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LIFX Beam Light Panels Review (2025): Brilliant ambience, but a risky buy now

John Carter Doe

September 3, 2025

8.8

Good

Should You Still Buy a LIFX Beam?

The bottom line, right up front

The LIFX Beam was, and let's be honest, *is* one of the most creative wall lights ever made. The colors are rich, the gradients are so smooth, and it has these playful effects you just don't see everywhere else. But here's the thing: it's 2025. The Beam is officially discontinued, which means finding a new one is a scavenger hunt and replacement parts are pretty much nonexistent. The app still works well, and you don't need a hub, which is great. But it's stuck on older 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and there's no path to Matter support. If you find a brand-new kit at a fair price and you're totally in love with its look, it can still be a magical piece of accent lighting. For most people, though? I'd say newer light bars and panels are a smarter buy for availability, warranties, and just general peace of mind.

Should You Still Buy a LIFX Beam?

Where it's still great

Color and effects are the Beam's whole party trick. Believe it or not, those Polychrome gradients still look amazing—they're incredibly fluid. The animations are fun, and the light quality itself feels really saturated and premium, not just candy-bright. It's fantastic for a media wall, as a piece of art in a hallway, or for a cozy corner. Just think 'ambience,' not 'I need to read a book' lighting. The LIFX app itself is pretty intuitive, with quick scenes, schedules, that Day & Dusk feature for circadian lighting, and different effect packs. Getting it to work with Alexa and Google Assistant is a breeze. HomeKit is the tricky one—some Beams got it via a firmware update, but if you're looking at a used kit, you have to verify it in the LIFX app before you hand over any money.

The main thing to watch out for is that discontinued status. It means stock is incredibly limited and long-term support is a real question mark. On a more practical note, the adhesive mounts it comes with can lose their grip over time, so I'd plan on getting some good quality replacement strips right away. And because it's 2.4 GHz only, Wi-Fi congestion can sometimes cause delays—so try to keep the Beams close to a strong signal. It's got no Matter, no Thread, and no hub option. And again, the brightness is purely for accent; don't expect it to light a room. If having a stable, future-proof smart home is your top priority, I'd really recommend looking at modern alternatives that have current warranties and Matter support.