours. The white tones are very easy on the eye, too.I like it - but I can't seem to stop it doing random flickering now, even though I've turned all the special effects off, turned off the bulb at the power switch, everything. This is beginning to affect my enjoyment, to say the least.Edit - turning it off and on 5 times at the switch restarts the bulb, and solved the problem.Edit 17/10/18: - the app really is good; not only is it very intuitive, but you can cycle through and combine colour, intensity and brightness in such easy ways. It really does deserve marking it up to five stars because the resulting lighting in the room can be quickly changed to exactly what you want. I really like it.

22.10.2018

This is a review of the LIFX Mini (E27) Wi-Fi Smart LED Light Bulb with multicolour functionality and not any of the other bulb versions currently available from the Amazon page.Overall I'm pretty impressed with this bulb although I have very heavily invested in the Philips Hue system so would be reluctant to change reflecting the cost of smart bulbs.The bulb has a number of positive aspects:1. I like the compact design. There was a time, and still is with some makes, where the bulbs are larger than incandescent or fluorescent bulbs and certainly heavier. This is certainly not the case with this bulb.2. Whilst small it produces 800 lumens which is more or less the output of the Philips Hue E27 bulbs which are larger.Actually LIFX produce some colour bulbs with 1100 lumens which is very impressive.3. The bulb uses less power than similar Hue bulbs.4. No hub is required for then lights to work - which tend to be needed for Osram or Philips bulbs which reduces costs a bit and the need for a box physically connected by an Ethernet cable to your router.5. The colours are very rich indeed particularly for 'difficult' blues and greens.6. The LIFX ecosystem is well integrated with other Smart Home devices. There's a major issue at the moment that most smart lighting tends to use a bespoke system. This gets even worse when you try to link lights to other smart tech such as cameras, alarms, smart speakers, plugs and so on. I'm very impressed that LIFX will link with Samsung's SmartThings which isn probably the best integrated smart device interface currently available. It's a bonus it works with Alexa, Google Assistant and the rather more limited Apple HomeKit.7. Installation was completely problem free and the associated app is intuitive and fairly powerful.All systems have their downsides of course and with LIFX there are one or two.1. Even without the need for a hub in you buy a few of these bulbs they are going to be more expensive than the opposition so there's a cost impact.2. I wish they would link to Hue bulbs but that's not possible apart from an IFTTT rather clunky solution.3. Whilst LIFX are investing in an increasing range of light fittings, and have some good options now, I think Hue is doing more - with new versions emerging every few months.4. LIFX started as a Kickstarter company, and there's nothing wrong with that but I feel that Philips have the financial power to continue to support strongly the Hue ecosystem.I guess if I was buying smart bulbs from scratch and only intended to install a few, and the light fittings were correct, I'd go for LIFX. I don't see people disinvesting from Hue in the short term though if they already have the system. It may be that LIFX is just a little too late to this technological field to compete in the same market as Hue, hence my suggested emphasis on buyers of fewer smart bulbs. The annoying thing is that the bulbs are probably better than Hue's!Overall a firm four stars, and close to five.

