Smart Light Fixtures: A Guide to Getting Started

Smart light fixtures are a game-changer for any home. They can be controlled remotely, schedule lighting scenes, and even adjust brightness and color temperature to suit your mood.

You can choose from a variety of smart light fixtures, including bulbs, strips, and panels. These devices use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity to communicate with your smartphone or voice assistant.

Smart light fixtures are energy-efficient and can last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. This makes them a cost-effective option for homeowners.

Some smart light fixtures also come with built-in sensors that can detect motion and adjust lighting levels accordingly. This feature is especially useful for hallways and living rooms.

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Smart LED bulbs are a popular type of smart lighting because they're easy to install and set up, and prices have dropped dramatically, with some options available for as little as $5.

Most smart bulbs are dimmable, with three types: white, full-color spectrum, and tunable white lighting.

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The light switch problem is a common issue with smart bulbs: once you turn the physical switch off, the smart bulb loses power and control.

You can try to encourage your household to use voice control, but this can be slower than flipping a switch and may meet resistance.

Wireless remote controls for smart bulbs can be a simple solution to the light switch problem, but they often require batteries and may need to be replaced.

All smart lighting products rely on a wireless protocol, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Mesh, Zigbee, Z-Wave, or a proprietary RF developed by the manufacturer.

Wi-Fi smart bulbs don't require a separate hub or bridge, but Bluetooth Mesh and other protocols often do, which can be expensive.

Thread is a newer protocol that is fast and reliable, but it requires a separate border router, which can be a hassle to set up.

Before choosing the best smart lights for your home, consider where you'll put them and the space they'll illuminate.

Smart lights are more expensive than traditional LED lights due to the technology they contain, but prices have come down in recent years, with good quality options available from $10 to over $40.

Smart light options include smart LED bulbs, which are easy to install and set up. They're now more affordable than ever, with prices starting at around $5.

You can choose from different types of smart bulbs, such as white, full-color spectrum, and tunable white lighting. Tunable white lighting allows you to adjust the color temperature from cool to warm, which is great for circadian rhythm lighting.

Some popular brands of smart bulbs include Philips Hue, Sengled, and Wyze. Philips Hue offers good color, decent brightness, and broad compatibility, while Sengled's bulbs are excellent and inexpensive, starting at $7.50. Wyze produces good quality A19 dimmable bulbs in tunable white or full color, starting at $8.50.

Smart bulbs are a great option if you want individual control of single bulbs in a multi-bulb fixture or on a single electrical circuit.

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Smart bulbs are perfect for controlling individual bulbs or adjusting the color of your home's light. They come in various shapes and sizes, so you can find one that fits your lamp or fixture.

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Smart bulbs are a great option if you want to create custom scheduled on/off times or custom Scenes for different activities. You can trigger these Scenes instantly using your smartphone app.

The WiZ 60W A19 Color LED is a great starting point, connecting to your home Wi-Fi and allowing you to change colors, turn the white light into different shades, and schedule on/off times. It also supports Alexa, Google Home, and Siri Shortcuts.

If you're looking to install smart bulbs all over the house or in areas with spotty Wi-Fi, consider the Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Smart Bulb Starter Kit. This kit includes three dimmable white bulbs and a hub that allows your bulbs to talk to each other and other devices.

Smart bulbs work only with light fixtures, and those fixtures need to be turned on at all times. If someone flips the switch, you won't be able to access a smart bulb without an add-on like the Lutron Aurora dimmer.

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Wyze produces good quality A19 dimmable bulbs in tunable white or full color, starting at $8.50. Their bulbs go from 30 to 1100 lumens and work over Wi-Fi, with no need for a hub or bridge.

Their app is easy to use, and you can pair the bulbs with Alexa or Google Home for voice control and other smart home automations.

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Sengled is a great option to consider when looking for affordable smart lighting solutions. Their bulbs start at just $7.50, making them a budget-friendly choice.

One of the best things about Sengled bulbs is their compatibility with various protocols, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and Z-Wave. This means you can choose the one that works best with your existing smart home system.

All Sengled bulbs work seamlessly with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, allowing you to control your lights with just your voice.

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Smart light controllers are a must-have for anyone looking to upgrade their smart light fixtures. They allow you to control your lights remotely, eliminating the need for physical light switches.

You can try using voice control, but it can be slow and may meet resistance from household members. Wireless remote controls are a more straightforward solution, offering a convenient way to install wireless light switches without messing with wiring.

Some smart solutions, like the Wemo Stage Scene Controller, offer a wall-mountable remote that works with HomeKit and supports Thread, which will work with Matter. This means you can expect future compatibility with other Matter-compatible devices and smart home platforms.

