The 6 Best Smart Lights and Systems For Your Home

4 min readSmart lighting has been around since the late ’90s (looking at you, Clapper), but with the advent of smart technology it’s a whole new game. These days, features like remote app and voice control give you flexibility to switch up lighting in your home from just about anywhere.The Best Smart LightsBest Overall: Philips Hue Smart Light Starter Kit ​Best Value: GE CYNC Smart LED Light Bulbs ​Best Color-Changing Bulbs: Wyze Smart Bulb Color ​Best Decorative Lights: Nanoleaf Canvas Smart Wall Lights​Best for Ambient Light: Philips Hue Smart Filament LED Bulb ​A good smart light balances new and useful features with easy-to-use interface and energy efficiency. Smart bulbs are priced slightly more on average than LED or incandescent bulbs, and that cost can add up if you’re planning to install smart bulbs throughout your home. As such, the task at hand is to find options that give you only what you need so you aren’t overpaying for extras you won’t use.For single lamps and whole-home renovation alike, check out our recommendations for the best smart lights across the color spectrum.How We SelectedWe made these choices based on compatibility with other smart devices, programmable features available, adjustability of color, brightness, and temperature, and of course, ease of use. We also paid close attention to reviews from verified customers and trusted online sources. The goal was to identify high quality options with a solid lineup of features available at a range of prices. Our final selection represents the best options across categories, such as best overall and best value.ProsComes with remote dimmer switchSyncs with movies, shows, and music for ambient light showConsMany features only available if connected to hubCompatible WithAmazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, SmartThingsHub RequiredNoLumens800Watts60If you are looking to begin integrating your home with smart lights, this starter kit from Philips is exactly what you need. With two smart bulbs, a remote dimmer switch, and a connection hub, the kit provides the basics plus the option to easily expand coverage throughout the house.The bulbs generate up to 800 lumens and glow in multiple colors and shades for perfect mood lighting. By connecting to the hub, you have access to several other features too, including timed shutoffs, scheduling weekly light programs, and easy controls when you’re away from home.The smart lights can also sync up with your TV or speakers, so if you throw on a movie or play a song, the lights react to action scenes and guitar solos in real time. It takes any party or movie night to the next level. The remote dimmer is a nice extra for turning on lights from bed rather than fumbling for the switch in the dark.ProsEconomical with two per packAdjustable whitesConsNo color options besides whiteAs an easy, efficient replacement for your incandescent bulbs, GE’s Cync smart lights give you a complete basic package at an affordable price point. Sure, they may not have as many color options, but there are ways to customize white light. This ranges from the bright, cool light to help you get going in the morning to the warm, soft light for settling down at night.We also appreciate the wide dimming range, which turns down to barely on and serves as a replacement for a nightlight. Even without a hub, the smart lights come with several programmable features including weekly scheduling and memory to save specific brightness and temperature settings.Pros16 million colorsLight-based notifications syncConsDisconnects from phone if Wi-Fi goes downThis smart light from Wyze offers a wide spectrum of customizable settings for colors and whites, with a range of temperatures and brightnesses. But what makes the white light on these smart bulbs particularly notable is the automatic adjustments.The smart light connects directly to the clock to sync up with the sunrise and sunset, so lights transition from bright, cold light in the morning to warm, soft light in the evenings without having to touch your phone.The lights also serve as a secondary calendar notification system. By scheduling colors that align with your events, you have a built-in reminder that can’t be ignored, even if you’re away from your computer.ProsVersatile placementSticks to the walls with adhesiveConsNot a replacement for regular lightsKey SpecsCompatible WithAmazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, SmartThingsHub RequiredNoLumens2,942Watts30These certainly aren’t the most conventional smart lights available, but they are some of the most inventive. Nanoleaf’s Canvas system is made up of flat, tile-like lights that stick to the wall and create colorful, light-up designs. Each square measures six inches across, and nine squares are included. Once you set them up in the design you desire, simply control them through a virtual assistant or the Nanoleaf app.They even respond to touch—a light tap turns them on and off, and a long press creates a ripple effect, for example. You can also program them to synchronize their color changes and effects to music, which makes them great for parties or for a child’s room.The