Smart lights are a great first step into building a smart home. As countless brands join the bandwagon, they’ve become refreshingly affordable, too. The challenge now is to choose which one is suited for your house. To help you out, we’ve narrowed down best-sellers and top-rated products from brands like Philips Hue, Xiaomi, and Kasa Smart. Below, you’ll find our favorite smart light bulbs, light strips, switches, and more.
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Best Smart Lights Comparison Chart
| Model | Product Image | Price |
| Philips Hue Light Bulb |  |  |
| Xiaomi Mi LED Desk Lamp |  | |
| LIFX Lightstrip Starter Kit |  | |
| TALOYA Smart Wi-Fi Ceiling Light |  | |
| Lumary LED Smart Recessed Lighting |  | |
| Kasa Smart Light Switch HS200 |  | |
Philips Hue Light Bulb
The best smart light bulb
Philips Hue is arguably the biggest name when it comes to smart lights. From starter kits to bulbs and lamps to indoor and outdoor lights, Philips Hue offers the best smart lights system. However, if you’re just starting, the Philips Hue Light Bulb is a great entry into the ecosystem. Out of the box, it works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit.
Known for its natural tone, Philips Hue’s smart light bulb comes in different colors. You can choose from White, White Ambiance, and White and Color Ambiance. Aside from coming in different caps, the light bulbs are available in varying brightness levels, too. Its A21 option, for instance, is the brightest at 100W.
Another reason for Philips Hue’s success is how simple it is to install their bulbs. Newer models of Hue Bulbs now have built-in Bluetooth, so you can ditch the Hue Bridge hub. If you’re keen on an older model, you can get a starter kit that includes bulbs and a smart hub.
Connectivity: Bluetooth, Hub | Brightness: 800 lumens
Compatibility: Google Assistant, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Philips Hue App
Xiaomi Mi LED Desk Lamp
The best smart desk lamp
If you like to burn the midnight oil, you know how important it is to have a reliable desk lamp. Thankfully, even these trusted nighttime companions have become smart. The Xiaomi Mi Desk Lamp Pro is our pick for this category. Its sleek design and form blend seamlessly in any home or room interior. The lamp’s construction also allows for adjustable operating and lighting angles.
Xiaomi’s Desk Lamp Pro features a 116mm circular luminous area with professional LED beads. Its lights can also be changed anywhere between the 2500K-4800K color temperature range. In terms of brightness, the Desk Lamp Pro can go up to 700 lumens, too. To customize these settings, the lamp connects with Mi Home App, available on both Android and iOS.
Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Brightness: 700 lumens
Compatibility: Mi Home App
LIFX Lightstrip Starter Kit
The best smart light strips
Flexible as they are energy-efficient, LED lightstrips can truly change the mood in the room. But they’re not just for gamers. The LIFX Lightstrip, for instance, can be installed by anyone. Unlike other smart lights, they don’t require a bridge or hub. Just connect the LIFX strip to Wi-Fi, and you’re good to go.
Like the lightstrips from rival Philips Hue, the LIFX can be cut into any length. The brand’s starter kit comes with a 6.6 ft. strip but can be extended through LIFX’s lightstrip extensions. Another key feature of the product is its use of Polychrome Technology, allowing the strip’s bulbs to emit multiple colors at once.
Connectivity: Wi-Fi | Brightness: 1400 lumens
Compatibility: Google Assistant, Alexa, Siri, LIFX app; supports IFTT integration
TALOYA Smart Wi-Fi Ceiling Light
The best smart ceiling lights
Flush ceiling lights blend seamlessly with your home’s interior. These days, you can also get them in ‘smart’ models. In this category, the TALOYA Smart Wi-Fi Ceiling Light is one of the most highly-recommended options, thanks to its simple design, reliability, and versatility.
TALOYA’s flush ceiling light comes with a dimmable 20-watt front white light and a 4-watt RGB backlight with 12 color options. The unit mounts on any ceiling surface and works with a regular on/off toggle switch. Don’t let its slim profile fool you. Although lightweight, the TALOYA ceiling light features a secure base plate and a fire-resistant plastic shell.
As a smart device, TALOYA connects to 2.4g Wi-Fi. This allows users to adjust brightness and color temperature via smartphone, voice commands, or the accompanying remote control. Homeowners can also set schedules or use a timer for turning the light on and off.
Connectivity: Wi-Fi | Brightness: 2000 lumens
Compatibility: Alexa, Tuya Smart app
Lumary LED Smart Recessed Lighting
The best smart recessed lights
Since they are set into the ceiling, recessed lighting can help make a room look bigger. They also provide more coverage area when spaced throughout. For an intelligent option, get the Lumary LED Smart Recessed Lighting. Available as a four-pack product, each 9-watt light is equivalent to an 80-watt incandescent bulb.
Lumary’s recessed lighting connects to 2.4g Wi-Fi and works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Users can also control the units through the Lumary or Smart Life app, available on both Play Store and the App Store.
Some of the adjustments you can make include brightness levels from 1% to 100%. There’s also support for warm white to cool white, thanks to the 2700K to 6500K color temperature range. If you’re not keen on customizations, Lumary’s recessed light comes with eight custom lighting scenes, too. Moreover, the device has a memory function that remembers the last setting you choose — no resetting is needed.
Connectivity: Wi-Fi | Brightness: 810 lumens
Compatibility: Google Assistant, Alexa, Lumary App
Kasa Smart Light Switch HS200
The best smart light switch
If you’re not keen on replacing your existing lights with a smart one, then installing a smart switch is an alternative. TP-Link’s Kasa Smart Light Switch HS200 turns your house into a smart home, thanks to its feature-rich offering. While it requires a neutral wire to work and a 2.4g Wi-Fi, setting up the smart switch is easy with the in-app guide.
Once installed, the Kasa Smart Light Switch allows users to remotely control their lights. This can be through the Kasa Smart app or Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands. In addition, the smart switch can control ceiling fans and other fixtures. Users can also benefit from Away Mode, which turns your light on and off to give the appearance you’re at home even when you’re away.
Connectivity: Wi-Fi | Brightness: N/A
Compatibility: Google Assistant, Alexa, Kasam Smart App
Verdict
Although Philips Hue is the best-known brand for smart lights, there are plenty of options to upgrade to intelligent lighting for your home.
If you want a tried and tested brand of smart lights, Philips Hue is arguably the best to get. The brand carries an extensive lineup of fixtures, including top-rated smart light bulbs. However, several other companies have turned out to be competitive alternatives. Xiaomi, for instance, is the go-to for smart and sleek desk lamps.
LIFX, on the other hand, has become a favorite for its intelligent and customizable lightstrips. Meanwhile, TALOYA and Lumary deliver the goods when it comes to smart ceiling lights. For those who don’t want to replace their existing lights, Kasa Smart’s feature-packed light switches are also a great step into building a smart home.
FAQs
Yes, Philips Hue’s catalog includes a wide selection of table and floor lamps. Several models enjoy Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, while others are popular for being portable options.
No, the Kasa Smart Light Switch can be connected directly to a 2.4g Wi-Fi network.
LIFX’s lightstrips have a temperature range of 1500K to 9000K.
Lumary’s LED smart recessed lights are not compatible with a dimmer switch.