360 Degree LED Bulbs: What Changed When the Beam Went All the Way Round

The problem with directional retrofit lamps

Early LED retrofits lit forward. In a pendant or an open fitting, half of the room a filament lamp used to light stayed dark, which is why buyers kept rejecting them for decorative fittings.

What the 360 degree family covers

The family was launched at 3W, 4W, 6W, 9W and 12W with a 360 degree beam angle, on E14, E26, E27 and B22 lamp bases, with clear, milky white and frosted covers, in dimmable and non-dimmable versions.

Where it replaces an incandescent lamp properly

The claim made at launch was that these lamps replace incandescent lamps with the same effect - which holds where the fitting is open and the lamp is visible. In a downward-only fitting, the extra light going upward is wasted, and a COB spot is the better choice.

The filament version

The filament family followed in 2014 at 1.8W, 3W, 3.6W and 6W with the same beam angle, base and cover options. That is the version to specify when the lamp itself is part of the interior.