Philips is one of the biggest names in the lighting aisle -- is their standard, 60W equivalent LED a good choice for your home? Click through to take a look.
Published:Caption:Ry CristPhoto:Colin West McDonald/CNET
3
of 12
Color temperature
Though rated at 2,700K, we found the Philips LED to be just under 2,600K in our tests. This gives the light a tone that's just slightly more yellow than the average bulb.
Published:Caption:Ry CristPhoto:Colin West McDonald/CNET
7
of 12
Dimming performance
The Philips LED was the top performing bulb in our dimming tests. Not only was it compatible with every switch and dial we tested, but it also didn't flicker or buzz like many bulbs will.
Published:Caption:Ry CristPhoto:Colin West McDonald/CNET
8
of 12
Omnidirectionality
The Philips LED is also rated for omnidirectionality, which means that it puts out light in all directions. In this shot, you can see it illuminating both upward and downward onto the notebook.
The Philips LED has a color rendering index (CRI) score of 81, which is pretty average. A higher score up in the 80s or 90s would mean that it was better at making colors look their best. Like most LEDs, you can see that it really struggles with red.
Published:Caption:Ry CristPhoto:Colin West McDonald/CNET
11
of 12
Price point
The Philips 60W Equivalent LED retails for $15 at Home Depot, though you might be able to find it a few bucks cheaper on Amazon, or if you live in a region that offers rebates for Energy Star-certified lights. There are other solid bulbs that cost a bit less, but we think this one's worth it if you're looking for a light that'll play nicely with a dimmer switch.
