TechRadar Verdict
The GE Cync Lighting Dynamic Effects Smart Bulb has a lot to offer. It’s bright, has a wide range of colors and shades, and can do quite a few different dynamic effects, some of which are audio-sensitive. It is a little pricey and is limited in terms of support for smart home ecosystems. But, if you’re OK using the app, Google Home, or Alexa, you’ll probably love these smart bulbs as much as me.
Pros
- +
Wide range of colors and effects
- +
App is easy to use
- +
Alexa and Google Home support
Cons
- -
Not Matter or HomeKit certified
- -
A little pricier than a lot of the competition
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GE Cync Lighting Dynamic Effects Smart Bulb: two-minute review
The GE Cync Lighting Dynamic Effects Smart Bulbs are a fantastic addition for anyone looking to add some smart and (per the name) dynamic lighting to their smart homes. While GE offers all sorts of different lighting options, the smart bulbs comes in two versions: A19 and B30. The first, reviewed here, fits into most traditional light fixtures, while the B30 is ideal for recessed lighting.
You don’t need a hub for the GE Cync Lighting Dynamic Effects Smart Bulbs, so adding them into a smart home is pretty straightforward. That said, they are limited to certain ecosystems – a minor travesty in this day and age where Matter certification is becoming more widely adopted.
Overall though, the GE Cync Lighting Dynamic Effects Smart Bulbs belong in the conversation for the best smart lights due to, not only their easy implementation, but the wide range of colors and effects on offer.
Physically, the GE Cync Lighting Dynamic Effects Smart Bulbs look like most smart bulbs in that they keep the same basic shape of the bulb form factor. The outer part of the bulb is an opaque white while the lower portion towards the base is covered in a matte white casing presumably covering the more digital components of the bulb.
The A19 version reviewed here is on par with a 60 watt light bulb ,offering 800 lumens in terms of brightness with a color temperature of 2,700k. Since this is a bulb with a focus on dynamic lighting, there are 16 million colors and white tones available, and the brightness can be fully adjusted.
Likewise, pairing the light bulb is very easy and straightforward, consisting of physically installing the bulb, turning on the lamp, and going through the setup prompts on the Cync app. Having dealt with a number of smart bulbs over the years, I have found that cheaper ones (aka budget brands) can have connectivity issues during pairing and sometimes even during use.
The GE Cync Lighting Dynamic Effects bulb might be a little spendy compared to other models, but its connectivity is rock solid. In fact, the closest I‘ve had to any issue is a second or two of lag when turning off through the app, but that’s only if the light’s been on for a while.
I also tested it with Alexa The setup took just a few steps, and Alexa responded quickly to my voice commands. Unfortunately, this smart bulb only has access to Google Home and Alexa. While that accounts for a good number of smart home ecosystems, it leaves plenty of people in the cold, something that Matter certification would help with, and which isn't on offer here. What’s surprising is that GE does have some Matter-supported bulbs, such as in the reveal and direct connect models.
Most of the magic for this smart bulb is accessible via the app. Each installed light bulb shows up as its own entry in the app, and shows up as a boxy tile with an on/off toggle and a slider to adjust brightness. Tapping the tile doesn’t open more menu diving as one would expect. Instead, you’ll end up turning the light on or off depending on its current setting.
To dig deeper, there’s a little inward pointing arrow at the edge of the icon that, when pressed, moves the tile to the side to reveal four smaller icons. The first gives access to a color wheel where you can really fine-tune the color you want. If there aren’t 16 million colors available here, then it’s probably close. There are some other options in this section of the app where you can just select some preset lighting including different shades of white and some basic colors.
I won’t say shame on you if you stick to these settings, but you’re missing out on what this light bulb can do if you don’t go beyond that. The second of the four smaller icons allows you to subdivide the lightbulb into four differently colored sections for when you want to get a little wild, but still want static lighting.
The third icon is probably the most unique to the GE Cync Lighting Dynamic Effects Smart Bulb as this is where the actual dynamic effects are available. First, it should be noted that the dynamic effects are subdivided into two sections of effects, selectable by pressing on ‘light shows’ or ‘music shows’ at the bottom.
Whichever is selected will show a number of presets already loaded onto the bulb, as well as a section of other presets to explore and preview that can be downloaded as well. All the dynamic effects can be customized, though the level of customization depends on the effect itself. Usually, you can change the brightness and selected colors used (many of the presets cycle through different colors for their effects) at the minimum.
