LIFX Beam, an amazing lighting system

Lighting has long since ceased to be a mere system to be able to see, and the arrival of intelligent systems has made it a decorative element available to anyone. We tested one of the best decorative lighting systems that we can find in the non-professional market: LIFX Beam.

Compatible with HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Home and even Microsoft Cortana, this system is installed in just a few minutes without the need for any type of tool and offers you lighting options that will not leave anyone indifferent. We have tested it and we show you our analysis in this article, but don't miss the accompanying video.

A kit with everything you need

Inside the box of this LIFX Beam you will find everything you need for installation, and you will not see a tool, not even a simple screwdriver. Includes 6 light bars, a connector for the corner, the adapter and cable to plug it in and the card with the configuration code for HomeKit. The cable is a total of 2,5 meters long, so you shouldn't have much trouble reaching a nearby outlet.

Each bar has ten different zones that can have different colors, so you can get up to 60 zones of different color in each LIFX Beam. The bars are made of translucent plastic, extremely light, and are connected to each other at each end by magnetic connections strong enough to keep the whole system stable. The bars are glued to the surface on which you place them by means of adhesives that are on the back.

With the pieces that are included in the Kit (LIFX does not offer the possibility of expanding it or buying more independent corner pieces) the drawing we can make is that of an "L". Although it is very simple, my recommendation is that to install the system, first try on a flat surface such as the bed or the floor, connecting all the pieces, including the corner and the cable, because not all the connections are the same, and if we do the installation incorrectly, it may be the surprise that the cable cannot be connected at the end we want, but at the one that remains Further.

Once we are clear about the drawing, it is as simple as placing, with the help of a level, the bars one by one and pressing so that the adhesive fulfills its mission. Despite the fact that the wall where I have placed it is not particularly well leveled, as you can see in the image, there has been no problem so that the bars are perfectly glued, and being so light the risk of them falling due to their weight is non-existent.

The configuration process is the same that we have repeated on multiple occasions with any HomeKit compatible accessory, so if you are new to this, I encourage you to watch any video on our HomeKit playlist (link). You simply have to open the Home application, scan the code on the LIFX Beam Kit card and give the accessory a name and location once it has been added. It is now ready to be used with your automations or controlled by your voice and your HomePod. If you opt for any other assistant such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home, you will have to follow their own configuration system.

A vitaminized application

LIFX Beam can be controlled by the Home app like any other light bulb. Switching the light on, off, dimming and changing the color of the bar like any smart light bulb is child's play, and you can do it through your voice, or create automations for when you get home, that is, a specific time of day. All this is very good, but it is only what we can do with any simple light bulb, the problem is that Casa does not allow us to do anything else.

And yes, it is a problem, because seeing what we can do with the LIFX application that we have available in the App Store (link) and Google Play (link) and even in Microsoft Windows (link) we are very short what HomeKit offers us and its native application. The options included in Casa are already included in the LIFX app, but we can also choose different themes, such as simulating the light of a candle. We find relevant, fun, festive themes, for Halloween ... We can also create effects and here "Music Visualizer" stands out above all.: to the rhythm of the music, the LIFX Beam lighting will vary in intensity and color, and moving through the different areas of each bar.

Editor's opinion

Smart lighting has arrived in our homes, and LIFX Beam is one of the most advanced systems that we can find right now. With a very simple installation, we will find a different utility for each occasion. From creating a relaxed atmosphere for a dinner, to providing some background lighting while watching a movie, or animating a party to the rhythm of the music, this LIFX Beam is, without a doubt, the most surprising system I have been able to test so far. To find a flaw, LIFX does not offer expansion options. Its price, €199 from the official LIFX website (link).