May 2024
Smart Light Bulbs: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of smart light bulbs rankings posted by key online experts, as of May 2024.
Summary
On 11 May 2024, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 83 smart light bulb endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
58 smart light bulbs were endorsed in total, only 14 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)
As of 11 May 2024, Philips Hue Starter Kit takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed smart light bulb with 8 expert endorsements. 6 experts out of 8 recommended it as the '#1 smart light bulb' this month.
Brand breakdown
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Philips Hue: 6 smart light bulbs
(#1 is Philips Hue Starter Kit)
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Govee: 6 smart light bulbs
(#1 is Govee Wi-Fi LED)
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Wyze: 5 smart light bulbs
(#1 is Wyze Bulb Color)
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NanoLeaf: 4 smart light bulbs
(#1 is Nanoleaf Shapes)
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Sengled: 4 smart light bulbs
(#1 is Sengled Smart Wi-Fi LED)
Price breakdown
At a glance - May Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Smart Light Bulb |
WIRED
|
T3
|
TechRadar
|
IGN
|
PCMag
|
Wirecutter
|
Forbes
|
Tom's Guide
|
Digital Trends
|
TechHive
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
- | $50 |
Philips Hue Starter Kit
The Philips Hue Starter Kit is a highly customizable and convenient lighting solution that offers a range of features, including dimming capabilities, scheduling options, compatibility with popular smart home ecosystems, easy setup, and energy-saving capabilities.
|
3
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
10
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
2
|
- | $50 |
Wyze Bulb Color
The Wyze Bulb Color is a versatile and customizable smart bulb that offers up to 16 million colors, dimming capabilities, scheduling options, compatibility with popular smart home ecosystems, easy setup, and energy efficiency.
|
-
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-
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-
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-
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1
|
-
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-
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-
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4
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2
|
|
3
|
- | $40 |
Wyze Smart A19
The Wyze Smart A19 is a white smart bulb that offers smooth dimming capabilities, easy scheduling, and energy-saving features, making it a reliable and convenient option for those looking to reduce energy consumption.
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4
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-
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-
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6
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-
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-
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3
|
2
|
-
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-
|
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4
|
- | $17 |
GE Color Direct Connect
The C by GE Full Color Direct Connect Smart Light Bulb is a versatile and energy-efficient smart bulb that offers millions of colors, scheduling capabilities, compatibility with popular smart home ecosystems, and direct-connect technology, making it a convenient and cost-effective choice for creating different lighting atmospheres and saving on energy costs.
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1
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-
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-
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4
|
-
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-
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-
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-
|
-
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-
|
|
5
|
- | $180 |
Nanoleaf Shapes
The Nanoleaf Shapes Smart Light Bulb is a versatile and customizable lighting solution that offers 16 million colors, motion and pattern options, scheduling, and energy-saving features, making it a great addition to any smart home setup.
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8
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-
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3
|
-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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7
|
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6
|
- | Check price |
Nanoleaf Matter Essentials
The Nanoleaf Matter Essentials Smart Light Bulb offers customizable colors, excellent dimming capabilities, scheduling options, and energy-saving features, making it a versatile and compatible choice for smart home enthusiasts.
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-
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3
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8
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9
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
|
|
7
|
- | $6 |
Sengled Smart Wi-Fi LED
The Sengled Smart Wi-Fi LED is a versatile and energy-efficient smart light bulb that offers customizable colors, dimming capabilities, compatibility with popular smart home ecosystems, and easy setup, making it a convenient choice for enhancing the lighting experience.
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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3
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3
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-
|
|
10
|
+1 | Check price |
Kasa Smart KL130
The Kasa Smart KL130 Smart Light Bulb is a versatile and energy-efficient smart bulb that offers customizable lighting options, convenient voice control, and energy-saving features.
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-
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5
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-
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-
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-
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-
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6
|
-
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-
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-
|
|
11
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-1 | $21 |
Philips Dimmable A19 Wiz
The Philips Dimmable A19 Wiz Smart Light Bulb offers customizable lighting options, voice control compatibility, scheduling capabilities, and energy efficiency, making it a versatile and convenient choice for smart home lighting.
