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TP-Link's color-changing smart bulb is ready for Alexa

You can control this color-changing Wi-Fi LED using Alexa commands. Worth 50 bucks?

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 Chris Monroe/CNET

The TP-Link LB130 is a smart, color-changing LED that offers voice controls via Alexa. Click through to see what it has to offer.

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2 of 8 Screenshot by Ry Crist/CNET

Sync it up

To bring Alexa into play, you'll need to enable the TP-Link Kasa skill in the Alexa app.

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3 of 8 Screenshots by Ry Crist/CNET

App controls

The app lets you select the bulb's color or color temperature using these spectra. Just drag the cursor to the specific shade you want.

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4 of 8 Screenshots by Ry Crist/CNET

More features

The app also offers an energy tracking feature, a "Circadian Mode," and a scheduling tool.

5 of 8 Chris Monroe/CNET

Colors!

For the most part, the colors look great -- but you can't change them using Alexa commands. You have to use the app.

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6 of 8 Ry Crist/CNET

In terms of brightness, the TP-Link LED competes quite well with Lifx and Philips Hue. It puts out a very respectable 896 lumens at its default setting, and comes in nice and bright at the green and cyan settings, too.

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7 of 8 Chris Monroe/CNET

That green setting was a bit yellowy for my tastes, though.

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8 of 8 Chris Monroe/CNET

The TP-Link LB130 costs $50, which, like a lot of other color-changing smart bulbs, is annoyingly expensive. Be sure to check out our full review to see if we think it's worth the splurge.

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