![ambisleeves ambisleeves](https://www.adasdf.com/media/BiteSleeves/802505AD2thumb01.jpg)
If anything, the Philips bridge may make things a little more straightforward - you're only required to press the button on the bridge the first time that you run any app that wants to connect to it. For me this was trouble-free in both cases and I can't say that one was much easier to get running than the other.
![ambisleeves ambisleeves](https://us.pipglobal.com/archive/pim/1200/2/63-336---BOX.jpg)
In both cases there are a few steps to go through to get the lamps set up and your app controlling them. It would be wrong to list the Philips bridge as a con though because it does contain some functionality, for example any schedules that you set up sit on the bridge, so even with your computer off or your iPad away from the house, your lights will continue to operate on schedule. The bridge comes as part of a starter kit with three bulbs, after that you buy individual bulbs.
![ambisleeves ambisleeves](https://www.dogsportgear.com/assets/images/leatherambi.jpg)
This is interesting after using the Hue bulbs that require a 'bridge' which helps apps talk to the bulbs. LIFX bulbs are 'standalone', ie you just buy a bulb, plug it in and your app connects to it. The LIFX bulb is available in bayonet (BC), so more convenient for UK users, as well as screw (ES) and 'downlight'. I found these in a local electrical shop so no problem there but the adaptor does add to the overall height of the bulb. For UK users, this means either buying a fitting which takes screw-in bulbs, or buying an adaptor separately. The LIFX ones go to 17W and 1000 lumens (these are maximums, the actual power and brightness will of course depend on your colour and brightness settings).Īlso worth a mention is that the Philips bulbs only come with an edison screw cap (ES). The Hue bulbs go to around 600 lumens, and run up to 9W. Once fitted and switched on, the next noticeable thing is the brightness. This means trouble fitting certain shades and lamps, but then the Philips bulb is also larger than a regular household bulb (if there is such a thing any more) and I've had trouble fitting those into certain lamps, especially with a screw/bayonet adaptor (more of that later). The first thing to notice is that the LIFX bulb is physically larger than the Philips bulb.