The market for smart lighting is becoming more mature. The number of systems is growing, lamps from different brands are now working together and the smartphone apps are getting more functions. That all sounds promising, but how well do the pears work in practice? Computer!Totaal tests six well-known smart lighting systems with an E27 fitting.
When you want to buy smart lighting, you have plenty of choice these days. Philips Hue is perhaps still the best-known smart lighting and we have of course tested it. In addition, we also tested lamps from Ikea, Yeelight, Trust, Innr and TP-Link.
Note the fitting
If you plan to purchase one or more smart bulbs, it is advisable to check in advance which fittings your fixtures use. The three most commonly used fittings are E27 (large fitting), E14 (small fitting) and GU10 (spotlights). Check carefully whether the lighting you have in mind is available in the correct fitting(s). Practically all smart bulbs are for sale with an E27 fitting, and a number of brands, including Ikea and Philips Hue, also sell their models with the other two fittings. However, there are also manufacturers, such as TP-Link, that only offer E27 lamps. To avoid unpleasant surprises, we therefore recommend that you study the compatibility of your favorite lighting system.
Test method
The six tested lighting systems consist of E27 lamps with – if required – a bridge (connection hub). All systems work via apps for Android and iOS. We have hung the pears in our living room and office. In the two-week test period, we installed the lamps via an Android smartphone. Operation took place via the manufacturer's Android app and – if supported – the Google Home smart speaker. When testing the lighting, we paid attention to the ease of installation, the user-friendliness and possibilities of the apps, the color rendering of the lamps and the compatibility with (own) accessories and lighting systems from other brands. Testing took place over our local Wi-Fi networks and a mobile internet connection (outdoors).
IKEA Trådfri
Furniture giant Ikea released its own smart lighting system in the spring of 2017. The Trådfri series consists of dimmable white lamps with an E27, E14 and GU10 fitting. The E27 version is also available as a color lamp. Ikea also offers a range of accessories, from motion sensors to ceiling plates. Thanks to the ZigBee protocol used, you can also link the Ikea lamps to similarly functioning systems such as Philips Hue. The Trådfri system can be controlled in two ways: via a remote control that works up to ten meters and supports up to ten lamps, or via a bridge. That bridge can control up to fifty lamps and accessories and lets you operate the system from your smartphone. The remote does not offer that option.
It is therefore best to purchase the bridge if you want mobile control. Please note that you can only operate the lamps on the home network. Unfortunately, it is not (yet) possible to control the lighting outdoors. Setting the bridge and lamps is not difficult, but feels a bit illogical. For example, you have to hold the bridge upside down to scan a QR code on the bottom and the Ikea manual says that you have to hold the (optionally required) remote control at a maximum of 2 centimeters from the bridge for registration. Once you have linked the lamps, you can easily adjust the brightness and white tone. It is also possible to set time schedules to, for example, wake up quietly from the increasingly bright lights. The app is user-friendly but not very extensive in terms of features. It is nice that the system works with the well-known voice assistants and has Apple HomeKit support.
IKEA Trådfri
Price€32.95 (connection hub), €15 (remote control), Loose lamp from €9.99 (white E27 bulb)
Website
www.ikea.com 8 Score 80
- Pros
- Affordable
- E27, E14 and GU10
- Range of accessories
- Also works without bridge
- Good support speech
- Negatives
- Few automation options
- No remote control
- Installation some wood-string
Ikea lighting just got smarter
When Ikea released its smart lighting in the Netherlands in April 2017, the system was actually not that smart at all. The lamps could only show white light; a color lamp was missing from the range at the time. In addition, Ikea promised many features that would only become available later. From compatibility with the Philips Hue 2.0 bridge to support for Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, early Trådfri owners found themselves with a version 1 product. Fortunately, Ikea kept its promises and released an update last fall that made the Trådfri system compatible with Hue. In the months that followed, the manufacturer also added support for the two voice assistants and Apple's HomeKit. A color lamp was also released, but the starter set with a bridge and several lamps disappeared. Ikea gave the reason that it prefers users to put together their own lighting set.
TP-Link Smart Bulbs
Since its launch (Spring 2017), TP-Link's smart lighting portfolio consists of four lamps: the LB100, LB110, LB120 and LB130. The lamps are – still – only for sale with an E27 fitting. A plus is that the lamps have their own WiFi radio for a wireless connection to your router. So you don't need a bridge. TP-Link's bulbs are noticeably bigger than those from Philips and Ikea. That can be a problem if there is little space in the fixture. In terms of functionalities, the lamps from TP-Link are unchanged. The LB100 and LB110 provide white light that you can dim and the LB120 can show different shades of white. The LB130, the most expensive model, produces 16 million (dimmable) colors. The reproduction of whites and colors is lively and good.
