Yeelight LED bedside lamp 2 (YLCT01YL) for 37,79€/$44.99

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Yeelight’s products have been a good and affordable introduction to the Smart Home for years. The first and second bedside lamps are also very popular with our team, now there is a new, more compact version. now there is a new, more compact version. Is the Yeelight LED bedside lamp 2 simply a mini version of the Xiaomi Mijia bedside lamp 2? Yes, but with nice additional features!

• Yeelight bedside lamp 2 (+shipping)

Xiaomi and Yeelight are relatively close partners, which can be seen not least in the sharing of the Mi Home app, even though Yeelight also offers its own app. Especially with the different lamp gadgets you can see connections. The various night lights are hardly distinguishable from each other, both manufacturers offer smart light bulbs and this Yeelight bedside lamp 2 is also very similar to the Xiaomi Mijia bedside lamp 2. Since I have been using them for quite some time, I took a closer look at the Yeelight bedside lamp 2.

Technical data of the Yeelight LED bedside lamp 2

Size	14,8 x 14,8 x 14,5 cm
Colour	white-silver
Input	100-240 Volt
Consumption	5 Watt
Extras	App operation, dimmable, HomeKit support, Slider, USB-C

Scope of delivery

The second Yeelight bedside lamp arrives in a relatively high-quality cube-shaped box, in our case directly from the GearBest warehouse. You can immediately see that Yeelight is an established manufacturer by the design. Unfortunately there is no “Global Version” of this smart lamp, the print is almost completely in Chinese. Only the reddot award 2019 and the reference to the HomeKit support are in English.

This also applies to the operating instructions, which are in the box: unfortunately completely in Chinese. After all, there are QR codes for the Yeelight app, the Mijia (Mi Home) app and the HomeKit code. Apart from that, there is also the lamp and the power cord with Chinese plug. But here is a small unique selling point: the power supply is not fixed to the lamp. In fact, the lamp is even equipped with a USB-C input, the included charging cable also uses USB-C. This means that instead of an adapter, one can also simply use a USB charger with USB-C cable. Since the lamp only needs 5W input power, you can use any USB charger for this – very practical! So I also use the lamp with my 3-Port AUKEY charger on the bedside table. Theoretically it would also be possible to use it with a powerbank.

More compact design

The new Yeelight LED bedside lamp looks something like the Xiaomi Mijia bedside lamp 2 has been squeezed a little bit. The new generation measures 14.8 x 14.8 x 14.5 cm, while the old one is a good deal higher at 20 cm in length. Nevertheless, approx. 80% of the surface consists of semi-transparent polycarbonate, which is also convex-shaped on the upper side. This looks much more modern than in the first generation.

The base, which is again made of plastic, is kept in a dark grey. On the underside there are three rubber strips, so the lamp has a firm stand on the table. Apart from that, the lamp is rather plain, at the front side, the Yeelight lettering is still visible above the power-button. I have nothing to criticize in the workmanship, it is of a high quality according to its price. I also like the optic. Whether I prefer the more compact or the larger form of the Mi bedside lamp 2 is hard to say. But for an already small bedside table, the Yeelight version is a bit more suitable.

Operation via touch slider

As with the Xiaomi bedside lamp 2, there are basically two ways to operate it: via app or directly at the lamp. On the front side there is a small round button with which the lamp can be switched on and off. By holding it pressed for a long time, one can also change the light mode: Colored light (RGB) or white light. As in the second generation, the operation is also done by a touch slider, but there are now two of them: one on the left and one on the right of the base. The left slider is used to change the colour temperature or the colour in RGB mode, the right slider is responsible for the brightness.

The way of operation works well overall, the layout is sensible and it’s fun to adjust the color and brightness so intuitively. In contrast to the Xiaomi variant, the slider is much more discreet and thus visually more appealing, which partly leads to not hitting the slider. Thus, you sometimes have to reach for the slider again, especially if you don’t look at it.

Features

A few key figures of the second Yeelight bedside lamp with the model number YLCT01YL. The new generation requires a power input of 5V1A, i.e. 5W, which is permanently supplied via the supplied power cable or another USB-C charger. In “white light” mode the lamp needs 6 x 1W (?) and in RGB mode 0.5W per LED, so there seem to be six LEDs installed. The Yeelight YLCT01YL is also equipped with Bluetooth 4.2 LE and 802.11 b/g/n WiFi for connection to the smartphone and integration into the home network.

