Review of Philips LED lamps: types and their characteristics, advantages and disadvantages + consumer reviews

Among its analogues, Philips LED lamps occupy first place in the European and world markets, meeting the main requirements of light carriers: efficiency, ease of use and reliability. Philips electrical products are credited with up to 50 thousand hours of continuous glow and high quality.

The company offers a wide range of LED lamps, and choosing the right option is quite difficult, don’t you agree? In order not to get confused in the variety of offers, before going to the store, it is advisable to learn more about the features of using various lamp models.

We will help you understand the Philips product line. The article provides a detailed classification of LED lamps, indicating their technical characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Real user reviews will allow you to evaluate the feasibility of such a purchase.

Why Philips?

Philips has been providing light bulbs to the Old World for 130 years, and has been operating internationally for almost 120 of those years. The founder's idea was initially aimed at creating and manufacturing light attributes, and the first production of the factory was lamps for lighting.

Today the company has expensive medical equipment and branded devices for everyday use. But the light line did not stop for a minute, maintaining its priority to this day, making the brand the oldest lighting supplier in the world.

By the way, the founder of the company was none other than the cousin of the author of Capital, Karl Marx, Gerard Philips.

He had almost no contact with his famous uncle, but with his father and brother in less than 25 years he brought the family enterprise to royal status, and by the end of the 20th century he posthumously received the title of best businessman of the century. So the entrepreneurial spirit was clearly in the blood of the relatives.

New Philips Lighting headquarters in Eindhoven with LED ceiling design - the spacious atrium was decorated with smart petal lamps that independently select lighting each day based on external light and the presence of people

Philips lamps are divided into halogen, fluorescent or energy saving and LED. Halogens are used primarily for cars; they are also used in accent spot models.

Luminescents at one time replaced the usual incandescent light bulbs, but several years ago they were supplanted by the revolutionary LEDs, as light-emitting diodes are also called. They are the ones that are best suited for household lighting from the entire extensive Philips lighting line.

Features of LED lamps from Philips

The company creates standard LED products, including a new product Essential, filament classics and extended models SceneSwitch. The presented models are divided according to the shapes that can be inherent in each line of lamps, and according to their properties.

Philips Lighting LED Shapes

There are six forms in total for Philips LEDs: pear-shaped, candle-shaped, teardrop-shaped, spheres, reflectors, linear.

Each type is suitable for a specific result:

1. Pear-shaped – repeating the familiar design of old lamps, but with new filling. Features: simple, affordable, durable - service life up to 10 years.
2. Candle-shaped – curly and elongated. Features – compact, beautiful, ergonomic, ideal for multi-arm chandeliers, sconces, small spotlights.
3. teardrop-shaped - the same as pear-shaped and candle-shaped, but with improved performance. For example, the durability here will be 15 years, and the shape is more accurate.
4. Balls – have the appearance of a perfect ball, a decorative alternative to standard models.
5. Reflectors – LED analogues of halogen spotlights, but more reliable and of higher quality. Produce a bright light beam without shadow artifacts.
6. Linear – light tubes, familiar from childhood from fluorescent lamps.

The Philips brand lacks another well-known form of LED lamps - corn. Today this type is considered obsolete in the company.

On the left is an incandescent light bulb - cheap, but short-lived and energy-consuming, in the middle - a fluorescent, economical, but containing mercury, which is why it cannot be recycled, on the right - a pear-shaped standard LED lamp, without mercury, 80% more efficient than a filament lamp and 30% more efficient more effective than fluorescent

There are rumors that the main Philips wants to sell their lamp business and focus on the rest. But Philips-Lighting engineers work tirelessly on new types of light sources and invent revolutionary methods. Therefore, these products will always be available.

Technical characteristics and classification

According to technical characteristics, the following options are distinguished:

• dimmable or non-dimmable lamps – in the first case, the brightness can be adjusted during use, in the second - not;
• warm color spectrum – shines with an orange, yellow or soft white tint, marked 2000-6000 K (Kelvin);
• cool color spectrum – “hospital” white or almost blue glow color, marking in the range of 6000-10000 K;
• with standard base – they have a familiar screw base that fits most conventional sockets for mounting; in Russia they are available in 2 sizes – E27, classic and E14, reduced (minion);
• with non-standard base – on pin connectors G, namely G13, GX53, GU10, GU5.3.

