GE Cync Dynamic Effects Smart Hexagon Panels

Smart bulbs are a great way to add a little more versatility to your home's lighting – and in recent years smart lighting options have expanded to include all different types of bulbs from standard bulbs to accent lighting. GE is the latest to expand its line with the new GE Cync Smart Hexagon Panels (available from Amazon) - gamer-friendly accent lighting that can add a touch of style to any environment. But GE hasn't exactly been the top player in smart lighting products in recent years. That title would instead go to Signify's Philips Hue range of bulbs, due to their ease of use, excellent compatibility and huge range of products. I've tested the GE Cync Hexagon Panels, and while installation is a bit of a challenge and smart home support is limited, these hexagonal light panels look great and are a nice addition to any modern smart home.

What we like

• The smart bulbs are bright and vibrant.
• The hexagonal light panels offer versatile designs.
• The lighting panels offer a three-button remote that can be used instead of the app.
• The companion app works well.

Let your creativity run wild with the myriad of colors and designs in the companion app.

Speaking of the app, it is quite well designed and easy to use. You start by setting up your panels in the app, which is a quick process, then you verify your design. You can group bulb sets if you have more than one GE Lighting product, so you can easily turn them all on and off at once. I really liked how easy it was to adjust lighting effects and colors from within the app. The app looks and feels modern, and most should be able to navigate through it without too much trouble.

What We Don't Like

• The installation is challenging.
• These hexagonal light panels have limited smart home support.

Hopefully a future update will enable more support features.

The GE Cync Smart Hexagon Panels work with Google Assistant and Alexa. Yes that is it. There's no Matter support here, which is bad enough, but it wouldn't have been such a big deal if there was HomeKit support. Unfortunately, you don't get that either. It's possible that GE will eventually add Matter support for these panels, but it probably won't be anytime soon. In 2023, just supporting Alexa and Assistant is not really good enough.

Should you buy it?

Yes, if you fit the niche. The GE Cync Smart Hexagon panels are not for everyone. For starters, you need to be in the market for gamer-type light panels. They sure are a cool decoration, but not for every home aesthetic. Then you need a Google Assistant or Alexa user if you want to integrate the lamps into your smart home. Of course, there are plenty of such people out there, and if you are one of them, then the GE Cync Smart Hexagon Panels are worth considering. However, if you don't fit those criteria, it's worth going for the Nanoleaf panels, which are slightly more expensive but support HomeKit and IFTTT.

GE Cync Smart Hexagon Light Panels

Hexagon smart lights that decorate your space with endless customizable light.

Buy from Amazon