Samsung gets into the lighting game, announces new line of smart bulbs

By Drew Prindle March 27, 2014

samsung gets lighting game announces new line smart bulbs light bulb 2 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Hot on the heels of a similar announcement from LG a few days ago, Samsung has just unveiled a new line of smart LED light bulbs that will launch next week at the Light + Building 2013 trade show in Frankfurt, Germany. The range of bulbs will include options for both consumers and businesses alike, and will come with wireless connectivity built in.

Much like other bulbs, Samsung’s Smart Bulb is designed to fit into traditional light sockets, and will be controllable via a companion app for smartphones and tablets. In addition to brightness controls, the color temperature of the bulbs will also be adjustable, with output ranging from 2700K to 6500K for warm or cool white colors. In terms of lifespan, Samsung says the bulbs should last around 15,000 hours, which equates to roughly ten years.

For the most part, these bulbs aren’t all that different from other smart lights on the market. However, unlike bulbs from competitors including Philips and LG, Samsung’s smart lights will not support Wi-Fi. Instead, they’ll be Bluetooth-only. By using Bluetooth exclusively, Samsung says there’s no need for users to install a hub or access point, which simplifies the setup process, yet still allows users to control up to 64 bulbs at a time. Samsung also mentioned it will release a Smart Bulb model with a ZigBee radio built in, which would make it possible for the bulbs to be integrated into more advanced home automation setups.

Truth be told, Samsung breaking into the smart bulb business isn’t all that surprising. Despite the fact that other companies have been making network-connected bulbs for quite some time now, the smart lighting space is still relatively uncrowded, and Samsung has both the manufacturing capabilities and marketing clout to become a big player in it.

There’s word on how much the bulbs will cost or when they’ll be available to consumers, but we’ll keep you updated as soon as that information surfaces. You can find out more here.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…

Smart Home

How to reset Philips Hue bulbs and light strips

Philips Hue bulb on a bleached wood plank.

The Philips Hue smart light bulbs are some of the best on the market, offering reliable performance and dozens of customization options. But like all electronics, they're susceptible to various glitches and errors. Thankfully, running into a problem with your Hue light bulb doesn't mean it's time to replace it – you might just need to perform a reset.

Alternatively, a reset is a great option if you're looking to sell your Hue lights, ensuring none of your data or settings carries over to the new owner.

Smart Home

Amazon Big Spring Sale: Get up to 43% off Echo smart speakers

The Amazon Echo Pop on a desk.

Make your home smarter by equipping it with an Amazon Echo smart speaker. You'll be able to afford multiples of these Alexa-powered devices through the discounts that are available in Amazon's Big Spring Sale, with prices that start as low as $23. They're going to be more effective if there's one in every room in your house, so don't miss this chance to stretch your budget and buy more of these smart speakers in one transaction. It's highly recommended that you proceed with your purchase of these Amazon Echo deals as soon as possible though, as you're increasing the risk of missing out on the savings the more that you delay.

What to buy in Amazon's Big Spring Sale for Amazon Echo smart speakers

Deals

Save big on Samsung’s smart refrigerators for a limited time

27.3-cubic foot Samsung Smart Side-by-Side Refrigerator with Family Hub in a kitchen with light cabinets and wooden floor.

Right now, there's a sale going on where you can easily nab a smart refrigerator for over a thousand off. It's all part of the Samsung Spring Sale, going on now through March 10th in anticipation of the official start of spring later this month. The main feature? Samsung Family Hub, which is way more capable of making your refrigerator awesome than the name implies. If you're ready to take a look at Samsung's Smart Refrigerator sale lineup for yourself, tap the button below. Or, keep reading to see what's up with the refrigerators. First, we'll take a look at the features of Samsung Family Hub, then we'll peek into one of the models on sale to get a better understanding of how it all works.

Why you should buy a Samsung smart refrigerator
As with most of the best smart refrigerators, the advantages of using one of the Samsung Bespoke refrigerators begins with its door. They feature a panel with the Family Hub interface on it. From here, you can interact with the screen to do things both "refrigeratory" and not. For example, you can create a shopping list, make meal plans based on what's inside, and even see what's inside your fridge without opening the door and lowering the temperature. But you can also post images of your family and put up digital notes and to-do lists as you would with paper and magnets on traditional refrigerators. Finally, you can pop up all kinds of entertainment on the refrigerator, from a morning news brief to Spotify and Pandora.