After going through yet another change in my networking, getting the LIFX bulbs to connect to a new network was frustrating beyond measure. Even though I can reset the bulbs to choose a new network, that process proved to not be simple. Several bulbs I reset several times without getting any connectivity to the new network. Factor in the changes to the application they made a couple of years ago reducing it to something very non-intuitive, this was the last straw.
On an interesting note, I was going back through the drafts of my blog and found an unpublished post from one year ago in December stating a list of frustrations with LIFX.
I had actually purchased the Sengled bulbs earlier last year with the intent of eventually making the sweeping swap. I already had at least one bulb in the mix when I had decided to test one when I lost my LIFX bulb.
I have been pleased with the bulbs so far with a few exceptions. The Sengled bulbs connected to the network very easily. The app is simple and straightforward, much like LIFX was when I first started using them.
One thing I have noticed is that the bulbs tend to be a little bit brighter at the lowest setting. This becomes any annoying feature when I try to sleep the lights. It changes the color to a warm setting which is very bright compared to the LIFX bulbs. Sleeping the lights should just dim the lights over a 30-minute period rather than changing the color by default. This would be something I would suggest as a feature change to Sengled's firmware/software. (I am also going to try using a Kasa bulb in my master bedroom to see how they handle this behavior.)
Overall, I've been very pleased with Sengled. They have some very unique products which I think should be setting standards on the market.
Note: I did voice my frustrations on Twitter. And I got a response from Dav Kavanagh who is LIFX Head of Experience.