You install and operate the lamps via the Kasa app, which is also used for other TP-Link home automation. Creating an account is mandatory, so that you can also control the lamps outside the home. The installation of the WiFi lamps is smooth and you can link them to the Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice assistants. This makes it possible, among other things, to turn the lighting on and off with your voice. The app is user-friendly and works properly, but has fewer options than the Hue app. You can easily choose and dim shades of white (and with the LB130 colors). It is also possible to create light scenes and set time schedules, where the lamps adjust the amount of light to the position of the sun. It is striking that the lamps take quite a long time to wake up from their standby mode. If you indicate in the app that a lamp should turn on, it usually takes 2 to 3 seconds before the lamp responds.
Where other manufacturers regularly release new bulbs and accessories and improve their apps, TP-Link seems to invest little or no in its smart lighting system. The company has been selling the same lamps for a year and a half that – just like the app – can do just as much as when it was released. The same applies to the app: for example, it is still not available in Dutch. The TP-Link lamps even cost the same and therefore remain relatively expensive compared to the competition.
TP-Link Smart Bulbs
Price€29.99 (LB100, LB110), €39.99 (LB120), €59.99 (LB130) Website
www.tp-link.com 6 Score 60
- Pros
- No bridge needed
- Beautiful (color) display
- Negatives
- Big lamps
- Pricey
- App not in Dutch
- Few developments
Philips Hue White and color ambiance Starter Kit E27
For years, Philips was the undisputed number one when it came to smart lighting. Although the Hue lamps were on the expensive side, they gave the most beautiful (color) light and had an app with many functions. Meanwhile, the competition has increased and improved, so the question is whether the Hue lighting is still the best choice. We started working with the starter set consisting of a 2.0 bridge, three E27 color lamps and a (wireless) dimmer. The bridge is required: you must connect it to your router with the included Ethernet cable, otherwise the lamps cannot be controlled via the app. The installation of the bridge and then the lamps and dimmer is a piece of cake. The app can be used without a Hue account, but you need to create an account for all (automation) options. You can then operate your lamps when you are not at home or have them switch on automatically when you are almost home (via your GPS). All this works smoothly and the app is well-organized and contains many useful functions such as light scenes. In addition, the app works with all kinds of services, from Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and IFTTT to Apple HomeKit and Nest. The bridge supports up to fifty Hue products. A big plus of the lighting system is the wide range of lamps. In addition to lamps with an E27, E14 and GU10 fitting, Philips also sells designer lamps, light strips, ceiling lamps and outdoor lighting. Because the Hue system uses the ZigBee protocol, you can also connect lamps from other brands (such as Trust, Ikea and Innr) to it.
Philips Hue White and color ambiance Starter Kit E27
Price€ 160 (starter set with bridge and three color lamps), Loose lamp from € 19.99
Website
www.meethue.com 10 Score 100
- Pros
- Wide range of lighting (accessories)
- Many automation features
- Best color rendering
- Excellent app
- Integration with numerous services
- Works with Windows, macOS and Ambilight TV
- Negatives
- Bridge required
- Pricey
Ambilight Link
You can also link your Hue lights to your Windows or macOS computer and sync the lights to your games, music, or video. This is done via the (free) Hue Sync software. Another feature is relevant for fewer people, but no less good for that. Anyone who has a supported Philips TV with Ambilight can link their lighting to the television via the app. For example, you can have the (selected) lamps do the same as the Ambilight light strips: project the color of the TV image. We were able to test this on our two-year-old Philips TV and it works surprisingly well. The lamps synchronize quickly and show almost the same colors as the Ambilight. In our case, the color in the living room changes completely with the image on TV, making that exciting film even more real.
accessories
Philips Hue distinguishes itself from the competition with a complete and well-functioning range of accessories. From lamps in all shapes, sizes and price ranges to wireless dimmers and light switches and motion sensors: you can make your lighting system as smart and elaborate as you want. You make your lamps (and yourself) less dependent on your smartphone. Handy, because you don't always have it (charged) with you.
Trust KlikAanKlikUit Starter Set Z1 ZigBee Bridge
The brand KlikAanKlikUit (KAKU) is part of Trust, a Dutch electronics company. The manufacturer's smart home series includes smart lamps that work via the ZigBee protocol. We test the starter set with two E27 color lamps and a (required) Z1 bridge. The lamps are compatible with other ZigBee devices such as the Philips Hue and Ikea Trådfri lamps due to the 2.4 GHz frequencies used. Older KAKU products, such as security cameras and doorbells, use different ZigBee frequencies and therefore will not work with the newer equipment. A separately available Trust bridge (more than 100 euros) forms a bridge and allows old and new Trust home automation to communicate with each other. If you are only going to use a modern lighting system, the Z1 bridge and lamps will suffice. The system is installed via the Trust SmartHome app, which does what it's supposed to do but comes across as very basic in terms of design and functions. You can easily switch the lamps on and off, dim them and give them other colours/white tones, but the (automation) options are limited. The setting also feels a bit illogical because you have to figure everything out yourself. The apps from Yeelight and Philips Hue are clearer and also contain more functions. If you want to adjust your lighting system completely to your own liking, it is better to turn to such a brand. If you don't need more than a few remote-controlled lamps, the Trust system will do. A plus is that the lighting works together with other KAKU products, so you can completely automate and secure your home with one brand and accompanying app.