Two more indicators are power/watt and luminous flux/lumen. The first determines the energy consumption, the second determines the brightness coming from the power.

In conventional incandescent light bulbs, one standard was responsible for both parameters - watt. But an LED lamp consumes very little power, so its scheme for determining light efficiency is different.

To understand how powerful the LED lamp in front of your eyes is, you need to multiply its value in watts by 8, you get the equivalent of the old “Ilyich light bulb”. Lumens will tell you about brightness - the more there are, the brighter the light. For comparison, the indicators of conventional, halogen, fluorescent and LED lamps are given.

Modern Philips LED lamps are designed in a power range from 2 to 40 W with brightness from 130 to 5000 Lumens. Product energy efficiency ratios (lumens divided by watts) average between 80 and 110, which is a very high standard today. For example, for tungsten “old ladies” it is only 10 Lm/W.

Differences in types and forms

This category includes a large family of diverse LED lamps for the most common life situations.Articles vary in shape, power and color temperature, otherwise these are classic LED analogues without any bells and whistles.

Pear-shaped for easy use

The most numerous row that receives the most attention. Suitable for use in everyday life - in kitchens, bathrooms, toilet rooms, hallways, storerooms, but with one condition - the carrier must be located in shades or chandeliers, where the socket looks down.

The design of standard LED lamps is such that they illuminate exactly the area where they are directed, leaving opposite areas in shadow.

Sectional view of an LED lamp. At their core, LEDs burn only in a two-dimensional direction, but in order to “make” them shine in three dimensions, manufacturers use a lot of ingenuity, inventing more and more efficient forms, so you need to constantly monitor new products

Pear-shaped prototypes combine different characteristics:

• colors - warm white, white, cold daylight;
• power – from 1.7 to 40 W, or from 15 to 300 W equivalent to a conventional incandescent light bulb (LN);
• lighting intensity – from 130 to 5000 Lm.

The everyday line does not contain options for dimmers; this option should be sought in more expensive models.

All standard Philips earbuds have a traditional base E27, but there is one model with LED lamps E40. This is a real giant with 40 watt LEDs and 5000 lumens. Color shade - cool day or 6500 K. Available only on pre-order, but the same versions with a regular base are available freely.

Non-standard pear samples

Philips is constantly looking for unusual solutions for customer comfort. One of them is a convenient 1.7 W mini T25 for use in household electrical appliances, refrigerators, and hoods.For this purpose it has a small base E14 and a special compact shape that allows it to fit in hard-to-reach places.

However, the light bulb is not intended for lighting ovens because it is not heat-resistant. For these purposes, halogen analogues are better suited.

Connoisseurs of advanced technologies will be interested in a unique model assembled several years ago. SlimStyle. It has a much more advanced heat dissipation principle, which none of its competitors had been able to achieve before, a completely atypical design and the same affordable price.

As a result, the light bulb saves even more energy and completely eliminates injuries and burns. And most importantly, it has a service threshold of 25 years.

The innovative SlimStyle lamp, released by Philips in 2014, has an all-plastic body and does a good job of eliminating heat from hot LEDs, its flat shape makes it shock-resistant, and the price of $2 is easily affordable

For clients who want modern technologies in their home, but would not like to part with familiar forms, we have created Master LedBulb. This is a transparent light bulb with point diodes, completely replicating the image of an incandescent light bulb.

It combines the elegant design of the recent past with the power of developed modernity, and the service life is stated to be up to 40 years!

Candle-shaped for special occasions

The model range with the largest number of new products is its purpose: ensuring the operation of small lamps, multi-level chandeliers, sconces, table lamps. The range is constantly updated with new combinations of base size, color temperature and power, which allows you to select sets for any need.

