The Best Smart Bulbs
If you've spent a long time looking at your electricity bill in dismay, it may be time to switch to a smart bulb. Smart bulbs use eco-friendly, long-lasting LED energy. Plus, they're easy to control by voice via an accompanying app. Many people have found their daily routines made infinitely more convenient thanks to these bulbs, which is why we've made this list to help you decide the best smart bulb for you. We had a few considerations when deciding whether or not a bulb would be worthy of a glowing review: Is it easy to set up? Does it glow well and save energy? Does it form a strong wireless connection? We found a number of bulbs that brightened our day in many of these aspects. Sengled's bulbs proved best in class for all-purpose brightness and ease of use. Kasa Smart Store, however, developed the best bulb for use specifically with Alexa. We know there's a bulb on our list that your generator will thank you for, so get ready for a glow-up and keep reading.
Sengled Smart Light Bulbs
Shining smartly
Sengled’s Alexa-compatible smart bulb wins our top honors. And once you plug it in, it’ll be easy to see why. It’s incredibly easy to install, and its voice compatibility allows for more than simple “on-off” options, such as an away mode and a visual wake-up setting. The changing color patterns are varied and gorgeous, and voice control works across the length of the house. This smart bulb is the perfect choice for making your everyday domestic life that much easier.
Pros
- We were blown away by the simplicity of the installation, which is free of the classic connectivity issues that plague other bulb varieties.
- It’s easily as effective and quite a bit more affordable than many other smart bulbs of comparable quality.
- Easy voice control commands, such as “lights in bathroom” make it easy to control multiple bulbs in different rooms without confusion.
Cons
- The oscillating “party mode” light feature needs to be accessed through the app itself, not Alexa.
Philips A19 LED Smart Bulb
A trusted source
The Philips smart bulb makes a great choice for anyone looking to see what makes these bulbs so useful. Compatibility with both Alexa and Google Assistant ensures users will have a satisfying experience no matter their voice command preferences. And with an average of 22,000 usable lifetime hours, this bulb doesn’t require replacing anytime soon. Long-lasting, simple to use, and compatible with multiple setups, this smart bulb lets you light your home with efficiency and ease.
Pros
- Multiple light pattern routines are easy to set, whether you’re using them to wake up in the morning or unwind after work.
- We love how bright the max luminosity is, which really helps brighten up shady living rooms and areas without much natural sunlight.
Cons
- They can run hot in enclosed areas or rooms without good ventilation.
Full Color Kasa Smart Bulb
An assistant that listens
This smart bulb from Kasa is the superior choice for compatibility with Amazon’s Alexa. Its use of a strong wi-fi network is reliable when you need it most. An energy monitor that works in real-time also helps to conserve power when less electricity is needed. Add all this to an appealing array of colors and temperatures, and you have a smart bulb that any Alexa user will be glad to own.
Pros
- The color change options are easy to implement and have enough variety to help you in almost any situation.
- We appreciate the eco-friendly packaging, and the design of the bulb itself is aesthetically pleasing.
- The power monitoring feature means less energy consumption, and thus lower electricity bills, than you’d get with other smart bulbs.
Cons
- This smart bulb does not feature strobe lighting, unlike many other bulbs.
Sengled Smart Candelabra LED Bulb
Class and efficiency
There’s no reason for ceiling lamps or chandeliers to be left out, as this smart bulb capably proves. Sengled’s app can control your lights from anywhere in the home, and it can even turn them on or off from outside. They last for 25,000 hours and burn as bright as any traditional bulb, making them an easy choice for upgrading your lamp and chandelier lighting. For a meeting of ease and efficiency with ambiance and elegance, this smart bulb is a fantastic pick.
Pros
- They’re far easier and more affordable to install than having electricians install compatible “smart switches” for the lights in your home.
- We found these bulbs to integrate smoothly with Google Home, Alexa, and SmartThings as well, making them one of the more versatile offerings.
Cons
- They aren’t compatible with the dimmers you may already have installed in your home.
Kasa Soft White Smart Light Bulbs
Nostalgia trip
If you want your smart bulb to look a little more like the type of bulb you grew up with, these will do the trick. Adjustable white lighting lets you achieve a sense of coziness that may be absent from other bulbs. And with pattern setting and active energy monitoring, you can still enjoy the flexibility of smart bulb tech. If you want a bulb that still has a familiar feel, this one is the way to go.
Pros
- The connectivity is very strong, ensuring your bulbs won’t drop the connection to your phone when in range.
- They’re capable of being grouped into one lamp, so a fixture with multiple bulbs can still be turned off and on with a single command.
- We like how their more traditional lighting makes them ideal as outdoor lights for your porch or yard.
Cons
- Getting bulbs to respond to your commands from across a large house can be a bit of a hassle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I consider getting a smart bulb?
Traditional light bulbs are relatively wasteful when it comes to electricity usage, and constantly replacing them is bad for the environment. Smart bulbs are not only great for cutting down energy costs; their longevity makes them better for your hardware budget and the planet in the long run.
Do I need an electrician to help me install a “smart” energy system?
Most smart bulbs have their own base that you can screw in like any other bulb and are controlled with the press of an app. No outside assistance should be needed to get your smart bulb in good working order.
About the Author
Why Trust Us
With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.