Smart lights, just like home security systems and other devices, are becoming increasingly popular and a lot smarter these days. They can cut your electricity cost and make your home a lot more comfortable.

Unfortunately, picking the best smart lights for your home isn’t that easy. Aside from the hefty price tags most of them come with, they also come with different parts and features that can be confusing or even intimidating for first-time buyers.

To help you get the right one, here are the four best smart lights you need to take a closer look at.

1. TikTeck Smart LED Light Bulb

TikTeck is one of those color-changing light bulbs that won’t burn holes in your wallet. Aside from the wide range of colors, it also allows scheduling. You can set it to change colors and to turn on or off anytime you want.

The nice thing about this light bulb is that it can be controlled with an app which you can download on your smartphone or tablet- without the need for a hub. By eliminating the hub, you also get to cut out the extra expenses.

Through the app, you get a color wheel with over 16 million vivid colors. Just tap the color you want and the bulb will follow. For its brightness, it can produce around 600 lumens. Aside from color and brightness, Tikteck Smart LED Light Bulb’s temperature can also be controlled. You can dial its temperature from 2,700 K to 6, 500 K.

The bulb can last 20 years, given that you’ll use it for only 3 times a day for 7 days. When you convert it, you get around 20,000 hours. Not bad for a $10 smart LED light bulb.

2. LIFX Color 1000

LIFX Color 1000 doesn’t require a hub, too. However, it’s a lot more expensive. It’s Wi-Fi enabled and comes with a companion app which you can use to select the color, theme, and brightness of your bulb.

With the expensive price tag, you might wonder what makes this smart bulb special.

Well, for one, it can be linked to the other smart devices you have at home, like your thermostats, smoke alarms, and third-party hub. You can even connect it to If-This-Then-That so you can create your own sets of triggers and reactions.

This smart bulb doesn’t look like your average smart bulb. Instead of having a dome shape, this one’s got a flat top. This can be a not-so-good thing since its design won’t allow you to get as much downward light as you’re supposed to. It also isn’t entirely made of glass.

As for its performance, LIFX Color 1000 can shine at up to 1,055 lumens. This is the same brightness you can get from a 75-watt incandescent bulb. It offers a longer lifespan of 25,000 hours or 23 years with 3-hour daily usage as a basis.

3. Misfit Bolt Wirelessly Connected Smart Bulb

This Misfit Smart Bulb has a unique design. It has a metallic black base and a luxurious feel to it. It’s quite heavy as well.

As for its light, it’s actually non-omnidirectional which means that it can’t cast light evenly in all direction. It also offers a low 600 lumens but you can crank it up to 800 lumens using its dedicated app. Comparing it with the two previous smart bulbs, this one falls short in that category.

Its app, however, is a different story. It’s colorful and very attractive. It comes with premix tones of reds, greens, and pinks. This is actually a nice feature to have, especially if you are the type of person who doesn’t like to go through the long process of selecting hues and colors.

This, however, doesn’t mean that you can’t pick individual colors. You can still choose your favorite one using its full-color spectrum selector.

4. MiPow Playbulb Rainbow

MiPow Playbulb Rainbow is great as an accent light. It has a sleek design and a matte white casing. It has its own app and can connect to your phone through Bluetooth technology. It comes with cool effects, such as flashing and pulsing lights as well as the option for random color selection.

Just like the other smart bulbs in this list, this one offers a color wheel as well. However, instead of swiping across a full spectrum or tapping a color you want, you get to use an eyedropper tool.

The bulb has a sleek shape. It’s not entirely “bulb-y” but more of dome-like in appearance. It puts out a low 280 lumens which may not be enough if you’re planning on illuminating a large room. The Playbulb, however, can be great for atmospheric lighting. It can last for as long as 30 years.

On Choosing the Best Smart Light For You

Having smart lights at home is not just trendy anymore; it has become more of a necessity. Smart lights let you save on your electricity while ensuring your convenience and comfort. They do, however, come with a price. Depending on the features you want, smart lights can be moderately priced to expensive.

Here are some of the things you should look out for:

Control

Although most smart lights can now be controlled with smartphones and tablets, you want to be sure that the app of your smart light isn’t glitchy or hard to control. It should be user-friendly and has no connectivity issues.

Light

One of the reasons you’ll buy a smart light is for illumination so don’t forget to check how much light it can give. You also need to consider where you’ll place it. If you’re planning on using it in your bedroom, for example, you need to find one that’s dimmable. This way you’ll be able to have full control over how bright or dim your room will be.

Connectivity

Most smart light bulbs need hubs to work and connect to your smartphone. There are other brands that can connect through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Each of these connections has limitations so weigh your options thoroughly.

Conclusion

One key thing to remember when selecting which smart lights to buy is to consider their use. Although it’s tempting to buy a smart bulb that changes color or rhythm according to your music, think about how often you’ll use it. You don’t really need to burn holes in your wallet for a smart light bulb or a feature you’ll only use once in a while.