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Best Smart Light Bulbs

Updated August 2022
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Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Kasa Smart Light Bulb
Kasa
Smart Light Bulb
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Expert Recommended
Bottom Line

A favorite smart bulb that comes from and works with TP-Link's well-regarded line of smart devices.

Pros

WiFi-enabled bulb compatible with Alexa and Google Home. Bright 800 lumens. Can be programmed to auto-adjust white temperature according to time of day. Generates millions of colors. Feature-rich companion app.

Cons

Won't connect easily to Apple HomeKit. Only 1 bulb per pack.

Best Bang for the Buck
Sengled Multicolor Bluetooth Smart Bulb
Sengled
Multicolor Bluetooth Smart Bulb
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Bargain Pick
Bottom Line

These smart bulbs connect via Bluetooth instead of WiFi and are designed particularly for Amazon Alexa.

Pros

Connects via Bluetooth instead of WiFi for convenience. Designed for simple installation and control with Amazon Alexa. High brightness of 800 lumens. Produces millions of colors. Each bulb acts as a Bluetooth signal repeater for wide coverage.

Cons

Not compatible with Google Home or Apple HomeKit. Connection may drop.

Sylvania SMART+ WiFi Full Color A19
Sylvania
SMART+ WiFi Full Color A19
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Trusted Brand
Bottom Line

A solid pack of smart light bulbs that don't need a smart hub and come from a respected brand.

Pros

Requires no hub. Produces millions of colors or different temperatures of white light. Can be controlled by Alexa. Compatible with Google Home. Smart speaker not required. Can be controlled from a smartphone with the companion app.

Cons

Not compatible with Apple HomeKit. Indoor use only. Not compatible with dimmer switches.

Sylvania SMART+ WiFi Full Color BR30
Sylvania
SMART+ WiFi Full Color BR30
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Targeted Lighting
Bottom Line

These smart bulbs are designed for spotlights and floodlights and come with all the features you expect.

Pros

Produces millions of colors and different temperatures of white. Can be controlled by Alexa. Compatible with Google Home. Does not require a hub. Bulbed reflector shape makes them ideal for recessed lighting and spotlights.

Cons

Not compatible with Apple HomeKit. Not compatible with traditional dimmers.

Flux Bluetooth Smart LED Light Bulb, 2nd Generation
Flux
Bluetooth Smart LED Light Bulb, 2nd Generation
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Compatible App
Bottom Line

A Bluetooth-based smart bulb with an app that works on Android and iOS devices.

Pros

Syncs easily to Bluetooth-capable smartphones and tablets. Sunrise and sunset modes are easy to customize for gradual brightness and dimming. Generates millions of colors. App works with Apple iOS devices.

Cons

Doesn't work well with Alexa. Does not directly support Apple HomeKit.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

30
Models
Considered
67
Consumers
Consulted
8
Hours
Researched
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Buying guide for Best smart light bulbs

It seems these days that placing the word “smart” in front of a product name instantly makes the item better. Smartphones are far more functional than other kinds of phones. Smart TVs bring a whole new set of programming options. Smartwatches can tell you when it’s time to exercise, and who’s calling your smartphone.

Keeping with the times, smart light bulbs are the next evolutionary step of one of the most common objects in your home today. A smart light bulb is one that can be controlled remotely, through a WiFi connection.

BestReviews helps readers find the best options for each product. You can count on the research we’ve compiled to give you the information you need for a smart purchase.

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If you don’t own a smartphone, tablet, or some other device to host your smart bulb’s app, you won’t be able to gain the full benefit of using smart light bulbs.

Considerations for smart light bulbs

Smart light bulbs offer numerous benefits for residential and commercial users. We’ve collected some of the best reasons to employ smart bulbs.

Energy reduction

If you currently use fluorescent or incandescent light bulbs, a smart LED bulb can provide significant energy savings. Traditional LED bulbs also will reduce your energy use, but smart LED bulbs offer several additional features.

Fun

Although smart light bulbs offer quite a few benefits, don’t forget about how much fun using them can be. Colored lighting can amaze your kids, or can create a product showcase for visitors to your business.

Scheduling

Using a smartphone app with your smart light bulb gives you many options for scheduling when the lights will be active. You can turn lights off and on when you aren’t home, or you can dim lights near bedtime with smart LED apps.

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Expert Tip
Smart light bulbs will not save you money initially. They will cost quite a bit more than a standard LED bulb. You’re paying for extra features in the smart bulb.
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Features for smart light bulbs

When comparing different smart LED bulb products, you’ll find many of the bulbs have similar features. So when shopping for smart LEDs, it pays to keep an eye on the small differences between each product.

Color changing

Different smart light bulbs will offer multiple colors, but the range of colors in each bulb differs. Make sure the bulb you select can create the colors you want.

Speakers

Some smart bulbs even contain basic audio speakers. These allow you to stream music through the bulbs. These speakers won’t give you top-notch audio quality, but they do give you a way to have audio throughout your home, without an additional device.

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Did you know?
Even though color smart bulbs rank highly in popularity, you can find white-only smart light bulbs, too.
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Light direction

A smart light bulb should direct its light in multiple directions. However, different models of bulbs will distribute the beams of light differently.

Check packaging and reviews carefully to determine whether the bulb you select provides the kind of light coverage needed for your situation.

Compatibility

If you already use a smart home hub, check whether the smart bulbs you’re considering are compatible with it.

You don’t want to have to use multiple apps to control a smart thermostat, security cameras, and your smart lights. Using just one app with these products will make it easier to control everything.

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Using a smart-home hub may allow you to successfully mix different brands of smart bulbs in your home.

FAQ

Q. Am I better off with a smart light switch?

A. There are some benefits of smart switches over smart bulbs. The smart switch can control several standard LED bulbs at one time, for example, saving you money. However, smart switches don’t have as many different features as a smart light bulb, including color-changing options.

Q. What are some disadvantages of smart light bulbs?

A. The smart light bulb will react more slowly than a traditional wired light bulb. Using an app and a WiFi connection to control the bulb introduces a tiny bit of lag versus flipping a switch wired directly to the bulb. These delays can run anywhere from one to five seconds, depending on your system. And while you still may be able to control the basic on/off function with a manual switch, any other features of your smart bulb won’t be available if your WiFi service goes down.

Q. What colors can I have with smart light bulbs?

A. Color accuracy can be a bit of a hit-and-miss prospect with some brands of smart bulbs. Some may only give you a deep pink color instead of a proper red color, for example. Check product specifications and reviews to learn how many colors a bulb offers before purchasing.

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