TBL is back! I had just begun to wonder about this channel. As you are one of the best HomeKit channels out there, I’m glad to see that you’ll be making more regular videos again.
You’re right there aren’t many HomeKit options for this type of lighting. Shortcuts is a reasonable alternative. We are renovating our kitchen and I bought the Zemismart zigbee hub and the pot lights they have. They offer native HomeKit support, whites and colors, though no adaptive lighting. You can also pair them with a hue bridge and expose to HK with homebridge-hue.
Great to see you back Brad. Your channel inspired me to start my smart home Journey, 10 months ago. While it is a fast way to spend cash, the results have been incredible. I want to thank you for your helpful videos, reviews and detailed insights. Your detailed information allowed me to truly understand the market resulting in making wise purchases. It started with Aqara Hubs & Child Devices followed by Lutron dimmers, Meross Plugs, Nanoleaf A19 bulbs & light strips and more. As a fellow Canadian in Cole Harbour Nova Scotia, prices are high on these items. Spending your money wisely is crucial to creating a happy affordable smart living environment. Thank you for all you do and take great care.
Glad to see you back. I was wondering what had happened to you. Your new studio looks great. I also noticed the new rebranding of your channel. I like it. It looks smart. Looking forward to more content from your channel.
We replaced all of our can lights (around 15 or 20) with Meross bulbs. The bulbs were around US $15 each and work with Homekit. No hub required. I can dim them or change their color with Siri or with the Homekit app. My only gripe with them is they aren't Thread enabled.
Great option for can lights. I'm hoping we'll see more HomeKit option for slim LED lights in the future. I'd love to see Meross switch to thread one of these days as well!
FYI....Actually Philips does make a thin Hue 5/6 inch color recessed light that does not require a "can" and can be controlled via either Bluetooth or a hub and is rated at 1200 lumins.
Great channel Brad. Have you tried the Infribright smart rgb recessed lights from Lowes? Was curious about them to see if there is a review out there. They are made in the US in Brooklyn NY
Hi Brad....great to have a new video from you. Always well presented, analytical and honest. My sons wanted color changing recessed lights in our new house. I went with Lumary canless recessed lights. Had to be affordable since we installed 15 lights. Unfortunately, they are not HomeKit but we are excited about them. Very reasonable price. I wonder whether you want to look into them as alternative to other expensive options.
Hey, how is the white lighting for these? I used to have LED strips and the white color was just a mix of RGB which made the white color look blue-ish. Are these like that or is the white color like a regular non-RGB light? Thanks
Nanoleaf bulbs work great, and everything is a fraction of the price of Phillips Hue. I think Phillips Hue is well on the way to being an obsolete product. Nanoleaf bulbs don’t use a bridge, are native To HomeKit, use Thread and are reliable. Why would you use anything else? I think you’ve missed this in your video.
I’ve got some of the Nanoleaf bulbs and if their colours were good they’d pull me away from hue, issue is they’re not. As expensive as hue are they tick all the boxes for me and nothing else really has the range, lifx have better colour but aren’t reliable, Nanoleaf are as reliable but the colours are garbage. I also want to avoid a patchwork of different lighting systems in the house. My guest room I ran as an experiment with an Eve power, 2 Nanoleaf bulbs and hue remote, the system worked, but it wasn’t as slick or cohesive as hue on its own. Frustratingly, in my opinion, hue as an ecosystem is just better than the others, even if you can find individual lights that beat them in specific areas they will all fall down against the overall package.
Hi Nicholas, with recessed lighting there aren't many options - in fact Hue is the one Native to HomeKit option that I'm aware of. I believe LIFX is planning on releasing something before the end of the year, but cost wise, LIFX and Hue are similar. OREiN are a great compromise since they work well, they are affordable and they work with Sir Shortcuts. As far as Nanoleaf vs Hue goes... I still think Hue has the better lights, even with needing a hub, though I would say Nanoleaf is a better overall value (IMO). Thanks for watching!
Those are NOT recessed lights. Yes, the rear is recessed into the ceiling but the source of light is on the plain as the ceiling surface. Annoying to the eye, ugly colors, no control of beam spread and a non-replaceable lamp (bulb) but the necessity of replacing the whole fixture in five years if one or more fail. Do you honestly think that you will be able to find a matching fixture down the road? NOPE!
TBL is back! I had just begun to wonder about this channel. As you are one of the best HomeKit channels out there, I’m glad to see that you’ll be making more regular videos again.
Thanks so much Dr. Cole! Thank you all for your patience. It’s much easier to create content with a dedicated space. Stay tuned for more!
You’re right there aren’t many HomeKit options for this type of lighting. Shortcuts is a reasonable alternative. We are renovating our kitchen and I bought the Zemismart zigbee hub and the pot lights they have. They offer native HomeKit support, whites and colors, though no adaptive lighting. You can also pair them with a hue bridge and expose to HK with homebridge-hue.
Hi Robert, I've haven't tried the Zemismart pot light but heard mixed reviews, so glad they work well for you!
I have been looking for smart “pot lights” - great find and review! This may suit my basement - can’t wait to try them!
Glad this review helped!
Great to see you back Brad. Your channel inspired me to start my smart home Journey, 10 months ago.
