The Basics:

The bulb itself isn't anything exciting to look at, as it follows the basic format of every other LED BR30 bulb I have seen. There are markings on the bulb to indicate it is UL listed, has a Zigbee radio inside, and to provide some of the basic specifications. For reference it is shown next to the Sengled A19 bulb in the below right image.



In Use:

As soon as you turn on the bulb for the first time it is ready for pairing to your Zigbee enabled home automation system. SmartThings found the bulb within a few seconds of pressing the "+" in order to add a new device. The screenshots below show the interface within the SmartThings app related to the bulb. It is configured just like the A19 bulb, and all I have done differently is to select an icon that indicates it is a floodlight in a ceiling mounted fixture. On/off control, dimming control, historical data on the "Recently" tab are all available and fully functional, as you would expect. Setup and use within the app is simple and straightforward, exactly what you would want.



The control of the bulb is perfect, and it has integrated in to an existing scene used in my home without issue. The actual performance of the bulb is a bit less than I had hoped for, though. The 650 lumen output is noticeably dimmer than the 800 lumens produced by the A19 bulb from Sengled. Whether used it in a ceiling mounted can fixture, or used in an exposed bulb socket on the ceiling elsewhere, the A19 is preferable since it is brighter. The A19 isn't intended to be directional, but I prefer it in a directional fixture (and the exposed fixture) since I am getting more light, using the same amount of energy, and have paid less overall for the bulb.

Another issue is that in a room full of the Sengled A19 bulbs, the BR30 version stands out since the coloring is not quite the same. If you accept that all of the A19 bulbs I have installed are putting out 2700K light, then the BR30 bulb must be putting out something closer to 3000K. It is still a warm white, but it is less yellow than the A19 bulbs, and in my mind they should all look the same.

Conclusion:

The Sengled Element Classic BR30 9W smart LED floodlight bulb appears to be well made and offers decent specifications for an LED BR30 bulb. It paired up easily with Samsung's SmartThings, and I was able to quickly add it to my Google Home account for voice control for on/off and dimming.

The fact that the A19 version costs less and is much brighter makes it tough for me to get too excited about the BR30 version of the bulb from Sengled. Yes, if you want your bulb to look right in a recessed or directional fixture the BR30 bulb is the right choice, but putting the A19 version in such a fixture showed that it was a better performer than the BR30. I have brighter BR30 LED bulbs on hand from other brands that cost much less - they're just not smart bulbs. Even if the same internals weren't used between the A19 and BR30 bulbs from Sengled, that other manufacturers can make a BR30 LED bulb for less than $6 that is rated for 800-850 lumens, makes me wish that Sengled's offering could match those specifications. The other downer is that the BR30's version of 2700K light appearance is not the same as the A19's version of 2700K, so it makes them mismatched when used in the same room. I like the lighting to be consistent within one space, so having several of the A19's in one room means I won't have the BR30 in the same room since it looks different. The coloring is still a nice warm white, perhaps around 3000K, but that is not what was advertised.

The regular price for this bulb at Amazon.com is just over $14, which seems high when compared to the $10 price tag of Sengled's A19 bulb, but both variants go on sale there quite often. If you're patient enough you can regularly get the A19 version for $7ish, or even less if you are looking to buy multiples (I recently got 8 for $38.24 on one order, just $4.78 each). The BR30 does go on sale - I got this one for $7.16, and right now Amazon.com is offering 30% off a 4-pack. This takes the price from $56.99 to $39.89, or $9.97. This makes it more appealing, but I think that unless I really have to have a BR30 format bulb, I won't be buying any more. But, I will definitely keep my eye on the A19 version, though.

Pros:

» Zigbee controlled on/off and dimming
» Integrates easily with SmartThings
» Once connected to a hub, can be controlled via Google Home or Amazon Alexa

Cons:

» Brighter would be preferred
» Whiter than Sengled's A19 bulbs which are also advertised as 2700K (I would call this one @ 3000K)
» Not as good of a value as the A19 version given price and performance

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