Increasing the lifespan of a bulb makes it worse in every other way
Claims that longer-lasting light bulbs are inherently worse — dimmer, more orange, and less efficient — are being weighed against both the history of the Phoebus cartel and modern LED performance. Commenters dissect the engineering trade‑offs between lifespan, brightness, and efficiency; argue over whether short lifetimes are the result of physics, cost-cutting, or de facto planned obsolescence; and share mixed real‑world experiences with LED reliability that hinge on heat management, power quality, and build quality. The thread also touches on broader consumer issues such as how product longevity is (or isn’t) valued, regulatory bans on incandescents, and proposals for centralized LED drivers or alternative low‑voltage standards.
LED Lifespan, Quality, and Cost Trade‑offs
- Many report LED bulbs failing far earlier than advertised (often 6–24 months), especially cheap or decorative/small-base bulbs, filament-style bulbs, and some big-name brands.
- Others report excellent longevity: early “heavy heatsink” LEDs, Philips L‑Prize and Hue, and some commercial‑grade products lasting 7–15+ years or tens of thousands of hours with few failures.
- Several note that older, more expensive LEDs seem more durable than newer cost‑optimized ones. Some brands are perceived as having declined in quality over time.
- Enclosed or recessed fixtures, high ambient temperatures, and poor heatsinking are repeatedly cited as major killers of LED bulbs.
- Some commenters suggest underdriving LEDs (e.g., “Dubai lamps”) and using higher-quality drivers could greatly extend life, but this is often sacrificed to cut BOM cost.
Heat, Fixtures, and Power Quality
- Enclosed fixtures, recessed cans, and locations near heat or steam (e.g., showers, kitchens) correlate with early failures.
- Power quality issues (voltage spikes, failing transformers, old dimmers/relays) are blamed for clusters of failures in otherwise good bulbs.
- A few anecdotes describe “bad batches” of bulbs replaced under warranty.
Light Quality: Color Temperature, CRI, Flicker
- Strong disagreement on LED light quality: some find modern warm LEDs fine; others insist even “warm white” LEDs feel harsh or “fake” compared to incandescent or halogen.
- High CRI and good deep-red rendering, as well as low flicker, are highlighted as areas where many consumer LEDs still lag, though a few product lines are praised.
- Preferences for color temperature are noted as partly cultural; e.g., 5500K “daylight” is common and accepted in parts of Asia.
Incandescent and Halogen Perspectives
- Several value halogen or incandescent for spectrum, warmth, and perceived coziness; some note halogen longevity when slightly under‑volted.
- Others emphasize the energy savings of LEDs and argue that, despite some failures, LEDs generally reduce electricity use and bulb replacement frequency.
Drivers, Voltage, and System Architecture
- Some advocate moving AC‑DC drivers out of each bulb into centralized or low‑voltage (e.g., 12–24V) systems for better efficiency, cooling, and reduced flicker.
- Others argue the current “drop‑in replacement” model persists because of legacy fixtures, cost, and lack of standardization.