While it is a fast way to spend cash, the results have been incredible. I want to thank you for your helpful videos, reviews and detailed insights. Your detailed information allowed me to truly understand the market resulting in making wise purchases. It started with Aqara Hubs & Child Devices followed by Lutron dimmers, Meross Plugs, Nanoleaf A19 bulbs & light strips and more. As a fellow Canadian in Cole Harbour Nova Scotia, prices are high on these items. Spending your money wisely is crucial to creating a happy affordable smart living environment.
Thank you for all you do and take great care.
I’m redoing a bedroom as a nursery and this is it!! Thank you brad!
Glad to see you back. I was wondering what had happened to you. Your new studio looks great. I also noticed the new rebranding of your channel. I like it. It looks smart. Looking forward to more content from your channel.
We replaced all of our can lights (around 15 or 20) with Meross bulbs. The bulbs were around US $15 each and work with Homekit. No hub required. I can dim them or change their color with Siri or with the Homekit app. My only gripe with them is they aren't Thread enabled.
Great option for can lights. I'm hoping we'll see more HomeKit option for slim LED lights in the future. I'd love to see Meross switch to thread one of these days as well!
Nice video and awesome work on the studio and basement!! Keep up to great vids!!
Thanks so much Jody!
What about Homebridge/HomeAssistant integration?
I’m fairly certain that this company would be pronounced O’Ryan, you know, like the belt constellation lol
FYI....Actually Philips does make a thin Hue 5/6 inch color recessed light that does not require a "can" and can be controlled via either Bluetooth or a hub and is rated at 1200 lumins.
Great video, I would like to use these with a motion sensor such as a Philips motion any idea if this would work?
Great channel Brad. Have you tried the Infribright smart rgb recessed lights from Lowes? Was curious about them to see if there is a review out there. They are made in the US in Brooklyn NY
Thanks AgentSmith - I haven't tried those yet, but perhaps one day. I believe thy are similar in that they support Siri Shortcuts, but not HomeKit.
Hi Brad....great to have a new video from you. Always well presented, analytical and honest. My sons wanted color changing recessed lights in our new house. I went with Lumary canless recessed lights. Had to be affordable since we installed 15 lights. Unfortunately, they are not HomeKit but we are excited about them. Very reasonable price. I wonder whether you want to look into them as alternative to other expensive options.
Great video sir. Are you able to use a dimmer switch on wall?
Hi Travis, sadly no. Thanks for watching.
Great video, thanks! I am having trouble using Siri Shortcuts to turn the lights on and off. Any tips? Thanks again
Hey, how is the white lighting for these? I used to have LED strips and the white color was just a mix of RGB which made the white color look blue-ish. Are these like that or is the white color like a regular non-RGB light? Thanks
@@LasmarKhalifa IMO, the white light is great. I have a "routine" set up with the circadian rhythm and I think it looks great.
Can this work with wall switch. What about with dimmer switch, thank you.
I have a bedroom 11x10 should I get 4inch or 6inch lights? I’d not install four lights.
How can I be able to control these lights with Siri? Do I need a smart switch or homepod?
Do these need a switch?
Nanoleaf bulbs work great, and everything is a fraction of the price of Phillips Hue. I think Phillips Hue is well on the way to being an obsolete product. Nanoleaf bulbs don’t use a bridge, are native To HomeKit, use Thread and are reliable. Why would you use anything else? I think you’ve missed this in your video.
I’ve got some of the Nanoleaf bulbs and if their colours were good they’d pull me away from hue, issue is they’re not. As expensive as hue are they tick all the boxes for me and nothing else really has the range, lifx have better colour but aren’t reliable, Nanoleaf are as reliable but the colours are garbage.
I also want to avoid a patchwork of different lighting systems in the house. My guest room I ran as an experiment with an Eve power, 2 Nanoleaf bulbs and hue remote, the system worked, but it wasn’t as slick or cohesive as hue on its own.
Frustratingly, in my opinion, hue as an ecosystem is just better than the others, even if you can find individual lights that beat them in specific areas they will all fall down against the overall package.
Hi Nicholas, with recessed lighting there aren't many options - in fact Hue is the one Native to HomeKit option that I'm aware of. I believe LIFX is planning on releasing something before the end of the year, but cost wise, LIFX and Hue are similar. OREiN are a great compromise since they work well, they are affordable and they work with Sir Shortcuts. As far as Nanoleaf vs Hue goes... I still think Hue has the better lights, even with needing a hub, though I would say Nanoleaf is a better overall value (IMO). Thanks for watching!
Can you change the color of each light in your studio? For example one green and one red?
Yes, you can change each individual light's color and brightness.
Is the white color really white?
Those are NOT recessed lights. Yes, the rear is recessed into the ceiling but the source of light is on the plain as the ceiling surface. Annoying to the eye, ugly colors, no control of beam spread and a non-replaceable lamp (bulb) but the necessity of replacing the whole fixture in five years if one or more fail. Do you honestly think that you will be able to find a matching fixture down the road? NOPE!
No HomeKit = no purchase
Totally fair Aidan. If there were more reasonable options for slim LED lights in HomeKit I may agree. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment.
@@TheBradLloyd I get it but so much of my smart home is built around HomeKit, it’s just not usable if it isn’t HomeKit.
Nahhh. Philips hue or bust