eve flare, a wireless lamp for HomeKit

Eve, the brand formerly known as elgato, has a large number of HomeKit-compatible devices in its catalog, however it is striking that among them there are no smart bulbs, one of the most sought-after products by users. Well Today we analyze something that is close to that, and that is that he has just launched a portable lamp, «eve flare».

It is a spherical lamp that in addition to be compatible with HomeKit and be able to change color, it is portable thanks to its integrated battery, and has resistance to dust and water to use it outdoors. Do you want to know more? Well, in addition to the header video, we have the analysis below.

Design and Specifications

The eve flare lamp is spherical, although its base is slightly flattened to be able to be attached to the charging base. It has dimensions of 25cm in diameter, and a brightness of 90 lumens. Its energy consumption is very low although it depends on the intensity with which we have it turned on, but it becomes an A ++ device in its lowest consumption. And the most remarkable thing about the lamp and what makes a difference: built-in battery life of up to 6 hours and IP65 certification that allows it to be used as an outdoor lamp.

Both the charging base, which works by induction, and the lamp base itself are protected with small rubber feet to avoid scratching any surface where you place it. For the lamp to charge, you just have to place it on its base, and it does it in any position, which greatly facilitates its placement. At the base of the lamp we find the manual power and color controls, but we will not be able to control the brightness. In addition, a folding handle allows it to be carried without risk of falling.

Configuration and operation

Like any HomeKit device, the setup process is extremely simple and you just have to open the Home app and scan the HomeKit code that appears on the base of the lamp or on the card that is included in the box. The connectivity of the lamp is Bluetooth LE, that is, if you want to access it remotely you must have an Apple TV, iPad or HomePod configured as a HomeKit accessory hub and within range of the lamp. In my case there will be about 11 meters in a straight line from the Apple TV to the lamp, with walls in between, and I have no connectivity problems.

With the Home application we can control it from our iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch, and with Siri from any device that has Apple's virtual assistant, including the HomePod. Either from the screen of our device or Through our voice, we can control the on and off, the brightness and the color of the lamp. Of course we can create automations and rules to schedule its on and off through established schedules or through interaction with other devices, such as motion sensors or our location.

Like when we analyzed the eve room sensor (link), I think the manufacturer's Eve application should be highlighted, which you can download for free from the App Store (link) and that offers a more complete interface than Casa. With the possibility of creating more predefined colors and an interface that allows you to better control the brightness and temperature of the eve flare lightWhen I want to do something that I can't do through Siri on my HomePod, I directly use the Eve app instead of Home.

Pleasant ambient light

The eve flare lamp is not designed to illuminate a room as if it were a conventional lamp, since its power does not reach that. It is a pleasant auxiliary lamp that offers an ideal ambient light for watch TV, dine in the garden, read in the bedroom or as a lamp for the children's room. This is the use that I am going to give it most of the time, since with an intensity of 1% and the possibility of programming it on and off, it is ideal to help children fall asleep.

Editor's opinion

With an integrated battery that allows its portability and an autonomy of up to 6 hours, in addition to the IP65 certification to be able to use it outdoors, this eve flare lamp is ideal for those who need auxiliary lighting, either to place it in a fixed place of the house or to take it where you need it most. If to this we add everything that HomeKit offers us, such as automations, interaction with other compatible accessories or voice control, the result is a highly recommended product that is priced similarly to other similar "non-smart" lamps. Its price on Amazon is € 99,95 (link).