Smart lighting has long ceased to be exotic. On store shelves you can find dozens of models of light bulbs that can change color, work on a schedule, and connect to various “smart” platforms. But when it comes to choosing, you often have to solve a dilemma: take a cheap “no-name” without a guarantee of security or choose a brand that stands behind quality and support. That is why I stopped at TP-Link Tapo L530E.
The first thing that convinced me to make this choice was a secure Wi-Fi connection. The bulbs connect directly to the router, do not require additional hubs or intermediaries, and use modern encryption methods. This is important for me, because dubious Chinese counterparts often work through their own “gray” cloud services, where it is unknown how data is transmitted and how protected it is. In the case of TP-Link, I get confidence in standardization and reliability, because the company has long established itself in the field of network equipment.
Technically, the Tapo L530E is an 8.7W LED bulb (equivalent to a classic 60W bulb) with a luminous flux of 806 lumens. It supports 16 million colors, allows you to adjust the brightness from one to one hundred percent, and works directly via Wi-Fi in the 2.4 GHz range. All this is controlled via the Tapo app, which, by the way, receives regular updates and has integration with Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings.
I got five bulbs at once and combined them into a group. This turned out to be very convenient: with one click you can control the lighting in the entire room. But there is a nuance here. Some functions available for individual bulbs do not work fully in the group. For example, you cannot apply the “disco mode” to all of them at once, as well as view the total electricity consumption. These parameters remain individual. And although this is not critical, I would like to see more advanced capabilities specifically for group control.
I took basic screenshots that show the general appearance of the Tapo app interface and basic functionality.
The bulbs turned out to be convenient to use. Installation takes a few minutes: screw into the E27 socket, open the application, connect to Wi-Fi – and you’re done. Then you can play with colors, create schedules or even set timers. For example, I use them for evening lighting – the soft warm light creates coziness, and when necessary – you can switch to a colder white tone for work.
When all the bulbs were connected and organized into a group, I decided to see how they were displayed in the client list on my Ubiquiti UCG-Max router. I was pleasantly surprised that even a photo was automatically downloaded according to the bulb model.
Compared to the regular LED bulb that I use in parallel, the Tapo L530E looks like an undisputed favorite. It not only shines, but also adds a sense of control and flexibility. You no longer need to get up to turn off the light – everything is done from your phone or even a voice command.
Of course, like any device, it has its limitations. But overall, the Tapo L530E is an excellent combination of price, quality and capabilities. And most importantly, it is not a “disposable toy”, but a serious product that works stably, integrates with other systems and gives a sense of security.