Main characteristics:

• the size of the bases is predominantly E14, but there is a 6.5-watt analogue with E27;
• the power scale varies from 5.5 to 6.5 watts, which corresponds to 50 and 60 W LN;
• brightness scale – 550 (warm white), 600 (cool white) lumens;
• There is no light control in spot prototypes.

Contains two models with lithium cells of 4 and 5.5 W. The LEDs in them are assembled and raised in the form of a burner on a leg, so the outer case of the samples is transparent. Accordingly, the light is scattered not in one direction, but evenly, like a conventional glass light bulb.

Beautiful candle lamps look good as interior decor. They are inexpensive, durable, and convenient for use in non-standard lamps or equipment. The only condition for their full functioning is the lower orientation of the supporting cartridges.

Drop-shaped varieties and balls

The series of drops practically follows the pear-shaped and candle-shaped theme, but differs in a more rounded silhouette, making it possible to use it in limited spaces. In addition, the maximum service life of the product has been increased - provided that combustion occurs for 3 hours a day, the LED drop can work for up to 15 years.

To give the interior a special style, spherical cones are suitable. The range of standard LED spot balls is currently represented by two matte samples of 8.5 and 11 watts on E27. The brightness is equal to conventional light bulbs with a power of 70 and 85 W, they have options with a cold and warm spectrum of radiance.

LED ball lamps look unusual and can act as separate decorations themselves, but their designer appearance affects their cost. On average, a CIS resident will have to pay about $20 for one such Philips

Spot varieties of ball LEDs only have a matte surface, since a clear diffuser is not effective for this type of electronics. Transparent analogues should be looked for in the filament lamps section. Here they go under the name Filament Bulb.

Spots and reflectors

Philips has a small category of LED luminaires for local lighting or zoning. This includes accent spots and reflectors for ceilings, kitchens, and bathrooms.

The convenience of Philips spots is that they are made both in pin variations, when the base is a G connector, and in household ones, for simple E27 cartridges.

In addition, there are two types of cabinet colors - white, black, so they are easy to match to any interior.

Characteristics of LED accent lamps from Philips:

• types of connectors for installation – GU10, G13, GU5.3, E27 on standard spots, GX53 on multi-zone reflectors;
• color range – up to 6500 K, this is the coldest spectrum of the series;
• Dimming is not possible on analogues with pin connectors.

Philips engineers have ensured that the luminous brightness of the supplied reflector spots is not inferior to their halogen counterparts, which cannot be found from other manufacturers.

Linear for replacing fluorescents

“Linear Bar” is a series of LED tubular LEDs on G13 connectors, which are conceived as an effective alternative to the fluorescent predecessors of the Philips-TL.

Compared to outdated relatives, linear LED lamps They are capable of burning for 15 years from the date of sale, and they are absolutely harmless because they do not contain mercury.

G pin connectors were previously invented for installing fluorescent and halogen lamps, so they are easily replaced with LED prototypes with the same sockets, if the alphabetic and numeric characters match (+)

You should not think about how fluorescent lamps differ from others that come across in the descriptions - fluorescent ones. In fact, these are two names for the same type of product. There is also a third - gas discharge lamps. Some suppliers call them plasma, which also corresponds to the device.

Option for all Philips-Essential cases

A new series, which is the most optimized version of standard LED prototypes, making it slightly cheaper. It is ideal to use in the most ordinary places, for simple lighting of household areas. The shape of the lamp is directional, pear-shaped, and fits a standard E27 socket.

The range consists of combinations:

• cold daylight;
• White light;
• 5, 7 and 9 W (40, 55, 65 W incandescent bulbs);
• brightness coefficient from 300 to 650 lm, which corresponds to the average.

The established operating period is 8 years, the light beam is scattered within 130 degrees.

Price Essential – the main advantage of the line. Compared to a wide range, the lightweight series can cost 2 or even 4 times less.

However, there is also a drawback. Thanks to its simplicity, the lamp has become a favorite counterfeit item of unscrupulous manufacturers. However, it is not difficult to detect a forgery if you carefully study the topic before purchasing, and at the time of purchase, the packaging.