Trust KlikAanKlikUit Starter Set Z1 ZigBee Bridge
Price€99 (starter set with bridge and two color lamps), Loose lamp from €17.99
Website
www.trust.com/nl 6 Score 60
- Pros
- Works with other ZigBee systems such as Philips Hue
- Works with other KAKU products
- Color lamp also with GU10 fitting
- Negatives
- Bridge needed to work with older KAKU equipment
- Limited and somewhat unclear app
- Z1 bridge only supports 20 lamps
Yeelight (YLDP02YL, E27 socket)
The Yeelight lamps are a bit of an odd one out. You cannot officially purchase them in the Netherlands, but you have to import them via a (Chinese) website such as Gearbest, Aliexpress or Banggood. The reason we include them in this comparative test? We have been using the Yeelights (model YLDP02YL) at home for a year and a half and find them an interesting alternative to the (Dutch) competition. This is mainly due to the competitive price: a Yeelight color lamp with an E27 fitting is available for 20 euros (with free shipping from abroad). You can regularly pick it up on offer for around 15 euros. A bridge is not necessary because the WiFi lamp communicates directly with your router. Yeelight cooperates with Xiaomi, one of the largest electronics manufacturers in the world. The range of smart Yeelight lamps is large and varied, and includes ceiling lights, LED strips and night lights. So we test a set of E27 lamps, which you can easily install and operate via the Yeelight app. It can be used in Dutch – with some spelling mistakes – and it works properly. The app contains many (automation) options, for example to switch the lamps on and off at fixed times. There are also many scenes and choosing colors yourself is also possible. The lamp shows beautiful colors and can be nice and bright, but makes a characteristic buzzing sound when it is switched on. Chances are you don't notice it, but in a quiet room with the lamp close by, you can hear it. The Yeelight bulbs support Alexa, Assistant and IFTTT and should become HomeKit compatible sometime next year. Due to the lack of ZigBee support, Yeelights do not work with lamps from Philips Hue, for example.
Yeelight (YLDP02YL, E27 socket)
Price€ 20,- (import required)
Website
www.yeelight.com 7 Score 70
- Pros
- Affordable
- Compatible with (voice) assistants
- Good color rendering
- Large assortment
- No bridge needed
- Negatives
- Lamp buzzes when turned on
- Not available in the Netherlands
- Dutch app not translated flawlessly
- Color lamp only with E27 socket
Innr BG110 / RB165 / RB178T
The Dutch Innr sells smart lighting in all shapes and sizes (or fittings). From E27 and E14 to GU10, LED strips and recessed spotlights: the range is large. We started working with the RB165 (a white lamp) and the RB178T (a dimmable white lamp) in combination with the BG110 bridge. Unfortunately, Innr was unable to supply a color lamp for this test. This color lamp is currently only available with an E27 fitting. When asked, the manufacturer will let you know that color lamps with an E14 and GU10 fitting will also be available 'at the beginning of 2019'. The entire lighting system uses the ZigBee protocol, which allows you to connect the lamps to a competing system like Philips Hue. Innr explains neatly how to do that.
The Innr app is less clear. I was unable to create an account on my Android phone: I kept seeing a meaningless error message. The same thing happened on my iPad, until the third time I suddenly got a message that my password did not meet the requirements. When I chose a different password, the registration was successful. After setting up the lamps, they do what the app instructs them to do. Unfortunately, the app is usually on the slow side and lacks features. If you want to completely automate your lighting system, it is better to look further afield.
Innr BG110 / RB165 / RB178T
Price€59.95 (bridge), €21.99 (E27, dimmable white), €14.99 (E27, white)
Website
www.innrlighting.com 7 Score 70
- Pros
- Bridge supports 100 lamps
- Wide range of lighting
- Works with other ZigBee systems
- Negatives
- Color lamp currently only with E27 fitting
- App is slow and contains bug(s)
- Few automation options
Conclusion
Last year we crowned Philips Hue as the clear winner of our comparative smart lamp test. Also this year, the Hue system comes out on top, which is due to its high-quality lighting range, user-friendly app and integration with all the services you need (in the future). If a simpler lighting system is enough for you, the affordable lamps from Ikea and Innr. They use the ZigBee protocol and can therefore work together, also with Hue. The Yeelight lighting is a competitively priced exotic alternative that works as it should, but uses Wi-Fi instead of ZigBee. The lamps from Trust (ZigBee) and TP-Link (Wi-Fi) score the least in this test, although they are not bad lamps. Which lighting system suits you best ultimately depends mainly on your (automation) wishes and budget.
