When it comes to high quality smart lighting, two companies dominate: Philips Hue and LIFX. Both companies offer a wide range of products and price points, but Philips Hue is better known.
If you’re just entering the world of smart lighting, it can be difficult to decide which company to turn to. This guide will go over the strengths and weaknesses of each company to help you make the right choice for your home.
Philips Hue Vs LIFX Brightness, Color and Power
A19 LIFX bulbs emit slightly more light than Philips Hue bulbs. LIFX lamps produce 1,100 lumens compared to the 800 lumens produced by Philips Hue, but they do it at the expense of more energy – 11 watts compared to 10. Of course, this difference is so small that if you don’t count every penny of your bill for utilities, you won’t notice.
Both Philips Hue and LIFX support up to 16 million colors. However, it is widely believed that LIFX lamps produce brighter colors than Philips Hue lamps. By this we mean that the colors appear deeper. But if you don’t compare the two images side by side, it will be difficult to tell the difference.
Product List
When the products first entered the market, Philips Hue was in the lead due to the small number of competitors. LIFX offered only a limited selection of light bulbs, while Hue offered many ambient lighting options. The gap is now narrower as both companies have more products to choose from, but Hue still has the best lineup.
LIFX capitalizes on its color vibrancy and caters to the RGB-friendly crowd. LIFX Beam, Z LED and other lamps use the patented LIFX Polychrome technology, allowing a single lamp to reproduce several different colors at the same time.
LIFX lamps can also create a variety of patterns, creating a wavy look, candle flicker and multiple mixed colors – all thanks to the same technology.
While Philips Hue does not support polychromy features, the company has a product line that caters to almost every possible need. Philips Hue has seven different starter kits, as well as recessed lighting, strip lights, pendant lights and more.
When it comes to shopping online, Philips Hue has a simpler interface. It is well organized and easier to browse than the LIFX store.
Third Party Support
Philips Hue is compatible with a much wider range of products than LIFX. The name Philips carries a certain level of recognition, and the age of the company has allowed them to forge connections that the much younger LIFX has not yet been able to make.
Philips Hue is compatible with HomeKit, Alexa, Google Assistant, SmartThings and IFTTT. Hue also works with third-party companies such as Xfinity and Razer to create interesting and targeted lights. Hue also works with various dimmers and other types of switches to provide even more control over your home lighting.
LIFX falls well into this category too. In addition to working with HomeKit, LIFX also works with Google Assistant and Alexa, as well as Microsoft’s almost forgotten Cortana. While LIFX doesn’t have the same number of third-party accessories and products as Hue, the number of compatible products continues to grow.
Price
Here’s something to remember from the get-go: Neither LIFX nor Philips Hue are budget. In both cases, the cost of the light bulb is high, and the use of some additional accessories is a huge budget.
Philips Hue can be quite expensive to get started. The Hue White Ambiance starter kit starts at $ 120 with four bulbs and a Hue bridge. If you want the ability to change the colors of your bulbs, you’ll need the Hue White and Color Ambiance Starter Kit, which starts at $ 200.
LIFX has a lower initial cost to get started. One bulb costs $ 44, but it connects directly to your Wi-Fi network without using a hub. While the cost of a bulb for LIFX is higher, the upfront cost is more affordable – and you don’t need a hub to connect, which can be a big benefit for many users.
Philips Hue Vs LIFX: Which should I buy?
The right smart light bulb for you depends on what you plan to use it for. If you want to use smart lighting for your entire home with voice control and apps, Philips Hue will be the most affordable option in the long run, especially if you only use white bulbs.
If you want smart lighting to be used more as decoration than as proper lighting, then LIFX is the best choice. LIFX is often considered the best option for entertainment, but Philips Hue claims the name is related to the Philips Hue HDMI Sync Box and the ease with which game consoles can be connected to the system.
Both LIFX and Philips Hue are good options. While there is a price difference, it doesn’t really matter in the long run. Both bulbs are rated to last over 25,000 hours, so the bulbs you buy will be with you for years to come.
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