Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsGood Product
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2017
If I could, I would probably give these bulbs 4.5 stars, instead I'll give the benefit of the doubt. This starter kit was my first move into a "smart" home after buying Alexa, and I would recommend this set for both novices like me as well as more experienced smart home users. I will write my review for those making their first move into it though.
The kit as a whole seems to work pretty well. The set up was easy, just download an app, plug the bridge connector into an ethernet port, and pop a light bulb into any light and it works. That is the best thing about these bulbs imo, that you can use them on any source of light to get it to work. The app makes it simple to turn on and dim the lights, as well as assign groups so multiple lights can be used at once. Connecting to Alexa was pretty simple as well, so I am able to tell her to turn on the lights which I think is pretty cool.
The only reason I say 4.5 instead of 5 is that my bulbs don't always connect to the bridge, meaning I can't always control them with my phone. Normally I would say this would be a major functional problem, but I have a couple of factors that come into play. I live in an older house, so I do not have ethernet ports all over. The only one I have is located on my modem, which is in the front of my house while the room with my bulbs is in the back, so right away there's a pretty big distance in between them. On top of this, there is various plaster walls with concrete and metal, along with metal appliances like the fridge and oven directly in between the two, all which can disrupt the signal. My Alexa and roku still connect in the room, but the bulbs have been very spotty so far. I wouldn't expect smart bulbs to have as strong of connection to a network as either of those products, but it has come into play for me. If you think you are in a similar situation, you may want to consider the adaptability of your home. In short, I'm having connectivity issues, but I believe it is because of a variety of factors and would not prohibit me from buying this product.
It is pretty clear in the description, but this is a starter kit because you need the bridge connector for the bulbs. Once you purchase one of these, you will not need to buy another starter kit and instead will just need to buy additional bulbs at a reduced rate. While $60 seems like a lot to pay for 2 light bulbs, you're pretty much paying for the novelty of a smart home. I've been told that bulbs like these last over 20 years, so it's not like they'll burn out quickly. I compared this brand to another, and it seems like Philips really knows what they're doing, so I'd be comfortable buying from them.
All in all, I would buy this product again even with the issue I'm having. I will likely buy additional bulbs (and put them in different rooms) if that says anything.
