Philips Hue Phoenix Ceiling Review
By all appearances, a run-of-the-mill light fixture, the Philips Hue Phoenix Ceiling light is packed full of the latest in smart technology. In spite of its progressive capacity, the light is unsuccessful in its attempts to compete with first-class smart lights on the market.
Editor's choice
THE GOOD / Unlike customary light fixtures, the Philips Hue Phoenix Ceiling light renders modifiable luminescence with a stunning 50,000 white hues to choose from. For those who are fans of current technologies, the fixture is also able to work in harmony with home automation and voice control equipment.
THE BAD / Adhering the light to the ceiling and getting the fixture to initially connect with the app is a pricey and troublesome process that is unanticipated. Meanwhile, the low-end, synthetic materials the fixture is comprised of is disheartening, considering the all-inclusive cost.
THE BOTTOM LINE / Customizable luminosity, as presented through the Philips Hue Phoenix Ceiling light, is a growing trend in homes around the world. The best smart lights work efficiently in the technical sense, yet are crafted with five-star materials in a way that is visually appealing. This ceiling light, on the other hand, puts forward a malfunctioning app, synthetic materials and a monotonous design. Although the fixture does offer customization, it is far from being a top contender.
2.3
Review
Aesthetic
To the casual eye, the Philips Hue Phoenix Ceiling light does not convey any deliberate signs of style.
White in all directions, the fixture's outward appearance offers nothing noteworthy besides a 3-dimensional embellishment etched into the shade. Aside from the etching, the shade is constructed with synthetic materials. This leaves the face of the light registering as chintzy while the model as a whole, insinuates that neither style nor material choice were highly regarded in the development of the ceiling light.
Weighing in at 10.2 pounds with dimensions of 19.7 x 19.7 x 8.1 inches, the light is a middle of the road sized ceiling fixture that is intended for use in offices, bedrooms or living rooms. The minimalistic characteristics of the light leave it well suited for these spaces, so long as the encircling ornamentation is also fairly simple.
Setup & Packaging
Within the box, you will find the light fixture and a small instructional pamphlet and a pair of white gloves. The fixture is preassembled upon arrival; leaving the instructions to focus solely on guiding installers through the mounting exercise. The gloves supplied are intended to be worn while handling the fixture to protect from finger prints or smudging, though they seem unwarranted and over the top for handling a plastic piece.
The box does not incorporate other requirements such as a Hue Bridge, mounting hardware or tools. Each of which are mandatory for installation and setup. The requirement of these added products makes the process more stressful and perplexing than one would anticipate. After dishing out additional funds for these materials, the fixture can then be put in place and properly synchronized with the bridge and the Philips app. As luck would have it, these final steps are also rather tedious in nature.
Technology
The Philips Hue Phoenix Ceiling light, like other members of the Phoenix line, focuses on the production of white light. With a 5W LED bulb and 50-60 Hertz of power, the fixture has the potential to fabricate 50,000 contrasting tints of white light. These shades can be adjusted by the simple touch of a smartphone through the Philips Hue app, if the app is functioning properly. Unfortunately, the app is poorly rated in both iOS and Android App Stores. With a problematic app and no controls built into the fixture, the functionality is certainly hindered.
Technology proficient individuals may find that it is advantageous to synchronize the Philips Hue Phoenix Ceiling light with their existing Wink, Zigbee or Apple HomeKit home automation products. The light can also be programmed to interact with Apple's Siri or Amazon's Alexa to permit voice control.