lights are meant for decoration, wall art, and mood lighting, so don’t expect them to replace your traditional overhead lights or desk lamps. If you’re looking to cover a significant amount of space, the smart lights get pricey fast, with a set of nine costing around $200.ProsStylish internal coilClear glass with warm filter around itConsNo real adjustabilityKey SpecsCompatible WithAmazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, SmartThingsHub RequiredNoLumens550Watts7Outdoor events, exposed bulbs, and soft lighting are specialties of these smart lights from Philips. The filament bulbs are designed to replicate the warm glow of an old-school incandescent light without the heat and energy demand.Unlike most smart lights—better suited to hide behind a lamp shade—these bulbs are beautiful to look at. The interior coil and soft filter on the clear glass make them a great choice for outdoor string lighting. Because of their aesthetics (and yours), they may end up being more versatile than bulbs with lots of color or temperature settings.That said, make sure you love the shade and temperature of the light before you buy. Unlike other smart lights, you can only adjust the brightness of the bulbs, so whatever color they are is the color they stay.ProsMade of flexible materialSyncs with TVs or speakersKey SpecsCompatible WithAmazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, SmartThingsHub RequiredNoLumensN/AWatts24While this won’t replace any lights in your home, this smart light strip from Govee certainly adds to the mood of a room. The LED strip comes with several adjustable colors and patterns that add ambience to any setting.This is especially true for entertainment. Lined behind a TV, the strip lights can sync with the sounds on screen to create a more immersive movie-watching experience. Similarly, the lights also sync with speakers and flash or change colors in rhythm with the beat of the song.While their main purpose may be for ambience enhancement, they also serve as utility lights for dark pathways or staircases. Especially at night, these lights provide clarity and a bit of depth perception without forcing you to flip on a flashlight or bright, overhead lights.What to ConsiderBulb TypeAlmost all the bulbs in this article are A19. This is the standard pear-shaped light bulb, which fits into the majority of light sockets and lamps. Most smart light kits come with standard A19 bulbs, as they’re the most common and compatible.Connectivity and CompatibilitySome smart lights require a hub that connects directly to your Wi-Fi router to bridge communication between the lights and your mobile device via app or through a voice assistant. There are also smart lights that sync up directly with your cell phone or tablet and only require a hub if you want to access voice control.If you plan to use smart lights throughout your home, we recommend sticking to a consistent manufacturer or brand that uses the same operating system. That way, as you add more smart bulbs around your home, there’s a centralized control system instead of a new app for every installation.Power and Brightness Lumens measure the brightness of a bulb, typically around 800 for the average 60-watt old-fashioned incandescent. Most smart and LED bulbs provide the same amount of light but use less wattage. (All of the top-performing bulbs that made the cut here are LEDs.) Wattage refers to the power consumed in order to maintain these levels of brightness.Smart lights are generally more economical than incandescent bulbs and use about eight to ten watts for about 800 lumens. Note that since smart lights are technically always on even when the light is turned off, they use up slightly more electricity than typical LED bulbs, though the difference is negligibleAdjustability The majority of the smart lights we write about have options to control brightness and color across the spectrum. Even if you have an exclusively white smart light, most offer temperature controls that change the shade of white depending on the time of day, colors in the room, and your personal preference.Programmable SettingsAside from color and temperature settings, smart lights almost always offer programmable schedules that shut on or shut off lights based on your daily routines and plans. Others sync directly with movies or video games on your TV. So, as you watch your show, the lights around it react to the noise on screen at the same time as you.Tom Price is a reviews editor for Popular Mechanics while also contributing to Runner's World, Best Products, and Bicycling. Here at Popular Mechanics, Tom loves testing out home appliances, smart tech, gear for city life and outdoor adventures, small gadgets like watches and multitools, and anything else you can find piled up at his hoarder's nest of a desk. Prior to working here, Tom attended NYU, graduating with a degree in English and a minor in creative writing. He also wrote for Best Reviews, The Daily Beast, and other publications covering tech, fitness gear, gadgets, and lifestyle products. Furthermore, he covered startup news, pop culture, and even professional wrestling. To follow more of his work, check back here for new stories.