What are smart bulbs? How do they work? What should you keep in mind to choose the best one? All the answers you need in one place to buy the best intelligence light bulbs for your home.
The world of home automation becomes increasingly interesting and its new features never cease to amaze us. Currently, there is a wide range of options in smart bulbs, with which you can give a surprising turn to your home, office or business, and at the same time make your daily tasks more practical. The smart bulb is an intelligent light bulb that can be connected to the home Wifi and managed remotely with a dedicated application, it is one of the devices that make a smart home, to learn more we invite you to read our dedicated article on how to make a smart home.
You can control the illumination of each corner only with your voice through the smart speaker. In view of the many models compatible with virtual assistants, such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home. Discover more in the following article.
What is a smart light bulb?
It is a device designed to monitor the lighting of any place, being at the same time ideal for the home. It is also known as a WiFi bulb, because its function is done through this interface. And although there is a large number of smart devices, this is one of the best sellers.
You can control the brightness, the operating time and the colors reflected by this device by simply downloading your App through your mobile phone or tablet or by voice with a smart speaker. From any place and at any time, you will also have the possibility of managing the electricity consumption of your WiFi bulb, this being just one of the many facilities it offers.
How do smart bulbs work?
As mentioned before, these devices work through an App or through a Skill in Alexa, which you must download and proceed to associate your smart light bulb with Alexa. Once these steps are completed, it will be time to manage their functions and monitor the activity of your smart lights, no matter where you are.
Intelligent WiFi bulbs have many uses. For example, in your home, you can program the lights so that they turn on at a certain time and thus have a more pleasant awakening. On the other hand, in case you have forgotten the WiFi bulb on, just simply access the app and turn it off.
It can even make vacations more pleasant, making the fear of leaving the house alone disappear, since you can program the smart lights on and off in order to simulate the presence of people in the place, thus driving away possible thieves.
You can give orders to intelligent WiFi lights through simple voice commands and for this, it will only be necessary to connect them to a virtual assistant such as Alexa or Siri. Even if you link them to any Amazon Echo device such as the Echo Plus, it will be enough to say “Alexa, turn on the light” and your order will be fulfilled instantly without moving a single finger.
One of the most captivating features is that some smart lights will allow you to program them so that the place lights up when a person passes through the room. There are even certain bulbs that produce bursts of light, in disco mode and to the rhythm of the music. Many devices are also compatible with IFTTT skills.
What aspects should you consider when buying a smart light bulb?
In addition to the function mentioned above, you can also connect the WiFi bulb to other devices in your home or office. Smart lights are more expensive than traditional bulbs and at the same time, they will need to connect to a Wi-Fi network to work properly.
When buying a Wi-Fi light bulb, you should bear in mind that the devices that work through this network are usually more accurate than those that do it by Bluetooth, because they can be controlled from your mobile regardless of your location. Usually, they bring a Wi-Fi 820.11b|g|n module (only 2.4 GHz) and when presenting this feature, their synchronization is much faster and easier.
Some smart Wi-Fi bulbs also include RGB technology which plays with the 3 primary colors to make you enjoy a range of 16 million colors, capable of creating pleasant scenes; whether for a party, romantic dinner or just to relax. The environment can also change from warm colors to cold colors by changing the key in intelligent lighting.
The worm lights are the most yellowish, have a range of 2700 to 2800K and are able to create the ideal lighting for relaxation. Cold lights, on the other hand, are more bluish-white, allusive to ice or snow, with a range of color temperature ranging from 5000 to 6500K, and at the same time are perfect to keep you active in the office or area study.
What are the best smart bulbs in the market?
All WiFi smart bulbs have features that make everyday tasks easier, but the best ones are those that adapt perfectly to your needs, tastes, and possibilities. Do you want to know what they are? Find out below!
Philips Hue bulbs
With this new kit of 3 Hue bulbs with E27 sockets, you can choose between a fabulous range of whites and 16 million colors to light up your favorite spaces. It also includes a switch and a bridge. Compatible Hue bulbs work perfectly with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
The energy level of the bulbs is located in the A+ classification, while its bulky fixation ranges between 1001 and 2000 lm. The useful life of Hue bulbs is 25000 hours and has ip20 protection.
You have the possibility to connect up to 50 Philips Wi-Fi bulbs and control them so that they turn on or off at a certain time, as well as you can set your timer to set your alarms. Thanks to the technology of ZigBee bulbs, you can update the WiFi lights wirelessly and you can also monitor their status through a web browser.
