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A close look at Sylvania's 100W Replacement Ultra LED (pictures)

With 1,600 lumens from 19 watts, this bulb dials up the brightness.

Ry Crist
Originally hailing from Troy, Ohio, Ry Crist is a writer, a text-based adventure connoisseur, a lover of terrible movies and an enthusiastic yet mediocre cook. A CNET editor since 2013, Ry's beats include smart home tech, lighting, appliances, broadband and home networking.
Ry Crist
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1 of 8 Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Sylvania 100W Replacement Ultra LED

Sylvania'a 100W Replacement Ultra LED is a good example of how LED pricing has evolved over the past few years. In 2012, Sylvania's 100W replacement LED cost upwards of $50, but you won't pay nearly as much for this model. Click through to read more about it.

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2 of 8 Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Bulb shape

Like most 100W and 100W replacement bulbs, Sylvania's Ultra LED is a bit bigger than average, with an A21 bulb shape that represents a slight step up from the traditional A19 shape that you're probably used to. It features the same size screw-in base, though, so it should work in most lamps and fixtures.

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3 of 8 Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Bulb specs

The Ultra LED puts out a satisfyingly bright 1,600 lumens of yellowy, 2,700 K light from a power draw of 19 watts.

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4 of 8 Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Bulb bulk

It's also one of the heaviest 100W replacement bulbs that we've seen, weighing in at 11.45 ounces.

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5 of 8 Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Energy savings

Assuming you pay 11 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) and run the bulb an average of 3 hours a day, Sylvania's LED will add just over $2 to your energy bill each year. That's a lot better than a 100W incandescent, which will add over $12 per year.

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6 of 8 Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Non-omnidirectional

Sylvania's LED features a non-omnidirectional design, which means that it doesn't put out light evenly in all directions.

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7 of 8 Ry Crist/CNET

A tale of two lamps

Use the bulb in a lamp, and the directionality becomes easier to see. On the left is Sylvania's LED, which doesn't cast as much downward light as it does upward light. On the right is the omnidirectional Cree 100W Replacement LED, which casts light evenly in all directions.

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8 of 8 Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Price point

The Sylvania 100W Replacement Ultra LED retails for $22 at Lowe's. That's certainly a merciful improvement over the $50 price point of years past, but we're not sure it represents the best value in its class. Read our full review to find out why.

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