Customer Ratings & Reviews

I have bought several of these and at least 2 were defective, after opening the box

I received a 2 pack of these bulbs and was immediately met with no instructions, and only seeing reference to Google and home mini on the box. No QR codes to link to software, nothing. As regular light bulbs, they are awesome, but I knew there had to be something more going on. So, I went to the Apple App Store and found a C by GE app that has the same icon as the box, so I downloaded it. Once it installed, I was able to find the two light bulbs without any issue. It blinks them so you know which is which. Then, I was able to use the automation features to turn them on/off, dim or brighten them, and schedule them when to come on/off. I'm not much of someone who likes automation of lights, only because there is some issue if someone tries to come downstairs at 3am to get medicine, a drink, watch TV, etc. and they don't have the APP or don't have their phone, that kind of thing. However, I put them into places where this would not be an issue - the living room desk, and the hallway by the steps. What I found myself doing was to program the hallway light to dim at night, get bright at morning, and the desk light to come on at dusk to 50% and turn off at bedtime. This is how our household works, so it was an easy thing to do. If I had the Google home mini maybe more is available as for features, but this is fine and works great using IOS and an Iphone. The light is very natural looking and not at all like an LED. The fact that these lights are pretty much able to be programmed how we live, and adjusted as needed, I'm good. Plus, if you plan to do more, you can turn them on and off at dusk and dawn that kind of thing. I even programmed a time between 12am and 5am, to have the light come on at a certain time and go off at a certain time, to appear to anyone scoping out the house, that someone is up and doing something, then I have it programmed to go off at a certain time thereafter. You can repeat days or times of days, I haven't figured out if there is a limit - but if there is one I haven't found it yet. Imagine GE quality, with this kind of built in WIFI bulb that does NOT need a HUB, what more could you want? It appears if you hook up to Google home mini or something you can do outside and voice control, but I was able to do outside control with simply the APP over cellular. I don't care about voice control, I only care out outside control and that works without anything but the app and cellular service. A great product for automating standard non-color switching lightbulbs. I'll be getting more of these and for the price point you cannot go wrong at all.

I read the box and details and it said can be used without a hub, it should have said requires a hub with Alexa. Not very alexa friendly and I could not get them to pair with my husband's phone, so he essentially has to call me to turn on the light from my phone because he and alexa can't....

These bulbs require an additional purchase of a hub.

Didn’t read thoroughly enough to know a hub was needed.

