*** September 2020 Update ***
Bumping my rating up from 4 to 5 stars. I've been using a couple of C-Sleep bulbs for a while now. I was having an issue where I was oftentimes having to issue voice commands multiple times to get Google Assistant to change the color temperature of the bulbs. After upgrading the bulbs to the latest firmware using the C by GE app, not only do I no longer have problems with changing the color temperature, but the bulbs now also have a nice fading feature when turning the bulbs on/off.
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*** August 2019 Update ***
I just bought my 2nd C-Sleep bulb. This time around I had no problems getting it set up with Google Home. I'm bumping my rating up from 3 stars to 4. It's much cheaper than the Philips smart bulbs and I like that you don't need a hub when using it with Google Home.
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First of all, if you're trying to perform a factory reset of the bulb, look for the instructions at the end of this review.
Despite the mixed reviews, I decided to give the C-Sleep bulb a try. I found a great Amazon Warehouse deal on one and figured the past reported problems with the bulb were due to older bulb firmware and mobile app versions. As of the end of October 2018, I have to report that the bulb still does not appear to be quite ready for Prime Time.
There weren't any instructions included (not sure if that's because I got it as an Amazon Warehouse deal) so I just did an Internet search on how to set the bulb up. The C by GE website has documentation and YouTube videos to help you with setup and troubleshooting. Unfortunately, some of the documentation is not up-to-date with the latest versions of the bulb and can therefore be confusing. I could not get the bulb to work out-of-the-box with either the C by GE app or the Google Home app so I performed a factory reset of the bulb as suggested. The C by GE website directed me to a YouTube video explaining how to perform a factory reset. I tried over and over again to reset the bulb without success. Finally, after much digging, I figured out through some Google Home documentation that newer versions of the bulb have a different procedure for performing a factory reset. (For your convenience, I listed the two different procedures below.) After performing the factory reset, I still couldn't add the bulb to the Google Home app but I was finally able to add it to the C by GE app. I tried updating the bulb firmware through the C by GE app hoping that might allow me to successfully add the bulb to Google Home but the bulb was already running the latest version of the bulb firmware (v3.0). After several more days of fiddling, I was finally able to delete the bulb from the C by GE app and detect it on the Google Home app. I have no idea why I was finally able to add it to Google Home this last time. I had tried deleting the bulb from the C by GE app and setting it up on the Google Home app many times before. The only thing that changed was the C by GE app received an update. Neither the Google Home app nor the bulb firmware received any updates.
Something to note about the C-Sleep bulb is that it is capable of three color temperatures: 2000K, 2700K, and 7000K. With the C by GE app, I was able to schedule the cooler daylight color during the day then switch to a warmer soft white color at sunset then to an even warmer candlelight color later in the evening. In addition to scheduling color changes, you can specify the bulb's brightness. At its brightest, the bulb puts out 850 lumens which is just right for my bedroom to allow me to easily see everything without being harsh. Eventually, I want to try a higher end smart bulb like the Philips Hue Ambiance. While the three color temperatures are all I really need, it would be nice for the bulb to be able to smoothly transition between the colors.
The C-Sleep and C-Life bulbs are now supposed to work with Google Home devices without any hubs/kits. Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit devices require the GE C-Reach hub. I haven't tried setting my bulb up with Amazon or Apple devices. Like I said, it took me a while to get the bulb to work with Google Home and I'm not quite sure why it finally started working when it did. There are Google Home app controls to turn the bulb on/off and adjust the brightness. Currently, the only way to change the color temperature is by voice command (e.g. "Hey Google, change my [name of light] to bright white / soft white / candlelight."). Unfortunately, the commands do not work every time for me. *** DEC 2018 UPDATE: After some troubleshooting and bug reporting between GE and Google, the color temperature Google Assistant voice commands now work reliably! *** I was able to re-create the schedule automation feature of the C by GE app by creating custom Routines in the Google Home app.
Overall, even though I eventually got the C-Sleep bulb to work for the most part, I felt like it took way more troubleshooting than the average consumer is willing and able to go through. Most people are probably better off just going with a Philips Hue Ambiance system instead.
*** HOW TO PERFORM A FACTORY RESET ***
For NEWER versions of the bulb, do the following:
1. Start with your bulb off for at least 5 seconds.
2. Turn on for 5 – 10 seconds
3. Turn off for 2 seconds
4. Turn on for 5 – 10 seconds
5. Turn off for 2 seconds
6. Turn on for 5 – 10 seconds
7. Turn off for 2 seconds
8. Turn on for 5 – 10 seconds
9. Turn off for 2 seconds
10. Turn on for 5 – 10 seconds
11. Turn off for 2 seconds
12. Turn on
Bulb will flash on and off 3 times if it has been successfully reset.
For OLDER versions of the bulb:
1. Start with your bulb off for at least 5 seconds.
2. Turn on for 5 – 10 seconds
3. Turn off for 1 second
4. Turn on for 1 second
5. Turn off for 1 second
6. Turn on for 1 seconds
7. Turn off for 1 second
8. Turn on for 1 seconds
9. Turn off for 1 second
10. Turn on for 5-10 seconds
11. Turn off for 1 second
12. Turn on for 5-10 seconds
13. Turn off for 1 second
14. Turn on
Bulb will flash on and off 3 times if it has been successfully reset.
| Brand | GE |
|---|---|
| Light Type | LED |
| Special Feature | color |
| Wattage | 60 watts |
| Bulb Shape Size | A19 |
| Incandescent Equivalent Wattage | 60 Watts |
| Voltage | 120 Volts |
| Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Shape | a19 |
| Connectivity Technology | Normal bulb |
| Indoor/Outdoor Usage | Indoor |
| Controller Type | Push Button |
| Connectivity Protocol | Bluetooth |
| Color Rendering Index | 80 |
| Power Consumption | 60 Watts |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Light Source Type | LED |
| Light Source Wattage | 11 Watts |
| Control Method | App |
| Manufacturer | GE Lighting |
| Part Number | 44301 |
| Item Weight | 9.6 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 6.63 x 4 x 5.13 inches |
| Item model number | 44301 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | 1 Count (Pack of 1) |
| Style | C-Life |
| Special Features | color |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