You can also connect other essential home devices, such as cameras, security systems, and thermostats, once you have a smart light management platform. Each platform will detail compatibility with different tech, allowing you to choose one that controls everything in your home or opt for a system focused on smart light fixtures.

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If you're looking to control lights operated by a light switch, a smart switch is a great option. A smart switch can control multiple lights at once, making it a convenient choice for areas with vaulted ceilings or hard-to-reach lighting fixtures.

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You'll need to have some basic knowledge of wiring to install a smart switch, or consider hiring an electrician if you're not comfortable with it. Many smart switches, like the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch Dimmer HS220, require a white "neutral" wire in your wall to be installed.

Smart switches are a more permanent solution, making them less suitable for rentals. However, they offer features like scheduling and remote control through a smartphone app or voice assistant, making them a great investment for homeowners.

The Lutron Caséta smart switch is a good alternative if you don't have a neutral wire available. It does require a hub, but it's a great option if you want to replace one or two switches in your home.

Unfortunately, smart bulbs have a fatal flaw: the light switch. Once you turn the physical switch off, the smart bulb loses power, and with no power comes no control.

You can try to encourage your household only to use voice control, but this takes longer than flipping a switch and will meet resistance.

There are some workarounds beyond the janky hack of tape over your light switch. You can set up routines and automations using a smartphone app or smart home platform to turn your lights on and off at set times of day or by using smart motion sensors.

Motion sensors are best suited to hallways, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.

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The Wemo Stage Scene Controller with Thread is a game-changer for smart home enthusiasts.

It's the first lighting control device with Thread, which will work with Matter, a new smart home platform that's expected to arrive later this year.

Wemo is also releasing new versions of its smart switch, dimmer, and smart plug that will support Matter over Thread, making them compatible with other Matter-compatible devices and smart home platforms.

This means you'll be able to control your lights and other devices seamlessly, without worrying about compatibility issues.

The Wemo Stage Scene Controller is wall-mountable and works with HomeKit, allowing you to control HomeKit lighting scenes with ease.

It's a great addition to any smart home setup, and its Thread technology ensures fast and reliable performance.

Smart light accessories can be a game-changer for smart light fixtures. They offer a convenient solution to the light switch problem, which is a common issue with smart bulbs.

You can try using wireless remote controls for your smart bulbs, which can be wall-mounted to become wireless light switches. This way, you can install them yourself without messing with wiring.

Some wireless remote controls are battery-powered, which means you'll need to replace the battery eventually. However, some smart solutions, like Click for Hue, power themselves kinetically every time you press them.

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Smart plugs are an excellent way to control lamps and other plug-in light fixtures. They're a great alternative to smart bulbs and can be used in conjunction with smart switches.

Smart plugs address the problem of lighting that isn't hardwired into the wall. This means they can control lamps and light fixtures that a smart switch can't.

Smart outlets are another option, but they require installation just like smart switches.

Outdoor dimmer plugs are a great way to control your outdoor lighting. They're perfect for string lights or other low-voltage lighting.

TP-Link has an affordable option that works over long-range Wi-Fi, eliminating the need for a hub. It's a great choice for those who want to control their outdoor lighting from a distance.

This dimmer plug is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings, making it easy to integrate into your smart home system.

Wi-Fi smart bulbs don't require a separate hub or bridge, making them a more affordable option upfront.

The initial expense of Wi-Fi smart bulbs is lower because they don't need a separate hub or bridge. Bluetooth mesh, on the other hand, does require a hub for features like out-of-home remote control.

Bluetooth mesh can use an Amazon Echo or Google Home smart speaker as a hub, which can be a convenient option. However, Bluetooth has limited range and can experience significant latency.

Zigbee, Z-Wave, and proprietary RF protocols are generally the most reliable but require a separate bridge, which can be expensive. For example, Lutron's Caseta bridge costs $80.

Thread is a newer option with limited products available, but early examples show it to be both fast and reliable. It doesn't require a proprietary hub but does need a Thread border router.

Many border routers are available today, including Apple's HomePod Mini and Amazon's Eero Wi-Fi router. Google Nest hubs and some Amazon Echo smart speakers are also scheduled to become Thread border routers.

We test smart lights on a number of criteria, including ease-of-setup, brightness, value, and library of features. Philips Hue lights are pricey but offer everything you could want out of smart lights.

We compare most smart lights and bulbs against Philips Hue lights. Some budget smart lights brag that they have a lot to offer, but we only recommend the ones that live up to their claims.

Smart home compatibility is key to our testing. The smart lights we test work with at least two top smart home systems, if not more.

We look for brands that are trustworthy and feel comfortable adding to our own home networks. Use caution when shopping for smart lights from unknown manufacturers.