Author: Eric Ravenscraft / Source: reviewgeek.com
We like Philips Hue lights. They’re among the best smart lights around. However, some of the company’s recently announced light fixtures might not be the best investment.
Earlier this month, Philips announced a series of new light fixtures including a bathroom ceiling light for $179, a lighted vanity mirror for $249, a pendant hanging light for $149, and a standing floor light for $179. Then, earlier this week, they announced a collection of lamps, starting at $70, but ranging all the way up to a 59″ floor lamp that costs $250.
We’ve known for a while that Philips Hue bulbs are expensive—a single full-color bulb can cost $50 on its own—but some of these new fixtures are pushing the boundaries on what we’d consider a worthwhile deal.Why We (Usually) Like Philips Hue
Before we start to sound like we’re ragging on Philips Hue, it’s worth pointing out why they’re usually the smart bulbs we recommend to begin with. It’s easy to scoff at a $50 bulb (or even $40 when it’s on sale), but like most LED bulbs, they last a really long time. Philips claims their bulbs will last up to 15,000 hours or 15 years. While the reality is a bit more complicated than that, it’s a little easier to stomach such a high cost when you have at least a couple more summer Olympics between now and when you’ll have to replace them. Set aside $5 every year for ten years and you’ll be able to afford whatever newfangled replacement will be out by then. You can even save some money by getting the regular white bulbs or the color ambiance bulbs instead.
The bulbs are also standardized to work in almost any existing light fixture. While other solutions like smart switches require you to modify the wiring in your home, you can stick a Hue light in almost any lamp or fixture you own.
You can get the standard 60W-equivalent A19 bulb, the BR30 flood light style bulb, or even the E12 candelabra style bulb. That’s more than enough options for most lights in your home.You also have the flexibility to change them however you want. Prefer your color bulbs in that lamp in the corner instead of the overhead light? Swap them out. Wanna upgrade to a new light fixture? Put your old bulbs in the new unit. Moving to a…
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