Philips Hue White Ambiance LED A19 Smart Button Starter Kit
- Excellent light quality
- Robust mobile app
- Excellent light quality
- Robust mobile app
- Cheap price tag
- Easy setup
- No hub needed
- IFTTT compatible
We rated the best smart light bulbs based on price, energy savings, features, and compatibility with other home automation products. Whether you’re a home automation pro or just getting started, smart lighting is one of the best ways to add smarts—and security—to your home.
Compare the Best Smart Light Bulbs
| Smart Bulb |
| Price |
| Control |
| Compatibility |
| Learn More |
|
Best Overall
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Budget Pick
|
Wi-Fi Pick
|
Best Color Options
|
Best Splurge
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| Philips Hue White Ambiance A19 LED Smart Button Starter Kit | Cree Connected LED 60W Soft White Bulb | LIFX Mini White Wi-Fi Smart Bulb | Philips Hue White and Color Dimmable LED Smart Bulb | Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Smarter Kit |
| $199.99 | $11.93 | $26.99 | $59.99 | $289.98 |
| Mobile app Voice |
Mobile app Voice |
Mobile app Voice |
Mobile app | Mobile app Voice |
| Amazon Alexa Apple HomeKit Google Assistant Nest SmartThings |
Amazon Alexa Wink WeMo SmartThings |
Amazon Alexa Apple HomeKit Google Assistant Nest SmartThings |
Amazon Alexa Apple HomeKit Google Assistant Nest SmartThings |
Amazon Alexa |
| View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
Amazon.com List Price as of 05/05/20 12:05 p.m. MST. (Full disclaimer)
Best Smart Light Bulbs Reviews
Philips Hue White Ambiance A19 LED Smart Button Starter Kit
Philips Hue bulbs are the industry standard and the Philips Hue LED Smart Button Starter Kit doesn’t disappoint. These smart light bulbs fit standard fixtures, work with popular smart home products like Amazon Alexa and Nest, and last up to five years. Hue bulbs are going to cost you more than your average incandescent light bulb, but we think the longevity, convenience, and energy savings more than make up for the initial investment.
Pros
- Voice control with Amazon Alexa
- Superior light quality
- Ability to connect with up to 50 lights
- Free mobile app
- Convenient starter kit, with Hue Bridge included
Cons
- Spendy price tag
- Required Philips Hue Bridge
Cree Connected LED 60W Soft White Bulb
You can’t beat the Cree Connected smart light bulb for price or brightness. This is one of the brightest lights we found, and it doesn’t gouge your pocketbook. If you’re not sure that smart lighting is for you, the Cree smart bulb is an affordable way give it a test run. And best of all, you don’t need a special hub. Cree is compatible with any ZigBee-enabled hub out there. So if you have an Amazon Echo or Nest hub, you’re ready to go.
Pros
- Cheap price tag
- Compatibility with multiple hubs and platforms
- Easy setup
Cons
- Harsher light
- Slower response time
- Inconsistent quality
LIFX Mini White Wi-Fi Smart Bulb
Most smart light bulbs require you to purchase the bulbs and a hub or bridge to connect them to your Wi-Fi network. With the LIFX Mini White Wi-Fi Smart Bulb, all you need to do is buy the bulb, screw it into a lamp or other lighting fixture, and download the LIFX app. We like how simple and easy LIFX makes smart home lighting. If you don’t want to hassle with extra devices and connections, these smartbulbs are the way to go.
Pros
- No hub needed
- Affordable cost
- Free mobile app
- IFTTT smart home compatibility
- Multiple color options
Cons
- Some Android issues
- Tricky setup for some users
- Connectivity issues
Pro Tip
Philips Hue White and Color Dimmable LED Smart Bulb
We already talked about how much we like the Philips Hue white bulbs, and this smartbulb delivers all the same great features but with a brilliant array of up to 16 million (yes, that’s MILLION!) color options. These bulbs really deliver the best of all worlds—fun light displays along with energy efficiency and security applications. Once again, you’ll pay a pretty penny for these smart light bulbs (and you need to add the Hue Bridge to access all features), but if you’re into mood lighting, we say go for it!
Pros
- 16 million colors
- Easy setup and control
- Programmable settings you can save
- Free mobile app
- Compatibility with Hue Dimmer, Hue Tap, and Hue Motion Sensor
Cons
- Hue Bridge required to access all features
- Lower brightness than other smart light bulbs
- Big price tag
Pro Tip
Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Smarter Kit
If you’re more interested in playing with your smart lights than saving money or adding security to your home, then the Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Smarter Kit is your smart lighting match. These fun tiles can be configured into numerous designs to turn any room into an artsy display of LED technological magic. Set the mood for a house party or a quiet night in, with just the touch of a button.
