The Best Smart Lights 2023
By Linus Tan
Published Feb 2023
Are you tired of using traditional white light bulbs in your home? Do you desire the ability to adjust the temperature of your lighting? Or maybe you'd appreciate the convenience of controlling your lights without having to lift a finger? This is where smart lights come into play. In addition to the fun of using colour-changing bulbs, smart lights can also be controlled through voice commands. To ensure that you choose the best smart light for your home, we've compiled a list to assist you.
Best Overall: Philips Hue White and Colour Ambiance A19 Starter Kit
✓ Wide colour range & effects
✓ Smart automation and sync
✓ Works with voice assistants
✓ Third-party integrations
Best for Budget: Wyze Bulb
✓ Wide colour temperature
✓ Smart automation
✓ No hub required
✓ Budget-friendly
Best for Connectivity: Nanoleaf Essentials A19
✓ RGB colours
✓ Circadian lighting
✓ Thread connectivity
✓ Intuitive companion app
Best for Colours: LIFX Colour
✓ Billions of colours
✓ Smart automation
✓ No hub required
✓ Intuitive companion app
Best for Class: TP-Link Kasa Filament Smart Bulb (KL50)
✓ Unique bulb design
✓ Smart automation
✓ No hub required
✓ Voice assistant enabled
Best for Functions: LIFX Mini
Featured In
LIFX is a well-known player in the field and has put out a variety of smart lights. Amongst all these options, the LIFX Mini stands out as one that offers one of the best range of functions.
Brightness and Longevity
The LIFX Mini light bulbs have an astounding lifespan of 40 000 hours. Despite their small stature, LIFX also guarantees that these bulbs are bright enough to fill any room - good things come in small packages indeed!
Colour and Ambiance
The LIFX Mini light bulbs come in three types - a white-light-only smart light, a "Day and Dusk" smart light, and coloured smart light. Hence, there is something for everyone.
When it comes to changing colours, the LIFX Mini offers one of the most intuitive user interfaces, with a simple colour wheel that allows you to select the colour you like, as well as the ability to alter the softness of the colour depending on how much white is introduced. This allows you to achieve the colour you'd like with extreme precision, but no fuss.
The "Day and Dusk" light bulb is also designed to emulate how daylight changes naturally. You can tweak your settings to your liking, depending on which of the four presets (Wake Up, Day, Evening and Nightlight) you would like.
Features and Functions
Similar to the other smart lights mentioned, the LIFX Mini is also able to pair with smart home technology such as Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT, or even Microsoft Cortana. Furthermore, LIFX has also introduced Apple HomeKit integration to allow for an even more seamless pairing process.
All in all, the LIFX Mini offers a fantastic range of features. However, it definitely lies on the pricier side, and for users who aren't looking out as much for the size, the Philips Hue might be a better choice.
Nevertheless, if you feel like the LIFX Mini is the one for you, you can shop the LIFX Mini here.
LIFX Mini
Big colours in a mini package
When it comes to functions, you can't get any better than this.
#1 Best Overall: Philips Hue White and Colour Ambiance A19 Starter Kit
Philips Hue White and Colour Ambiance A19 Starter Kit
Philips Hue is well-known for producing high-quality light bulbs, and the Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 Starter Kit is no exception. The A19 Starter Kit includes four E26 base light bulbs and a Hue Bridge. Whether you're new to smart lights, looking for a change, or have prior experience with them, this Philips Hue starter kit is a great choice.
Rest assured that with a power output of 60W and a lifespan of approximately 25,000 hours per light bulb, you are receiving quality that is worth your investment.
The Philips Hue White and Colour Ambiance A19 Starter Kit offers a wide range of colours ranging from light, soothing tones to brighter hues for livelier moods. With a variety of options available, the kit caters to different preferences, whether you want to set the mood for a party or create a relaxing ambience. Apart from recreating lighting from any photograph and testing built-in lighting scenes, the kit also allows you to design your preferred atmosphere through the upgraded Philips Hue app.
