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GE's Alexa-Powered 'Sol' Lamp Will Set You Back $200

C by GE Sol supports all the skills Amazon's digital assistant has in its repertoire. Just speak up.

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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GE's Amazon Alexa-enabled table lamp, dubbed the C by GE Sol (or just Sol), will set you back $200 when it arrives in September.

GE first showed off its voice-activated lamp in December. Use it to do things like order dinner, play music, read the latest news headlines, buy things from Amazon, and control third-party devices and services like your Google Calendar or lawn sprinklers — all with your voice.

It supports all the skills Amazon's digital assistant has in its repertoire. Wondering what time it is? Just enable the clock function, which "puts illumination around the Sol's ring where clock hands would go in a traditional clock," according to GE.

Lest you forget, this is also a regular lamp. But the light it gives off can also be customized to help you sleep or wake up. Switch between "warm light … to increase melatonin before bed" and a "cool, vibrant light" to energize you in the morning. (Blue light, like what's emitted from smartphones, is known to suppress production of melatonin and cause sleep problems.)

You can also adjust the 60-watt equivalent light to either "daylight or soft white color temperatures" with your voice or through the C by GE app.

Sol was designed by Richard Clarkson, whose previous work includes a cloud-shaped chandelier that doubles as a motion-triggered lightning and thunder performance.

If you're interested, sign up now to snag a 20 percent discount when product ordering goes live.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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