I was a little hesitant on buying one, since I felt that it was more a fad or for pre college kids sorta deal. Until I started using smart functions on Google Assistant (Alexa from Amazon) can also be used i'll describe my set up, which should be the same or similar to Alexa.. *highest brightness and *has built in WIFI. No Hub needed. Set up was easy: screw the bulb in, turn it on like a normal bulb, download the app and 'connect bulb'. After that it ask you to name the bulb, in my situation I used 'lamp' than it pairs and ready to use. It uses 2.4ghz signal, which is good on distance than 5ghz. Considering that it sends a basic signal 'off and on' its not clogging your WIFI like streaming film would be. After going threw the set up, it will ask you for WiFi password etc If you change the name of your network, you have to set it up over again, since its a new network. Shutting off you can use the app but in my set up. I use Google Home or my smartphone , only use the main app for some functions.. By adding the bulb to my Google home, it controls everything without going to a specific app and you can use voice : 'turn on lamp, off, change lamp color (insert a color) etc'. The official LIFX app does have themes, colors and you can see/turn the bulb brightness up or down or color suggestions and save to favorites even make home widget for android. Its also helpful on finding out names for example: I like daylight light, but the shade I like is 'cool daylight'. It does come in handy when you want a specific tone. The benefit of using it will with Google home IF you don't have Alexa, you can have all 'smart items' listed like a command center and set it into a room and see all smart items instead of going into every app. This has pushed me into adding 3 ceiling fans that are smart and use both Alexa and Google Assistant in the same way as the bulb. But can be automated on a schedule, similar to the bulb. I plan on replacing all their bulbs with LIFX. The main LIFX app is useful for creating themes and syncing multiple bulbs in various colors like 'Christmas, bright, cheerful etc' it cycles threw various colors creating a mood if you have more than 1 bulb. Using Google Assistant, similar to Alexa, you can say : Dim lamp to 30% etc its useful using voice than having to go to the stock app for everything. You also can be away from the house, outside of your WIFI and send the command turn lamp lights on/off when going home or pulling up to the house. PROS: VERY BRIGHT, Easy to use and connect, various colors, themes, sound themes, create a combination of colors or preset, can be dimmed. Has a day light schedule that can be made custom color that can turn on and off by-itself. You can also set it to turn on every day at a specif time, and off. CONS: Haven't found any. I will update the review once I add more bulbs into the set up and see how they all work in unison. I may have to figure out a naming scheme for multiple bulbs WARNING: Have a decent internet connection and make sure it can reach where the bulbs are set up. I think some are having connection issues because they're to far from the WIFI. Mine are all centralized. If you have a large home, invest in range extenders , mesh system or a decent WIFI setup. I plan on adding bulbs outside eventually. UPDATE: 1/10/2019 Using a total of 5 light bulbs, 2 per ceiling fan and 1 for the floor lamp. Will be adding more. I found it easier when using 2 bulbs, like in my set up for a ceiling fan to just name them both the same: In my case (fan light 1 and fan light 2)There are 2 bulbs per fan, so the commands controls both lights on the fan itself. Making it easier than calling out 4 different bulb by name, plus the floor lamp bulb. Also figured out you can use gemstone colors like: Amber, ruby, turquoise, emerald, sapphire etc but no exotic combination like (quartz which is various colors or saying 'sapphire red'. It defaults to sapphire blue. You can use gold and silver but not diamond or Onyx (black). You can control all bulbs by saying 'living room lights or change all lights to (insert color)' after setting all of them in the same room with Google assistant. Make sure to name them the same in the LIFX App AND Google home so voice commands are the same name.