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Philips Hue Filament Lamp on orange abstract background

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We continue giving our dwelling a more "smart" look, seeking ways to make it more productive and reduce maintenance costs to a minimum. Today, we're looking at devices that could be the simplest step on this journey as some only require Wi-Fi and a smartphone. Let's explore the most popular smart LED bulbs. Remember, that we review dozens of online pages to compile our lists for 2024 and check hundreds of reviews to identify user favorites.

What Is Smart LED Light Bulbs?

Smart light bulbs are the simplest way to make your home Smart. A smart LED light bulb is an LED (light-emitting diode) light bulb that can be controlled remotely using a smart device such as a smartphone or a digital assistant, or through automation. These bulbs go beyond the traditional on-and-off switch by offering features such as adjustable colors, mood lighting, scheduling, and even the ability to sync with your music or movies. They're more than just a convenience; smart LED bulbs can enhance home security, reduce energy consumption, and contribute to a more customized living environment.

Benefits of Smart LED Light Bulbs

  • Reduced energy consumption: Smart LEDs use significantly less energy than traditional bulbs, leading to lower electricity bills.
  • Remote control: Control your lights from anywhere using your smartphone or tablet app, no need to get up and down.
  • Scheduling and automation: Set lights to turn on/off at specific times, simulate occupancy when away for security, or create routines for different activities
  • Dimming and color control: Many smart bulbs allow dimming for adjustable brightness and some offer a range of color options to create different moods.
  • Tunable white: Certain bulbs can adjust color temperature from warm white for relaxation to cool white for focus.
  • Simulate occupancy: Lights can automatically turn on/off when you're away, creating the illusion of someone being home.
  • Integration with security systems: Smart bulbs can be part of a smart home system for increased security.
  • Voice control: Control lights hands-free with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
  • Smart home integration: Integrate with other smart home devices to create custom routines and experiences.
  • Environmentally friendly: Smart LEDs are a sustainable choice due to their energy efficiency and reduced need for replacements.

What Keep in Mind When Choosing a Smart Lightbulb?

Functionality: Choose a lamp that fits your needs - whether it's color-changing RGB lamps for setting the mood or other features described above.
Compatibility: Check if the smart bulb is compatible with your smartphone, tablet, or smart home system. Most bulbs work with platforms like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, etc.
Technology: there are several common technologies for smart bulbs:

  • Wi-Fi: This is the most direct way. Wi-Fi bulbs connect to your home's Wi-Fi network, offering extensive range for control from anywhere in your home with a Wi-Fi signal. Plus, they integrate smoothly with other Wi-Fi-enabled smart home devices. However, Wi-Fi bulbs consume more power and may need Wi-Fi network credentials during setup.
  • Bluetooth: This method offers a simpler setup. Bluetooth bulbs pair directly with your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth, just like wireless headphones. No separate hub is needed, usually just a quick pairing with your device. Bluetooth bulbs are more energy-efficient than Wi-Fi, and great for battery-powered devices. The downside is the limited range; they work best in the same room or near the connected device. They may need to integrate more smoothly with other smart home devices as Wi-Fi bulbs.
  • Zigbee: This technology uses a low-power wireless protocol for smart home devices. Zigbee bulbs need a hub for Wi-Fi connection but then communicate with all bulbs in your home. Zigbee's mesh network extends signal range and reliability. It's energy-efficient and ideal for long battery life. The setup needs an extra hub, and bulb compatibility with your hub should be checked before purchase.
  • Z-Wave: This option uses a low-power wireless mesh network tailored for smart home devices, like Zigbee. Z-Wave bulbs act as repeaters, expanding the signal range and enhancing reliability at home.
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Woman with phone set up the smart light bulb

Bulb Base Type: Make sure the bulb base (E26, E12, GU10, etc.) matches your fixture's base.

