My new star on the filament: Bluetooth light from Ledvance

In order to find a better balance with technology within my own four walls, I make every effort to hide it. This starts with concealing the TV or cable salads and stops at "digital detox" strategies. That's why I've steered clear of smart home solutions so far. The fear of losing time and nerves is too great. But as more and more light sources with Bluetooth control are being offered, I'm starting to take notice.

When it comes to lighting, it is important to me that it is comfortable and that the lamp scores points with its design. As a layman when it comes to technology, it is also important to me that every light is easy to operate. The Bluetooth light bulbs from Ledvance promise me exactly that. The manufacturer offers two different lighting styles. One is a complete Smart+ Home System, which works via smartphone, switch, voice control, bridge and router. Secondly, lamps with Bluetooth technology. They can only be controlled via smartphone and an app. I opt for the latter and give it a try.

Bulbs

EUR16,95

Ledvance Smart+

E27, 6 W, 806 lm, 1 x, E

19

Bulbs

Ledvance Smart+ Bluetooth

E27, 10 W, 810 lm, 1 x, F

61

The set-up

The setup is so quick that I'm looking for a catch: After unpacking the bulbs, I screw them into the lamp sockets, switch on the light and download the appropriate app. I then set up an account and activate the location and Bluetooth function on my smartphone. Then I add each light under "+GROUP". After a few seconds, the app recognises which light it is so that I can assign it to any group. It takes about ten minutes until I'm done with everything.

I don't think the app interface is pretty, but it is clear. It is limited to a few simple elements, so I find the app intuitive to use. To change the light intensity or colour, I swipe my finger across the diamond-shaped field. This works very well with my 6-inch display. It might look different for someone with larger fingers or a smaller display. The diamond should be larger and cover the entire screen.

Vintage look and modern function

Like Philips, Ledvance offers the first Bluetooth filament LEDs - albeit more expensive. They look very similar to Thomas Edison's light bulb design, which he patented in 1879. However, they contain no mercury and consume eighty per cent less energy than halogen bulbs.

Before the test, I rarely switched on the ceiling light in the dining room because the light source was not dimmable and was dazzling. With the Ledvance version, 25 per cent luminosity is enough to create an atmospheric and pleasant light. At the same time, I can illuminate the room with 100 per cent brightness if required. As filament luminaires only have a single, warm white colour temperature, I can only regulate the brightness here.

Villa Kunterbunt at the touch of a button

The Classic Bulb not only offers the option of setting the brightness, but also 16 million colours. As a result, I swipe back and forth because I can hardly make up my mind. Pictures of theme parties come to mind. How about lighting all the rooms pink for a "Pretty in Pink" party?

Conclusion

Bluetooth technology is suitable for anyone who has a weakness for light - and a weakness in technical matters. As a smart home beginner, setting it up was a breeze for me and the app application was simple. The only time you need patience is when switching on the app, which isn't the fastest. However, you can control and customise your light from any room shortly afterwards. However, if you forget to set the location and Bluetooth before starting the app, you will first have to close it and restart it again to be able to operate your lights. As the Filament Bluetooth light can only be dimmed, it is suitable for places where you are not working and want to create atmospheric light. On the other hand, you can use the Classic version in any room. It offers you different colour temperatures.

Advanced users like my colleague Michael Restin rely on light sources that are controlled via the Zigbee wireless standard, which integrates a smart home system with router and bridge. I'm not planning to do that in the near future, but the Bluetooth versions have taken away my "fear" of intelligent lighting. You can find out about Michael's experiences with Ledvance in his test with the Smart+ lighting system.