Which BR30 LEDs flicker on dimmer switches? (GIFs)
We examined the dimming performance of four BR30 LEDs, and found one clear winner.
Which BR30 floodlight LEDs flicker when you dim them?
Investing in new LED floodlights for your home? All five of these are reasonable options -- but only one of them worked well with in-wall dimmer switches. Click through to see who the winner was.
Philips WarmGlow BR30 LED
First up, the Philips WarmGlow BR30 LED. This bulb is designed specifically for dimming setups, as its primary feature is that it changes color temperature as you dial the light down, creating a sunset-like effect.
Philips WarmGlow BR30 LED
Unfortunately, that dimmer-oriented design didn't stop it from flickering on older dimmer switch models, and even some new ones made especially for LEDs, like the Leviton switch we're using in each of these GIFs.
Philips SlimStyle BR30 LED
We gave Philips another shot, this time with the SlimStyle BR30. The original SlimStyle performed rather poorly when we tested its dimming capabilities -- would the new floodlight version do any better?
Philips SlimStyle BR30 LED
Nope.
Cree BR30 LED
Next up is Cree. Their $20 BR30 LED comes with a 10-year warranty, and claims dimmer compatibility right on the packaging.
Cree BR30 LED
It dims, but that doesn't mean it doesn't flicker.
GE BR30 LED
Let's take a look at what happens when we dim this GE BR30 LED.
GE BR30 LED
Like Cree, this bulb dims, but flickers badly at times, too.
GE Reveal BR30 LED
How about the GE Reveal BR30? For a few dollars more, this floodlight promises better color quality. How about the dimming quality?
GE Reveal BR30 LED
Bingo! This is the kind of steady dimming performance we're looking for. With no flicker on any of the dimmers we tested, this floodlight was the clear winner of our tests.