20.10.2018

We already have a set of Philips Hue bulbs (plus the requisite hub that plugs into our wifi router) at home, so I was keen to give this LIFX bulb a go.I was surprised at how easily we managed to get it all going. I found the set up process very straightforward:1. Download the LIFX app.2. Plug in the bulb and follow the Lifx app on-screen instructions. The bulb found our wifi network straightaway. Then there was a bit of a pause as the app asked if I wanted to update the latest firmware onto the bulb. In total, the initial set-up process took just a few minutes. But if you can set up a wireless router,then setting up these bulbs shouldn't be a problem.Operating the light with the app takes about one second longer than just switching a light on or off using a traditional wall-mounted light switch. But otherwise, we have the app on multiple phones in the house so that everybody can operate the bulb.Just to give you an idea of how we use it, I have put this bulb on our upstairs landing so that it comes on automatically quite dimly in the late afternoon/early evening (and then we will bring this time earlier as the evenings get darker earlier in the winter and then set it to come on later in the summer months). Then it gets brighter in the late evening when the whole family is at home. Then at midnight it goes very dim (acting as a night light) until it switches itself off in the morning. Given that we can choose the precise colours of the bulb, we have had various family discussions to decide on precisely what shades of yellow and orange we want it at the different times of day. Overall, we're very pleased!*****UPDATE TWO YEARS LATER*****I initially got our first LIFX bulb back in 2018. It's now 2020. Even though we have mainly Huge lights in the lounge and kitchen, I didn't want to put all of my eggs in one basket so have actually bought further LIFX bulbs for our main bedroom for winter. Now, we have two ceiling bulbs that come on at the same time as our alarm goes off (at around 6am, when it is totally dark outside and in the bedroom): these bulbs come on quite dimly then get brighter over the course of three minutes, allowing our eyes to adjust gradually. The bulbs also are on a schedule so they turn themselves off at night, to remind us to stop reading and to go to sleep!After having had a couple of years now to compare the Hue and LIFX set-ups, I think I actually prefer the LIFX set-up. As well as being slightly cheaper, I think the LIFX app is also simpler to use. So if I had to start over again (e.g. if I was helping a family member to set up a smart lighting system), I'd probably go for a set of LIFX bulbs.

29.1.2019

I love smart lighting, which I think is obvious, given that I have fitted my entire house (granted, this is reasonably small) with the Philips Hue lighting system. The key use that I have for smart lighting is the ability to turn it on and off when I'm not in the house, but I also love being able to change the colour of my lighting, depending upon whatever mode I am in.Had I known about these Lifx bulbs when I was fitting my Philips Hue system, I have to admit that they would have been a serious contender for my money (for the reasons I will set out below). Perhaps the only thing that would have put me off adopting the Lifx system is the lack of the range of bulbs i.e.

26.11.2018

Being the owner of Philips Hue, Yeelight, Osram and (previously, before they shut the service down) TCP Lighting smart bulbs, I was keen to see how LIFX compared as it's not a brand I was familiar with.When I initially read the name of this bulb, the 'Mini' in the title made me assume it was the smaller E14 / SES fitting. But of course it is an E27 bulb and the name refers simply to the fact that it is more compact than the average E27 smart bulb. This is useful as I do find in general they can be quite bulky, making them a bit of a bulbous (get it?) eye sore in an open light shade.Of course a big plus of this bulb is that you don't need a hub, it simply needs a WiFi connection and is controlled via smartphone app.

21.10.2018

This is the third smart bulb I have tried in the past year and, I would have to say, they really are much of a muchness after a while. Every one I've tried has had a different app to connect it but all the apps have essentially worked the same. As has the Alexa integration.The only reason I am stressing this is because this is, at the time of writing, retailing for just shy of £50 and I know full well you can get a smart bulb that will do everything this does for a lot less. For the record, Amazon also sell the Lombex brand which have proven very good and cost markedly less than this.On the plus side this does come with a rather marvellous box as you can see in the photo.What is doesn't have

23.10.2018

So, first thing: This bulb comes in a rather nifty small tube container. It's robustly packed, and looks like it would struggle to break on its way to you. Which is something of a relief!OPening the box up, you've got the bulb and a very short booklet of instructions The latter largely advises you to download the company 'app' , which will allow you to set up the bulb from your smart phone, tablet or other device.Having downloaded the app, and registered as a user (sigh) , the actual setup was quite straightforward. Simply had to turn the bulb on (having screwed it into a light fitting!), find it in the list of wifi options on my phone, select it, and then select the wifi network to connect it to.

22.10.2018

This small smart bulb is my first LIFX product so I needed to download the LIFX app (iOS version) and then create an account – all very straightforward. I had initially tried to connect using my Apple HomeKit app but this was not possible until after I had set the bulb up using the LIFX app – the Apple HomeKit code is stuck on the back of the instruction booklet so don't loose it in case you need to reinstall in the future! Like my smart devices from other manufacturers this bulb needed to be connected wirelessly to my smartphone directly in the first instance (instead of the phone being connected to my router) so I could then connect the bulb to the router via the phone – fairly straightforward.

