A smart light might not be the most valuable investment if you want to improve your home. It is, however, an interesting and convenient part of home improvement.
What is a Smart Light?
Before anything else, you need to know that a smart light is a light control system. It usually includes a bulb that you control via wireless technology. Also, it has control units, such as a motion detection sensor and a manual switch.
Smart Light Bulb Abilities
A smart light bulb with complete features has a couple of standard abilities.
- It has adjustable colors
- It has adjustable temperature
- You can adjust the brightness
- You can turn it off or on wirelessly
Turn On/Off
Turning a light on and off is a basic function for any light bulb. The only difference with a smart light bulb is that you can do it automatically or remotely, which is a more convenient way to control the light you need in your everyday life.
Light Color
This is probably the neatest part of any smart light bulb. They are usually able to change colors, and you can sync some systems with movies, video games, and music. This makes it a great part of any party or social event.
Brightness
When it’s rainy outside, or it’s a cloudy day, the natural light will be very poor. This is when youâll want to increase the brightness to see well. But when the night falls, you want to decrease the brightness if you want to wind down to get good sleep. This is why itâs always nice to have a light bulb with an adjustable brightness feature,in most case we using lumen to measure light output of the bulb.
Adjusting the Temperature
The temperature of light is usually measured in Kelvin. For example, cool colors are temperatures over 5000 K, and they’re usually white and light blue. Warm colors are temperatures between 2700K-3000K, and they’re light yellow and red colors. You might think that this feature is the same as light color changing feature, but they’re totally different. Temperature changes the atmosphere and intensity of the light.
Three Standard Versions of a Smart Light
There are three standard versions of a smart light bulb currently available on the market. Some of them have only a few features, while others have all of those mentioned above.
Color Changing Light Bulbs
This version is fully functional, and it has all the features mentioned above. There are different types and models of color changing light bulbs, and you can choose the one thatâs best for you. They all can change light colors, have adjustable temperature outputs, adjustable brightness, and you can remotely turn them on and off. Theyâre a great choice if you want everything in one piece.
Ambiance Light Bulbs
An ambiance light bulb has almost all of the features mentioned above with the exception of light color changes. Also, they are usually very bright, so you can use them in different environments. Itâs even better that you can still sync them with your video games, television, or music to get the full effect and enjoy the moment. You can also connect them with other smart home systems, such as Nest or the Apple Home Kit.
Dimmable Light Bulbs
This version is very simple. It lacks the temperature and light color change features, but you can still control it remotely. Itâs a very good replacement for a traditional light bulb as the light quality is fairly good. You can dim the light to the right level and even set them to dim on a timer. These are also the best known saving up to 90% of energy compared to traditional light bulbs.
| Color Changing | Ambiance Bulb | Dimmable Bulb | |
| Remote control | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Brightness adjustable | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Color change | Yes | No | No |
| Temperature change | Yes | Yes | No |
Wireless Connection: Hub/No-Hub
The next thing you should know about smart light bulbs is that some of them that use Z-Wave or ZigBee need a converter (also called a gateway, bridge, or hub) to work properly. The hub plays a very important role as it transfers your Wi-Fi signal to a Z-Wave or ZigBee signal. This allows devices connected to your Wi-Fi, such as tablets or smartphones, to control the light. Also, this is what will enable you to know the status of your light bulb: if itâs turned on or off, itâs brightness level, and its current color.
The latest generation of smart light bulbs that use Wi-Fi doesn’t require a hub to work properly, which is a big improvement.
You can also find light bulbs that connect via Bluetooth. However, they aren’t smart light bulbs as they don’t meet the requirements to be smart lights, so they’re called controllable lights instead.
Things You Need to Consider
If you decide to buy a smart light bulb or a whole system, you will have to consider a few things very carefully.
Do You Actually Need a Multicolor Light Bulb?
Usually, people donât actually need a multicolor light bulb in their living rooms, bathrooms, bedrooms, and hallways. Warm light and daylight are more than enough for daily usage. However, if youâre a gamer or a party animal, this product could be something that will increase the quality of your entertainment as you can sync these with your video games, music, and movies.
Where Do You Want to Place a Light Bulb that Changes Temperature?
Of course, you can install it anywhere in your home if you like it. However, itâs definitely the best if you install it in your bedroom or living room as you will use it the most there.
Hub/No Hub?
This is a very hard question to answer. Usually, people think that this only adds to expenses that you can skip, but they forget that you have to control the smart light bulb somehow. In most cases, youâll control it via a hub. In my opinion, you should go with a hub if itâs not too difficult to install and if the whole system is serving you well.
Virtual Assistant
As mentioned above, you can connect some smart light bulbs to other smart home kits/products. If you do use a smart home control system, you can control your light with voice command. Check if the smart light bulb you plan to buy is compatible with other smart home assistants like Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Home Kit.
