How do you choose the best smart WiFi light bulbs for your home or office? With so many different brands and models out there, as a consumer it can be difficult to choose one, so today we'll show you a range of top rated models.
Most people haven't heard or used of smart lights, but once they do, it becomes an eye opener that can dramatically change their lighting and use of technology at home.
With prices starting as low as $20 per bulb, you can cycle through colours for every mood and control them via your smartphone anywhere in the world.
How do smart lights work?
The lights have built in batteries that charge when plugged in and this also charges the WiFi adapters that allow them to communicate with a wireless router. Some models such as Philips Hue (we reviewed here) use their own bridge too.
Once connected to your wireless router, you download and install a lighting app which allows you to control your lights. Don't worry, your existing light switches still work too, but if you'd like to charge colours, you must use the app.
Plus these bulbs all integrate with smart home hubs such as Amazon Echo or Google Nest, which allow you to control multiple lights with your voice, or smartphone from anywhere in the world.
Plus you can even setup automatic tasks such as switching lights on/off at certain times, diming the lights in the evening or changing to orange to wake you up in the morning.
When these smart WiFi light bulbs are combined with smart plugs, you can do even more with your smart home too.
1. TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Bulb
This TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi light bulb comes with 24/7 on-demand customer service support in addition to a warranty that extends for 24 months. This product is compatible with Google Assistant, Microsoft Cortana and Amazon Alexa, making it an ideal accessory to smart homes.
Turning the lights on and off only involves voice recognition as well. This product does not require a hub or additional pieces in order to be set up. There is only the need to connect to a stable Wi-Fi router and the Kasa Smart app.
This is an LED light bulb with a voltage of 230 volts and a wattage of 10 Watts. The lumens are listed at 800 which corresponds to about 60 Watts. The light colour can range from 2500k-9000k which is from soft light to daylight.
Furthermore, this product fits on a B22 lamp base. This model also has various dimming levels, which caters to all desired atmospheres whether that be a movie night or story time for the kids.
Through the Kasa Smart app, brightness and colour settings can be altered. Times can also be set to turn the lights automatically off when away from home. It has an advertised lifespan of 25,000 hours.
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2. LIFX Wi-Fi Smart LED Light Bulb
The LIFX Wi-Fi Smart LED Light Bulb is meant to operate seamlessly when used in conjunction with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.
Through connection with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, this product can be controlled through voice activation and can work alongside other smart home features like Amazon Echo and Nest.
The key features on this model include 16 million white and warm white colour options and a brightness of about 75 Watts. It has a wattage of 11 Watts in addition to a voltage of 240 volts. This is an LED light bulb that should be used on a standard E27 lamp base.
Operating this electronic device only involves a Wi-Fi connection. Controls can be directed through the LIFX app which can be downloaded on both iOS and Android. Various colours can be switched and played around with through the app.
The brightness can also be adjusted giving the option to have the light bulb on at full brightness or dimmer to better suit night time usage. Overall, customizations can be set through the app or voice recognition. The advertised life is listed at 22 years if the product is on for about 3 hours a day.
3. Kogan SmarterHome™ RGBW Smart Bulb
The Kogan SmarterHome™ RGBW Smart Bulb is a bright model at 1050 lumens or 70 Watts. Additionally, this product has a long lifecycle of around 25,000 hours.
Through connection to a solid Wi-Fi network and the Kogan SmarterHome™ app, this light can be switched through voice controls. It recommended that Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant be in tune with this product if voice controls are the preferred method of activation.
Through the app, over 16 million colour choices can be decided upon in addition to special effects like disco lights. This lightbulb can be adjusted to create full bright illumination or one that is a bit dulled. Schedules can also be put in place to have a specific colour switch on at a specific time.
In addition to LED light qualities such as saving power, the Kogan SmarterHome™ can be used when one is not present inside the home. This allows lights to be turned off even if not at home, thus preventing power from being wasted.
This specific pack comes with 4 light bulbs which fit an E27 lamp base. There is a wattage of around 10 Watts and a voltage of 220-240 volts.
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4. SmartChoice WiFi LED Bulb
The SmartChoice WiFi LED Bulb is an ideal smart home device that operates well alongside Amazon Alexa and Google Home. This light bulb can fit on a regular E27 lamp base and has color options from 6000k.
There is no demand for a hub as this product links with other smart home features through via Wi-Fi connection. This is a smaller light blub at 9 Watts and is compatible with regular power sources. Since this is an LED light, it is designed to use minimal power, even at full brightness.
However, the brightness level can also be modified to suit various settings and contexts. Due to the small wattage of 9 Watts, this model has a long lifespan of 50,000 hours or over 200 days.
The dimmable feature can be enabled through the Smart Life app. This app is available to download on both the Apple Store and Android Play Store. Through this app, there are 16 million colours to choose from.
Timers can also be placed so that the light turns off during bedtime and turns back on again in the morning. There are also links to Amazon Alexa and Google Home to add in voice integration. There is a lifetime warranty with this product.
5. HaoDeng WiFi LED Lights
The HaoDeng WiFi LED Lights have a small brightness at about 350 lumens. Downloading the Magic Hue app enables options to change colours and dimness. There are over 16 million colour options, all of which can be dimmed according to personal taste.
Colors can also be chosen from photos on the smartphone. There are also 20 pre-configured colour animations to suit vibrant party moods or more mellow atmospheres. There is also a special feature that allows the lights to switch between colours depending on the music through Music Sync.
Furthermore, there is a night-light feature designed to help aid in getting proper sleep. Like most convention smart light bulbs, there is the option to set timers and schedules for the lights to switch on and off.
No hub or additional hardware is needed to operate this product. Only a Wi-Fi connection is required which allows access to the Magic Hue app. Voice integration can also be added as this light bulb is designed to complement Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
This product consumes 7 Watts of power and has a 110-220 voltage. The lifespan is listed at around 40,000 hours. An E27 lamp base is compatible with this light bulb.
How much do smart WiFi light bulbs cost?
You can expect to pay around $20 - $50 per bulb depending on the model. You definitely should consider buying a top end model if you want ultra vibrant colours. The LIFX or TP-LINK models are definitely the highest quality on our list, along with Philips Hue which work slightly different by using their own bridge.
You can usually buy a starter pack which includes 3 or more bulbs for $100-$200.
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Last Updated: December 3, 2021 by Rhys