Integration into the App: Mi Home, Yeelight & Apple HomeKit

The Yeelight LED bedside lamp 2 can be integrated into your own home network via various apps. First of all, of course, there is the Yeelight app (download: Android | iOS). But I connected the Yeelight app with the Mi Home app (Download: Android | iOS) and integrated the lamp into my WLAN via the Mijia, i.e. Mi Home app. To be on the safe side you should reset the lamp first. To do so, simply press the power button and the right touch slider for 5 seconds. When you are in the Mi Home app, you should already see a pop-up window pointing to the lamp.

Alternatively, simply click on the “Plus” symbol in the top right corner, scan the lamp or search under “Lighting” and follow the steps. For this you need to know your WLAN password. The app does the rest on its own. Since it is a Chinese device, you have to set the China server in the Mi Home app (Settings -> Language and country settings -> China; you can use other languages). The same applies to the Yeelight app. You also have to deactivate the 5 GHz network of your router, otherwise the lamp cannot be integrated. Depending on your router you might want to use a guest network with 5 GHz disabled.

Functionality

By integrating it into the Mi Home app, the lamp can also be controlled when you are not at home. You can use your mobile phone to adjust color and brightness, create scenes, timers and/or a schedule and add them to a room. In addition to the schedule and the timer (switch-off delay of 15 minutes) there is also the night light function, so that the lamp switches on automatically at night. At this point we can also recommend a Yeelight socket night light.

One function that only the Yeelight bedside lamp 2 has and that we like very much is the touch function. You can switch the bedside lamp on and off by double “tapping” on the top. This is practical both in the morning and in the evening at the bedside table. Alternatively, you can also use the Google Assistant as an intelligent voice assistant and switch the lamp on and off using it.

Integration via Apple HomeKit

Since the last generation of smart Xiaomi and Yeelight lamps, HomeKit support has also been included in almost every new product. However, many older generations also get the possibility to be integrated into the Apple Home via firmware updates. With the Yeelight LED bedside lamp 2, you only need to scan the 8-digit HomeKit code on the bottom or from the user manual in the Apple Home app and the rest is done by automatically.

Contrary to the Mi Home and Yeelight app, the functional range is unfortunately more limited. One can of course adjust the color temperature and brightness, but beyond that only the creation of scenes is possible. At least the Siri voice control is directly integrated, but similarly limited. Additionally, some automations can be defined.

Conclusion

The Yeelight bedside lamp 2 is not a completely new generation of the popular bedside lamp, but a slight upgrade, as was the case with the very first generation. Personally, I have the Xiaomi Mijia bedside lamp 2 at home, which I still like very much. This one has now been redesigned under the Yeelight brand and produced even more compact. The small highlights are the smaller design, the entire operation including switching off by knocking and the USB-C input, which allows a little more flexibility in operation. Apart from that, it doesn’t really matter whether you take the Yeelight or Xiaomi bedside lamp 2. I would simply go for the better price.

To the gadget

Best DJI alternative? The FIMI X8 SE drone with 4K camera

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FIMI has revised the popular FIMI X8 SE, after all Banggood now lists the drone as 2020 version. The revised 2020 version offers with 35 minutes a bit more flight time, a higher range and the camera offers a slightly larger sensor and shooting angle. All differences can be found on the product page at Banggood. Those who have pre-ordered the FIMI X8 SE and have not yet received it will apparently be sent the 2020 version.

It is currently available for $419.19 at Banggood.

The FIMI X8 SE is the actual successor of the Xiaomi Mi drone. The features and the price/performance ratio have also read really well so far. Is this the best DJI alternative yet from China?

Model	FIMI X8 SE
Dimensions	204 x 106 x 73 mm (folded)
Weight	790 g
Battery	4.500 mAh
Speed
Camera	f2.2 12 MP CMOS; 78.8° FOV, 3-axis gimbal Video: 4K @30fps
Features	5 km range; motion tracking, GPS, GLONASS
Release	Spring 2019 in China

Design – Is it actually Xiaomi, even though it says FIMI?

FIMI communicates very openly on their own website that they see themselves as part of the Xiaomi ecosystem. In fact, the company was already behind the development of the Xiaomi drone, which was launched in May 2016. The newer models are now also sold under the name FIMI. The first model was the FIMI A3, which is reminiscent of the old Mi drones.

When folded, the drone fits easily into the backpack.

