Comparison Videx VL-TF15B vs Xiaomi Yeelight Smart Eye Protection Lamp Pro

The maximum power of the light source allowed for a given lamp.

This parameter has different meanings depending on the light source (see the corresponding paragraph). It is most critical for models with sockets for replaceable light bulbs: the power of the light bulbs used should not exceed the maximum power of the lamp. Otherwise, it will overheat, and the consequences can be very unpleasant - even a fire. In this case, for models with several cartridges, the total power of all installed light sources is indicated. In order to determine the maximum permissible power of an individual light bulb, you need to divide the total limitation by the number of sockets. For example, in a model with 7 “seats” and a limit of 140 W, you can install bulbs of no more than 140/7 = 20 W.

It is also worth recalling that the actual brightness of the light bulb will depend not only on its power, but also on its type. Thus, at the same brightness, “energy-saving” fluorescent lamps have a power 3 to 5 times less than incandescent lamps, and LED light sources - 10 times less. Thus, low permissible power does not interfere with achieving high brightness.

As for table lamps with built-in LEDs, the maximum power for them corresponds to the actual power of the LED unit. You can roughly estimate the capabilities of such a lamp using the above formula - the brightness of the LED corresponds to the brightness of an incandescent lamp with 10 times more power. For example..., if you previously made do with a 60-watt light bulb, an 8-watt LED lamp will most likely be enough for you.

Wattage also determines the energy consumption of the lamp. However, it is not particularly high in table lamps, and in models with a replaceable socket, it also depends not on the maximum power of the lamp itself, but on the characteristics of the actually installed light bulbs.

Luminous flux provided by a lamp. This parameter is indicated only for models using built-in LED modules (see “Light source”) - in lamps with a socket, it will depend on the light bulbs used.

Luminous flux is essentially the brightness of the lamp. The brightness itself in lumens tells little to the average user, a non-specialist; however, there are tables that allow you to compare the luminous flux of a lamp with a particular light source of standard brightness. For example, a 40 W incandescent lamp produces about 415 lm, a 60 W lamp produces 710 lm, and a 100 W lamp produces 1340 lm. More detailed tables for comparison can be found in special sources.

Speaking of brightness, it is also worth noting that it should not be too low or too high: both create discomfort, increase fatigue and can lead to eye problems. Reference sources provide recommendations on optimal brightness for different tasks. However, this point can be determined for yourself experimentally. And if in doubt, you can purchase a lamp with adjustable brightness (see “Functions and capabilities”).

The colour temperature of the light emitted by the lamp. It is indicated only for models with built-in LED (see "Light source"), since bulbs with different characteristics can be installed in the socket. In luminaires with colour temperature control(see "Features"), the minimum value is usually taken into account.

This parameter directly determines the hue of the visible colour. At the same time, its physical meaning is such that as the colour temperature rises, this shade becomes more “cold”, shifts from yellow to blue. Here are some examples of colour temperature, for clarity:

— 1500 – 2000 K — candle flame;
— 2800 K — 100 W incandescent lamp ( warm light);
— 4000 K — a fluorescent lamp of daylight white light(such light can already be perceived as cold);
— 5000 K — the light of the midday sun;
— 5500 K — a shade from white clouds at noon;
And so on, thickening to blue cold shades.

Note that the choice for this parameter depends not only on personal preferences and design considerations, but also on the general purpose of the lamp. So, a high colour temperature (from 5000 K) is considered optimal for reading, an average colour temperature (about 4000 – 5000 K) is comfortable for mathematical calculations, working with documents and other tasks that require concentration, and...soft warm light up to 4000 K is good for relaxing and creating atmosphere of comfort.

— Brightness adjustment. Possibility to adjust the brightness of the lamp. The convenience of this function is generally obvious: it allows you to customize the lamp to suit your own preferences and specific situation. For example, for working with printed documents, brighter light may be useful, but for watching a movie on a laptop, the lighting can be dimmed. However, it is worth considering that not all replaceable light bulbs can work properly in lamps with dimmers. Therefore, in models with a cartridge (see “Light source”) this function is rare; and if you buy such a lamp, you should pay special attention to the choice of light sources for it.

— Adjustment of color temperature. The ability to change the color temperature of the light produced by the lamp. For more information about color temperature, see the corresponding paragraph. This adjustment allows you to adjust the glow to a particular situation - for example, a high color temperature is desirable for reading, and a lower color temperature for rest and relaxation. Note that this setting should not be confused with adjusting the color of the glow (see below): in this case we are talking only about changing the overall hue of white light, and not about a full change in color.

