Smart technology is one of those things you’ve either embraced or haven’t. Many users are excited to embrace the world of smart home automation while others just aren’t interested. ilumi is one of the many companies making IoT products and today we take a look at the ilumi BR30 outdoor flood light. We’ve reviewed ilumi bulbs in the past and we’ve liked what we’ve seen, now see how the ilumi BR30 outdoor LED flood fared in this round.
Design
There’s not a whole lot to say about the design of the ilumi BR30 outdoor flood, other than it looks much like any other outdoor floodlight. In terms of shape, size, and weight it’s pretty identical to any other flood light. The base screws into a standard E26 light socket, which is what most US households have indoors and outdoors. For those who are curious, the E stands for Edison and the 26 stands for the base diameter in millimeters. The exterior of the bulb has nice black coating which is most likely the weatherproofing since this can be operated in snow, rain, and cold. Overall it’s a nice bulb, nothing crazy in terms of design, simple with no flash.
Software/Ecosystem
The last time we reviewed ilumi bulbs they included a decent app that had basic controls over your paired lights. This time around ilumi is working on an all-new app, which isn’t yet available, that bakes in a ton of new features and functionality. The app is pretty straightforward, (see the gallery above) and offers you the ability to program your ilumi BR30 in a variety of ways. First, you can choose from simple solid colors as well as intensity. You also have a set of pre-programmed whites you can choose from like the Edison Bulb and Candlelight.
The app also offers effects like Haunted House and Firework which rotate the colors of the bulb for those festive occasions. I didn’t see a Christmas effect so I picked Aurora to compliment the Christmas lights we put up. Presets are much like effects and also program your bulb to change colors to a pre-chosen setting. Probably the best thing you can do with the app is set a schedule for your bulb. You can set it to turn on and off at a certain time, which is great to save energy but also great for when you’re away from home. The indoor ilumi bulbs also have this feature. The experiences feature allows you to sync your bulb to the music from your device, which could be fun for a pool party or outdoor gathering. Overall the new app is a bit more robust than the old app and is super easy to use.
Ease of Use
Pairing of the ilumi BR30 is done through the ilumi app and you can pair many bulbs at once. There’s no hub or Wi-Fi connection required, just your phone and Bluetooth. Once you have your bulb connected through the ilumi app it’s just a matter setting your preferences and letting it go. One of the key features of the ilumi bulbs is that you can turn them on and off and they will remember the last program you entered in for that bulb. Some other smartbulbs you’ll have to reprogram should someone switch them off. Overall this is super easy to use.
Performance
The bulb is bright and full and offers great illumination for outdoor use. It is rated to stand up against cold temperatures ( -20°C) as well as rain proof and snow proof. It’s basically going to be exactly what an outdoor flood light should be. Of course you’ll have to be sure the hardware you’re plugging into is also rated for outdoor use as well. Overall great performance, though it hasn’t been cold enough just yet to test in extreme cold.
Price/Value
Smartbulbs aren’t cheap, no matter which route you take, but you can buy these a few at a time to retrofit your existing bulbs. Depending on how you feel, the $69.99 price tag may or may not hold value for you.
Wrap Up
IoT products aren’t for everyone, not everyone is sold on them and that’s okay. These bulbs are high quality and great for those looking to outfit their home with smart products. They are a bit pricey but most smartbulbs are not cheap.
[rwp-review id=”0″]*We were sent a sample of the ilumi BR30 for the purposes of this review.
Last Updated on January 23, 2017.