The X8 SE also follows on from the design, but also brings with it other changes. The arms of the drone are now foldable for the first time, as is the case with the Mavic 2 or the recently released Hubsan Zino. The front above the camera is a bit wider and now has a black cover, behind which supposed sensors should fit. But there is no confirmed information about this yet. The battery is no longer pushed into the rear of the drone, but is removed vertically upwards and sits exactly in the middle of the drone.

Accessories

The drone and remote control are compactly stowed in the box, there are not many accessories. Hidden under the drone are a total of six rotors and the various cables for the remote control. Under the remote on the right side is the charging cable for the battery. The latter has a European plug, by the way.

The enclosed manual is also in English and explains the first setup, the construction and various features in individual steps. Altogether there are no surprises, but also no negative ones.

Drone accessories: cable, battery and remote control. In the picture the spare rotors are missing.

Remote control

Also the remote control was changed compared to the predecessor model. If there was a display integrated, you have to connect your own smartphone again. To do this, the remote control is pulled apart from the side and the mobile phone is clamped in the middle. The very wide handle may be unusual, apart from that the remote control looks good on the first pictures.

The remote control is connected to the smartphone with one of three enclosed cables. But we’ve seen this before, haven’t we? The cables look quite similar to those of the Mavic 2’s remote control. This is not only due to the connections; Micro-USB, USB-C as well as Lightning plugs are of course logical.

Another point that they must have copied from DJI: The removable control sticks. As with the Mavic 2, they can be unscrewed and placed directly in the remote control. Maybe only imitated, but still quite practical. Unfortunately, there are no spare sticks included, so don’t lose them.

Dimensions	203.8 x 91 x 46.6 mm
Weight	370 g
Battery	3,900 mAh 3.7 V
Frequency range	5.725-5.850 GHz
Range	5 km

I would give only 8/10 points to the processing of the remote control. Basically the processing is good and the haptics excellent. But after a few flights the silicone base of the smartphone loosens on one corner. It’s possible that this won’t get any worse, but it’s not perfect anymore. Also the cables are not optimally processed. They may look like DJI’s, but they’re made of low-grade plastic. The same applies to the drone rotors, by the way. Not bad, but not quite top quality.

Before the first takeoff

Before you can get started, you have to set up the app. You will also need to prepare the drone before every flight, i.e. charge the battery, install the rotors and connect the smartphone.

The App FIMI Navi

The individual steps are explained briefly in the manual, but I want to mention them again here. First you need the FIMI Navi App, which you can find in the Playstore or in the App Store. If you want it easy, just scan the QR code in the manual. After starting you choose your region and create an account, which will be done in a few moments.

You will probably see an app update at once; I had two firmware updates in the first few days. It’s nice that they were eager to make improvements here. The process is also very simple. First you download the update to your smartphone. Connect the phone to the remote control and switch on both this and the drone. As soon as you enter the actual flight interface via “Enter Device”, the app should suggest to transfer the update to the drone. This requires an SD card in the drone, so you should have it ready.

The drone is now ready to go. Optionally you can ignore the firmware update and start flying directly.

Familiarize yourself with the interface before the flight. This is similar to most other apps and follows the same structure. The top of the screen shows altitude, distance, speed, GPS signal strength, WiFi connection, and battery level. At the top right you will find the settings. The controls for the camera are located at the right edge as usual, while the camera settings are displayed at the bottom.

Preparing the drone

The drone can be set up in less than a minute. Unfold the arms and add the rotors. You can tell which rotors belong where by a small mark on two arms. Make sure that the rotors engage properly! Especially the two propellers with the marking are difficult to use, at least on our model. If they don’t really engage, they can come loose in flight, even if they seem to be stuck.

Camera – 4K

The camera can record 4K video at a frame rate of 30 fps. (Up to 60 fps is also possible for 2K shooting, up to 100 fps for Full HD video.) In contrast to the FIMI A3, there is now also a 3-axis gimbal, which stabilizes the recordings. The 1/2.3″ sensor is the Sony IMX378, which is also used in the Mavic 2 Zoom. In principle, the camera can also be used for zooming, but this is only a digital zoom.

After the first flights I am especially enthusiastic about the gimbal. The shots are extremely quiet and on a par with DJI’s Mavic 2. Acceleration and braking even at high speeds are well balanced, as is the lateral tilt in sideways flight. I only don’t like the manual tilt of the camera 100%, because the wheel on the top left of the manual is not fine enough. It takes a lot of sensitivity to lower or lift the gimbal slowly and evenly. Maybe you can improve it by adjusting the tilt speed.

