Home CasaVerdeSmart ,,,,,With Vocolinc the price drops again for what, following our tests, turned out to be an excellent Smart bulb controllable from smartphones and tablets but, above all, compatible with Apple's HomeKit, thus being able to benefit from all the advantages both for what it concerns the first synchronization (as we will explain it is practically a matter of a minute) and for quick management from the Control Center or from the Apple Home app, without forgetting the inevitable “Hey Siri” to manage everything without hands.
How it's made
It is as big as a classic light bulb and is also quite light: it weighs just 90 grams, which means that the company has managed to contain all the technology in a weight very close to that of a common light bulb, with which it also shares the 'appearance. In fact, compared to the common incandescent bulb, it is different only in the cover of the bulb which, instead of glass, is made of polycarbonate and with an opaque cover that hides the inside. From the point of view of lighting, according to our tests, it is more than enough to illuminate a room of about 25-30 square meters well.
Technical data
First pairing
After fixing it to the lamp holder (E27 socket), you need to turn on the switch that activates it and configure it with your smartphone. You can use the free LinkWise application (for iOS and Android) or you can configure it through the iOS Home application, as the lamp is fully compatible with Apple's HomeKit.
We preferred the latter system but in both cases the pairing procedure does not change: it is in fact sufficient to start the app and follow the instructions on the screen, framing with the smartphone camera the unique code affixed to both the light bulb and the inside the package. The whole process takes a few tens of seconds, at the end of which the lamp will be correctly connected to the home WiFi network.
How is it going
Although it can also be used as a classic light bulb, by turning it on and off through the physical switch, the control via smartphone obviously opens the door to greater customization of the light bulb, starting with the color. The Apple Home app, as we know, provides us with a crown of ready-made colors that allow us to quickly select a neutral white light, some colder shades and others warmer (ideal before going to sleep). You can also adjust the lighting intensity on a scale from 0% (off) to 100%, thus adapting it to the needs of the moment, for example reducing it to 15-30% while watching a movie.
As anticipated, you can control the light even without hands: just a “Hey Siri, turn the light on / off” or a “Hey Siri, set the brightness to XX%” to manage the main functions of the lamp.
It is also possible to create automations, for example by deciding specific days of the week and times when the light must be switched on or off, also customizing the color temperature and light intensity. For example, we can program it to switch it on at the same time as our alarm clock, with a soft white light, on the days of the week when we go to the office, or create more automations as a diversion by making it switch on and off for a few tens of minutes at different times of the day. day during the holidays, thus giving the appearance of being at home to discourage criminals.
If you then buy more than one light bulb, you can rename them by creating groups in the app, each for each room. In this way you can turn on and off all the lamps in a room in one go, or turn on and off all the lights in the house with a single voice command.
Conclusions
Like many other bulbs of this kind, the fact of being able to use it independently of the smartphone as a common lamp has allowed the whole family to turn on or off the light of the room in which it was located, even for those who have not installed the app and not owns an iPhone. Being able to adjust the color temperature and brightness has proved to be much more useful than we thought, especially if you use the lamp in the room, where some pre-set scenes for waking up, watching a movie or for the ten minutes before bedtime can make a difference. . Being able to simply say “Turn off the light” while keeping your hands warm under the covers is something you can never give up again.
Pro
It does not require a Hub, which can be easily inserted in a homekit context, also compatible with Google Home and, soon Alexa. Good color range. Competitive price.
Cons
The limited light intensity does not make it suitable as the main lamp in a medium-sized room.
Retail price
Vocolinc L1 is on sale on Amazon for 22.99 euros in the kit with a single bulb or 43.99 euros with two bulbs in the package. The price is really interesting if we think that bulbs of this kind cost even more than double. As if this were not enough, these days using the SEKWELHA code you can still buy them at a discount: the single bulb will cost you 19.54 euros while the 2-bulb kit drops to 37.39 euros (shipping included).
Distribution in retail stores is entrusted to Accessory Line.
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