20.10.2018

I like Smart Bulbs. It is a technology I find useful. I like to be able to turn the lights on and off when I'm out or to dim the light from my seat or change colours on a whim.This Lifx bulb is pretty pricey but it promises much; easy set up (more on that later), works with Alexa/Google Home, twenty year life span, etc etc.Set-up was not straightforward, at least not for me. I went through the set-up procedure after downloading the app from the Google Play store. I tried four times to install the light, but four times I received an error telling me the light could not connect to my WiFI and to try again. I was just giving it "one more go", my fifth atempt, and thankfully it connected.

25.10.2018

I had never used a smart bulb before and for an apparently simple product it has turned out to be almost life-changing. I absolutely adore it! I've bought another to match this one for my other bedside lamp and I have 6 more on my Christmas present list :) I do already own a Phillips Hue lamp but it's just one of the ones with a remote and an endless supply of colours but not any smart features. I'm astonished how far this tech has come in the few years since I bought my Hue.I should start by saying that I set this up both with the proprietary app and for use with Siri. The only problem I experienced was that Homekit couldn't work with it ... until it dawned me that I was trying to use it with a bedside touch light.

9.2.2021

Setup is very easy after downloading the LIFX app, after that Alexa integration is very simple and the dedicated app is only really needed for advance settings.Absolutely tons of colours to chose from, lots of colour temperatures and “mood” presets to suit all tastes. Brightness is adjustable.No issues with connection on my dual band router though I suspect the bulb is hooked on the 2.4Ghz band only. Responds very quickly to Alexa announcements after giving the bulb a friendly name in the Alexa app - I’ve settled for lamp and added it to my living room group. I suspect google integration is equally as straight forward.It’s worth double checking the fitting (big screw is E27!),

20.10.2018

In my view, LIFX has the best offering of connected bulbs on the market at present. This LIFX Mini is now my 11th bulb from their wide range. Unlike the Dutch company who also makes lights, there is no need to a specific hub. Each light is independent and connects to the WiFi network.Connection is dead easy: put the bulb in lamp, go to WiFi settings, find the bulb and add it. Go to the app (easy download on iOS) and you are ready to go. Sometimes you have to upgrade the firmware. It takes no more than 30 seconds and is all automatic. Once set up, possibilities are limitless.The colours. Super easy to select. The difficult part is deciding which one to use! The app also gives the option to use certain themes,

26.10.2018

This is an interested addition to the connected home/internet of things. It looks like a standard energy efficient lamp, cloudy glass bit with prominent plastic base. It is quite heavy so don't drop it! It is of the big swively type, so it won't fit all fittings (see how I avoid technical jargon here?). You swivel it in, switch on, install app (I tried android version), follow instructions and bingo it works. I tried it with its own app, but it can be used through other connected home apps, like google assistant, alexa etc. The controls allow you to change colours, change brightness, select a series of modes that go through colours and brightnesses in a variety of combinations.

24.11.2018

This is my first "Smart" wifi light and I love it.It was relatively easy to install - screw it in, download the app and it took me through the whole set up. We had the light changing colours in minutes. The app also allows different effects such as candle flicker, spooky (of and on randomly) etc. which the kids love. Its very bright and so can be used on its own (especially on the "whiter" settings. You can also schedule different times for the lamp to come on and at what intensity which is nice. Also, as you would expect, compatible with Google Assistant, Alexa and the like.I have lost connection to the light once and I needed to power off at the switch and power on again and I did connect

5.11.2018

We're long-time users of LIFX's excellent original bulbs; the good news is that this smaller version is mostly just as good. Still staggeringly expensive though. When I say 'mostly', I'm directly thinking of brightness where the mini is fractionally less bright than it's bigger brother. In a lamp though, brightness isn't any sort of issue. Here as well, the ability to wash an area of the room with colour works very well; it's easy to create nice little oasis of cosy comfort, or to switch instead to a good bright clean light for reading.I'm fully convinced by LIFX, especially when combined with voice control, which works spectacularly well for Amazon Alexa.

LIFX Mini Colour Smart Bulb (E27) - Reviews

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