Skip to main content

The Lifx Z TV strip can help light up your next movie-watching binge

lifx
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Lifx got its start as a Kickstarter and was one of the original rivals to the Philips Hue, but the company has since branched into more decorative forms of light like the Lifx Tile. That innovation continues with the company’s newest products, a candle format bulb, and the Lifx Z TV Light Strip.

The immediate feature that sets Lifx apart from so much of its competition is that it does not require a hub. Unlike the similar Philips Hue brand of lights, Lifx bulbs connect directly to the Wi-Fi without the need of an intermediary connection point.

The second notable feature is built into the new Candle Color product. It uses Lifx’s Polychrome Technology, which allows a single bulb to emit multiple colors of light at once. The technology has been previously used in Lifx’s more decorative lights, but this will be the first time it has ever been used in a light bulb.

The Candle Color is priced at $45 and is slated to launch in October. The bulb will make use of multi-colored LEDs that allow users to create a completely unique atmosphere. For example, one side of the bulb could be green to create an accent on the wall and the other could be a soft yellow to light the room. It can also mimic special effects through the Lifx app, like a flickering candle.

The new Lifx Z TV light strip takes advantage of one of the most popular uses of existing light strips: enhancing the television viewing experience. The LIFX Z TV strip also makes use of Polychrome Technology, which allows users to animate their lighting experience while using different colors. The strip is designed to be installed behind a television and create ambient lighting on the wall behind the TV. Studies have shown that this not only reduces eyestrain but also improves the viewing experience by creating darker contrast on the screen. The Lifx Z TV light strip is $70 and will be available in October at both Best Buy and from Lifx’s website.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Lifx has become the second-largest seller of smart lights in the world and continues to advance the market through innovation.

Editors' Recommendations

Patrick Hearn
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…
Your Philips Hue lights can now sync to the beat of your Spotify music
Philips Hue and Spotify

Smart lights have long been able to sync up with music, but it has always been through your phone's microphone. Philips Hue and Spotify have partnered to create what it calls the "first-ever deep lighting and music experience." The process works by linking the both your Philips Hue and Spotify accounts, and that's where the magic happens.

Philips Hue pulls the metadata from each song played on Spotify, regardless of what device you're playing it on. It then uses an advanced lighting script that causes the lights to shift not only to the beat, but also based on the genre and mood of the song. This means you won't run into the problem of a too-cheerful light show set to the dulcet tones of Helpless as you jam out to Hamilton for what you know is the 175th time.

Read more
How to use smart lights to up your photography skills
A display of LED light strips.

Whether you're an up-and-coming or established photographer shooting stills in a studio space, or the celebrated host of a popular YouTube channel (like and subscribe), there's one thing that your camera of choice requires above all else, and that's a suitable lighting setup for whatever content you and your lens may be producing.

When it comes to snapping pictures or taking video in a dedicated workspace, there are all kinds of lighting equipment you can get your hands on to properly illuminate your final product, but what about smart lighting? Sure, smart lights are a bit more common for residential applications, but if you're paying for a web connection for your studio-lair, there's plenty you can do to enliven your next session.

Read more
Outdoor smart lights are best for expressing your patriotism this 4th of July
4th of July lighting as brought to us by Philips Hue.

Independence Day is that time of year when friends and family can gather for a shared outdoor experience that combines good eats, plenty of beverages, and neighborhood-wide explosions -- which often begin in the weeks before the holiday and carry through a majority of the summer. We're talking, of course, about good-old bombastic fireworks.

A staple of every 4th of July extravaganza both big and small, you'll be hard-pressed to not find elaborate displays of these colorful pyrotechnics at your local stores, dedicated fireworks shops, or even under pop-up tents on the side of the interstate (where one should purchase with caution). Fireworks are an iconic way to express your Independence Day cheer, but they're not exactly quiet or completely safe. In the dog days of 2020, illegal firework activity was more commonplace than ever, with many parts of the country dealing with decibel disturbances long into the predawn hours. Then there are the numerous injuries and fatalities that are directly attributed to fireworks use, even under the safest conditions.

Read more