Philips Hue White and Colour Ambiance A19 Starter Kit
The A19 Starter Kit is compatible with over 400 apps, all catered so you can tweak your lighting to your desired settings. Moreover, these apps enable you to sync your lighting to your favourite music, shows, or movies, allowing you to be fully immersed in a tantalising visual experience.
Furthermore, the smart lights in the Philips Hue White and Colour Ambiance A19 Starter Kit are also compatible with voice assistant technologies such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home. What's more, the Philips Hue app lets you set routines for your lights, so that you don't have to go through the trouble of changing your lights every day to suit different occasions.
While the Philips Hue White and Colour Ambiance A19 Starter Kit is on the pricier end, it remains as remains the top choice for many critics simply because of how sophisticated it is.
Philips Hue White and Colour Ambiance A19 Starter Kit
Best Overall
✓ Wide colour range & effects
✓ Smart automation and sync
✓ Works with voice assistants
✓ Third-party integrations
#2 Best for Budget: Wyze Bulb
Wyze Bulb
The Wyze Bulb is a smart light bulb that offers a variety of features to enhance your home lighting experience. With its easy installation process, you can quickly start controlling the bulb from your smartphone.
Not only does the Wyze Bulb offer a range of colour temperatures and brightness levels, allowing you to tailor your lighting to specific moods and occasions, but it also boasts impressive energy efficiency. Consuming only 9.5 watts of power, this bulb produces bright, warm light while helping to reduce your energy usage and lower your bills. With these combined benefits, you can enjoy both the convenience of customisable lighting and the peace of mind of energy savings.
Wyze Bulb
The Wyze Bulb is fully controllable from its companion app. You can set schedules and timers for the bulb to automatically turn on and off, making it a convenient and energy-efficient option. Additionally, there is a Vacation mode option that causes the bulbs to turn on and off at random intervals, creating the illusion that someone is home and deterring potential intruders. Not only can it be controlled through the Wyze app, but it also works with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for hands-free control of your lighting.
Overall, the Wyze bulb is a great addition to any smart home setup. Its affordable price point makes it accessible to those who may have been hesitant to invest in smart lighting before. With its long lifespan and easy installation, the Wyze bulb is a smart choice for anyone looking to upgrade their home lighting.
Wyze Bulb
Best for Budget
✓ Wide colour temperature
✓ Smart automation
✓ No hub required
✓ Budget-friendly
#3 Best for Connectivity: Nanoleaf Essentials A19
Nanoleaf Essentials A19
The Nanoleaf Essentials A19 Bulb is a smart LED light bulb that offers numerous features and benefits. Its energy-efficient design makes it both eco-friendly and cost-effective, making it an excellent option for those who want to save money on their energy bills. Additionally, the bulb has a long lifespan of up to 25,000 hours.
With the Nanoleaf Essentials A19 Bulb, you can choose from a variety of colour temperatures, allowing you to personalise the lighting based on your requirements and preferences. The bulb also has an impressive colour rendering index (CRI) of 90, ensuring that the colours it produces are both vibrant and accurate.
One of the standout features of this bulb is its Circadian Lighting capability. This innovative feature allows the bulb to simulate the natural changes in light that occur throughout the day by adjusting its colour temperature. From cool, bright light in the morning to a warmer, more relaxing glow in the evening, the bulb provides an immersive lighting experience that can improve the overall ambience and comfort of any space.
Nanoleaf Essentials A19
The Nanoleaf Essentials A19 Bulb supports Thread connectivity, which enhances your smart home experiences. Thread is a reliable, secure, and energy-saving network protocol that provides fast response times and wider coverage. The bulb is compatible with various smart home platforms, including Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant, allowing for easy integration into existing smart home ecosystems.
Overall, the Nanoleaf Essentials A19 Bulb is a versatile and reliable smart lighting solution that offers excellent colour accuracy, energy efficiency, and smart home compatibility. Whether you're looking to brighten up your living room, create a relaxing ambience in your bedroom, or add some colour to your kitchen, the Nanoleaf Essentials Bulb is an excellent choice that won't disappoint.