Pros
- Fun design
- Multiple configurations
- No extra hub needed
- Programmable patterns for different events, moods
- Ability to dance to your favorite tunes
Cons
- Expensive price
- No real security application
- Challenging installation
Things to Consider about Smart Light Bulbs
How much should I spend on smart light bulbs?
The easy answer is as much as you want to. But because most of us don’t have piles of money to burn, let’s look at the difference between more expensive smart light bulbs and cheaper ones. All smart lighting solutions are more costly than regular incandescent or LED bulbs, but smartbulbs deliver extra convenience, ambiance, and security.
Philips Hue smartbulbs are the industry standard, and they aren’t cheap (the starter kit we recommend comes with two bulbs and the Philips Hue Hub for around $70).
They do offer a good track record, though—and these bulbs should last about five years. If you want lights that can be controlled remotely and integrated with a security system, then we recommend ponying up the extra cash for Philips Hue bulbs.
If all you want is extra convenience, then you’ll be happy with less expensive (and less feature-rich bulbs) like the Cree smart light bulb (starting around $15 per bulb).
Why do I want 16 million color options?
At first glance, it’s easy to wonder, “Why in the world would anyone want 16 million colors?” In fact, I asked that very question. After digging into this highly important topic, I came up with some reasons that 16 million colors may just make sense after all.
In addition to being a whole lot of fun, Philips Hue’s color light bulbs cash in on scientific proof about how color can influence your mood.¹ If you want to use these smartbulbs to hack your mind and emotions, here’s a color guide to help you get started (but the Hue app already provides pre-set scenes to help you create the mood you’re looking for).
- Pump up with red. The vibrant shade is said to boost excitement and strength.
- Get creative with green. Set your bulbs to a greenish hue to get those creative juices flowing.
- Zen out with blue and purple. These colors invoke calm, peaceful, spiritual feelings.
- Don’t read to yellow. This happy color makes your eyes tired, so skip it when you curl up with a book.
- Warm up with brown. The color of chocolate evokes feelings of warmth, security, and comfort.
What are the benefits of voice controlled smartbulbs?
Voice control assistants like Amazon Alexa are the new Clapper. Instead of clapping your lamp on, now you can tell it what to do. Not only is this fun and convenient, but for people with physical limitations or those recovering from illness or injury, voice control can actually improve quality of life.
What is a hub and why do I need one for smart light bulbs?
One of the caveats of smartbulbs is that to make many of them work, you have to do more than simply screw in the bulb. And you often have to buy extra equipment, like a hub. A hub, or bridge, helps the smartbulb connect to the internet. That connection lets you control the smartbulb with a mobile app.
It also allows the smartbulb to “talk” to other smart devices, which lets you set up different routines for different scenarios. For example, if you have a doorbell camera, the camera can trigger the porch light when motion is detected. Not all smartbulbs require a hub, and some are compatible with hubs you may already use with other smart products.
Will smart light bulbs really save me money?
The US Department of Energy recommends using LED light bulbs that work with timers and dimmers to help save energy and money.² Because smart light bulbs are dimmable and can be controlled either remotely or with schedules, they fit the DOE’s prescription. Plus, most smart light bulbs are designed to last between five and fifteen years, which means you’ll spend less money replacing burned out bulbs.
How to Take Smart Light Bulbs to the Next Level
Kasa Smart Wi-Fi LED Light Switch Dimmer
- Dims both smart and “dumb” lights
- Gives remote control to any light fixture
- Features Gentle Off setting to help kids (and grownups) drift off to sleep
Philips Hue Motion Sensor for Smart Lighting
- Adds extra security with motion detection
- Has night setting that won’t blind you as you head to the bathroom
- Saves energy with extra daylight sensor
Nexlux LED Strip Lights
- Brings lights to life
- Has settings for all times of year and holidays
- Adds safety to stairways and hallways
Our Approach
To find the best smart light bulbs on the market, we read hundreds of customer reviews, dug into industry standards and research, scoured products’ specs and reviews, and did some hands-on testing of our own. Learn more about how we rate products on our Rankings and Reviews page.
- 16 hours researched
- 12 products considered
- 500+ customer reviews read
- 6 coffees consumed
Related Tips and Resources on SafeWise
Sources:
- Psychology Today, The Surprising Effect of Color on Your Mind and Mood”
- Energy.gov, “Lighting Choices to Save You Money”
Disclaimer
Amazon.com List Price as of 05/05/20 12:05 p.m. MST. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
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