Ledvance Smart+
E27, 8.50 W, 810 lm, 1 x, F
A minus for the "Ledvance Smart+" lighting system
5.2.2020
Translation: machine translated
The Zigbee lamps from Ledvance can also be operated without a bridge using a Smart+ switch. They can be integrated into the Philips Hue system, but are a bit of a mystery.
The Smart+ products from Ledvance are among the candidates that rely on the smart home wireless standard Zigbee and want to challenge the market leader Philips Hue for market share. On the one hand, this is based on quality and price, and on the other hand on seamless compatibility and a comprehensive range. If you need a lot of light bulbs and want to save a few francs, look around at all manufacturers that use the Zigbee protocol. The Smart+ products are designed to harmonise with various smart home applications. Hue is of course included. I have integrated a warm white Classic light bulb into my system and experimented with the Smart+ switches.
In the past, Zigbee lamps from Osram were marketed under the name Lightify. Then the name Ledvance came into play. This was the name of Osram's lamp division, which has no longer been owned by Osram but by a Chinese consortium for a good three years. Thanks to brand and licence rights, this is no longer noticeable. And basically, it doesn't matter under whose umbrella the products are manufactured. What matters is how they prove themselves in everyday use. There was light and shade.
Light
The Ledvance Smart+ Classic light bulb gets on with Philips Hue straight away. Once screwed in, it is immediately recognised by the bridge and can be quickly configured via the app. This is not a unique selling point, but a smooth start is always good. The Smart+ is immediately part of my living room lighting, makes a solid visual impression and harmonises with the Hue White Ambiance. The light is pleasant. It is noticeable on the negative side when switching on and off. Whilst the Hue lights are perfectly flickering, the Ledvance Smart+ stutters through various brightness levels as it switches on and off. So the interaction with the Hue Bridge doesn't work one hundred per cent after all. And as Ledvance Smart+ doesn't receive any updates via the Hue Bridge, it will probably stay that way. A small thing that bothers me. Which brings us to the downsides
Shadows
"Works with Google Assistant" is written on the packaging, and you can also issue commands to the Smart+ via Amazon Alexa. I tried out the voice control with the Google Assistant, which announced what it wanted to do with the Smart+ when called. While the Hue lights obey as usual, the Smart+ refuses to do its job. Even when the Assistant says that it is switched off, the lamp remains on without being moved. As I rarely use the voice assistant, I don't want to waste any more time with it and turn my attention to the switches.
I was looking forward to the Smart+ Switch and the Switch Mini, which isn't much smaller. The "big one" has a classic square light switch format and can be removed from its magnetic shell. It is either stuck or screwed to the wall. The mini is elongated and very easy to grip thanks to its rubberised surface. There is also a fingernail-sized wall bracket that needs to be screwed on.
The Touchlink function allows you to connect up to ten lamps to the switches without the need for a bridge. I was hoping to be able to fully integrate them into my Hue system. After all, the manufacturer states on its website that the Smart+ Zigbee products are compatible with Philips Hue. The point "pairing with gateway and partner app" in the spartan operating instructions also suggests that something is possible. But nothing works, no matter how often I try. Before I can achieve any success, the switch battery dies. This frustrates me and leads me to put the Smart+ stuff to one side for a few days. As the operating instructions don't really help, I read through the FAQ online and learn that I can probably bury my Hue hopes.
For the full functionality of the SMART+ Zigbee Switch, an OSRAM LIGHTIFY Gateway with Internet connection and a smartphone or tablet with the corresponding OSRAM LIGHTIFY app are required.
The Lightify gateway is unfortunately just as dead as my switch. It's a thing of the past, it's hardly sold any more and is not an option for me. So I'm left with the Switch Mini and the mini hope that the Touchlink function is so fantastic that it makes up for everything else. To connect the switch directly to the bulb, I just had to bring it in close proximity to it and hold down two buttons for five seconds.
It works. And, oh wonder of wonders, the mini switch takes control of all my Hue lamps at the same time. It switches or dims the entire living room, changes the colours of the Hue Play and does lots of other things. Unfortunately, I can't configure it any further and Ledvance's customer service confirms that there is no option to do so. After a reset, the spook is over and I try to connect the switch directly to a Hue White Ambiance. That works too. And this time it really only controls this one light - which, unfortunately, can no longer be operated via the Hue app and has to be reset.
Conclusion
In short: Too much guesswork, too few options to be able to recommend Ledvance Smart+ in combination with Philips Hue with a clear conscience. This may look different in combination with the Lightify gateway or other systems. According to the manufacturer, Samsung SmartThings, Schwaiger home4you, Qivicon and Alexa ECHO Plus/Show 2 are compatible in addition to Hue. Updates should also be possible via the ZigBee USB gateway ConBee II. Ledvance Smart+ is not suitable for my area of application. My colleague Pia Seidel found the Bluetooth-controlled filament lights from Ledvance more appealing.
Sports scientist, high-performance dad and remote worker in the service of Her Majesty the Turtle.