Do you remember those days when if you needed to change the channel on your TV would have to get up off your butt and physically walk over and press a button? Then remotes came along and life got a little better, the modern version of this is smart home products which allow you to control all sorts of everyday items from your phone, from having the kettle already boiled for when you walk in the door to being able to turn your heating off when you are out.

The LIFX A60 is a smart bulb that can be connected to your home devices it comes in either a B22 Bayonet or E27 Screw attachment and has the power to kick out 1100 lumens of light for just 11 watts this is the equivalent of a traditional 75W incandescent bulb. The A60 is compatible with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Microsoft Cortana voice services, it has a full range of colours to play with 16 million colours for example, as well as a range of whites that run from cool all the way to richly warm. This bulb can be dimmed from 1%-100%, it has 2500K to 9000K temperature rating, provides a 135degree beam angle, it’s LED life span is 22.8years based on 3hours of use per day, and you will need iOS9>, Android 4.1> or Windows 10> to be able to download the app.

The light bulb is easy to install and the app is straight forward to use, it’s here that you can create on/off schedules that automate your lighting to suit your lifestyle,

this is handy if you are away on holiday as it makes it look like the house is still lived in. You can also change the colour, I set ours to gently dim and become warmer from 10pm to wind down ready for bed which was rather pleasant. You can also play with the colours and use the pre-programmed Themes and Effects, I liked the Music Visual which uses your mic to listen to the music in the room and creates a disco theme to match. You can use voice control to switch on your lights and set the colour and brightness level via Google Home or Amazon Alexa, the light contains all the hardware you need to get started so even if you have no other smart home systems, as long as you have a compatible smart phone you can use it. This Bulb is functional on a day to day basis and entertaining at times, it’s easy to use and integrates well with your other smart devices, it is a little bulky and not the prettiest of bulbs, but this is forgiven as you can light up your room without having to move from your chair. RRP £54.99

Current Cheapest Price

4.5 out of 5

Pros

1100 lumens

Easy to install and use

Create on/off schedules

Voice control

Effects and Themes

16 million colours with cool to warm whites

Dimming mode

Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant & Microsoft Cortana compatible

11 Watts at full brightness

22.8 years LED life-span

Cons

Bulky

Not very attractive design