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LIFX vs Yeelight

LIFX logo

LIFX

Software

WiFi-enabled smart lights with no hub required

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Yeelight logo

Yeelight

Software

Smart lighting for modern homes

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: LIFX the Internet Archive's capture of LIFX's products page on 19 July 2016 priced the White 800 bulb at $39.99 USD (890 lumens) and the Color 1000 bulb at $59.99 USD (1,055 lumens); this is a 2016 capture and current prices likely differ.; Yeelight requires owning Yeelight-branded smart lighting hardware; the app itself is a controller with no standalone function
  • They diverge on capability: LIFX covers No Hub Required, Yeelight covers Color control.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which LIFX and Yeelight actually diverge.

Attributes where LIFX and Yeelight differ
AttributeLIFXYeelight
PlatformsIOS, Android, Windows, MacOSIOS, Android

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (one-time), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2012).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in LIFX

  • No Hub Required
  • 16 Million Colors
  • WiFi Direct
  • High Brightness
  • HomeKit
  • Alexa
  • Google Home
  • Windows support

Only in Yeelight

  • Color control
  • Brightness dimming
  • Schedules
  • Music sync
  • Sunrise/sunset
  • Scenes
  • Google Assistant
  • Amazon Alexa

Both cover

  • SmartThings
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

LIFX

  • Ambient lighting
  • Gaming setupnot Yeelight
  • Photography lightingnot Yeelight
  • Smart homenot Yeelight

Yeelight

  • Ambient lighting
  • Entertainment syncnot LIFX
  • Automated schedulesnot LIFX
  • Energy savingnot LIFX

Both are used for ambient lighting, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

LIFX

  • The Internet Archive's capture of LIFX's products page on 19 July 2016 priced the White 800 bulb at $39.99 USD (890 lumens) and the Color 1000 bulb at $59.99 USD (1,055 lumens); this is a 2016 capture and current prices likely differ.

Yeelight

  • Requires owning Yeelight-branded smart lighting hardware; the app itself is a controller with no standalone function
  • Requires iOS 16.2 or later, per the App Store listing

Pricing, plan by plan

LIFX

On request
  • LIFX Bulb$40/month
    • 16M colors
    • WiFi direct
    • No hub required

Yeelight

On request
  • Smart Bulb$15/month
    • WiFi
    • 16M colors
    • Voice control
  • Light Strip$30/month
    • Music sync
    • Extendable
    • Scene modes

Which should you pick?

Choose LIFX if

  • You need no hub required.
  • You work on IOS, Android, Windows, MacOS.
  • You also want 16 million colors.
LIFX review

Choose Yeelight if

  • You need color control.
  • You work on IOS, Android.
  • You also want brightness dimming.
Yeelight review

Questions people ask

Is LIFX or Yeelight better?
Neither clearly leads. LIFX starts at On request and Yeelight at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, LIFX or Yeelight?
LIFX starts at On request and Yeelight at On request.
Does LIFX or Yeelight run on more platforms?
LIFX runs on IOS, Android, Windows, MacOS. Yeelight runs on IOS, Android.
What is LIFX best used for?
LIFX is most often used for ambient lighting, gaming setup, photography lighting, smart home. Of those, gaming setup and photography lighting are not what Yeelight is typically brought in for.
What can LIFX do that Yeelight cannot?
LIFX covers No Hub Required, 16 Million Colors, WiFi Direct, High Brightness. Yeelight covers Color control, Brightness dimming, Schedules, Music sync. Both handle SmartThings, IOS support, Android support.
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