This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.
Smart homes are taking over, and it seems like smart light bulbs are the gateway device to all things Internet of Things. As with any new-fangled device, the smart light bulb market grows every day — and is possibly the most saturated smart device market out there. If you thought there were a lot of Amazon Echo devices to choose from, the smart light market is that, multiplied by hundreds.
You might be asking why you even need a smart light bulb. Isn't a regular old light bulb enough? You know, one that switches on and off and, erm, adds some light to a room? And what features do smart light bulbs actually have? And how do you know which smart light bulb is best for you?
Fear not, because we probed Amazon and its massive selection of smart light bulbs to find the best ones. We've also put together a quick guide to help shine a light on the situation.
What is a smart light bulb?
In the vein of other smart home devices, a smart light bulb connects to the internet, allowing you to control the light via an app or voice control. Many are compatible with commonly used voice assistant systems, such as Alexa or Google Home. And don’t worry about the process of setting up a smart lighting system. You won’t need to install any tricky technology into the ceiling. Smart light bulbs come with the same standard bayonet or screw-in attachments, so they go straight into your pre-existing fittings.
What can a smart light bulb do?
Smart light bulbs give you a whole new level of control. Much more than just switching the lights on and off with your phone, you can set lighting schedules and timers. And you can control the lights from anywhere — you don’t even need to be at home. You can use dimming features or even change the light colour, depending on the bulb. They’re great for creating mood lighting or customising the atmosphere of your home.
Do smart light bulbs save you money?
That’s certainly the idea. The tech is great, of course, but it’s designed to make your lighting use more efficient, and therefore make your energy spending more efficient. You’ll never leave a light bulb on ever again. Smart bulbs also consume less power than incandescent bulbs.
Do you need a smart hub for smart light bulbs?
Some smart light bulbs do indeed requite a hub, sometimes called a bridge. This is like the router of a smart system — a control centre that syncs your devices. Hubs are usually used for systems that include a variety of different smart devices, from light bulbs to speakers and thermostats or even the refrigerator. The drawback of a hub is that it means extra expense. However, we’ve featured some bulbs below that work without a hub, so you don’t necessarily need to fork out extra.
Are smart light bulbs expensive?
They don’t have to be. There are always expensive options when you’re buying any kind of smart device. Depending on the brand and level of tech included, a smart light bulb or set of two might cost between £50 and £100. Though it’s also possible to pick up a smart bulb around the £20 mark. Smart light bulbs aren’t only for big budgets.
How bright are smart light bulbs?
You may be used to picking out light bulbs based on their wattage. Because of how smart bulbs consume energy, wattage isn’t a good measurement of how bright they are. Instead, look for lumens — the unit measurement of light that the human eye sees. Most smart bulbs fall are around 800 lumens, which works out as the equivalent of a standard 60W incandescent light bulb.
What is the best smart light bulb?
Smart light bulbs might screw into standard fittings, but — figuratively speaking — it’s not a one size fits all situation. Depending on your budget and the kinds of features you need from a smart light bulb, recommendations can vary. But we’ve pulled together a selection of the best smart bulbs available right now to help you make a decision.
These are the best smart light bulbs for 2024.
Sengled Alexa Multicolour Bulb
Best For Colours
- Brightness: 806 lumens
- Dimmable: Yes
- Screw : B22 bayonet
- Type: LED RGB
If you want to add a bit of colour to your home — not to mention the convenience of smart bulb technology — the Sengled Alexa Multicolour Bulb is an illuminating choice. Quite literally. You can choose from a selection of 16 millions colours, all controlled using the Sengled app or via Alexa.
That's not the only reason to buy these bulbs. You get two for under £25. That's some of the best value you'll find. Though as you'll see below, they're not the cheapest on this list.
While these are best suited to Alexa-powered homes, they're also good for large homes thanks to Bluetooth mesh, which gives an extended control range.
Philips Hue Smart Bulb
Best For Begeinners
- Brightness: 800 lumens
- Dimmable: Yes
- Screw : E27
- Type: LED
If you're just dipping your toe into the world of smart home devices and want to make sure you're purchasing something you can count on, the Philips Hue Smart Bulb is a great starting point.
It works straight out of the box. Just download the app. It's also compatible with both Alexa and Google Nest, giving you voice control over your lighting. It's super easy to set up and the customer reviews are glowing.
Unlock its full potential with the Philips Hue Bridge hub. This will fully integrate the bulb in your smart home and add features such as scheduling.
TP-Link Tapo Smart Bulb
Best For Compatibility
- Brightness: 806 lumens
- Dimmable: Yes
- Screw : E27
- Type: LED
One of the biggest costs when upgrading to smart bulbs is having to buy the smart home hub that connects them all. With the TP-Link Tapo Smart Bulb (which don't require a hub at all), simply control them via the Tapo app, or sync with Alexa of Google Home to use voice control.
Not only that, but this is the cheapest bulb-for-bulb option. And don't be mistaken thinking these are just budget. TP-Link are known for making up-to-date WiFi routers, so it's a brand that knows its stuff.
There are some reports that they're not the brightest bulbs available, and that Alexa is sometimes limited by the number of these smart bulbs that she can control at once, but for less than £20, the pros seriously outweigh the cons.
LIFX Nightvision
Best For Brightness
- Brightness: 1200 lumens
- Dimmable: Yes
- Screw : E27, B22 bayonet
- Type: RGBW LED
The futuristic-looking LIFX Nightvision smart bulbs are a premium option in the always-growing market of smart bulbs. They're well reviewed for their brightness, with the highest lumen count on this list.
Similar to other multi-colour bulbs, they offer literally billions of colours. And — as the Nightvision name suggests — they add infrared, which boosts your smart security cameras capabilities by making everything that much clearer at nighttime. Choose the colour or set schedules via the LIFX app or with voice commands. They're compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri.
Because the LIFX Smart Bulbs are such a unique shape, they would look best as hanging, shadeless lights in a modern deco home, but they may prove a bit awkward when they're paired with a standard lamp.
Hive Light
Best For Scheduling
- Brightness: 806 lumens
- Dimmable: Yes
- Screw : B22 bayonet
- Type: LED
The Hive Smart Bulb is a real bright spark. With a quick tap on the Hive app you have full access to its features. Indeed, you can control this smart LED light bulb from your mobile, tablet, or laptop, and set schedules so your lights switch on or off, or dim whenever you want them to.
You can make it look like you're at home, when you're not, which is great news for the security conscious everywhere. The only kicker is that you need to Hive Hub too. If you're already hooked into the Hive system — if you use the Hive thermostat, for instance — the Hive Light is a no brainer.
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