The best smart lamps of 2022 | Digital Trends (2023)

FAQs

Which smart light system is best? ›

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However, choosing smart bulbs over regular bulbs allows you to dim the lights and only use as much as you need, instead of always turning lights on to full brightness. Plus, in a smart bulb's companion app, you can usually monitor energy usage for the bulbs in real time.

Smart lamps are an awesome way to harness the power of Alexa, Google Home, and other voice assistants to control and customize the lighting in your home. You can choose multiple bulb colors, set schedules and scene options, and even adjust your lighting on the go.

You can use smart light bulbs anywhere you would use regular light bulbs, but they are best suited for table lamps and fixtures that are not connected to wall switches. In those situations, a smart light switch could be a better solution, potentially.

The light-emitting diode (LED) is today's most energy-efficient and rapidly-developing lighting technology.

It depends on how you want to use it: If you just want simple on/off operation, nothing fancy, choose either a smart bulb or a smart plug. If you can't find a smart bulb of that specific type, choose a smart plug instead. If you want to control a string of lights, choose a smart plug.

The biggest disadvantage of smart light bulbs is that they're much more expensive than regular lightbulbs. As of this writing, a standard incandescent bulb costs about a dollar, while a non-smart LED light bulb costs around $5. A smart bulb costs around $15 each, and that's not counting additional hub expenses.

Technically speaking, smart bulbs do use a small amount of electricity even when the power is off, but it isn't anything you'll notice on your electric bill. In most cases, it would amount to a penny or two per month per smart light bulb.

A smart LED bulb, at its best, is going to give up after 25,000 hours. By comparison a cheaper LED bulb, with no smart features, is going to keep going for around 50,000 hours. So if you want longevity over everything else, go for a standard LED.

Just because your computer is connected to your Wi-Fi network, that doesn't mean your smart lights have access to it on the same shared network. No hacker can directly access your PC or laptop via your smart bulbs.

Do smart lights drain electricity? ›

The short answer to that question is, “Yes, they do.” However, it's important to understand the context. Smart lights are “vampire devices”, which means they use electricity even when they're turned off or in standby mode.

Do smart bulbs burn out? Smart bulbs won't last forever but they will last on an average of about 25,000 hours, therefore, the answer is simply Yes. This rather decent lifespan is a result of the LED technology implemented which is much better than fluorescent light bulbs.

Thanks to backup Bluetooth technology in most WiFi smart bulbs, your lights can still operate if the WiFi or internet is down.

A: Yes, for multiple bulbs in the same fixture you would first setup the bulbs individually through the Kasa app. You will also need to give each bulb its own unique name. Once you have them configured you would then add them to Alexa. After they are added in the Alexa, you can then create a “group” for the fixture.

Smart lighting installation quotes

If you just want to replace a bulb or two with smart lights, you can get the bulbs you want and do it yourself. However, if you wish to transform your home into a smart home, we recommend getting multiple quotes from electricians.

LED lighting is one of the most efficient options to choose from, with electricity flowing through in one direction to produce light. LED stands for light emitting diode and for domestic and commercial purposes a large number of LEDS will be used to produce the right amount of light.

LED bulbs. Generally, the most energy efficient lighting technology you can buy for your home is the Light Emitting Diode (LED). A quality LED produces the most light with the least electricity.

According to Steven DenBaars, a researcher at the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB), we will be using lasers in the future. Laser diodes are much smaller than LEDs. A laser diode has a number of important benefits. In the first place, laser diodes are considerably smaller than their LED counterparts.

For better clarification, we can say that “Yes” a smart bulb lets you save money. Being an LED, it tends to consume less power when compared to incandescent bulbs. They also have a long lifetime and can last more. Comparing a smart bulb to a regular LED bulb will cost you more.

The answer is yes, You can control a smart bulb manually with a normal wall switch as in a conventional home or remotely though a smartphone.

Are smart lights a security risk? ›

According to the study, because your smart bulbs are connected to your home's Wi-Fi network, hackers can use the bulbs to infiltrate your network and steal personal information. "Smart bulbs are no safer or less safe than any other smart device you may own," our smart home editor, Sarah Kovac, explains.

A smart bulb matched with a dimmer switch that can change current levels almost always results in flickering, or even bulbs that appear to randomly turn on and off. It can also burn out the switch itself, which can cause additional electrical problems.

There are several things you can do to use electricity more efficiently. You will find that your electric heat, air conditioner and water heater will typically make up the greatest percentage of your electric bill, so these are the areas in which you may want to concentrate your energy management efforts.

Typically, LED bulbs can last between 35,000 and 50,000 hours. This is over 17x more than the lifespan of an incandescent bulb! Furthermore, since LEDs do not contain a filament, they do not burn out in the same way as incandescent bulbs. In fact, LED bulbs rarely burn out at all.

Though cameras inside of our smart LED bulbs isn't entirely impossible, it is highly unlikely. The technology required to effectively spy on us from our smart home lights can be very costly, and not worth it for the average smart home manufacturer.