We have already made a short video from the first shots:

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The quality of the recordings makes me a tiny bit suspicious. While the 4K videos look really great, recordings in Full HD (60 fps) seem strangely pixelated. Despite the lower bitrate setting, I can’t quite explain it yet. While filming, this isn’t really noticeable on the smartphone, but when watching it later, the difference can’t be overlooked (even on a Full HD display). So far I put it on the memory card and try a few different ones.

In addition one should think of a suitable SD card. The fact that it should have a certain memory volume is self-explanatory anyway. If you empty the card after every flight and save the pictures, 32GB are enough, 64GB or more are better. But also the speed plays a role, with a Class 10 you don’t have to do 4K recordings – as I noticed again. Here you should definitely use a V30 to V90 SD card.

So far I have only taken photos in 8 MP resolution, but they look good so far. Strong differences in brightness (with bright sky and backlight) are of course a problem, but you can also try out the camera settings a bit.

Features

Thanks to GPS and optical sensors, the drone is also capable of some smart or independent flight modes. For example, you can use an app to fly off marked waypoints or orbit around an object. Also an automatic “Rocket” (vertical flight with the camera pointing downwards) or “Dronie” function (backwards climbing) are possible. Various tracking functions make it possible to track an object or a person from different perspectives. Timelapse recordings are also possible according to the description; in free flight, with an object in focus or with waypoints.

The battery is quite large with 4.500 mAh, and should provide up to 33 minutes flight time. The manufacturer limits this by saying that this is only possible with calm and constant 8 m/s, but it is still a considerable value. If the battery is almost empty, the app warns the pilot and the drone can return independently.

Tracking

The drone has different tracking modes. Here I like the design of the app, which first shows an overview of the different categories (track, orbit, “dronie”, etc.) via an icon for the different smart functions. A tap on “Smart Track” then displays three new icons that represent the different tracking options. The drone can stay at one point and track an object with the camera, fly parallel to a moving object or follow an object at a certain height and distance.

To start, simply drag a rectangle with your fingers around the desired object or person. As soon as you confirm the selection with “Go”, the FIMI starts the tracking. During the camera movement you can still control the drone manually. Assuming that the drone is filming a jogging person, the distance and height can be changed while the drone continues to automatically follow the person.

POI

There is also a so-called “Point of Interest” function, where the FIMI orbits around a point or an object. Here you can set the starting point, radius and speed, then you send the drone to its given path, which then automatically takes off.

Range & Connection

The range is a bit peculiar.. According to the description the FIMI should be able to fly up to 5 km. It must always be flown on sight, i.e. that is already far under 500 meters of end, depending on the weather. The remote control is definitely sufficient for this. From about 100-150 meters, the video transmission display will turn yellow (instead of white), and from about 300 meters, it will turn red to indicate that the signal is weakening.

Since also the signal transmission with me in the meantime already had a yellow display, I assume that 5 km are not nearly attainable. But if you follow the rules in Germany, you will probably never notice that.

However, I found it disturbing that there were repeated disconnections even at short distances and with a strong signal. This is not necessarily dangerous, as the automatic return function is extremely reliable, but incredibly annoying. Since I haven’t read about the problem yet, I suspect that the drone’s antenna might have picked up something. During the last flight the problem didn’t occur at all for more than 20 minutes.

Battery

The battery is quite large with a capacity of 4,500 mAh, and is supposed to provide up to 33 minutes of flight time. The manufacturer limits this himself by saying that this is only possible with calm and constant 8 m/s, but it is still a considerable value. If the battery is almost empty, the app warns the pilot and the drone can return independently.

This maximum value is indeed very optimistic, but nevertheless: The drone flies really long. So far I’ve flown almost exclusively in calm conditions, but every time I’ve flown for more than 25 minutes – but of course you don’t use the battery until it reaches 0%.

Battery and drone both have CE certification

First impression – price/performance ratio is top, especially for beginners

All in all, the features of the FIMI X8 SE make you want more. Especially the price should arouse the interest of many: The drone costs about 450$ (sometimes more, sometimes less) – this is almost unrivalled with this equipment.

So far my impression of the FIMI is mostly good. The setup is quick and easy, the operation is easy even for beginners and especially the long flight time is a big plus for me. The gimbal does a good job, as well as the different tracking modes, which work error-free so far. I’m looking forward to the next flights and will soon be able to give a final summary here. I will then extend the article with more content.

Since also some of you have the drone meanwhile: How are your experiences with the FIMI X8 SE so far?

