Philips Hue Iris

Length x Width x Height of the lamp as it stands, including the base.

The footprint of the base decides whether a floor lamp fits in a corner, and the height decides whether a table lamp fits under a shelf.

How tall the lamp is, from the floor or the table to the top of the shade or the light bar.

A corner floor lamp around 140 cm washes a wall. One much taller than the seating around it glares at eye level instead of lighting the room.

The physical weight of the lamp, base included.

A light portable is easy to carry and easy to knock over. A heavy base is what keeps a tall floor lamp upright.

The ingress protection rating (IP) against dust and water. The second digit is the one that matters outdoors: IP44 handles splashes, IP65 handles rain and a hose.

Most smart lamps are indoor only (IP20 or unrated). A rating on the lamp does not cover its power adapter, which stays inside.

Total light output of the whole lamp in lumens, at full white.

These are accent lights. Around 1000 lumens washes a corner, around 2000 lumens can carry a small room in the evening, and a portable of a few hundred lumens is a mood light.

How many sections of the lamp can show a different colour at the same time. One zone means the whole lamp is a single colour.

This is what marketing calls RGBIC or gradient. More zones make a rainbow travel along the lamp and make music or screen effects finer.

The lamp can produce colours, not just shades of white.

A white-only lamp is the right pick for a bedside or a reading corner, where colour is a distraction.

The lamp carries separate white diodes instead of mixing white from its red, green and blue channels.

Mixed white tends to look pink or greenish and dims poorly. A lamp sold as RGBW, RGBWW or RGBICWW is the one to pick if it will ever be used as ordinary lighting.

The range of white tones the lamp can produce, in Kelvin, from warm amber to cold daylight.

A wider range is more useful over a day: warm white around 2700K in the evening, neutral or cool white above 4000K for working.

The lamp can light upward and downward as two lights: different colours, or one direction switched off.

An uplighter does this. A single tube, however many addressable zones it has, cannot point the two ends independently.

The voltage the lamp itself runs on, fed by the bundled adapter, or the mains range it plugs into.

A low-voltage lamp is not wired into the wall. The adapter is what connects to the socket.

Maximum draw of the lamp in watts, at full white and full brightness.

Real consumption is well below this for coloured or dimmed light. A floor lamp is typically well under 40 watts, which is why these stay accent lights rather than a ceiling replacement.

The lamp plugs into a wall socket and can stay on without a battery.

A lamp can be wired and still carry a battery. The two are not opposites: some portables charge from the same cable they run on.

A built-in battery that can be recharged, so the lamp works unplugged.

This is what makes a lamp portable. A table lamp that only runs from the wall does not have one.

How long the lamp runs on a full charge, at the brightness the manufacturer quotes.

The figure drops fast at full white and full colour. A lamp with no battery does not have a battery life.

Range: The 2.4 GHz band offers a longer range, meaning it can cover larger areas and penetrate solid objects like walls more effectively than 5 GHz.

Speed: Generally, 2.4 GHz provides slower speeds compared to 5 GHz due to a lower maximum data rate.

Interference: More prone to interference since many other devices (like cordless phones, microwaves, and Bluetooth devices) operate on the 2.4 GHz frequency, leading to potential congestion and slower network performance.

Range: Offers a shorter range compared to 2.4 GHz and may have difficulty penetrating walls and other obstacles.

Speed: Typically provides faster speeds and higher data rates due to more available bandwidth.

Interference: Less prone to interference as fewer devices operate on this frequency, leading to a more stable connection.

Bluetooth is a wireless communication technology used for exchanging data over short distances.

Bluetooth enables devices to communicate wirelessly within a short range, typically up to 10 meters (about 33 feet) for most consumer devices.

Zigbee is a wireless communication protocol designed for low-power, short-range applications, commonly used in smart home devices, industrial automation, and other areas requiring reliable, low-data rate communication. It features low power consumption, making it ideal for battery-operated devices, and supports short-range communication, typically up to 100 meters. Zigbee employs mesh networking, allowing devices to relay data through each other to extend range and improve reliability. It supports data rates up to 250 kbps, suitable for small data packets, and ensures interoperability among devices from different manufacturers if they conform to Zigbee standards. Security is robust, with AES-128 encryption for data protection.

Zigbee devices need a Zigbee-compatible hub to connect and communicate with other devices in your smart home setup.

Thread is a wireless communication protocol designed specifically for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, providing secure, reliable, and scalable networking. Unlike some other protocols, Thread is IP-based, which means it can seamlessly integrate with existing internet infrastructure. It operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band and uses mesh networking to enhance reliability and extend range by allowing devices to relay data through each other.

Thread is optimized for low power consumption, making it suitable for battery-operated devices. It supports low-latency communication, which is crucial for real-time applications like home automation and security systems. The protocol ensures high security with AES-128 encryption and end-to-end security at the network layer. Thread also supports over-the-air updates, ensuring devices can stay up to date with the latest features and security patches.

Thread-enabled devices require a Thread Border Router (such as certain smart home hubs or routers) to connect to your home network and other Thread devices.

Additional connectivity options not covered by the standard protocols.

This may include proprietary wireless protocols, infrared, or other specialized communication methods.

Google Home serves as a central hub for a variety of smart devices, including lights, thermostats, cameras, and speakers. It leverages Google Assistant for voice control, enabling users to manage their smart home with simple commands.

Amazon Alexa is one of the most widely used smart home systems, known for its compatibility with a vast array of devices. Users can control everything from smart lights to appliances using voice commands through Echo devices.

Apple HomeKit is designed for users in the Apple ecosystem, providing a seamless way to control compatible smart devices through iOS devices using the Home app or Siri. It emphasizes security and user privacy.

SmartThings is a flexible platform that connects a wide range of devices from different brands, offering a unified interface for control. It supports various communication protocols, allowing for extensive device compatibility.

Home Assistant is an open-source platform that allows for extensive customization and integration of a wide variety of smart devices. It supports a multitude of protocols and brands, making it ideal for tech-savvy users.

Matter is a unified, open-source connectivity protocol designed to standardize and simplify communication between smart home devices from different manufacturers. Developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (formerly the Zigbee Alliance), Matter aims to improve interoperability, security, and reliability across various smart home ecosystems.

Matter operates over existing networking technologies, including Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Thread, providing flexibility in device connectivity. Its IP-based nature allows seamless integration with existing internet infrastructure and cloud services. Matter uses a mesh networking topology, particularly when operating over Thread, to enhance range and reliability by allowing devices to relay data through each other.

Security is a cornerstone of Matter, with end-to-end encryption and secure device onboarding processes ensuring robust protection for data and privacy. Matter also supports over-the-air updates, allowing devices to stay current with the latest features and security enhancements.

The lamp reacts to sound, picked up by a microphone in the lamp or by the phone running the app.

A microphone in the lamp keeps working when the phone leaves the room, which is the difference that matters for a lamp left running.

The lamp follows the colours of what is playing on a TV or monitor, through an HDMI box, a camera aimed at the screen, or the brand's own sync app.

A single-zone lamp can only average the picture into one colour, so screen sync is worth it on a lamp with many addressable zones.

Preset animated effects that move colour along the lamp, such as sunrise, candle or aurora.

The number and quality of these presets is most of what separates two lamps with the same hardware, since it is entirely down to the app.

The ability to create automated actions based on sensor readings or schedules.

Automations can trigger other smart devices, send notifications, or adjust settings without manual intervention.

A physical remote or a wall button ships in the box.

It is what lets anyone else in the house use the light without installing the app or being on the same network.