The light shows are fun, but are a bit more static than the music shows, which use the microphone on your smartphone (and you can select the sensitivity) to respond to aural stimulus. It’s really cool to see the smart bulb change color and intensity according to the dynamics of a song. The only minor issue is that it responds much better with the volume up. So, when I have a music show effect loaded and am listening to music at a comfortable level that one could talk over, the effect only seems to respond to the peaks of the audio and is off otherwise. To get the full experience, I have to turn up. While cool, I have to consider my neighbors when choosing to turn it up.
Lastly, the fourth icon is for settings. While I won’t spend too much time on this, it’s worth mentioning that there’s a feature here called ‘Trueimage’ that lets you take a picture to set as the background of the smart bulb tile, and preview changes even if you're not in the same room.
The Cync Lighting Dynamic Effects Smart Bulb looks great, whether on a white light setting – regardless of the warmth (I do like to go warmer) – or one of the dynamic effects with its full color array.
Really, the only shortcomings of this light bulb is the lack of Matter support. While somewhat expensive on a per-bulb basis, it’s not an unreasonable price. And, the dynamic effects are worth the cost.
GE Cync Lighting Dynamic Effects Smart Bulb: specs
| Fitting base | A19 / B30 |
| Wattage | 60W |
| Maximum brightness | 800 lumens / 750 lumens |
| Color channel | 16 million |
| Control options | GE App (Android & iOS), Google Home, Amazon Alexa |
| Connection options | Bluetooth |
| Compatible Matter routers | N/A |
| Max bulbs per connection | 5 on Bluetooth; no limit with Thread/Matter (max 20 recommended) |
GE Cync Lighting Dynamic Effects Smart Bulb: price and availability
- Prices start at $19.99 (about £20 / AU$40)
- Available now
- Available in the US and Canada
Getting a two-pack of the A19 size direct from GE will run you $37.99, while a single bulb costs $19.99 MSRP. Their availability is limited to the US and Canada, as they unfortunately do not work in the UK or Australia. The B30 is priced very similarly with a single bulb, though it’s listed at a range from around $17 to $26 depending on the retailer.
Pricewise, the GE Cync Lighting Dynamic Effects Smart Bulbs are a little on the higher end, considering that a two-pack of the Govee Wi-Fi LED Bulb goes for $23.99 / £23.39. Of course, there are some trade-offs, particularly the fact that the Govee’s brightness and the app design could be better.
However, $20 a bulb is not an inappropriate price point. Nanoleaf Matter Essentials costs $19.99 / £19.99 / AU$39.99 for an A19 bulb. While Nanoleaf’s app is a bit buggy compared to the rock-solid setup of the GE Cync, it does come with Matter certification is more universal in application.
Should you buy the GE Cync Lighting Dynamic Effects Smart Bulb?
| Attribute | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Value | It’s a little pricey compared to a lot of the competition, but it can do a little more than most smart bulbs. | 4/5 |
| Design | It doesn’t have Matter support, but its pairing and functionality are rock solid. | 4.5/5 |
| Performance | The dynamic effects are fantastic, but this smart bulb looks good even with more typical settings. | 5/5 |
| Average rating | Despite the higher-than-average pricing and lack of Matter Support, the ease of use and dynamic effects make this an easy recommendation. | 4.5/5 |
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GE Cync Lighting Dynamic Effects Smart Bulb: also consider
How I tested the GE Cync Lighting Dynamic Effects Smart Bulbs
- Tested over a couple weeks
- Tested all the different features including multiple dynamic effects
- Used with a voice assistant
I spent a couple weeks using the GE Cync Lighting Dynamic Effects Smart Bulbs to get an idea of how they function against how they’re advertised and to see if they’re worth the price. I tested the various presets, from static colors to various dynamic effects. I even connected it with Alexa to see how it would work with a voice assistant.
After having tested the GE Cync Lighting Dynamic Smart Bulbs, I found them to be ideal for those who want a little extra from smart lighting, particularly those engrossing dynamic effects.
I’ve spent the last few years reviewing all sorts of gadgets from audio equipment and robot vacuums to laptops and more with a detailed eye on whether the product works as advertised and is beneficial to those who might be interested in it. For more details, see how we test, rate, and review at TechRadar.
First reviewed January 2025