Nanoleaf Essentials A19
Best for Connectivity
✓ RGB colours
✓ Circadian lighting
✓ Thread connectivity
✓ Intuitive companion app
#4 Best for Colours: LIFX Colour
LIFX Colour
When it comes to smart bulbs, the LIFX Colour is definitely a top contender for those seeking a colour-changing option. Not only does this bulb provide an array of vibrant colours to choose from, but it also offers a convenient and intuitive way to control it through its accompanying app.
The LIFX Color is a smart light that provides a powerful 800-lumen output, despite its compact size. It offers a wide range of colour options, including billions of colours and a cool-to-warm range of whites. Furthermore, it has numerous integration options for those who enjoy upgrading their technology.
With the help of smart automation features, you can easily schedule your lights to create a comfortable and relaxing environment that suits your daily routine. For instance, you can set your lights to gradually wake you up in the morning, simulating a natural sunrise, and then keep the environment well-lit throughout the day. In the evening, you can rely on these features to help you unwind and relax, by adjusting the lighting to a warmer and dimmer tone that promotes a peaceful atmosphere, ideal to help you doze off at night.
LIFX Colour
Setting up the LIFX Color bulb is a breeze as it functions right out of the box, without requiring a hub or a complete home setup. Moreover, the bulb is compatible with popular voice assistants such as Google, Alexa, and Siri, enabling you to easily control your bulbs without any hassle.
Overall, the LIFX Colour is a versatile and high-quality smart light bulb that offers a wide range of features and benefits. This smart light bulb is designed to provide users with a more flexible and customisable lighting experience, allowing them to adjust the brightness, colour, and temperature of their lights to suit their preferences and needs.
LIFX Colour
Best for Colours
✓ Billions of colours
✓ Smart automation
✓ No hub required
✓ Intuitive companion app
#5 Best for Class: TP-Link Kasa Filament Smart Bulb (KL50)
TP-Link Kasa Filament Smart Bulb (KL50)
The TP-Link Kasa Filament Smart Bulb (KL50) has a vintage-looking filament, but don't be fooled by its appearance. This bulb is worth considering as it's packed with 7W power and has an estimated lifespan of 1,000 hours.
While the TP-Link Kasa Filament Smart Bulb (KL50) does not offer a colour-changing feature, TP-Link highlights the bulb's warm and inviting glow. Even when set to 100% brightness, the bulb emits a calming light that is easy on the eyes.
TP-Link Kasa Filament Smart Bulb (KL50)
The TP-Link Kasa Filament Smart Bulb (KL50) is a great option for beginners because it doesn't require an additional bridge to connect to Wi-Fi, making setup a breeze. Simply screw the bulb into a lamp, turn it on, download the accompanying app, and follow the instructions provided.
The KL50 bulb is compatible with both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Once it is set up, you can simply use voice commands to control its brightness. Reviewers have found that the KL50 is highly responsive to quick commands and performs reliably when dealing with complex instructions. In addition to the usual brightness and power controls, the Kasa app provides an energy-saving monitor and a scheduling feature that allows you to power the KL50 according to your preferred times and days.
Overall, the TP-Link Kasa Filament Smart Bulb (KL50) is an excellent addition to your smart home, not only for its functionality but also for its aesthetic appeal. With its vintage filament design, it can add a touch of classic charm to any room, while still being a modern and smart device that can be controlled through your smartphone or voice assistant.
TP-Link Kasa Filament Smart Bulb (KL50)
Best for Class
✓ Unique bulb design
✓ Smart automation
✓ No hub required
✓ Voice assistant enabled
Compare Smart Lights
Final Thoughts
Smart lights provide a level of interactivity and control that is not available with traditional bulbs. While convenience is a perk, they also enhance the ambience of your home by creating captivating moods and atmospheres, allowing you to enjoy your space even more.
If you like to read more about Smart Lighting, check out our other relevant guides here:
Nanoleaf Matter Bulb Review
Philips Hue Smart Bulb Review
Nanoleaf vs Philips Hue: Smart Bulbs Comparison
TP-Link Kasa vs Philips Hue: Smart Bulbs Comparison
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