PROs: - Functions simply as bright LED bulb upon initial power-up--no flashing, blinking, blanking or waiting for an app or voice assistant to pair; very nice if you want to deal with all that later and you just need a bulb in the socket - 'C by GE' app allows remote control for power, brightness, schedule setting, and one-touch "scene" settings (Good morning, I'm home, Party, etc.) - You DO NOT need a Google Home Mini, the Google Home App, or even a WIFI network--with the C by GE app, you can group lights (i.e. office, bedroom, entryway, etc.), configure timers or scenes, and manually control the power and brightness when you're nearby using Bluetooth only (if that suits your needs) - Though the color temperature is not tunable (for that, you need the C-Sleep bulbs), the 2700K preset has a pretty comfortable warmish (incandescent bulb-like) hue that is pretty conservative and therefore versatile for typical household, kitchen, living room or bedroom duty...essentially anywhere you'd like to exercise some smart-bulb functionality but don't need wild party rainbow colors or daylight/cooler bluish whites - Okay, so if you DO have a Google Home Mini (or a C-Reach bridge to use with Echo/Alexa), setup and integration into the home network is pretty much instantaneous and you get all the hands-free voice activation you could want for power, scheduling, brightness levels, and out-of-the-home control CONs: - Ugh...despite a VERY painless and quick Bluetooth pairing process, the C by GE app requires yet ANOTHER account login and password to create and save before you get anywhere - There is an 11-step factory reset procedure that is kind of dodgy with alternations between on/off cycles that vary from 2 seconds to 5-10 seconds each. Though I was able to get the bulbs reset multiple times while switching between C by GE app-only control, and using my Google Home Mini, I sometimes needed 3-5 extra on/off cycles to finally get the reset confirmation blinks in the bulbs...someone less patient or less precise on the light switch might have a great deal of trouble - Don't just snag a set of these bulbs off the shelves without understanding the requirements or reading a few reviews--like many have already indicated, these bulbs come with virtually no documentation and the simplistic instructions on the box give no mention to the C by GE app that actually provide pretty extensive, hub-less/Google-less near-field control and programming Summary review: At about $12 a bulb or less, this is a pretty inexpensive and relatively painless way to get some basic, smart-bulb functionality into your home or office. For example, using the C by GE app, you can program them to gradually wake you up each workday morning with ever-increasing brightness levels until you're ostensibly forced out of bed at maximum brightness to begin your day. Ready to watch a movie--just use the "movie" scene and all grouped lights will automatically dim to a more intimate, TV-friendly brightness level. You can easily use the remote power or brightness sliders to blank or dim the bulbs to your mood/needs individually or in groups/rooms and even update the firmware from inside the app. For those places where you don't have a WIFI signal, or if you have not yet invested in voice control hardware like a Google Home Mini, but would still appreciate some light automation/scheduling or remote control for your lighting needs, the C-Life bulbs represent a pretty decent value. Note that the limited instructions on the back of the box would lead you to believe that you need a Google Home Mini and the Google Home app to use these bulbs. Absolutely untrue. You DO need a smartphone or other Bluetooth enabled device and the C by GE app...this is indicated nowhere on the box. However, setup using the app is quick and painless (at least it was for me): 1) Screw in the bulbs 2) Open the app 3) Press 'Add new devices' 4) Select 'C-Sleep & C-Life Lights' (there are actually two other devices, Sol and C-Reach, that appear on the screen, so you might be returning to this app later for even more smart-home goodies!) 5) Wait for it to connect via Bluetooth (about 10-20 seconds)--when successful, each light blinks 3 times It is here where the app tells you that the bulbs are ideally configured with Google Home, but it gives you the option to continue with the C by GE app (it even gives you an "Are you sure?" prompt to really hammer home the point that these are designed with Google's ecosystem in mind). Press ahead and you can start naming bulbs, naming rooms, grouping lights, choosing scenes, setting schedules, etc...just be aware that your ability to do any of this is limited by Bluetooth network reach. I confirmed this by disconnecting my Google Home Mini, turning off WIFI on my smartphone, and even turning off my wireless router. Yes, configuration and control via the app is still possible so long as you've got a near-field Bluetooth connection to at least one of the bulbs themselves (and the bulbs are within Bluetooth reach of each other). But without a WIFI control hub like those shipped with some other bulb brands, a Home Mini, or GE's own C-Reach bridge to use something like Alexa, know that you cannot, for example, use the app to turn on your front porch lights from the store so you can illuminate your path before you're home; or tell Alexa while you're in the car down the street to turn them off because you forgot to...you have to be within Bluetooth operating distances for manual control (typically 40-50 feet or less). But, you can just as easily program an automation schedule that ensures your porch lights turn on after dusk and turn off before bedtime; you simply can't cycle power, adjust brightness, or manually intervene on that schedule until you're back in range with your smartphone. Now...if you DO have a Google Home Mini, the experience is probably about as painless as you'd expect. In my case, the Google Home app immediately found the bulbs waiting to be configured, named, and added to my groups and rooms. Voice control worked for hands-free power and brightness adjustments just as with any other brand of integrated smart-bulb we now have in our house (currently 3 and counting), and I could remotely control the lights from the road or other locations without needing to be within spitting distance of the lights themselves. Interestingly, if you happen to install the lights and try to configure them first via the C by GE app, and then choose to set them up with Google Home as suggested, the app itself will reset the bulbs for you. However, a factory reset after the fact, i.e. you bought a Google device down the road and now want to use Google Home/Mini to control and automate the bulbs, will require a lengthy and often imprecise reset procedure (referenced in CONs above). Still, it's nice to know you have some options even if Bluetooth connectivity (vs. WIFI to the bulbs or via a hub) to the bulbs is a bit out of the norm and just might be problematic in homes/areas with lots of congested Bluetooth activity. Overall, a good, if not great, acquisition. I would have definitely preferred tunable whites (available in a slightly pricier model bulb), and integration with non-Google voice assistants or out-of-home control via the current C by GE app requires a separate purchase of the C-Reach Bluetooth-to-WIFI bridge. Still, budget-minded buyers curious about smart-bulb/smart-home functionality who haven't yet taken the Google plunge may appreciate what these bulbs have to offer.

