LIFX Luna: A Smart Lamp That Shines Beyond Expectations
LIFX continues to expand its smart lighting ecosystem with the Luna, a compact and versatile smart lamp that offers a surprising amount of functionality and customization without demanding a premium price. In a market dominated by smart bulbs, the Luna presents a compelling argument for dedicated smart lamps, proving that sometimes a fixed design can offer unique advantages.
The initial reaction to a smart lamp might be skepticism. Why limit yourself to a single design when a smart bulb can be placed in any existing fixture? What happens when the LEDs inevitably fail, rendering the entire lamp useless? LIFX directly addresses these concerns with the Luna, creating a product that, while not universally applicable, possesses enough flexibility and a rich feature set to appeal to a wider audience than one might expect.
Out of the box, the Luna presents a minimalist aesthetic. It’s an all-white, oval-shaped device, measuring approximately 8 by 5 inches across its face and 2 inches deep. This unassuming design allows it to blend seamlessly into a variety of environments. The Luna is designed for versatility in placement, capable of standing upright on a table, projecting light upwards at a subtle angle, or lying flat on its back to shine directly upwards. Its functionality evokes comparisons to the Philips Hue Go, another portable smart light. However, the Luna distinguishes itself with its ability to be mounted on a wall using a clever, included bracket that requires only a single screw for secure attachment. This added mounting option greatly expands its placement possibilities.
The LIFX Luna boasts impressive technical specifications. It offers a vast spectrum of white color temperatures, ranging from a warm 1500K to a cool 9000K, catering to diverse preferences and ambient lighting conditions. Furthermore, it provides full color support thanks to its RGBW LEDs, enabling the creation of vibrant and dynamic lighting effects. The Luna delivers a total lighting power of 1,000 lumens, nearly double the output of the Philips Hue Go’s 520 lumens. This enhanced brightness ensures ample illumination for various tasks and moods. The Luna draws a maximum power of 25 watts, which is a consideration for energy-conscious users. A notable difference from the Hue Go is its power source. The Luna relies on a 6-foot cable connected to a standard power brick, unlike the Hue Go’s ability to operate on battery power. This tethered operation limits portability to some extent, but the cable length provides reasonable flexibility.
Physical controls are located on the top surface of the Luna, designed to be intuitive and easy to use. Dedicated "+" and "-" buttons allow for precise adjustment of brightness levels. An on/off switch provides simple control over the light, with a long-press feature triggering a gentle, sunrise-simulating illumination. A final button enables cycling through a selection of preloaded lighting effects, offering instant mood setting without relying on the app.
While the physical controls are useful for basic operation, the true power of the Luna lies in its integration with the LIFX app. This app unlocks a vast array of intricate configuration options, mirroring the capabilities of other LIFX products. Connecting the Luna to a Wi-Fi network (2.4GHz only) is a seamless process thanks to the app’s auto-discovery feature. Once connected, the Luna’s full potential is unleashed.
The LIFX Luna, like its siblings in the LIFX family, supports a wide range of white color temperatures and vibrant RGBW color options. The app enables users to select a solid color, create a gradient, or blend three complementary colors across the Luna’s surface. Given the compact size of the light panel, the effectiveness of some effects may vary, as complex transitions might not be as pronounced on the smaller surface area.
For advanced customization, the Luna features 31 individually configurable LED zones. While the diffusing front cover somewhat blurs the lines between individual LEDs, preventing detailed patterns like spelling out initials, the ability to customize these zones still allows for unique and personalized lighting schemes.
As with all LIFX products, the Luna benefits from the company’s extensive library of preconfigured themes and dynamic motion effects. Whether you desire a gentle cycling through the color wheel or synchronized lighting effects that respond to ambient music via your phone’s microphone, the LIFX app provides a plethora of options. Though the Luna’s size limits the complexity of these effects, it can still deliver a vibrant pop of color and ambiance for special occasions or everyday moods.
Beyond the LIFX app, the Luna supports Matter-over-Wi-Fi, enabling integration into third-party ecosystems. While the configuration options within apps like iOS Home and SmartThings are less extensive than those offered in the LIFX app, Matter support provides interoperability with a wider range of smart home devices and platforms. Interestingly, the Luna also includes a dormant Thread radio, which LIFX plans to activate in the future, potentially enhancing its connectivity and responsiveness within Thread-based smart home networks.
During testing, an issue was encountered when using the Luna with iOS: brightness control worked flawlessly, but color changes were unresponsive until the lamp was manually unplugged and replugged. It’s expected that LIFX will address this glitch with a future firmware update.
The Matter integration unlocks a clever feature that allows the physical buttons on top of the Luna to perform double-duty. These buttons can control not only the Luna itself but also other devices connected to the same smart home hub. Each button can be configured to perform three different functions: short-press, double-press, and long-press. The setup is straightforward, enabling actions like opening or closing smart curtains with a simple button press.
However, it’s crucial to note that pressing a button also triggers its default action on the Luna itself, such as changing the lighting theme. While this dual functionality might be convenient for some, it could also lead to unintentional actions. This overlapping behavior is an aspect that LIFX may need to refine in future firmware updates to prevent user frustration.
With a price point of $70, the LIFX Luna represents a moderate investment in smart lighting. While it’s a more significant expense than a standard smart bulb, the Luna offers a distinct set of advantages. Its flexibility in placement, comprehensive feature set, and sleek design make it an attractive option for those seeking a dedicated smart lamp. The freedom to easily relocate the Luna on demand, from a bedside table to a wall mount, adds to its appeal. Ultimately, the LIFX Luna offers a more engaging and rewarding experience than simply swapping out a light bulb. It is a smart lamp that is truly flexible and delivers great lighting with little fuss.
