Distinctions - Sengled packs the B11-N1EW with powerhouse LEDs that produce a wide range of hues with a surprisingly strong level of customization around warmth and depth. Integration through Alexa allows Sengled to be used within a suite of other smart products even from other manufacturers.

Criticisms - Sengled’s functionality is overshadowed tremendously by the necessity of a physical Alexa device for setup and use. While Sengled professes to be Bluetooth compatible, Bluetooth’s use in the B11-N1EW extends only as far as connecting with the Alexa, meaning an internet connection is still required at all times for use. As a result of the reliance on Alexa call-and-response, latency between command and actual activation of the bulb is incredibly high. We found that using the Sengled in low-light environments was often more inconvenient than a normal bulb, as entering a room now required time spent at the threshold waiting for commands in the Alexa app or with a physical Alexa to register a command to turn on the light, rather than a simple button press. With competitors often utilizing bluetooth auxiliaries to aid latency, activating through Alexa is a gimmicky and clunky experience.

Distinctions - The B11-N1EW is well-built with minimal excess. Unlike some competitors, all of Sengled’s provided tech fits concisely within the package of a normal A19 size bulb. Plastic over glass provides the user with greater flexibility with durability meaning longer lifespan.

Criticisms - Small inconsistencies with gapping and build size across multiple products tested. Some latency differences despite connection to the same network.

Distinctions - While not terribly eye-catching, the B11-N1EW does not aim to be obtrusive, rather to replace existing bulbs in fixtures. Plastic, while not fully matte, has a frosted appearance that diffuses light effectively while also the user to obscure the presence of the bulb to an extent while not in use.

Criticisms - Plastic on base creates a sheen that is more reflective than ideal, especially while light is in use. Proximity of plastic to led allows some heat burns overtime that spread gradually up the bulb.

Distinctions - Plastic bulb is easier to dispose of sustainably. Without risk of glass breaking, more bulbs can be disposed off via recycling rather than simple trashing. The B11-N1EW also draws significantly less power than comparable incandescent bulbs capable of producing the same lumens.

Criticisms - Necessitation of an Amazon Alexa to operate the B11-N1EW brings it down significantly. Optimistically, Sengled assumes that the consumer already has an Amazon account and an Alexa within earshot of the fixture in which the B11-N1EW is installed. Pessimistically, purchase of the smart bulb requires a second purchase, installation, and continued powering of an Alexa within the target environment. While usability and practicality of an Alexa to the consumer is another situation entirely, it does inherently preclude limitation of the environmental impact of the B11-N1EW to just its assembly and continued powering. With the addition of a separate electronic hub to dispose of, as well as associated impact of continued powering of both an Alexa and the internet connection to utilize it, the Sengled B11-N1EW ranks extremely poorly in terms of sustainability.

Distinctions - The B11-N1EW distinguishes itself by its cross-compatibility within smart environments, as the interface provided by Sengled via Amazon Alexa allows for seamless creation of rooms and ecosystems of both other Sengled products and those from external manufacturers also ported through the app. Average power draw for other smart bulbs around the same lumen rating makes it a solid choice when considering a line of bulbs to add to an existing Alexa-powered system.

Criticisms - While Amazon’s Alexa interface does allow cross-compatibility, necessity of the physical Alexa to be in the same environment is a cost not associated with many competitors. With entry-level Alexa assistants costing between two and three times what the standalone B11-N1EW costs, it turns a simple purchase with other manufacturers into somewhat of an ordeal. Prohibitive proprietary technology in conjunction with the clunky feel of operation through Alexa gives the B11-N1EW bulb a level of inconvenience that is far from smooth or smart.