The Mipow Playbulb Candle is a unique bit of smart LED lighting. Adding Bluetooth to the humble LED candle, Mipow gadget allows you to set the right ambience from your smartphone.
But is this gadget a must-have or just a gimmick? Read my Mpow Playbulb Candle review to find out!
I want to say thanks to GearBest for sending me a sample to review.
I was a little disappointed that no batteries were included so make sure you have some AAs handy.
Mipow Playbulb Candle Review: Design
There’s not to say about the Mipow Playbulb Candle design except that it looks like a candle.
The unit is symmetrical, tapering at the top and bottom. The whole thing is made out of white plastic: matte for the base and translucent for the body.
Inside the unit is the LED flame, the scent chip holder, wind sensor and power switch.
The bottom of the unit unscrews to reveal the battery compartment for 3 AA batteries. The base also doubles as a tealight candle if you want to light things up old school.
Mipow Playbulb Candle Review: Using It
A flick of the power switch immediately brings the candle to life with a pleasing glow after a second.
The candle is controlled via the Playbulb X app (iOS/Android) which allows you to set the candle to one of the million supported colors. A host of other modes are also available, including rainbow and pulsing.
You can even turn the candle on and off on a schedule, though it’s a little simplistic.
The candles light outputs matches a tealight candle pretty well. It’s perfect for ambience though don’t expect it to replace your lamp.
Unlike the bulb, the candle can even be blown out like a real candle. You can even set it up to turn off all your Mipow lights at the same time.
If you flip the Playbulb over, you can use the base to hold a normal tealight candle too. It’s a useful inclusion but not as fun as a smart candle (wow, never thought I’d write that!).
The scent chip is a nice addition but will likely be inconsequential to most. Each color seems to have a different scent. They’re subtle but noticeable. I wasn’t able to find where you buy replacements from though.
Should You Get It?
I really like the Mipow Playbulb Candle. A lot of people will argue a smart candle is ridiculous but I personally loved being able to set the right atmosphere from my phone. Couple it with the Mipow Smart LED bulb and a Logitech Smart Control and you can get that cinema ambience all from your smartphone.
It’s definitely a niche product, but if you’re wanting to add some smart lighting, the Mipow Playbulb Candle is an appealing option.
Getting One
You can buy the Mipow Playbulb Candle from GearBest for around $19.99 for a single candle up to $49.99 for a pack of 3.
