Using GE Link as a Smart Outdoor Light Bulb

By Brianne Sandorf

Staff Writer, Home Security & Smart Home

February 10, 2022

3 min read

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The GE Link comes in three different versions with different ratings for indoor and outdoor use. Because of the variances, it’s hard to know whether you can use a GE Link outdoors.

If you’re curious about whether your GE Link bulb is outdoor-usable, read on to learn more.

What’s GE Link?

The GE Link is a smart LED light bulb produced by GE. It comes in three types: A19, BR30, and PAR38.

This particular bulb emits 650 to 900 lumens of soft white light. The A19 is no longer sold directly by GE Lighting, but you can still find it floating around online. (You can even buy it through GE’s partnership with Wink.)

Other GE Bulbs

You can buy other GE smartbulbs from the Amazon GE store.

Can I use GE Link as an outdoor smartbulb?

Source: Reviews.org

The PAR38 is rated for outdoor use, but the A19 and BR30 are not.

Back in 2018, our managing editor tested the GE Link A19 as an outdoor bulb. During the month-long test, he found that it worked just fine outdoors.

Despite that, our official recommendation is to follow the manufacturer’s ratings. So if you choose to use a GE Link A19 or BR30 outside of your home, use at your own risk.

What are some outdoor alternatives to GE bulbs?

If you want a smart outdoor bulb, GE isn’t your only option. Here are a few outdoor bulbs you can try.

Outdoor smart bulbs

Name	Image	Price	Quantity	Learn more
Aukora Dusk to Dawn Light Bulb		$14.99	2	View on Amazon
SHINE HAI Dusk to Dawn Light Sensor Bulbs		$20.99	4	View on Amazon
Sengled Smart Light Bulbs		$24.49	2	View on Amazon
Philips Hue White Outdoor Smart Bulbs		$49.99	2	View on Amazon
LIFX Mini Day & Dusk BR30+		$139.99	4	View on Amazon

Amazon.com List Prices (as of 02/10/2022 4:45 MST) Full disclaimer

Check out our smart light bulb guide and best outdoor security light guide to learn more.

Recap

You’re a-okay to use the GE Link PAR38 outdoors. We don’t recommend using the BR30 or AR19 outside, although we did a limited test that suggests the AR19 works in an outdoor setting.

GE Link FAQ

Here’s a little extra info about GE Link to help you figure out your smart lighting.

What’s an LED bulb?

LED stands for light-emitting diode. Electricity passes through diodes in the bulb to create light.

LED bulbs aren’t your only lighting choice. You can also get fluorescent or incandescent bulbs. But if you want to link your lights to your smart home, it’s much easier to find LED smartbulbs.

Smartbulb alternatives

If you don’t want to spend more money on smart light bulbs, you can hook up regular lights to a smart switch or power your floor lamp with a smart plug. That way, you’ll be able to turn the lights on and off with a smart home hub. You may not be able to dim them or change their colors, though.

What’s the difference between A19, BR30, and PAR38?

These terms aren’t unique to GE smart light bulbs. Each designation indicates a different shape and size to fit in a different socket type. The A19 shape isn’t the same as the BR30 shape or the PAR38 shape, and so on.

What are GE Link bulbs compatible with?

GE Link is compatible with Wink, as you can probably tell from the GE and Link partnership. A GE Link bulb works with the Wink Hub and Wink app. Unfortunately, while Wink used to be free, users now have to pay a subscription fee.

Once your bulb syncs with the Wink Hub, you can control it using Amazon Alexa.

You can control GE Link bulbs with Amazon Alexa.

Can I use GE Link bulbs in a smart home?

Yes, though they wouldn’t be our first choice due to the limited compatibility. Other GE bulbs (like C by GE) work with more smart home hubs, such as Google Nest and HomeKit.

To learn more about smart lighting, check out our guide to setting up a smart home.

Which smartbulb is the best?

There are a lot of good smart lights on the market. The most popular are probably LIFX bulbs and Philips Hue bulbs. Both LIFX and Philips Hue have super-smart lights that connect with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and can even change color.

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Written by

Brianne Sandorf

Brianne has a degree in English and creative writing from Westminster College and has spent 6+ years writing professional, research-based content. Before joining Reviews.org, she wrote safety and security content for ASecureLife.com. Her pieces and quotes are published across the web, including on MSN.com, Social Catfish, and Parents.com. Hobbies include wearing a seatbelt, wearing a life jacket, and keeping her arms and legs inside the ride at all times. Contact her at brianne@reviews.org.