Usually, people use HomeKit to be able to control their smart lights with voice commands.
Outdoor Light
Some people want to have a smart light installed in their yard. This means that the smart light has to be resistant to bad weather and be waterproof. Keep in mind that most of them are designed for indoor use, but you can find a couple of them that can work outside if you search carefully.
IFTTT Support
If you’re a DIY lover and a tech nerd, you can try checking this. However, most people only want to make their light system convenient and easy, not to complicate it further, so if youâre not very skilled in this area, we don’t recommend trying this.
Color Changing Smart Light Bulbs
Do you like having light switching colors while youâre playing your favorite RPG game or watching a good series on Netflix? If so, these light bulbs are a perfect option for you as you can sync them with your favorite media source!
| Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance 3rd Gen | LIFX A19 | LIFX Mini color | TP-Link LB130 | |
| List price | $49.99 | $59.99 | $44.99 | $35.99-54.99 |
| Connectivity | ZigBee + Wi-Fi Bridge(Hub) | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n |
| Pros | High-quality bulb | Best brightness | Mini shape | Good brightness |
| Great ecosystem support,easy to sync light with game/movie | Plug & play | Plug & play | Energy tracker | |
| Numerous add-on lights & accessories | Lower price | Plug & play | ||
| Lowest standby energy cost | Affordable price | |||
| Cons | Less bright than advertised | Expensive | Poor downward light | Doesnât work well with |
| Bridge required | Large size bulb | difficult to sync with game/movie | Alexa commands | |
| Average brightness | difficult to sync with game/movie | difficult to sync with game/movie/music | ||
| Bright | 800 lumens | 1100 lumens | 800 lumens | 800 lumens |
| 16 million colors | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Color Temperature | 2000K to 6500K | 2500K to 9000K | 2500K to 9000K | 2500K to 9000K |
| Bulb Lifetime | 25000 hours | 25000 hours | 25000 hours | 25000 hours |
| Apple HomeKit | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Amazon Alexa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Google Assistant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Cortana | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nest | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Light Strips
LED light strips offer many ways to bring some light to your home. However, with those that can change colors, this light can look futuristic and cool. These also have the same abilities as color changing smart light bulbs.
| Philips Hue Lightstrip 2nd gen | LIFX Z LED Strip | SYLVANIA SMART+ Indoor Light Strip | SYLVANIA SMART+ Outdoor Light Strip | |
| List price | $89.99 | $89.99 | $44.83 | $49.90 |
| Connectivity | ZigBee + Wi-Fi Bridge(Hub) | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n | ZigBee + Wi-Fi Hub | ZigBee + Wi-Fi Hub |
| Pros |
Can extend or cut High quality Great ecosystem support Numerous add-on lights & accessories |
Plug & play Can extend |
Three joinable 24-inch strips Can extend or cut Lower price | Waterproof |
| Cons |
Expensive Not waterproof Hub required |
Expensive Not waterproof Connection not reliable |
Not waterproof Hub required |
Can’t be expanded or cut Hub required |
| Bright | 1600 lumens | 1400Â lumens | 360 lumens per strip | NA |
| Length | 78.7 x 0.6 x 0.2 in | 78.7 x 0.5 x 0.1 in | 72 x 0.5 x 0.1 in | 192 x 0.5 x 0.1 in |
| 16 million colors | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Color temperature | 2000K to 6500K | 2500K to 9000K | 2700K to 6500K | 2700K to 6500K |
| Bulb Lifetime | 20000 hours | 25000 hours | 20000 hours | 20000 hours |
| Apple HomeKit | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Amazon Alexa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Google Assistant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Cortana | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Nest | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Temperature Changing Smart Light Bulbs
These are very useful in living rooms and bedrooms. It changes temperatures from daylight to make reading easier to warm yellow colors that you can use when youâre resting. Also, you can set them up to mimic the sunset and as alarm clocks, making waking up easier than ever.
| Philips Hue White Ambiance | LIFX Mini Day & Dusk | TP-Link LB120 | |
| List price | $29.99 | $29.99 | $29.99 |
| Connectivity | ZigBee + Wi-Fi Bridge(Hub) | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n |
| Pros | Great ecosystem support | Plug & play | Plug & play |
| Numerous add-on lights & accessories | Â | Â | |
| Cons | Hub required | Poor downward light | Less 3rd party support |
| Bright | 800 lumens | 800 lumens | 800 lumens |
| Color temperature | 2000K to 6500K | 1500K to 4000K | 2700K to 6500K |
| Bulb Lifetime | 25000 hours | 25000 hours | 25000 hours |
| Apple HomeKit | Yes | Yes | No |
| Amazon Alexa | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Google Assistant | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Cortana | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nest | Yes | No | Yes |
Dimmable Light Bulbs
These light bulbs are most common, and many consider them a basic of everyday life. Not many, however, have used them a part of a smart home system. You can dim them or turn them on/off remotely or on a schedule.
