MiPow Playbulb Sphere Review - Review 2022

The MiPow Playbulb Sphere fits in the same portable smart lamp category as the Elgato Avea Flare Portable Mood Lamp  and the Philips Hue Go ($79.97 at Amazon) . It has an attractive, orb-like shape, and it's wireless and water-resistant, so you can use information technology indoors and out. For $49.99, the Sphere is more affordable than the Flare or the Hue Go, and the fact that it doesn't require a hub makes it a good option for smart lighting newbies.

Design and Setup
The Playbulb Sphere ( at Amazon)  measures 6 inches high and 5.5 inches around. At but 14.9 ounces, it's easy to pick up and tote around. While the Flare and Hue Go are made of plastic, the Sphere is fabricated drinking glass, which makes it more delicate, but gives information technology a premium look and feel. The lesser of the lamp is dwelling house to a white base that lets it sit on any flat surface. At that place'southward a soft red power push button in the bottom heart of the base. A divide white induction base comes with a micro USB cablevision for charging. It takes about three hours to fully charge, which nets eight hours of wireless use. Only the Sphere tin can stay on indefinitely as long as it'due south on the charging base.

The Sphere is capable of producing 230 lumens of brightness, which is roughly equivalent to a xv-watt incandescent bulb. That's dimmer than both the Flare, which produces 430 lumens, and the Hue Go, which produces 300 lumens. The Sphere gives off about as much light equally a night calorie-free, but its colors are bold and vivid. It feels absurd to the affect, even when powered on for hours at a time.

MiPow rates the Sphere IP65 for water resistance, and so it can withstand rain and splashes, which means yous can employ it in your backyard or past the pool. The Flare can likewise be used exterior, while the Hue Go can but handle humidity and steam.

Setup is uncomplicated. The Sphere doesn't crave a hub, then you can connect information technology right to your mobile device via Bluetooth iv.0. Just download the complimentary Playbulb X app from the Apple App Shop or Google Play. The low-cal works with devices running Android four.3 or later, or iOS 7 or after. After opening the app, all you lot take to practise is tap Connect when the Sphere appears as an choice. I paired it with a Samsung Galaxy S6 ($114.94 at Amazon)  without effect. It's worth noting that the Playbulb Ten app is the same one that'due south used with the MiPow Playbulb Rainbow  and the MiPow Playbulb Colour ( at Amazon) , which means it includes a Music Histrion option. Yet, that characteristic doesn't work with the Sphere since it lacks a built-in speaker.

App and Functioning
You'll discover all of the Sphere's color controls on the app's home screen. A color cycle in the center lets y'all cull many dissimilar shades, while a Color Saturation slider below adjusts effulgence. Four color swatches sit below the slider, allowing y'all to quickly choose from blue, light-green, ruddy, or white shades. Y'all'll besides find Shake and Color toggles up top. Color either turns colors on, or switches the lamp back to white. Shake allows you to switch to a random color past shaking your connected phone. You lot can also physically tap the Sphere to make it switch between blue, green, ruddy, white, and a rainbow effect.

You have 5 options to choose from in Effects: Candle is supposed to make the Sphere flicker like, well, a candle, merely this option didn't work in testing. Still, you can make the Sphere rapidly switch colors by setting it to Flashing. Pulse makes the Sphere "breathe" a single color. The Rainbow result is similar Flashing, just slower. Rainbow Fade gradually phases colors into ane some other in a smooth, soothing manner, as long as y'all adjust the speed to its Slowest setting.

Similar to what I ecountered in testing the Playbulb Color and the Playbulb Rainbow, the Scenes section of the app is a bit laggy. To create scenes with the app, you take a moving picture, or load one from your device, and select a color from inside the photo. The Sphere so changes to that color. There are besides three preset scenes available, including Rainbow, Reading, and Sunset.

You can also use Schedules to set timers and morning alarms with the Sphere, which is something you can't do with the more than expensive Flare. You can choose outset times, cease times, how long the light stays on, and what color it volition be.

Conclusions
The MiPow Playbulb Sphere is a good color-changing portable smart lamp, especially for the price. It'southward not terribly bright, but it offers a decent amount of customization in the form of Scenes and Schedules, and it doesn't crave a hub. The Elgato Avea Flare gets brighter, but information technology'due south pricier and lacks fifty-fifty basic customization settings. And while the Sphere doesn't support If This Then That (IFTTT) recipes like the Philips Hue Go, the Hue Go requires a hub for sure features and can merely exist used indoors. So if you're looking to give smart lighting a effort, the Playbulb Sphere is a skilful place to start.

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Further Reading

• How to Measure Home Power Usage
• Philips Adds Exposed Filament Bulbs, Smart Plug to Hue Ecosystem
• Salvage $sixty on Philips Hue White and Color Smart Light Starter Kit
• Amazon, Walmart, Target, Ikea Sued Over Lite Bulbs
• Philips Hue White Smart Low-cal Starter Kit Is $20 Off at Walmart

Source: https://sea.pcmag.com/migrated-76167-smart-lighting/10157/mipow-playbulb-sphere-review

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