Filament Bulb or modern vintage

The classic design of Philips-LED lamps involves directional lighting that looks only down or only up, leaving adjacent areas darkened.This creates an inconvenience when it is desirable to illuminate the entire space evenly.

The problem was solved by innovation in the form of filament LCD lamps, visually repeating the traditional retro light bulb.

Filament lamps were created as a source of uniform distribution of light, but over time they turned into an attribute of stylishness and design in a retro style, so the series does not have cool shades. The photo shows Philips DECO Classic, shape – ball, color spectrum – warm white

The idea is based on almost the same scheme - a light filament sealed in a glass flask, around which there is a cooling gas. Only the filament is not tungsten, but diode. And instead of inert gases, helium is more suitable.

A miniature conversion board is sewn into the base, which finally transforms the filaments into the category of modern technologies, instead of old developments.

Line Filament Bulb or LEDClassic, as the company itself calls it, looks bright not only in terms of lighting, but also as a very fashionable decor. Stylish design, imitation of vintage, yellow, along with 90% energy saving make it not the cheapest Philips product.

Some models cost up to $15 or 850 rubles, while spot analogues barely reach $2.

However, the filament line offers a large range of combinations:

• form – completely transparent pear, ball, candle, drop;
• plinth – E27, E14;
• color temperature – yellow, warm white, super warm white;
• power – from 2 to 8 W (corresponds to 25-60 W LN);
• brightness – up to 806 Lm;
• life time - 15 years.

Almost all filament models are light-controlled.The peculiarity of Philips-Bulb is that their candle-shaped models of size E14 have a small luminous flux, and they will show maximum efficiency only in multi-lamp designs such as large chandeliers.

When used in sconces and floor lamps, for which they are mainly intended, it will be darker than usual, for example, for reading. But the warm atmosphere they create is difficult to overestimate.

Philips candle-shaped design implies two types - symbolic, when the lamp shape has a simple cone-like outline, and stylized, then there is a curl at the tip of the lamp, as if it were burning in the wind; in technical parameters, both forms are not inferior to each other

Unfortunately, the brand does not yet contain official samples where the glow simulates the burning of a real flame, like some offerings from other manufacturers. But the work does not stand still, so soon, perhaps, the concern’s line will be replenished with a new item. New items can always be found on the official website.

New SceneSwitch line

To regulate the intensity of the lamp glow, you need a special relay in the lamp or chandelier switch and a corresponding LED lamp with dimming driver.

Then the lighting can be dimmed or made very bright as desired. However, the color temperature will still remain within the stated model.

Dutch engineers went further and came up with an unusual line SceneSwitch. This is one lamp that combines several functions at once without the introduction of special elements.

Having installed it in the socket, it is enough to flip the switch once to get a cool, neutral, office light, and then turn it off and click a second time to switch to the warm, soft color of a sunny day.

The line is presented today, and this is 2018, with three prototypes:

• pear-shaped standard, on E27 base, power 13-15 W or 100 W equivalent to incandescent bulbs;
• the same, power 9 W (or 70 W LN);
• drop-shaped standard, on E27 base, power 6.5 W (or 60 W LN).

The model has a limitation - it cannot be combined with light control. If you have to put it in such a light, the regulator knob must be kept only at 100%.

The illumination coefficient of a room is measured in lux: lumens/m2. A healthy norm for a bedroom is considered to be 100 lux, a living room, a dining room - 100-200 lux, a study - 300-500 lux. SceneSwitch lamps have a transition from 1500 lm (cool color) to 600-150 lm (warm color) brightness

The SceneSwitch feature allows it to save even more energy, since combustion will not always be at maximum. As a result, having screwed such a model into a cartridge, you can forget about it for 15 years, as the manufacturer claims. But there really are no negative reviews from happy users yet.

Advantages and disadvantages of Philips LED lamps

LEDs from Philips are considered the elite among modern brands of home lighting.

