So without further ado, here are deep dives into the most worthwhile color and white LED smart bulbs on the market.Â. Philips Hue Smart BR30 LED Bulb The International Business Times … Updated December 31, 2020 to add our Nanoleaf Shapes—Triangles smart lighting panels review. If only its app were as good. If you’re already invested in the Philips Hue lighting ecosystem, these budget Zigbee bulbs can fill in your smart bulb gaps without breaking the bank. The 2020 version of the Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus LED is the only strip light to support both Bluetooth and the more robust Zigbee protocol (if you’re willing to pay for the required bridge to connect it to your Wi-Fi network, that is). Endless flexibility with LIFX’s design app, Having Bluetooth onboard eliminates the need for the $60 (MSRP) Philips Hue Bridge, Excellent quality of light and smooth-as-silk dimming, Unrivaled depth and breadth of the Philips Hue ecosystem (when you add the Hue Bridge), Supremely easy to install and later transfer to Philips Hue Bridge control when you’re ready, Using Bluetooth limits you to controlling 10 Philips Hue Bulbs per device, Without the Philips Hue Bridge, you can’t limit scenes to one or a few bulbs; changes affect all the Bluetooth bulbs you’ve installed, You can’t assign bulbs to rooms without the Bridge, Hue Bridge is optional (though we recommend it), Transfering bulbs to the Bridge is quick and easy, Alexa, Google Assistant, and (with the Bridge) Apple HomeKit support, Must be in the same room to control the bulb via Bluetooth, Limited set of controls supported with Bluetooth, You're limited to deploying 10 bulbs without the Bridge, Translucent diffuser glows even at low brightness settings, Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and (using the Hue Bridge) HomeKit, Fabric-covered power cable is saddled with a wall wart, Bulb design still directs light upward, not out, Easily the most attractive LED bulbs you can find today, Very warm light that sets a lovely atmosphere, The brightest bulbs are dimmer than the competition at 560 lumens (several are dimmer than that), Compatible with Philips Hue Bridge and other Zigbee hubs, Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant (bridge or hub required), Infrared light feature is no gimmick, it fills a specific (if narrow) need, IR feature is automatic and requires no extra configuration, The same seamless setup and operation as other LIFX bulbs, Bulb design directs light in too narrow of an angle, Rated for indoor use only (there's a BR30 version for outdoor use, and it's priced the same), The ultimate conversation piece for your home, App is reasonably simple, quick, and lots of fun, It’s brighter than you think, though rated at just 100 lumens per triangle, The connecters are quite loose and require careful attention when wall-mounting, Dangling power cord kind of ruins the whole effect, Microphone is responsive and results are vibrant, Still no smart home compatibility besides HomeKit, Square panels provide more flexibility than triangles, App revisions make using Nanoleaf easier than ever, Layout can get tricky due to placement of linkage ports, Expensive for anything beyond very small installations, Dangling power cord remains an eyesore on your fancy light-up wall, Core tech improvements make this one of the best-looking and brightest bulbs on the market, The redesigned Hue Bridge is less intrusive than the original, Next-gen features include support for Apple’s Siri and Apple Watch, Nearly as expensive as the first-generation Hue, We experienced some hiccups during setup; the app still has room for improvement, Hue is all business: There are no native “fun” features, Rich Philips ecosystem offers access to plenty of add-ons, Ample support for smart-home systems and more, These are the most expensive smart bulbs on the market, App is simpler with white-only features, but it’s still not perfect, Casts a large and bright pool of light (50 lumens), Onboard solar panel keeps its battery topped off, Responds to motion as well as operating on a schedule, including dusk to dawn, Tightly integrated with the Ring smart home ecosystem, Expensive, especially if you need more than a couple, Cannot be triggered by Ring Alarm door/window sensors, Simple app to manage color selection and scheduling, Can be controlled with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Microsoft Cortana, More than a dozen “dynamic” color modes, “WiZclick” feature turns dumb switches into smart ones, Easy setup, with no smart home hub requirement, Finicky when it comes to dual-band routers, Too dim (350 lumens) to light an entire room, No HomeKit support (although you can assign lighting modes to Siri shortcuts), Magnetic connectors must be carefully aligned during installation, Alexa, Google Assistant, and (with the Hue Bridge) HomeKit support, Robust scheduling and automation features, Power cable is saddled with a chunky wall wart, SmartThings Hub maintains a running history of when the bulb is turned off and on, Minor setup bug; couldn’t get all automations to work, Color temperature fixed at a warm white (2700K), Can't operate without a Samsung SmartThings Hub, Simple control app with no learning curve, Physical on-bulb switch sounds handy, but it’s better in theory than in reality, Auto-dimming also brings down color temperature, On-bulb switch is too awkward to use except in an emergency, Limited color-tuning options may not sit well with all implementations, Capable, responsive app that includes energy-consumption tracking, Very low overall brightness limits utility, Limited Alexa and Google Assistant support, C-Sleep is one of the brightest bulbs on the market, Limited tunability might be preferable for those who find in-depth tuning overwhelming, C-Sleep light tuning is non-intuitive, particularly with timer settings, Relatively expensive considering the feature set. Philips was one of the first players in this market, and the company’s experience shows. Smart switches, however, provide more flexibility in many installations. Infrared light is invisible to the naked eye, but the LIFX+ can bathe a room in it so that your security camera can see more of the room and in more detail than it can with its own infrared LEDs.