Hue with Lifx? Mixing lights w/ ST & Google Assistant?

Devices & Integrations
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Hello,

I hope everyone is safe and well during this crazy time we’re in right now. :slight_smile:

I have a question that I’d love some thoughts on. I have a fairly decent “collection” of Hue lights (bulbs, strips, Go, candle, etc). But the bulbs themselves just don’t do a great job of putting out enough light. I battle some depression anyway and have some serious health issues that mean I stay in much of the time (even before stay and home orders). I simply need more light. I’ve done everything I can from adding more lamps to doubling the Hue strips in the areas that I can to try to get more light. I recently learned that Lifx bulbs have a much higher lumen count when compared with Hue - especially in warmer white colors (which we use often for the “hygge” benefits. I’ve also learned that in these warmer white tones, the Hue has even lower lumen output. I have SmartThings (Gen 2 bridge) and I also use the Google Assistant w/Google Home/Nest Hubs, etc. I’m also dabbling in HomeKit, too. I’m wondering if, with these interfaces, is it really a negative to mix some Lifx bulbs with the Hue system? I mean, between SmartThings & Google Assistant, won’t they basically control both types of lights fairly seamlessly? Or do I not understand how they work? Alternatively, does anyone know of a Hue/Zigbee/Thread/ST compatible bulb that has higher lumens like the Lifx? I’ve searched on the web and found very little on that, which surprised me. Perhaps I wasn’t able to hone the search string well enough.

Has anyone used both systems and which do you prefer (and why)? Any info would be really helpful. Thanks so much in advance!

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There’s no problem mixing them regardless of the interface you’re using, HomeKit or smartthings or Google. The only thing is you will probably get a slight “popcorn effect“ where some of them come on just a half second or so before the others. That bugs some people and doesn’t bug others. But otherwise it should work fine.

LIFX are brighter but also have a different “scatter pattern“ which is more like a tight beam, so you may find they don’t light as much of the room as the other brands even though they are brighter in the places where the light does reach.

So a lot of it is just trial and error to find out what you do like.

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JDRoberts, thank you so much. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer. It was really helpful. For some reason, even with all Hue lights (we have Google Home voice controlling it via SmartThings), we get the “popcorn” effect often. So, I doubt there would be all that much difference at this point.

You are so knowledgeable about so much in the IoT realm. It’s really amazing. Thanks for sharing that knowledge so readily here with all of us. :smiley:

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