  • E26 is the most common light bulb base in the United States and other countries with a 100-120 volt electrical supply. It features a screw thread with a diameter of 26 millimeters. 
  • E12 is a much smaller screw base than E26, with a diameter of 12 millimeters. It's often referred to as a "candelabra base" due to its frequent use in chandelier and sconce fixtures.  
  • Unlike screw threads, GU10 has two metal pins that fit into corresponding slots in the socket. It features a twist-and-lock mechanism for securing the bulb. GU10 bulbs are typically used in recessed can lights and track lighting.

Shapes: there are several common bulb shapes available, each suited for different purposes:

  • A19: This is the most popular shape overall, resembling a traditional incandescent bulb. It's a good all-purpose choice for table lamps, overhead lights, and most general lighting needs.
  • A15: Similar to A19 but slightly smaller, making it suitable for smaller fixtures or places where a less prominent bulb is desired. Often used in sconces, ceiling fans, or desk lamps.
  • BR (bulb reflector): This bulb has a wider, shallower shape with a reflective coating inside to direct light downwards. Ideal for recessed lighting cans where you want focused light output.
  • PAR (parabolic aluminized reflector): Similar to BR bulbs but with a more focused beam, often used in track lighting or spotlights for highlighting specific areas.
  • G (globe): This is a round, almost spherical bulb, commonly used in decorative fixtures like sconces or pendant lights where the bulb itself is part of the aesthetic.
  • T (tube): This is a long, tubular shape, often used in linear fixtures for task lighting under cabinets or in workshops.

Ultimately, the best shape for you depends on the specific application and the style of your light fixture.

Also, pay attention to the manufacturer and the price they offer you. Recommended to monitor promotional offers from well-known manufacturers to equip your home with new smart bulbs at a reduced price.

Do Smart Light Bulbs Save Money on Electricity?

First, before beginning our list of picks let’s answer this question. If briefly, yes. Smart light bulbs, mainly LEDs, can save electricity due to their low power consumption. However, standby power and inefficient usage can offset these savings. To get the most out of it, choose quality bulbs with a warranty, use smart features for efficient lighting, and remember to turn them off when you don't need them. Also, note that some smart lamps are more expensive than regular ones.

Check Out Our Selection of Perfect Smart LED Light Bulbs

Philips Hue Smart LED Bulb

The Philips Hue Smart 75W A19 LED lamp is an adapted high-quality light source for your home. Its ability to create both white and colored atmospheres allows for a range of lighting scenarios, making it ideal for all moods and events. This bulb provides a palette of millions of colors and has a dimmable function that allows you to adapt the lighting to your specific preferences. Compatible with the Hue app, Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Homekit, that is, suitable for many modern smart home settings.

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Comparison of Philips Hue Smart LED Bulb features with Hue Bidge and without one

The Philips Hue Smart LED bulb provides lighting equivalent to a standard 75W light bulb, making it ideal for lighting large spaces such as the living room or kitchen. It has a luminous flux of 1100 lumens and is equipped with preset lighting scenes. Adding to its plethora of features is its compatibility with the Hue Bridge, which promises automation and control from any global location.

Customer satisfaction with the Philips Hue Smart 75W A19 LED Bulb overall is high, highlighting its brightness, user-friendliness, dimming feature, remote control options, and compatibility with voice assistants as standout attributes. Users also appreciate its quality and reliability. However, concerns persist regarding connectivity issues, occasional disconnections, and difficulties in pairing with smart home platforms. Furthermore, they note that these bulbs are pricier compared to other popular LED options. 