— Adjustment of glow color. Ability to change the color of the lamp. Note that this is not just about adjusting the c...olor temperature (see the corresponding paragraph), but about changing the overall color of the glow; many models with this function allow you to produce almost any color from the palette visible to the human eye. This function is not needed when lighting a workplace, but it is very convenient for setting up general lighting and creating a certain atmosphere in the room.

— Shutdown timer. The timer automatically turns off the light after a user-specified time. This option can be useful in many situations, for example, before bed or for those who like to read in bed. The shutdown timer is set for a certain period of time, after which the lamp turns off automatically, which helps save energy and extends the life of the light source.

— Flexible leg. The presence of a flexible leg in the lamp design. The leg is the part that connects the light source to the stand or mount. Unlike a hinged body (see the corresponding paragraph), such a part can be bent anywhere and in any direction. This provides additional convenience when adjusting the position of the lamp: the freedom of movement of the flexible leg is noticeably higher than that of the hinges. True, it is considered less reliable and durable, but in practice a lot depends on the quality of workmanship; and with careful handling, even an inexpensive lamp with a similar feature can “live” for a very long time.

— Hinged body. Lamps with this feature consist of several sections connected by rotating hinges. The specific number of hinges and the design of such cases can be different - from a single rotary mount for connecting the light bulb with the leg to a system of 4 - 5 hinges, which allows you to adjust the position of the lamp within a fairly wide range. Compared to another version of the movable structure - a flexible leg (see the corresponding paragraph), the hinges are more expensive, more limited in mobility and more difficult to adjust. On the other hand, swivel mounts are considered more reliable and durable, and they can also be used in legs of any length.

— Display. The presence of its own screen in the lamp design. To use it for its main purpose in a traditional format (without additional adjustments), a display is not needed. Therefore, this feature is an unambiguous sign that we have a model with advanced functionality. The display most often displays the readings of a clock and a thermometer (see the corresponding paragraphs), but other information may also be provided - for example, the set color temperature, battery charge (if the lamp is self-powered), etc.

- Watch. The presence of its own clock in the lamp design. Theoretically, this could be a pointer dial built into the case, but in practice it is much more common to see watches displayed on their own display (see the corresponding paragraph). Moreover, this function can be supplemented with other capabilities related to timekeeping - for example, an alarm clock, stopwatch and/or timer, or even a calendar.

— Thermometer. The lamp has its own built-in thermometer. As a rule, such a thermometer is electronic, and its readings are displayed on the lamp display (see the corresponding paragraph). This function allows you to control the microclimate in the room, which can be useful from a practical point of view - for example, when adjusting air conditioning or heating.

— USB port. The lamp has a USB port from which you can charge various electronic devices: smartphones, tablets, players, external power banks, etc. The main convenience of this function is that the connector on the lamp is always at hand, while other accessible ports may be located in less convenient places (for example, on the back wall of the system unit under the table). True, the power supply in different models may be different; but this only affects charging speed, not compatibility.

- Wireless charger. A device for wireless charging of smartphones and other gadgets, built directly into the lamp - usually in the stand. This technology works over a short distance, and to use it, the device must be placed directly on a special platform mounted on a stand. Wireless charging is slower than wired charging and is not supported by all gadgets, but it is more convenient (no need to fiddle with plugs) and does not wear out the connectors. In lamps, this function is found mainly among models for study and office (see “Type”); it is also convenient because the platform can be used as a desktop stand for a smartphone - and the device will be charged, and not just lie idle.

- Remote control. Availability of a remote control included with the lamp. This feature is relevant for models with advanced functionality such as color adjustment or color temperature (see the corresponding paragraphs). It is often more convenient to control additional functions from an external remote control, not only because of the possibility of remote control, but also due to the fact that you can place the entire control panel on the remote control and not clutter the lamp body with unnecessary parts.

— Case lighting. The presence of additional lighting in the lamp body. The main role of this function is decorative; it gives the device a stylish appearance and can harmoniously complement the main lighting. In some models, the backlight can even be adjusted by color, although such an option may not be provided for the main light.

— Niche for office. The presence of a special place in the lamp for placing office supplies. Such a niche is usually located in a stand; its dimensions and capabilities may vary. So, the simplest option is a recess designed mainly for pens, pencils and markers. However, more often a more advanced design is used, with specialized “seats” for various items: holders for pens and pencils, shelves for business cards and stickers, trays for paper clips, erasers and other small items, etc. Lamp with a niche for an office, it can be a very good choice for an office or desk, a study place and other similar applications.