Along with all the advantages of diode technologies, they invariably demonstrate:

• complete absence of flicker in standard LEDs, while cheap analogues do not comply with these standards;
• correct heat transfer principle — the cones do not heat up, touching the lamps does not cause burns, products never explode;
• durability — Philips LED lamps work quietly in the cold;
• closeness to nature. Provide consumers with a color rendering index of 80 CRI, equal to sunlight.

And of course, the key difference between LED and the recently risen fluorescent lamps is that LEDs do not need mercury content, like fluorescent lamps. They are absolutely safe and can be easily disposed of without any conditions.

What are the disadvantages:

1. They may fade over time if purchased under the label of non-original manufacturers. As a rule, it is better to take one released in Europe.
2. Sometimes they fail due to burnout of the driver-converters at the base of the base. The reasons are frequent power surges, contamination of the socket, it is necessary to review the wiring in the controlled room and clean the lamp contacts.
3. They do not like dampness and tightness. Engineers are working on this.

Also, they are more expensive than many brands. But buyers do not consider this a disadvantage.

Thanks to the constant work of the Philips lighting division to improve models, LED lamps are becoming cheaper from year to year. The first prototypes were sold in the CIS for almost 20 dollars or 1000 rubles; today standard analogues are available in stores for 77 rubles

To really assess the quality of this famous brand, you need to know for sure that you are holding an original and not a fake. It is not difficult to learn to distinguish them using instructions on the Internet.

In addition, several dozen representative offices around the world are involved in the direct production of products, including China. And although the company’s management is responsible for the high quality of its products regardless of the country of origin, when purchasing it is better to rely on the nuances.

Real customer reviews

We did some research and found that real people are talking about the Philips brand.

“I was very seriously puzzled by the light in the aquarium.Luminescent ones quickly failed and strongly heated the water, which, accordingly, evaporated. I replaced them with 6500K spectrum LED floodlights. There is little water evaporating, and aquatic vegetation has also begun to actively grow!” (01/30/2016).

“I struggled for a long time with LEDs for a classic crystal chandelier. I'm not a Rockefeller for incandescent lamps. Before LED lamps, I tolerated the “housekeepers”; as soon as LEDs became available, I immediately bought them. Why so much attention? Crystal does not “play” with housekeepers; the stain is too bright. It's better with LEDs, but it's difficult to choose the spectrum. In the end, I saved myself with filaments. The chandelier began to sparkle, there were no shadows from the ugly light bulbs, the atmosphere became exceptional” (03/12/2017).

“I first purchased an Era-Economy, then a Philips diode. The difference is huge, both in cost and quality. I will gradually change everything to Philips” (12/26/2017).

“The light turned out to be too bright, I took it at 9 watts, it shines at 100. It takes a long time to select the spectrum. And there is very little information on the packaging; without preparation it is not clear. Only Phillips suffers from such secrecy” (01/07/2018).

From other observations, advice is useful not to install “LEDs” in bathhouses, since they get very hot on their own, and in high temperatures they will completely fail, and Philips lamps were named along with other manufacturers.

Philips packaging is indeed less informative than its competitors. They only display lumens and power. But new modifications require more detailed information (+)

There are also comments about the weak glow of the light bulbs after switching off. However, you should know that the latter does not refer to a brand defect, but to errors in external wiring.

If you decide to replace old lamps with economical LED lamps, we recommend that you read the article about choosing LEDs.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

A detailed but not boring test from a cheerful blogger dedicated to Philips LED lamps:

Visual demonstration of SceneSwitch, two times of day in one:

How to independently replace Philips fluorescent tubular lamps with LED analogues on different types of lamps, professional instructions:

There are disputes that one light bulb cannot last 15 years, and the price of one LED-Philips copy is such that it will take more than one thousand to supply the entire home or office. Will such an expense actually pay off?

It all depends on individual circumstances. It may not be worth switching everything around to LED lighting. But in the most active areas, a high-quality light bulb from Philips can reduce electricity costs to nothing.

Do you have anything to add or have questions about the selection and use of LED lamps from Philips? You can leave comments on the publication, participate in discussions, or share your own experience of using such light bulbs. The contact form is located in the lower block.