Â. Philips Hue White LED Smart Button Starter Kit, 3 A19 Smart Bulbs, 1 Smart Button & 1 Hue Hub (Works with Alexa, Apple HomeKit & Google Assistant), Philips Hue White and Color LED Smart Button Starter Kit, 3 A19 Smart Bulbs, 1 Smart Button & 1 Hue Hub (Works with Alexa, Apple HomeKit & Google Assistant), Philips Hue White Ambiance LED Smart Button Starter Kit, 3 A19 Smart Bulbs, 1 Smart Button & 1 Hue Hub (Works with Alexa, Apple HomeKit & Google Assistant). There's a problem loading this menu right now. You’ll find links to all our reviews at the bottom of the page, and we’ll update this story as new models are introduced. But we haven’t encountered a competing device that’s as versatile as this one.Â. That being said, I can't believe a single color is still $42. (Buyer beware: You get what you pay for.). Cool light that’s closer to blue has an energizing effect, and is best in the morning. Notably, most of these bulbs cannot be dimmed via a hardwired wall switch (it messes with the power going to the radio, rendering them useless). While it’s slightly dimmer than the full-size LIFX bulb, it produces a 60-watt-equivalent 800 lumens. Smart switches, on the other hand, are far more complicated to install—to the point where some users might be uncomfortable dealing with exposed wiring and would prefer to hire an electrician. Arriving in the second wave of Bluetooth-enabled smart bulbs from Signify, the new Philips Hue White E12 candle bulb is an easy way to jump into the Hue ecosystem. This color smart bulb enhances the night vision of your security cameras through infrared LEDs, even when it’s turned off. Each of these technologies has pros and cons, so before you attempt to settle on a specific bulb, first try to determine which tech is right for you. Smart light bulbs—LED-based bulbs that can be controlled by a hub or smartphone app—are no longer a new idea. Philips Hue White LED Smart Bulb Starter Kit (4 White Bulbs and 1 Hub) $90 $100. I bought a 4-pack with hub starter set several years ago off the treasure truck … FYI for those new to Phillips Hue, you'll need to buy a Hub (Hue Hub) to fully use this bulb. Available in E26, E12, and BR30 fitting types. These are the basic hue Wi-Fi light bulbs. While this won’t be an issue if you install smart switches, they can’t change a bulb’s color or color temperature. Use the Philips Hue app to set any shade of white light, from cool energizing daylight to relaxing warm white light. This is the Xiaomi Philips E27 Smart LED light bulb and since a couple of years, I try to make my house smarter and smarter. It’s a very good product. White light is also important in its own right, as today there is plenty of science to show how various shades of white—with variations in color temperature—impact our psychological state. $29.99. [ Further reading: A smart home guide for beginners ]. Philips Hue are a range of smart lights, originally produced by Philips but now owned by Signify (who still use the “Philips Hue” brand name, even though Signify and Philips are … This budget color bulb is a solid choice, despite some minor hiccups. Use the app on your smart device to set any shade of white light, from cool energising daylight (6500 K) to relaxing warm white light (2200 K). This 2700K bulb offers warm light, visible filaments, and basic smart features. Full Review The Wirecutter Grant Clauser on August 31, 2017 On the other hand, white smart bulbs are less expensive than color bulbs, making it more affordable to roll them out in multiple rooms. Nanoleaf’s new wall lighting panels are more versatile than ever, but the gear isn’t cheap. Physically, its Hue Color and Ambiance bulbs haven’t changed much since their introduction in late 2012, but the latest generation lasts a lot longer and the company has added a Bluetooth radio that obviates the need for the Philips Hue Bridge (but most smart home denizens will want the Bridge anyway). Smart LED bulbs aren’t quite a commodity, but they are getting close to maturity as far as the market goes. Control it instantly via Bluetooth in one room, or connect to a Hue bridge (sold separately) to unlock the full set of smart lighting features. Philips Hue White and Color LED Smart Button Starter Kit, 3 A19 Smart Bulbs, 1 Smart Button & 1 Hue Hub (Works with Alexa, Apple HomeKit & Google Assistant) 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,184 $179.99 Available in E27, B22, GU10 and E14 fitting types. The Philips Hue ecosystem is the industry’s deepest and broadest, including not only bulbs of every shape and size imaginable, but also indoor and outdoor fixtures as well, including the Philips Hue Calla pathway light and the Philips Hue Lily outdoor spotlight, both of which we like very much. The Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus makes for a great and easy way to add accent lighting to kitchen counters, stairways, and other indoor areas, but the failure of an initial test unit gives us pause. Free shipping . For $70, Philips also sells a starter kit with that same Hue Bridge and a pair of plain, soft white smart bulbs. Will Philips Hue bulbs work properly in an outdoor environment? What is new is how far this technology has come since its advent just a few years ago. Don’t like the idea of pairing a bulb to your phone? Use the Philips Hue app to set any shade of white light, from cool energizing daylight to relaxing warm white light. White smart bulbs downplay the party features that are a staple of color-tunable bulbs. Prices have also come down, with some no-name color-tunable bulbs now available for less than $10 each. With wireless control on your smartphone or tablet, choose the perfect light setting for any mood or activity such as reading or relaxing, concentrating or energizing. Christopher Null is a veteran technology and business journalist. item 3 Philips Hue White E12 Bluetooth Smart LED Decorative Candle Bulb (2-Pack) - 2 - Philips Hue White E12 Bluetooth Smart LED Decorative Candle Bulb (2-Pack) - $22.99. LIFX no longer has just A19 and BR30 form factors to offer, and we really like its unique  LIFX+ (which has an array of infrared LEDs that will help your home security camera see in the dark), but Philips still delivers much more diversity in its ecosystem and universe of third-party support. Read our. Philips Hue White E12 candle bulb (Bluetooth + Zigbee) Learn more. 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