And perhaps the smart lights are something of a response, too. Though several of the outdoor lights feature built-in motion sensors, none of them include cameras, microphones or speakers.

Smart bulbs are quite advanced light bulbs that provide numerous benefits. You can remotely operate them with minimum effort. They also provide features like sleep and timer for automated control. They come in a wide color range allowing you to choose what matches your needs.

“TP-Link's smart bulbs can be controlled via your smartphone whether you're at home or away. You'll get the peace of mind you need when it comes to home security. They're easy to set up in the free KASA app and work with voice-assistants like Alexa and the Google Assistant.”

Smart bulbs replace your regular bulbs and will still work with your traditional light switch. You can still use your light switch to turn your smart bulb on and off, but you probably will want to leave it on all the time.

Why do my smart lights keep going offline? ›

Smart lights disconnecting could be due to overloaded WiFi, poor signal, a security issue with your network, outdated firmware, or just a defective bulb. It could also be due to signal interference in your home.

Philips Hue Bulbs last for around 15000 to 25000 hours. Philips Hue Bulbs would last 5 to 9 years at an average use of 8 hours per day. You can extend the life by turning off the motion-sensing feature of the Philips Hue bulb.

The issue is that about 90% of the electricity that goes through one of these bulbs is turned to heat and only about 10% is actually converted to light. LED bulbs convert almost all of the electricity that travels through them into useful light (about 90%) and very little heat is given off as a by-product.

Smart Lights Can Still Work Locally

Philips Hue smart lights, for example, can be controlled using a wireless connection or by using the included remote. So, even if the network is down, you'll still be able to turn your lights on and off, but you won't be able to control them from your phone.

The power draw of a smart bulb that is turned off is very low, as mentioned above you won't be paying more than a few cents per month per bulb. While that may not be something you notice on your energy bill, if you have lots of them it can make more of a difference.

Many brands use more than one wireless technology to better integrate your lights with other smart home devices and systems you may already be using. For example, a smart bulb may work with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple HomeKit to allow you to configure your smart lighting using the option that works best for you.

Yes, you can use a mixture of different brands of smart bulbs in one light fixture. However, in order to control them all, you would need to use a hub or multiple apps to control them.

BAZZ Colors 60-Watt EQ A19 Full Color 3-Way Bulb Dimmable Smart LED Light Bulb (4-Pack)

A: Since this is a Bluetooth light bulb, only one device (phone, tablet etc) can connect to the bulb at a given time.

You'll save money over time.

Besides saving energy and money, smart bulbs also last longer. Incandescent or halogen bulbs last around a year, while LED lights last 10 years on average. While they tend to cost more upfront, you'll end up replacing them far less than you would incandescent bulbs.

Are smart light worth it? ›

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However, choosing smart bulbs over regular bulbs allows you to dim the lights and only use as much as you need, instead of always turning lights on to full brightness. Plus, in a smart bulb's companion app, you can usually monitor energy usage for the bulbs in real time.

According to HomeAdvisor, the cost to install a light switch is between $100 and $200. Installing a smart light switch can jump to more than $500 for the materials and a professional electrician's labor fee to complete the project.

Philips Hue vs WiZ: Verdict

Philips Hue offers a wider array of smart lighting, a more stable internet connection, and better customization when it comes to home automations. For those looking to really make the most of smart lighting, these are the bulbs to go for. WiZ, meanwhile, is the more affordable option.

Red light is by far the superior choice when choosing a nightlight that won't disrupt your circadian rhythm. Naturally, waking up in the middle of the night isn't ideal regardless, however, exposing your eyes to red light will be better than blue or green.

Red light is by far the best calming light color for sleep. Choosing a red light as a nightlight ensures that you don't disrupt your circadian rhythm. So switching to a red light a few hours before going to bed will surely help you fall asleep easier.

Company Name Change

In May of 2018, Philips Lighting announced that it had changed its name to Signify. Philips Hue still exists, but it's now under the parent name of Signify. The company has retained the product line name of Philips Hue, possibly to make it easier on customers they had before the name changed.

Subsequently, the dedicated Philips Hue Bridge v1 mobile application will go out of support and be retired on 30 April 2022.

Is there a better alternative to Hue? ›

Best alternative

Philips WiZ Connected bulbs don't require a hub, connecting directly to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth via the WiZ app. Despite being less expensive and not working with the rest of the Philips Hue ecosystem, these bulbs aren't any less capable. They can be dimmed and color-tuned to your liking.

What colour temperature is best for living room lights? Warm white light between 2,700 and 3,300 Kelvin is considered to be particularly pleasant in the lounge.

Warm light is considered a comfortable, homey light most suitable for use in the home. At about 3500K we enter the realm of “cool white” or “bright white.” Lamps at this color temperature take on a more neutral color and may appear to have a slight blue cast.