The color temperature is 2700 K and the lumen flow is 750 lm. It is the best option in quality and price in terms of intelligent lighting systems according to the option of a large number of users.
Discover more and the price here
Xiaomi Yeelight
The Xiaomi Yeelight bulb has a more captivating design than traditional bulbs. It has a large cap (E27) and its luminous flux is 500 lm. The energy efficiency class of the Xiaomi Yeelight is A+, with consumption of 8w only.
It has built-in RGB lighting, so you can enjoy 16 million shades and a color temperature between 1700 and 6500K, so you can change the environment from a cold light to a worm when you want thanks to these smart bulbs by Xiaomi that change color.
You can control the activity of Xiaomi Yeelight from your smartphone or tablet because it is compatible with Android and iOS operating systems. The Yeelight bulb does not need a Hub, therefore it automatically connects to the domestic WiFi network. And thanks to this feature, you can monitor the status of your smart lights at any time, no matter where you are.
This WiFi light is also compatible with Amazon’s virtual assistant Alexa, Google Home and Apple Pod. Xiaomi Yeelight bulbs work through a Yeelight app, which you must download and create an account.
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Smart light bulb TP-link
The TP-Link LB130 is certainly among the best smart bulbs. Although less popular than Philips Lighting’s Hue lighting system, it is a great product if you want wireless light that can be controlled directly from your smartphone. This, without needing additional hardware like the Philips bridge. It will be enough to download the KASA app to immediately control the lights remotely.
Similar to Hue, the proposed range of colors is 16 million, so you will have endless possibilities to color your room with the most suitable light. In addition, you have a selection of predefined ” moods”, to be used during specific activities such as reading, dinners with friends, parties and night time to help you sleep. In addition, of course, to the possibility of creating and saving custom sets.
So in the wireless light scene, this is a product that can compete with Philips and, moreover, perfectly compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Home Kit, resulting in the possibility of controlling your home lighting vocally. Naturally, thanks to the connection with the KASA app, you can schedule the day, thus setting the moments of automatic switching on and off.
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Sengled LED light with JBL Bluetooth speaker
These smart WiFi bulbs have an integrated JBL Bluetooth speaker system that lets you play music from your smartphone, pc or tablet. They are exactly two 3-watt multichannel stereo speakers that allow you to link several WiFi lights to create the stereo effect.
It is a smart white LED bulb worm with 6 watts and an E27 cap. The color temperature is 2700K, its luminous flux of 550 lm and the average life of these WiFi lights is 25000 hours.
This WiFi bulb works through the Sengled Pulse App and is compatible with iOS or Android device; as well as Amazon’s virtual voice assistant Alexa. Its installation is really simple because you only have to screw it into any plug or standard E27 light fixture.
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Belkin WeMo – Basic kit WeMo intelligent LED lighting
Another interesting option is this basic intelligent LED lighting kit that includes two E26 cap light bulbs. In these intelligent WiFi bulbs, the color temperature is 3000K, while its luminous flux is 800 lm. It works through an app called WeMo, ideal for Android 4.0, iOS 6 and Kindle Fire OS 3.0 and higher.
You can turn on / off or dim the intensity of the lights, individually or collectively from anywhere and create customized usage schedules. It has an “Occupation” function that simulates turning lights on / off automatically to give the impression that you are at home.
You can gradually reduce their intensity so that you can conciliate sleep in a more natural way. WeMo works on the existing home Wi-Fi network and mobile network (3G / 4G). You can also connect up to 50 light bulbs or use the IFTTT web to create “actions” with your light bulb.
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Smart LED bulb with WiFi
This kit of 4 LED WiFi bulbs works through the Smart Life application and a WiFi network of 2.4 GHz. They are compatible with Google Assistant, Amazon’s Alexa and IFTTT. To control the intelligent light system through voice commands, you must download the aforementioned app and install the skill of the same name.
Its useful life is 30,000 hours or 27.39 years if they are used for 3 hours a day. It has a luminous flux of 800 lm and each WiFi bulb is 7.5w.
The intensity of the lights is not very high and being smart bulbs that change colors, the illuminated spaces become quite pleasant; since you can enjoy 16 million colors and shades of white.
Discover more and the price here
In conclusion: what are the best smart bulbs according to their functionalities?
First of all, you must take into account the characteristics of each smart light bulb to know which one best suits your tastes and requirements. However, in the opinion of many users, the Philips Hue and Xiaomi Yeelight bulbs are at the forefront among the best options regarding quality and price.
Although with the rapidity with which this sector advances, it is not surprising that its competitors present much more innovative innovations.