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5
|
-
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-
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-
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6
|
-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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|
12
|
- | Check price |
Lifx Nightvision A19
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-
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-
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7
|
-
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-
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-
|
5
|
-
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-
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-
|
|
13
|
- | $300 |
Nanoleaf Light Panels
|
-
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6
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-
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7
|
-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
|
|
14
|
- | $306 |
Philips Hue Lily
The Philips Hue Lily Smart Light Bulb is a versatile and customizable outdoor lighting solution that offers 16 million color variations, smooth dimming capabilities, and convenient control options through popular smart home ecosystems.
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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7
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-
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-
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9
|
|
15
|
- | Check price |
Ring Solar Pathlight
The Ring Solar Pathlight is a customizable and energy-efficient outdoor lighting option that offers dimming capabilities, scheduling features, and compatibility with Amazon Alexa.
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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5
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-
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12
|
|
16
|
- | $15 |
Hive Active Light Colour
The Hive Active Light Colour Smart Light Bulb is a versatile and user-friendly smart bulb that offers a wide range of color options, dimming capabilities, and energy-saving features, making it a great choice for creating personalized lighting experiences and integrating with other smart home devices.
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-
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7
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10
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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We ranked Philips Hue Starter Kit #1 in May 2024 because:
- 8 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
- Out of those, 6 experts ranked Philips Hue Starter Kit as #1.
TechRadar
The best smart light bulb you can buy
|
Easy to set up
Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit
Wide array of different smart lights
|
Hub needed to access all features
Expensive compared to incadescent bulbs
|
PCMag
Best Hue Lighting Without a Hub
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Works without a hub.
Easy to install.
Vibrant colors.
Supports Alexa and Google voice commands.
Can be added to Hue ecosystem.
|
Expensive.
Requires Hue Bridge for remote access and to use other Hue features.
|
Tom's Guide
The best smart light bulb starter kit
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Easy setup with intuitive app
Extensive third-party integrations
Stunning color effects
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Expensive
|
Digital Trends
The best smart bulb kit
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Useful features
Great range and responsiveness
Extensive third-party app compatibility
Works with Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant
|
Bridge must be plugged into your router
Expensive
|
TechHive
Best color smart bulb
|
Bluetooth support eliminates the need for the Hue Bridge
Excellent light quality and smooth dimming
Hue ecosystem is unrivaled in terms of size and depth
Supports Apple HomeKit ecosystem
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Philips Hue products are much more expensive than the competition
Relying on Bluetooth limits you to 10 Hue devices
You need the Hue Hub to assign Hue devices to rooms
|
We ranked Wyze Bulb Color #2 in May 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Wyze Bulb Color as #1.
PCMag
Best Affordable Color Bulb / Editors' Choice
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Affordable
Bright and dimmable
Hub-free app control
Works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT
Can be set up individually or as a group
Supports automations, custom scenes, schedules, and sleep routines
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Not sold individually
No dynamic lighting effects
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Digital Trends
The best budget bulb
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Really bright output
Colors are very saturated
Doesn't require a bridge
Ridiculously low-priced
|
Basic scene modes
|
TechHive
Best color smart bulb, runner-up
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Very inexpensive
Connects via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth–no hub or bridge required
Surprisingly bright considering the price
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Can't be grouped with the tunable white Wyze Bulb
Only available as a 2- or 4-pack
No competition for Philips Hue in terms of lighting ecosystem
|
Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend smart light bulbs.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of smart light bulbs, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for May 2024 ranking
WIRED
T3
TechRadar
IGN
PCMag
Wirecutter
Forbes
Tom's Guide
Digital Trends
TechHive
We ranked Wyze Smart A19 #3 in May 2024 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
Tom's Guide
The best cheap smart light bulb
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Tunable white
Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
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Doesn't work with HomeKit
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We ranked GE Color Direct Connect #4 in May 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked GE Color Direct Connect as #1.
