Spotlight on Cree's BR30 LED (pictures)

Cree's BR30 LED is an energy efficient floodlight. Click through to learn more.

The "BR" in BR30 stands for bulging reflector, which simply means that it reflects all the light into a single direction, straight out the top of the bulb. This makes it the ideal bulb shape for overhead track lighting and recessed lighting setups.

The Cree BR30 LED uses 9.5 watts of power to put out 650 lumens of light at a golden color temperature of 2,700 K.

Like other Cree LEDs, you'll find a ring of fin-like heat sinks around the bulb's neck.

The Cree BR30 LED flickered a bit when we used it with a dimmer switch.

With a CRI score of 81, the Cree BR30 LED is pretty average at color rendering. Things look a bit yellowed out, and colors don't pop quite as well as they will under a bulb that scores higher.

With an efficiency rating of 68 lumens per watt, the Cree BR30 LED is a nice upgrade from a 65W incandescent floodlight. Make the switch, and the bulb should pay for itself within a few years, then continue saving you money. The bulb promises to last decades, and comes with a 10-year warranty.

Cree sells its BR30 LED for $20 at Home Depot. That isn't as good of a price point as the $13 Philips SlimStyle BR30, or the Editors' Choice GE Reveal BR30 LED, which costs $18. Read our full reviews to help inform your next trip to the lighting aisle.