User Manual: Website

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Philips Hue Smart LED Bulb card

Philips Hue Smart LED Bulb

Color: White & Color Ambiance
Features: Dimmable, Color Changing
Connectivity: Bluetooth, Zigbee
Compatible: Hue app, Alexa, Google Home/Apple HomeKit, and Microsoft Cortana (Via Hue Bridge)
Bulb Base: E26
Brightness, lm: 1100

Price

27% Off
$39.99

Govee Smart Light Bulbs

Govee smart bulbs are a successful combination of intelligent lighting solutions and with their affordable price have become the choice of thousands of buyers. These smart bulbs provide a wide color palette and have many preset scene modes. Fully compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, supported by the intuitive Govee Home app, you can easily control brightness, color, and scene selection settings. Able to synchronize with music and create a magical, dynamic light show. Group control increases convenience by allowing multiple Govee smart products to work at the same time. It also includes timer and scheduling options, increasing the satisfaction factor of your smart home.

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Govee coach and smart lights bulbs near

Govee Smart Light Bulbs operate on 120V AC and are capable of producing 16 million colors. Each bulb is equipped with 54 dynamic scenes and is controlled via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. With a brightness of 800 lumens, each bulb is compatible with the Govee Home App, supporting group control over a stable 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection.

In general, customers are very grateful for Govee smart bulbs. They particularly highlight brightness, color range, ease of installation, functionality, compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant, as well as customizable dimming and dimming options. Many people are satisfied with the quality of these bulbs. However, some negatives were noted. Users have reported connectivity issues, including Bluetooth and app crashes. Some users also found the app slow and cluttered, which negatively affected the user experience. 

User Manual: PDF

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4 govee smart light bulbs card

Govee Smart Light Bulbs Pack of 4

Model: H6008
Color: Multicolor
Features: Dimmable, Music Sync
Connectivity: ‎Bluetooth, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi 
Compatible: Alexa, Google Home, and Govee Home app
Bulb Base: E26
Brightness, lm: 800

Price

25% Off
$29.99

Kasa Smart Light Bulbs

Similar in characteristics to Govee, Kasa smart bulbs are LED lamps developed by TP-Link, one of the leaders in the field of smart home technology. This familiar design smart bulb fits perfectly into any interior design and is capable of adjusting the brightness of 16 million colors and from warm to cool white from 2500K to 6500K. Equipped with automatic adjustment of its color temperature to simulate natural light from dawn to dusk. In addition to control via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, it is also compatible with SmartThings.

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Kasa smart features

The Kasa smart bulb requires a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network connection (does not support 5GHz). It offers energy monitoring and remote control via the free Kasa smart app, available for iOS and Android. With this, you can dim, turn on or off, and even change the color of the bulb remotely at your convenience.

Reviews of the Kasa smart light bulb are extremely positive: customers praise its easy installation process and integration with voice assistants. Many also praise the product's brightness levels and color options. However, there are always those who are not satisfied with the performance and quality of the lamp, some mention connection problems and problems with the application. However, despite these issues, the overall assessment of the product shows that the Kasa smart bulb is considered good value for money.

User Manual: PDF

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Kasa Smart Light bulbs card

Kasa Smart Light Bulbs Pack of 4

Model: ‎KL125P4
Color: White, Multicolor
Features: Dimmable, Auto White, Energy Monitoring, Tunable
Connectivity: ‎Bluetooth, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi 
Compatible: Amazon Alexa, Google Home Assistant, SmartThings, Kasa app
Bulb Base: E26
Brightness, lm: 800

Price

30% Off
$27.99

WiZ Color LED Smart Bulb

Color LED smart light bulb WiZ 60W A19 also belongs to fairly inexpensive lighting solutions for your home. The manufacturer promises quick installation and the bulb can easily integrate with existing Wi-Fi, allowing you to control the device using voice instructions or the WiZ Connected mobile app. Also, a wide selection of shades and brightness, and functions of scheduling automatic color transitions, dimming, and light on and off times according to individual procedures. Among its convenient features is the option of human-oriented lighting, which allows you to choose from warm to cool shades of light for optimal comfort.

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WiZ Connected smart light bulbs features

The technical specifications of this product are as follows: it is manufactured by WiZ, uses LED technology, and has a power of 60 watts. The basic type is E26 and is mainly intended for indoor use. The device connects to an existing Wi-Fi network and can be controlled by voice or via an app.