We ranked Nanoleaf Shapes #5 in May 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
TechRadar
Premium smart light panels for home and gaming
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Easy to set up
Illuminated wall art rather than bulbs
Can change color and pulse to create fun effects
|
Difficult to remove once mounted
Don't look attractive when not illuminated
|
TechHive
Most innovative lighting design
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Beautiful and interactive lighting scenes
Touch actions let you control other smart devices
Alexa, Google Assistant, Thread, and HomeKit compatible
Surprisingly easy to install
|
Panels can be difficult to remove from a wall (but don’t appear to cause any damage)
Chunky AC adapter
Expensive
|
We ranked Nanoleaf Matter Essentials #6 in May 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
T3
Essentially some great little cheap bulbs and light strips
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Good price
Thread compatibility
Excellent app
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Not a big range of options
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TechRadar
Another affordable smart light bulb for Apple Homekit
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Affordable
Thread and Bluetooth connectivity
Circadian Lighting feature mimics natural light
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Lacks Alexa integration
Unusual design
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We ranked Sengled Smart Wi-Fi LED #7 in May 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
Tom's Guide
Affordable Wi-Fi smart bulb
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Super easy setup
No hub required
App tracks energy consumption
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Missing more advanced automation features
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Digital Trends
The best starter bulb
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Easy installation
Intuitive smartphone app
Affordable
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Lacking some smart home integrations
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We ranked Kasa Smart KL130 #8 in May 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
T3
Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and IFTTT smart bulbs for an attractive price
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Simple to operate
Don't cost too much
Works with Google/Alexa
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No Apple HomeKit support
Not a big range of options
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We ranked Philips Dimmable A19 Wiz #9 in May 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
PCMag
Affordable Alternative to Philips Hue
|
Affordable
No hub required
Connects via Wi-Fi for remote app control
Works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, and Siri shortcuts
Supports light Rhythms, Scenes, and Schedules
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Finicky Wi-Fi setup and app control in testing
No HomeKit support
|
We ranked Lifx Nightvision A19 #10 in May 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
TechRadar
The best smart light bulb without a hub
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No hub required
Wide array of colors and styles
Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit
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Bulky, unusual looking bulbs
Expensive compared to incandescent bulbs
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We ranked Nanoleaf Light Panels #11 in May 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
T3
A smart lighting system with a difference
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Will definitely impress the guests
All kinds of permutations possible
Easy to adhere
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Expensive to go large
|
We ranked Philips Hue Lily #12 in May 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
TechHive
Best outdoor spotlight
|
Robust aluminum housing, glass lenses, and IP65 weatherization to withstand the elements
Full color light, with up to 600 lumens of brightness
Can be scheduled, controlled by Alexa or Google Assistant, and triggered by a Philips Hue Outdoor Sensor
Low-voltage cables can be buried
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Requires Philips Hue Bridge
Range is impacted by having the the Hue Bridge inside your home, hardwired to your router
Expensive, and each add-on spotlight costs another $100
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We ranked Ring Solar Pathlight #13 in May 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
Tom's Guide
Best smart light for getting you to your door
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Nice design
Built-in motion sensors
Can be linked to other Ring products
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Pricey
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TechHive
Best outdoor pathway light, runner-up
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Battery powered with integrated solar panel
Built-in motion sensor
Can be integrated into the robust Ring home security ecosystem
Once you have the bridge, add-on lights cost only $35
|
Fabricated entirely from plastic
Much more expensive than dumb pathlights
Requires Ring Smart Lighting Bridge, which connects only to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi networks
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We ranked Hive Active Light Colour #14 in May 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
T3
The best smart bulbs for your Hive smart home system
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Different bulb types available
Simple to set up and operate
Works with a range of other kit
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Hub required
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TechRadar
The best smart light for a single ecosystem
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Easy-to-use app
Works with an ecosystem of other smart home gadgets
Also works with Philips Hue bulbs
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Needs Hive hub
Lacks lamps and ceiling light choices
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