| Philips Hue White | LIFX Mini White | TP-Link LB110 | TP-Link LB100 | Sengled Element Classic | |
| List price | $14.99 | $24.99 | $21.99 | $19.99 | $9.99 |
| Connectivity | ZigBee + Wi-Fi Bridge(Hub) | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n | ZigBee + Wi-Fi Hub |
| Pros | Great ecosystem support | Plug & play | Plug & play | Less price | Budget price |
| Numerous add-on lights & accessories | Â | Â | Â | Â | |
| Cons | Hub required | Poor downward light | Less 3rd party support | Shorter lifetime | Hub required |
| Brightness | 800 lumens | 800 lumens | 800 lumens | 600 lumens | 800 lumens |
| Color Temperature | 2700K | 2700K | 2700K | 2700K | 2700K |
| Bulb Lifetime | 25000 hours | 25000 hours | 25000 hours | 15000 hours | 25000 hours |
| Apple HomeKit | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Amazon Alexa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Google Assistant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Cortana | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Nest | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Outdoor Light Bulbs
These lights are good to use if you want some extra light in front of your house at night or for surrounding your property. They have to be water and weather resistant.
The LIFX model comes with an infrared feature that allows your security camera to extend its sight range.
| Philips Hue White PAR38 | Hue Lily Outdoor Spot Light | LIFX A19 Plus | LIFX BR30 Plus | |
| List price | $29.99 | $79.99 | $59.99 | $79.99 |
| Connectivity | ZigBee + Wi-Fi Bridge(Hub) | ZigBee + Wi-Fi Bridge(Hub) | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n |
| Pros |
Weatherproof |
Weatherproof |
Night vision
|
Night vision
|
|
Great brightness |
Easy to install or extend |
Can work in areas with high moisture levels |
Can work in areas with high moisture levels | |
|
Great ecosystem support |
Great ecosystem support |
|
| |
|
|
Warm white to cool daylight | |||
| Cons |
Warm white only |
Not as bright |
Costly |
Costly |
|
Hub required |
LED integrated | Not weatherproof | Not weatherproof | |
|
No night vision |
Hub required | |||
|
|
No night vision | |||
| Night Vision | No | No | 950nm infrared light | 950nm infrared light |
| Bright | 1300 lumens | 640 lm | 1100 lumens | 1100 lumens |
| Color Temperature | 3000K | NA | 2500K to 9000K | 2500K to 9000K |
| Bulb Lifetime | 25000 hours | 25000 hours | 25000 hours | 25000 hours |
| Operational Temperature | -20°C to 45°C | |||
| Apple HomeKit | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Alexa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Google Assistant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Cortana | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nest | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Lamps
At the moment, Philips is the only company that makes smart lamps. Other manufacturers, such as LIFX, have some decorative lights that include the Tile and Beam models. They are usually fairly easy to install and have the same features as any smart bulb. As a matter of fact, they are nearly as easy to install as ordinary lamps. The only difference is that they are more expensive and their LED is very hard to replace.
Smart Plugs
You can use a smart plug if you want to replace your traditional light and get a smart light. They all have some basic features and are usually very affordable.
| Teckin Mini Smart Plug | Wemo Mini Smart Plug | |||
| List price | $39.99 | $12.99 | $13.99 | $34.99 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g/n | Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n |
| Pros |
Market tested product since 2016 |
Compact design |
Compact design |
Compact design |
|
2-year warranty |
Lower cost |
Lightweight |
Lightweight | |
| Cons |
Large size may cover other sockets. |
12-month warranty only |
12-month warranty only |
12-month warranty only |
|
Costly |
|
|
Costly | |
| Apple HomeKit | No | No | No | No |
| Amazon Alexa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Google Assistant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nest | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Editor’s Advice
Philips Hue has been on the market for years. Most of the products in this line are very high quality, and they offer good value. Its ecosystem is very good, and competitors have a hard time matching it. This is the best choice for you if you want a solution for your lighting system and you have a moderate budget.
LIFX is also a very good option as their products are usually very bright. Their downfall is an incomplete product catalog. They aren’t providing alternative control units and lamps yet. Also, their third-party apps aren’t very powerful, and you might have some problems with syncing the lights.
TP-Link is another manufacturer that can compete with LIFX and Philips Hue. However, they need more time to make their bulbs better and prove that they are reliable. After all, the company specializes in network devices, not smart home features.
There are also other brands that make smart plugins and smart light bulbs. They serve as a decent alternative if you’re on a budget.