Summarizing about WiZ 60W A19 can be noted that customers highly appreciate the WiZ Connected light bulb for its wide selection of colors and outdoor lighting power. Color and brightness control via the Wiz app, as well as features such as a night light function and TV Time, were also praised. Performance and ease of installation received mixed reviews, with some finding the lamp to be easy to operate and set up, while others found it difficult. Opinions were also divided on value for money and compatibility with Alexa. 

While some praised the light bulb's value and seamless integration with digital assistants, others felt it didn't live up to its price tag and had trouble connecting to devices like the Echo. They also talked about infrequent problems with connecting to Wi-Fi networks and turning off the light bulb from the Wiz program. In my opinion, this LED bulb is worth the money, and the price is justified, so it is a good choice for those who are just starting to arrange their smart home.

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WiZ Color LED Smart Bulb card

WiZ Color LED Smart Bulb

Model: 8.8A19/Wi-Fi BLE Color/922-65 6/1PF
Color: Cool White, Multicolor
Features: Dimmable, Detect Motion feature
Connectivity: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi 
Compatible: Amazon Alexa, Google Home Assistant, Siri Shortcuts, Matter 
Bulb Base: E26
Brightness, lm: 800

Price

15% Off
$9.34

Sengled Smart Light Bulb

Smart bulb Sengled Alexa WiFi, designed to work with voice assistants without using a hub. This simple white bulb allows you to adjust the brightness, set schedules, create scenes, and control with voice commands, so it does everything we buy smart bulbs for.

The lamps have the usual power of 800 lumens for this price segment and emit daylight with a color temperature of 5000 Kelvin. There's also an easy setup with the Sengled Home app, a useful wake-up and sleep mode, and the convenience of 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity.

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Sengled short setup manual

We've found that customers appreciate the ease of use, simple setup, and seamless integration with Alexa. The lamp's brightness and effective motion detection also received positive reviews. However, some customers have reported problems with flickering when turned off, and with the lights turning on at full brightness after a power outage.

User Guide: PDF

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Sengled Alexa WiFi Light Bulb card

Sengled Alexa WiFi Light Bulb Pack of 4

Model: W11-N11
Color: White
Features: Dimmable
Connectivity: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi 
Compatible: Amazon Alexa, Google Home Assistant
Bulb Base: E26
Brightness, Lm: 800

Price

12% Off
$21.10

Philips Hue Smart Filament LED Bulb

What would our list of the top smart LED bulbs be today without this Edison-style find for gaming space settings? Please consider this lamp as a bonus. The Philips Hue Smart 60W ST19 Filament LED bulb is a heritage-inspired light fixture that perfectly blends antique appeal with cutting-edge technology. The exceptionally elegant spiral filament design emits a soothing warm white glow. A great feature of the lamp is its extensive compatibility with platforms such as the Hue App, Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Homekit, ensuring that users can easily control it by voice. The dimming function allows users to create the perfect atmosphere according to their preferences. A discreet brightness of 550 lumens, together with a color temperature of 2100 Kelvin provides a warm and soothing glow.

All users are simply fascinated by its retro aesthetics and wide compatibility with smart home systems. However, there are doubts about its pricing strategy, but not mine, because I believe that this lamp is not about brightness, but about style. Despite this, most strongly agree with the high quality and reliability of the lamp.

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Philips Hue Smart Filament LED Bulb card

Philips Hue Smart Filament LED Bulb Pack of 2

Model: White Ambiance Filament
Color: Hue White, Soft White
Features: Dimmable
Connectivity: ZigBee, Bluetooth 
Compatible: Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa
Bulb Base: E26
Brightness, lm: 550

Price

20% Off
$47.99

Bottom Line

The number of homes that use smart home technology is constantly growing, and the use of smart LED light bulbs is a good start. If you are not at the beginning of the journey, take a look at TheGeekyThings previous posts with the top smart devices of 2024.

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