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Philips LED glows warm (photos)

Lighting granddaddy Philips later this year will start selling an LED bulb designed to replace the common 60-watt incandescent through Home Depot stores.

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

Philips 12 watt EnduraLED

It's not your father's light bulb, or your grandfather's either.

This is the 12-watt EnduraLED from Philips, designed as a replacement for the common 60-watt incandescent bulb. It will be available in early December at Home Depot for between $40 and $50, according to Philips.

It gives off 806 lumens and has a color index of 2700 Kelvin, which means it has a warm, yellow light. The aluminum ridges, or fins, along the side act as a heat sink. Higher temperatures will cut the life of LEDs so cooling is necessary. And it's dimmable.

See related story: Home Depot to sell Philips LED to replace 60-watt bulbs.

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2 of 4 Martin LaMonica/CNET

2700 Kelvins

Although the bulb is a yellow-orange on its plastic outside, it gives off a white light. Rated at 2700 Kelvin, it's a more yellow light than the white light some LEDs give off. Because color temperature can be tuned with LEDs, consumers can sometimes choose between white and the warmer yellow-white.

The shape of the Philips bulb also improves the light dispersal so that it's more even. Traditionally, LEDs have been used for downlights and other directional lighting applications.

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3 of 4 Martin LaMonica/CNET

Warm glow

This photo gives you an idea of the color temperature of the Philips LED, which feels similar to incandescents and halogens.

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4 of 4 Martin LaMonica/CNET

Philips LED from below

Here is the Philips 12-watt EnduraLED seen from below. With good light dispersal, it can be used for an overhead lamp, such as this one. LEDs are rated to last much longer than other lighting technologies. Philips says its 12-watt EnduraLED will last for 25,000 hours.

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