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Philips sets new bar with L Prize LED (photos)

On Earth Day, Philips will release a $50 LED bulb that is the most energy efficient LED bulb in the 60-watt equivalent category.

Martin LaMonica
Martin LaMonica is a senior writer covering green tech and cutting-edge technologies. He joined CNET in 2002 to cover enterprise IT and Web development and was previously executive editor of IT publication InfoWorld.
Martin LaMonica
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1 of 4 Martin LaMonica/CNET

Higher CRI

This comparison shows the Philips L Prize LED light on the left and Philips AmbientLED on the right. Both are 60-watt equivalents, but the L Prize LED gives off more light with 940 lumens compared to 806 lumens. The light quality is significantly better, too, with the L Prize rated at 93 CRI and the AmbientLED at 80. In terms of power consumption, the L Prize consumes 9.7 watts compared with 12.5 watts for the AmbientLED. Both bulbs give off light in all directions. (The light from this photo is from a table lamp above the pillow.)

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2 of 4 Martin LaMonica/CNET

LED comparison

In terms of design, Philips is using the same general approach for its latest LED bulbs for general lighting. The yellow/orange plastic on the outside acts as the phosphor to convert the blue light from the LED chips into a more pleasing and familiar yellow light. The light temperature for both bulbs is 2,700 Kelvin, similar to an incandescent bulb. The metal near the base acts as a heat sink, which is important to ensuring the long life of LEDs.

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3 of 4 Martin LaMonica/CNET

Specs

This photo shows a quick snapshot of the wattage, amount of light, and other important features for consumers. The bulb works on a dimmer and can be used in "damp spaces."

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4 of 4 Martin LaMonica/CNET

Lighted LED

This photo shows Philips LED bulbs when illuminated. The crown-like top gives off light in all directions.

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