Cree's new LED is an incandescent look-alike (pictures)

North Carolina-based manufacturer Cree has a new LED light bulb for sale -- its simplest, cheapest bulb to date. Click through for a closer look.

The new Cree LED is shaped exactly like the sort of classic incandescent you'll see over cartoon characters' heads when they get an idea. It glows at a familiar,  yellowy color temperature of 2,700 K, putting out 815 lumens from a power draw of 11 watts.

Cree was able to get rid of the bulky heat sinks altogether by incorporating a convection-based design that vents out hot air and replaces it with cooler ambient air.

Cree's new bulb is omnidirectional, meaning it puts out light evenly in all directions.

Cree will continue to sell its original LED right alongside the new one. The original costs an extra $2, but is slightly more efficient, and comes with a longer warranty.

Here they are in our light box. That's the original Cree LED on the left, and the new 4Flow LED on the right. The new bulb is slightly brighter.

Cree's 4Flow LED dims down to 5.6 percent brightness, and does so without buzzing or flickering.

Cree's new bulb will sell for $8 at Home Depot, pitting it against low-priced LEDs like the Philips SlimStyle and the Ikea Ledare. Read my full review to see if it's the right light for you.