To the gadget

Xiaomi Fishbone Sneaker 3 from $36.86

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Hey, guys! Just a heads up: The linked offer is already a bit older and the price of the gadget might have changed or it might not be available anymore.

Still one of our favourite models: the Xiaomi Fishbone Sneaker 3! At the moment you can get it from $36.86 on AliExpress.

We wouldn’t have guessed it last year either, but the Xiaomi Mijia Fishbone Sneaker was very well received by us. Now Xiaomi has introduced a successor: the Xiaomi Mijia Sneaker 3. We ordered it and we really like the shoe again.

• Xiaomi Fishbone Sneaker 3

New, old look

A sneaker isn’t just a shoe anymore. Companies like Adidas and Nike have significantly increased the technical demands of a sneaker over the last few years. The Xiaomi Mi sports shoe 3 also consists of several layers. The upper material consists of an elastic mesh fabric and functions again as a “sock” in which you can slip. With the exception of the look, this generation does not differ from the previous generation. As with the “original” from Adidas, Xiaomi again integrates ventilation holes at the front of the toes.

The Fishbone 3 visually succeeds in following in the footsteps of its predecessor, the differences can be seen almost exclusively in small details. On the “shoehorn strap” at the heel, there are now a total of six small stripes in pyramid formation, which are probably intended to illustrate the third generation. The plastic element on the heel is slightly more present and shows the Mijia logo. At least with our test shoe we can unfortunately find small adhesive residues here. The plastic eyelets for the laces are somewhat thicker and appear more robust.

FREE Force sole & popcorn cloud

The actual sole also consists of several parts. The ball of the foot is supported by the FREE Force sole, which is intended to cushion the foot particularly well during sporting activity. The heel is protected by a TPU plastic. The forefoot is supported by the “Popcorn Cloud”, which resembles the Boost material from Adidas. In contrast to the Freetie 3D, the material does not come from the 3D printer.

Between the upper material and the composite sole there is a flexible PU midsole, which of course additionally cushions the foot. This is held together by the fishbone structure that gives the sneaker its name. Five plastic “bones” form the “frame” of the shoe, which holds the material together and protects the ankle.

The design is rounded off by a rubber sole on the underside, which naturally provides support. Xiaomi is again using the diamond design of its predecessor. The new Xiaomi Fishbone Sneaker 3 can also be laced again, which is indispensable for sports. And all this makes for a very comfortable shoe once again. The size 39 wearers can attest the Fisbone 3 the same or even slightly better comfort compared to its predecessor. The slightly thicker sole on the heel makes a significant contribution to this. In addition, the heel is a little better padded from the inside this time, at least in the upper area.

How does the Xiaomi Fishbone Sneaker 3 turn out?

As with its predecessor, the Xiaomi Mijia Fishbone 3 sneaker is relatively true to size. In other words: Two people from the editorial staff with shoe size 39 get along well with the size 39 of the test shoe. Personally, I know this from similar Adidas shoes like the Ultra Boost Uncaged that I would tend to go for the larger size. Otherwise I wear a 45 1/3, because of the tight elastic “sock” I take a 46 there. If you are between two sizes, I would recommend the larger size. If you already have the predecessor, I would say that you can reach for the same size.

This information refers only to our previous experience with the shoes. Feet are very different, general statements are difficult to make. It helps you and us the most if you share your experiences with the size of the sneakers in the comment area.

Eye for detail

Like the predecessor, you can see the small but fine details of the Fishbone Sneaker again. The Mijia logo on the plastic heel makes the Xiaomi Fanboy heart beat faster. The reflectors are also especially important for joggers. Here, for example, there is reflective material in the laces and on the heel to be seen by drivers even in the absence of light. However, these are exactly the same laces that were used in the predecessor.

The new sneaker is also available in new colours. The black-and-white version is of course back at the start, but we also have a new bordeaux red and a grey Colorway with blue accents, which we also like very much. Which color do you choose?

Conclusion: Buy Xiaomi Fishbone Sneaker 3?

Of course you could write more about the Xiaomi Mi Sports Shoes 3 aka Fishbone 3 Sneaker. But in the end it depends on how comfortable the shoes are. And these are the new sneakers in any case, maybe even more comfortable. Because actually not so much has changed. Especially the sole has been reworked and provides the corresponding comfort. Whether one must spend good $10 more for it? Not necessarily. One reason for buying is above all the additional colours, especially the Bordeux red looks good!

If you still have concrete questions to the shoe, off into the comments with it. We will of course continue to test the shoes in everyday life and keep you up to date if there is anything new.

To the gadget