If you’re looking to dip your toes into the smart home world, smart light bulbs are a wonderful place to start. Not only are they affordable, but even folks with limited DIY experience can get them up and running. Simply remove your old light bulb, screw in the new one, and sync it to your smartphone. That’s it! You’ll then be able to create schedules, lighting patterns, and access other features directly from your phone.
Of course, most smart light bulbs can also sync with the rest of your smart home. Whether it’s activating lights when you unlock your front door or syncing all your lights together for easy operation, there are plenty of ways to use these types of bulbs throughout your property. Picking the right smart bulb is key to your success — not all products are reliable and high-quality, and choosing the wrong one will cause more headaches than they’re worth.
To help you on your search, here’s a look at several of the best models available today, including choices for all budgets. We’ve also included products that work with both Amazon Alexa and Google Home, while some feature Matter support for added longevity.
Though it’s a bit expensive, the Philips Hue White Ambiance Smart Light Bulb Starter Kit is the best by far. The kit comes with four A19 LED smart bulbs that project a soft, white light, that can be warmed up or cooled down to your liking, from “warm white to cool daylight.” Up to 50 bulbs can be linked together using the Philips Hue Bridge that comes in the kit. To change the brightness, put the lights on a schedule, or dim the bulbs, you can use the Hue app on iOS or Android.
While the kit works with the app, the Philips Hue Smart Light Bulb can also be controlled with a wide range of hubs, such as Amazon Echo, Google Home, Apple HomePod and more. This means you can control the bulbs using just your voice.
At under $10 (and under $40 for a four-pack), the Wyze bulb is a no-brainer. You can control all of your bulbs, or just one, using your Alexa or Google Assistant or the Wyze app. The bulb is dimmable and you can control how cool or warm the light it emits is to set the mood you want in a room. The Wyze Bulb’s temperatures range from 2,700k – 6,500k and a dimmable 800 lumen (60W equivalent).
If you love everything about the Wyze Bulb Color but only need various shades of white, be sure to look at the standard .
They’re a bit expensive at $20 a bulb, but the Nanoleaf Matter A19 Smart Bulbs are a solid pick if you need something with support for the interoperability standard. Featuring more than 16 million color options, easy control using the Nanoleaf app or voice control, and dozens of ways to customize their performance, these bulbs are among the best on the market. They’re also one of the few smart bulbs that actually support Matter, putting them ahead of the curve and making them stand out from the competition.
With support for 16 million colors, 54 preset scenes, and a companion app that lets you modify their performance, the Govee Smart Light Bulbs are a colorful addition to any smart home. They can even sync to music using your phone’s microphone. That makes the Govee Smart Light Bulbs shockingly versatile despite their low price.
Another benefit of this four-pack is that they can be grouped together for easy access. For example, if you place two bulbs in your living room, they can be paired together and modified simultaneously. Schedules and timers are supported too, so you can wake up to a simulated sunrise and unwind at night with lights that slowly dim. If you do buy these, be sure to make liberal use of the Govee Home App, as it’s where you’ll find all of their coolest features.
Michael Bizzaco has been selling, installing, and talking about TVs, soundbars, streaming devices, and all things smart home for the better part of 15 years. He even knows a thing or two about how to fix this stuff when it starts misbehaving (because no tech is perfect!).
Mike has been writing for Digital Trends and several other publications since 2020. Fortunately, he’s still able to write after he got his index finger stuck in a vending machine at the Ramada Inn the summer before fourth grade! From hands-on reviews to best-of roundups, Mike does his best to share his expertise in a friendly and informative way with all readers, and loves staying on top of the latest AV and smart home trends.
When he’s not thanking his father for dislodging his finger from that vile vending machine in New Jersey, Mike enjoys playing guitar, reading, and indulging in horror films with his girlfriend.
Jon Bitner is a writer covering consumer electronics, technology, and gaming. His work has been published on various websites beyond Digital Trends, including The Wall Street Journal, Metacritic, GameSpot, and Slickdeals. He holds a degree in Biology and previously worked as a Medical Editor.
When not playing video games, he can be found running, reading, or checking out the latest series on Netflix.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
Technology evolves every day, transforming how we live and work. Our devices are becoming more than tools we use. They are increasingly capable companions that help streamline day-to-day routines and spark creative ideas. If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your tech setup, the Discover Samsung Shopping Event offers an opportunity to explore what connected, AI-powered living can look like.
With AI progressing so fast, it's only a matter of time before we start getting AI companions like the ones we used to see in movies like R2-D2, Wall-E, or Baymax. Now, Singapore-based OKA Technology has unveiled Mori, a cute little AI companion that looks less like a conventional home robot and more like someone turned the Pokémon Foongus into a table lamp.
Mori isn't meant to clean your house or control your smart home, but to serve as what OKA calls a "Nature Companion." It uses subtle movements, warm lighting, nature-inspired sounds, and small reactions to make its presence around the house feel calming rather than distracting. Mori can sit quietly while you read, sway along to music, welcome you when you enter a room, or encourage you to slow down for a moment without requiring a screen or a conversation.
Quick Recap: Life with twins and a pile of bottles