Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I have noticed these types of home automation devices getting more and more popular. Overall, this is an excellent smart bulb. It is very well made, and has quite a weight to it! Setup was a breeze, with very clear instructions. Though this bulb does not need a Hub, you do need to install the "Kasa" App on your smartphone to control this Smart Bulb. During the setup, you are greeted with the option to create a TP-Link Cloud Account. Though this is optional, I highly recommend creating one as you can then control the Smart Bulb remotely. I found that I was able to skip the account registration step in the Kasa App and still control the Smart Bulb through my local network using the App. However, if you wish to control the Smart Bulb locally only, your mobile device and the Smart Bulb need to be on the same Wi-Fi network (especially important if you have a dual band Wi-Fi router). As an added bonus, the Kasa App also shows the usage statistics of the Smart Bulb. Here, you can see the energy/time usage on a daily, weekly, and monthly average. The Kasa App is very versatile, and allows for a lot of customization. You can name the Smart Bulb to whatever you like, change the the icon (you can use the default icons or even take a picture of the lamp the bulb is connected to!) , and save your presets. This is extremely handy if you have multiple bulbs. It is easy to forget what's what, with more than one Smart Bulb. In terms of the actual light output, having the color palette is excellent. You have a gradient from warm yellow (candlelight) to bright white (has a slight hint of blue). Since it is a gradient, you can choose any of the colors within the two color spectrums. You also have the option to choose the intensity/brightness of the light. Even at 1% brightness, the light intensity is good enough to see around the room. This is perfect for mood lighting. The amount of light this Smart bulb emits is quite significant at 100% brightness. I really like how I am able to change the color and the brightness of the Smart Bulb, based on what I am doing, and all from one source. I found that this is also helps with eye strain, as I can set the perfect tone and brightness whether reading a book or watching TV. There is even a circadian mode which is fantastic! Here are reasons why I really like this Smart Bulb: * Ability to change the brightness and appearance of the light. * No Hub is required. These Smart Bulbs work with any Wi-Fi router without the need for a separate hub or paid subscription service. * It does not get too hot when in use. * Memory function. If you get a power failure, or unplug these Smart Bulbs and move them to another location, it will save the previous settings! This is very useful as you do not have to set it up again. * There is no lag in response when controlling the Smart Bulb from your phone. * Really good Lifetime Rating (22.8 Years!) * Amazon Echo support - This is where the device really shines. It works natively with Amazon Echo, which allows you to use voice control/simple phrases to control the Smart Bulb! * Flexibility - There are a lot of variables you can set. Time (hours and minutes, am/pm), switch action (on or off), and repeat (days of week - you can select one individual day, every day, or a combination of days). A programmed event requires two "events" in the app, a switch action "on" and a switch action "off". This is useful if you have a routine with turning on the lights. * Security - Very useful to automate turning on and off the light if you are away from home, to give the impression that someone is home. Overall, these are fantastic Smart Bulbs. They are very useful and you will see yourself wanting to replace all your lights with these! It would be nice to see these sold in bundles of 2 or 4. My only complaint is with the dimming functionality. Though this Smart Bulb is dimmable using the Kasa App, it cannot be dimmed using existing dimmers on a light swtich. There is a very small note on the actual Smart Bulb that reads "DO NOT USE WITH DIMMERS". This should be made more clear, and perhaps also printed on the box or instructions. **This is a review of a free product received from TP-LINK as part of the review program.**