Advertised on BBuy web site as being Apple HomeKit compatible but in reality that requires a separate GE hub. Returned as soon as I found that out.

Keeps disconnecting from wifi I don’t know why but it’s a pain

First I bought 2 bulbs got them working with the c by ge app on my android phone. But to control from away from the house. You need the smart bridge. So I got it from Amazon. Wouldn't connect. Talked to Scott at ge he said Amazon must have sent old versions ad he has seen it happen. Suggested I get the Plug which will do what I want. Got it today. C by ge app connected easily. Tried to add the bulb but it tells me I need to use the Google home app and connect to the Google device. I don't have a Google home device and of 2 reps were never told by them. Rep today tried to help me get them added with no luck. He said that when it says to go to Google app I should be able to bypass that. Couldn't Very very dissatisfied. Waste of time. Taking it back to Best buy.

You need a hub in order for this to work with Google smart speakers.

It is ok for blue tooth but need more devices for WiFi..

This really goes along with my other comment about the lights.

Tried numerous times to connect. I contacted the GE and they blamed google home, called google home and they blamed GE. All my other devices connect fine and have stayed connected. These have been nothing but problems.

These are not good. They aren't bad, just not good.

These are average bulbs. Nothing special. They work.

Pretty cool bulb, makes me feel like I've got magic

These lights are a good alternative to other smart lights available. I would recommend them more to someone who has a Google Home (any size) and wants a lighting system that will work almost exclusively off of voice control. This may be something coming soon to the C by GE app but, it does not appear that you can have the lights set to both their app and Google Assistant for control. This is something that I have found hugely beneficial through the other smart lighting systems I have, as you can set routines and lighting preferences/settings straight through their respective apps. The app aside, the setup was incredibly quick and easy! The control through Google Assistant is very simple and easy to understand, along with a nice warm white from the bulb. Brightness was exactly the same as the Philips (non-smart) LED bulb it replaced and the installation of the bulbs themselves was exactly as easy as any other A19 bulb (standard lightbulb)! All in all, this is a perfect start for those who would like to get into smart lighting, have or are looking into a combo pack with a Google Home, and are looking for a "hub-less" set up.

The GE - C-Life A19 Bluetooth Smart LED Bulbs work well and are very affordable for entering into the world of the Smart Home. The only reason I did not give a 5-star rating is because it came without adequate instructions. It clearly is designed for the Google Home units. Even when setting it up via the GE app, it wants to send you to Google Home to finish up. The advantage of this is that it works with Google devices without needing an additional hub. It also works very well with the 'C by GE' app, although that's not as convenient as asking Google to control the lights. These will only work with Amazon Alexa if you add GE's own hub first. I only have Alexa at home and so used the app. Everything worked as advertised. Later, I moved the bulbs to my office so I could try them with my Google Home. This works great. I can not only group the bulbs and turn them on or off (together or individually), I can also have Google increase of decrease the brightness. In Summary: If you understand the boundaries of these bulbs and are comfortable using the web to get instructions, they are a solid choice at a great price.

I like the bulbs because I’m lazy but too light...

Gave it a three because of the Google hub,........