Top smart light bulbs in 2023

Building a Smart Home Ecosystem: The Power of Smart Light Bulbs

Building a smart home ecosystem is an exciting endeavor, and one of the best places to start is with smart light bulbs. These bulbs not only add a touch of automation and color to your home, but they also provide a gateway to endless possibilities in creating customized lighting scenes and schedules. In this article, we will explore the world of smart light bulbs, their key features, and some of the top options available on the market today.

What to look for in smart light bulbs

When considering which smart light bulbs to invest in, it’s important to take a few factors into account. Here are some key aspects to consider:

Connectivity (To hub or not to hub)

Smart light bulbs can connect to your smartphone via WiFi, Bluetooth, or through an external hub. Bluetooth connectivity is convenient but has limited range, making it suitable for only a few bulbs and ones that you don’t need to control remotely. WiFi smart lights, on the other hand, are easy to set up and don’t require a hub, but a hub-based system, such as one using Zigbee, offers a more reliable connection and increased expandability, making it ideal for larger smart lighting setups.

White or color?

The majority of smart bulbs on the market today are “white and color” bulbs, offering a wide range of colors and different temperatures of white light. However, some bulbs are white-only and are often more affordable. While we recommend opting for the white-and-color option, it’s crucial to ensure that white-only bulbs can span the color temperature spectrum, providing a range of warm and cool white light.

App features

One of the perks of smart lights is the control they offer through companion apps. Most apps allow you to set lighting schedules, group lights into rooms, create custom scenes, and even sync with media. Some advanced features like vacation mode for enhanced home security or music synchronization add even more functionality.

Smart home compatibility

If you use a smart assistant like Alexa or the Google Assistant regularly, it’s important to ensure that the smart lights you choose are compatible. Most bulbs today support both Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s Assistant, but not all are compatible with Apple’s HomeKit, so if you are an Apple user, look for lights that support HomeKit.

Expandability

Consider how many smart lights you plan to have in your home and choose a brand that offers easy expandability. Hub-based systems are typically more expandable, making them suitable if you plan to have multiple smart lights in every room of your home. However, if you only need a few lights in specific areas like your home office or living room, WiFi options will suffice.

Best overall smart light bulb: Philips Hue White + Color Ambiance

When it comes to smart light bulbs, Philips Hue White + Color Ambiance bulbs are unrivaled in terms of compatibility, features, and expandability. These bulbs offer a wide range of colors and temperatures of white light, allowing you to create the perfect ambiance for any occasion. Philips Hue bulbs now come with Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to start with a few bulbs and easily expand your system by adding a hub later.

Setting up Philips Hue bulbs is a breeze. Simply screw in the bulb, turn on the light, and follow the instructions in the user-friendly app. The Hue app provides extensive control over your lights, including the ability to group lights into rooms, create custom scenes, and set up schedules and automations. Philips Hue bulbs also support voice commands via Alexa and the Google Assistant, making it even easier to control your lights.

Expandability is where Philips Hue truly shines. The Hue range includes a variety of indoor and outdoor light bulbs, such as recessed lights, light strips, and outdoor floodlights, giving you endless options to make every corner of your home smart. Additionally, the Hue hub enables advanced features like HomeKit connectivity, automations, and syncing with movies and music.

While Philips Hue bulbs are on the pricier side, their exceptional quality and wide range of features make them well worth the investment. To get the most value, we recommend purchasing one of Philips’ Hue starter kits, which include bulbs, a hub, and additional accessories at a bundled price.

Key Features:

Connectivity: Bluetooth or hub
White or color? Both
App features: Light schedules and automations, home and away modes, syncing with movies and music
Smart home compatibility: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri/HomeKit
Expandability: Includes outdoor lighting

Runner up: LIFX Color A19

Another top contender in the smart light bulb market is LIFX Color A19. These bulbs offer vibrant colors, seamless integration with popular virtual assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit, and a sleek mobile app that provides a fantastic user experience.

LIFX bulbs connect directly to your WiFi network, eliminating the need for an external hub. The LIFX mobile app boasts an intuitive interface, allowing you to control individual lights or entire rooms with a simple tap. The app offers pre-made scenes and effects, including options like “spooky” and “strobe,” which make it easy to set the right mood for any occasion. You can also create and save your own custom scenes and share them with other LIFX users.

While LIFX does not have as many expansion options as Philips Hue, their product range includes various bulbs, light strips, and switches that cater to different needs. Overall, LIFX Color A19 bulbs are a fantastic choice if you prioritize vibrant colors, compatibility with multiple virtual assistants, and a feature-rich app experience.

Key Features:

Connectivity: WiFi only
White or color? Both
App features: Group by room, pre-made scenes or presets (including “spooky” and strobe lights), scheduling
Smart home compatibility: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri/HomeKit
Expandability: Not as many options as Philips Hue

Best budget smart light bulb: TP-Link Kasa Smart WiFi Light Bulb

For those looking for an affordable option without compromising on quality, TP-Link Kasa Smart WiFi Light Bulbs are a great choice. These bulbs offer multicolor lighting, easy installation, and a clean mobile app packed with features, all at an affordable price point.

TP-Link Kasa bulbs connect to your WiFi network and do not require a hub, ensuring a straightforward setup process. The Kasa mobile app provides a user-friendly interface, allowing you to control brightness, color, and schedules with ease. The app also features a usage section that tracks energy consumption, providing valuable insights if conserving energy is one of your goals.

While TP-Link Kasa bulbs are not compatible with Apple’s HomeKit, they work seamlessly with Alexa and the Google Assistant, making voice control a breeze. With unlimited expandability and a budget-friendly price tag, TP-Link Kasa Smart WiFi Light Bulbs are an excellent choice for those on a tight budget.

Key Features:

Connectivity: WiFi
White or color? Color
App features: Presets, lighting schedules, grouping by room, energy usage meter
Smart home compatibility: Alexa, Google Assistant
Expandability: Unlimited, but there’s no hub option

Remember, when building your smart home ecosystem, it’s essential to consider your specific needs, preferences, and budget. Whether you go for the top-of-the-line Philips Hue bulbs, the vibrant LIFX Color A19, the affordable TP-Link Kasa Smart WiFi Light Bulbs, or any other option, smart light bulbs are a great starting point for transforming your home into a futuristic oasis of automation and color. So go ahead, embrace the possibilities of smart lighting and watch as your home comes to life with the touch of a button or a simple voice command.

Top smart light bulbs in 2023