TP-Hyperlink Tapo L930-5 Evaluation Ranking
Abstract
If you would like a lightweight strip with vivid addressable RGB (and white) LEDs with glorious good options, however cannot justify the price of Philips Hue, then that is your finest guess.
Execs
- Reasonably priced addressable RGB gentle strip
- Glorious options throughout the app
Cons
- Lack of Tapo/Kasa integration is annoying
The Tapo L930-5 was launched in the course of 2022, and it’s the first product to launch from them that may be built-in with Apple HomeKit.
Tapo L930-5 vs L920-5 vs L900-5
I’ve beforehand reviewed the inexpensive Tapo L900-5, which makes use of an RGB chip that solely permits a single color for use on the strip without delay. The L930-5, makes use of RGBIC and permits lights to be individually addressed, offering a full-colour atmosphere expertise.
The L930-5 is a step up from the L920-5, with each of them permitting 50 separate color zones. The Tapo L930-5 then provides further white lights, which permits it to behave as a basic gentle. Then after all, that is the primary product with Apple HomeKit help permitting you to regulate your gentle strip with Siri utilizing Apple HomeKit.
Specification / Options
- Zonal Colour Management – take advantage of 50-section addressable color zones, to swimsuit each temper or state of affairs setting.
- Additional White LEDs – acts as basic lights, strengthening the practicability of the colorful Wi-Fi gentle strip.
- Fancy Lighting Results – amuse your self with well-designed animated lighting results, accessible on Tapo App.
- Music Sync – provides extra vibe by emitting dynamic lights, parallel with the encircling music beat.
- Apple HomeKit Supported – management your gentle strip with Siri utilizing Apple HomeKit.
- Voice Management– appropriate together with your good voice assistants, together with Alexa and Google Assistant.
- Floor Coating-stays sturdy, tidy, and full, due to the high-quality PU coating on its floor.
- Wi-Fi Connection – with a steady connection to your 2.4Ghz networks, it really works effectively with out hub necessities.
- Straightforward Set-up – connect the Gentle Strip with 3M Adhesive on desired spots, join it to Wi-Fi and configure it through app.
- Energy Consumption: 13W
- White Gentle for Illumination
Set-Up
Like all Tapo merchandise, there isn’t a hub required for this gentle strip, it makes use of 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, and the set-up is similar for all of the Tapo merchandise. I had to connect with the open Wi-Fi community that was broadcast by the Tapo L930-5, present my Wi-Fi credentials, anticipate it to sync then replace. All customary stuff for a sensible dwelling product.
In-use and app options
This can be a regular type gentle strip, slightly than the subtle/gradient kinds from Philips Hue and Twinkly. Due to this fact you’ll be able to trim the sunshine strip right down to the size you require.
The Tapo app is useful and simple to make use of, I’m simply not overly eager on the UI design, it appears to be like a bit low cost and infantile in comparison with the Kasa app. Functionally, there may be little distinction, and there may be nonetheless no interoperability between merchandise, though it is the identical firm producing them.
Inside the app, you’ll be able to set it to a stable color or choose one of many predefined results. There are solely 17 predefined choices, and it would not seem like you’ll be able to obtain new ones (like Twinkly). With the color choice, it’s inferior to Hue, the place you’ll be able to choose virtually limitless colors.
This has some distinctive options that you simply will not see on the Hue equal. There are alternatives for customized color portray and creating new lighting results. It’s a good distance off the color portray you are able to do with Twinkly, however it’s a enjoyable characteristic to have.
Much like Hue and different merchandise, you’ll be able to sync the lights to the music that’s performed out of your cellphone, which may present a nice impact in social conditions.
I’m impressed at how vivid this gentle strip can go. They do not make any claims for the RGB colors however state 1,000 Lumens. I would not depend on it as the primary gentle for a room, nevertheless it works effectively when used as the primary gentle for temper lighting when I’ve family and friends round.
I do not use Apple merchandise myself, so I have never examined this may Apple HomeKit.
Value and Various Choices
The Tapo L930-5 has an RRP of £45 and is presently accessible on Amazon for £34. You possibly can decide up the older L900-5 for simply £16.
Amazon would not have the Tapo L920-5, and Ebuyer has it for £36 and Argos for £32, so you might as effectively simply get the Tapo L930-5.
From a pure worth perspective, Govee is the best choice. You may get the 10m LED Lights for lower than £20.
The WiZ Color & Tunable Good Wi-Fi LED 4M is obtainable from Argos for £30.
On the time of writing, the Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus v4 is £69, however it’s usually discounted to round £55 and was £44 throughout Black Friday (the one time I pay for Hue merchandise).
There’s, after all, an enormous worth disparity between Tapo, Govee, Wiz and Hue. For customers like myself, you aren’t simply paying for the {hardware} however the ecosystem, and that is why I’m on Philips Hue. If you happen to solely need a gentle strip, then you might as effectively keep on with inexpensive manufacturers.
Total
There’s nothing to essentially complain about with the Tapo L930-5, it is a superb gentle strip with loads of options. The LEDs are brighter than anticipated in my kitchen, and the pricing may be very engaging.
I’ve a couple of Tapo plugs, so I’ve grow to be accustomed to this ecosystem, and I might choose to keep it up for reasonable lights vs getting one other app from manufacturers like Govee.
TP-Hyperlink Tapo & Kasa Finish of Life
One factor value noting, up to now, I’ve usually highlighted my frustration with the Kasa/Tapo lack of integration and my basic annoyance at having too many good dwelling apps. In April final yr, I used to be instructed TP-Hyperlink Kasa was getting into the tip of life, and there can be a Kasa/Tapo integration by Q3 2022.
Nevertheless, every little thing has gone quiet relating to this, and TP-Hyperlink Kasa has even launched new merchandise, together with good thermostatic radiator valves (KE100). TP-Hyperlink has dedicated to Matter, and this may very well be the place we lastly begin to get some interoperability in 2023.
Final replace on 2023-01-26 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Photos from Amazon Product Promoting API