Remember the charm of the clapper? No more having to get out of bed to turn on the light switch! It seemed cutting-edge in the late-night infomercials of the ’80s, but luckily technology has come a long way since then (although you can still buy it). Now you can control the lights, set timers and schedules, and change colors with your smartphone or with your voice if you have a voice assistant, without clapping.
Smart light bulbs are a great starting point when creating a smart home. Most options are relatively inexpensive, easy to install, and already used every day. Plus, there are no cameras or door locks for someone to hack or cables to mess with. Do you want to try voice controls? Consider getting a smart speaker or display, but you can always use the smart bulb app.
I test each bulb model for one to five days in two small Ikea lamps in my living room, and the tests last longer when the bulbs perform well in previous tests. My testing begins with color tests to check intensity, color gamut, and brightness, paying particular attention to how simple the app’s controls are. I then connect each bulb to my full smart home setup and my smart speakers (depending on compatibility). Of the dozens of light bulbs I’ve tested over the years, these are the best smart light bulbs.
Updated June 2024: We added Lifx A19 bulbs as our pick for Apple Home users and Philips Hue Soft Warm White bulbs as our recommendation for smart filament bulbs.
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