To control from a smartphone(or tablet) you need to install a special application on the gadget. This feature not only makes it possible to control the lamp from a distance: most models with this function are advanced “smart” lamps with various additional settings, such as adjusting the brightness and color of the glow. Controlling the operation of such lamps through a mobile application is much more convenient than using buttons and other classic controls. However, the specific functionality of models compatible with smartphones may be different; it should be clarified separately. The device can connect via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (depending on the model).

Apple HomeKit-enabled lamps are compatible with software used as part of Apple's smart home eco-system. First of all, thanks to this, the light source can be controlled from an iPhone, iPad/iPod or even a MacBook. The HomeKit application opens up quite a wide range of possibilities for customizing lighting operating modes, allowing the user to change the color shade and intensity of the glow, program the operating time of the lamp, etc.

Compatibility of the light bulb [table lamp] with proprietary Xiaomi Smart Home software, thanks to which the device can be integrated into the Xiaomi smart home ecosystem. This opens up the possibility of remote lighting control, including creating a schedule for the operation of a light bulb [lamp] and automating its actions, remotely changing the color gradient and luminous flux, voice control, etc. In addition, the light source can be closely interconnected with other Xiaomi Smart Home devices to create comprehensive control scenarios for the entire smart home.

Lamps with voice assistant support can be controlled using voice commands. The most widely used voice assistants are Apple Siri, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Most often, the voice assistant interacts with a Smart device through a special application. This could be Google Home, Apple HomeKit, etc. That is, the customer issues commands to the software on his portable computer/mobile device.

The material from which the body and/or lampshade is made.

— Plastic. Inexpensive and at the same time quite practical, thanks to which it is a popular material. Plastic can have any colour and transparency, parts of even complex shapes are easily made from it, plus such products weigh a little. The disadvantage of this option is considered to be relatively low strength; however, in the case of table lamps, it is quite enough for normal use, and even in case of various household "troubles" such as falling from the table to the floor. Plastic as a whole poorly resists scratches — but this point is purely aesthetic, and besides, a lot depends on the specific type of plastic.

— Metal. A common name that combines several types of alloys. It is indicated when the manufacturer, for one reason or another, decided not to specify the composition of the metal used for the lamp. Anyway, such cases and shades are noticeably stronger and more reliable than plastic ones, but they are more expensive and, in most cases, weigh more.

— Steel. Steel can be used in both advanced and relatively inexpensive table lamps. In the first case, the product is often made of "stainless steel" and has a polished surface; in the second, simpler grades of steel with paint or other protective coating can be used. Anyway, this material is durable and cheaper than aluminium, but it also weighs noticeably more.

— Aluminium. This material can be attributed to the pr...emium class. Aluminium combines the strength of steel and the low weight of plastic; in addition, such cases and shades can have a rather stylish and rich appearance, they are great for high-tech lamps. The disadvantage of this material is traditional — a rather high price.

— Glass. A material used primarily in decorative lamps and candle lamps (see "Type"). Glass can be transparent or translucent, have different colours, be complemented by various relief decorations. A similar appearance can be achieved when using plastic, but the glass looks more "representative", and also retains its original appearance for a very long time — thanks to scratch resistance. Such lamps turn out to be heavy, but this can be both a disadvantage and an advantage — a massive body is more stable and creates an additional sense of solidity. But the unequivocal disadvantages of glass lamps can be called fragility and high cost.

— Wood. Another material used in decorative lamps. It is worth noting that the tree not only looks good, but is also quite practical: the strength of such a material is comparable to the characteristics of plastic (and sometimes even higher), and small scratches on it can be completely invisible. However, wooden cases are more difficult to manufacture and much more expensive — so much so that the described advantages do not justify the difference in price. And in style, they fit poorly into the equipment of a modern workplace. Therefore, wood in table lamps is used exclusively as a design material.

— Ceramics. Ceramic gives the luminaire a cozy “homely” look, making it well suited for table lamps and decorative models (see “Type”). The main disadvantage of this material is the fragility and sensitivity to shock. Indeed, many types of ceramics are capable of cracking from a fall or other strong impact, but there are also high-strength varieties; specific properties of the material, usually, are directly related to the price category of the lamp.

— Textile. Textiles are practically not used in cabinets, but are often found in plafonds and lampshades, especially among table floor lamps (see "Type"): the fabric gently scatters the light passing through it and can give it one shade or another.