October 2024
Smart Light Bulbs: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of smart light bulbs rankings posted by key online experts, as of October 2024.
Summary
On 22 Oct 2024, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 80 smart light bulb endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
60 smart light bulbs were endorsed in total, only 11 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)
As of 22 Oct 2024, Philips Hue Starter Kit takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed smart light bulb with 8 expert endorsements. 6 experts out of 8 recommended it as the '#1 smart light bulb' this month.
Brand breakdown
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Philips Hue: 7 smart light bulbs
(#1 is Philips Hue Starter Kit)
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NanoLeaf: 6 smart light bulbs
(#1 is Nanoleaf Matter Essentials)
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Lifx: 5 smart light bulbs
(#1 is Lifx Nightvision A19)
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Govee: 5 smart light bulbs
(#1 is Govee Wi-Fi LED)
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Sengled: 4 smart light bulbs
(#1 is Sengled A19 Soft White)
Price breakdown
At a glance - October Ranking
Rank | Change | Price | Smart Light Bulb |
TechHive
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Digital Trends
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Forbes
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Wirecutter
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PCMag
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IGN
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TechRadar
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T3
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Tom's Guide
|
WIRED
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1
|
- | $40 |
Philips Hue Starter Kit
The Philips Hue Starter Kit is a highly customizable and convenient lighting solution that offers a range of features, including dimming capabilities, scheduling options, compatibility with popular smart home ecosystems, easy setup, and energy-saving capabilities.
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1
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1
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1
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-
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5
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1
|
1
|
-
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1
|
3
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2
|
- | Check price |
Wyze Smart A19
The Wyze Smart A19 is a white smart bulb that offers smooth dimming capabilities, easy scheduling, and energy-saving features, making it a reliable and convenient option for those looking to reduce energy consumption.
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-
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-
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3
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-
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-
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6
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-
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-
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2
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2
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3
|
- | Check price |
Nanoleaf Matter Essentials
The Nanoleaf Matter Essentials Smart Light Bulb offers customizable colors, excellent dimming capabilities, scheduling options, and energy-saving features, making it a versatile and compatible choice for smart home enthusiasts.
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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9
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3
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3
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-
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-
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4
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- | $12 |
GE Color Direct Connect
The C by GE Full Color Direct Connect Smart Light Bulb is a versatile and energy-efficient smart bulb that offers millions of colors, scheduling capabilities, compatibility with popular smart home ecosystems, and direct-connect technology, making it a convenient and cost-effective choice for creating different lighting atmospheres and saving on energy costs.
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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4
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-
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-
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-
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1
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5
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- | $43 |
Wyze Bulb Color
The Wyze Bulb Color is a versatile and customizable smart bulb that offers up to 16 million colors, dimming capabilities, scheduling options, compatibility with popular smart home ecosystems, easy setup, and energy efficiency.
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2
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4
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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9
|
- | Check price |
Lifx Nightvision A19
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-
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-
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5
|
-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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4
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10
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- | $28 |
Kasa Smart KL130
The Kasa Smart KL130 Smart Light Bulb is a versatile and energy-efficient smart bulb that offers customizable lighting options, convenient voice control, and energy-saving features.
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-
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-
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6
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-
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-
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-
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-
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5
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-
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-
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11
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- | $250 |
Nanoleaf Light Panels
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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7
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-
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6
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-
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-
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12
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- | $168 |
Nanoleaf Shapes
The Nanoleaf Shapes Smart Light Bulb is a versatile and customizable lighting solution that offers 16 million colors, motion and pattern options, scheduling, and energy-saving features, making it a great addition to any smart home setup.
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7
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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7
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13
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- | $249 |
Philips Hue Lily
The Philips Hue Lily Smart Light Bulb is a versatile and customizable outdoor lighting solution that offers 16 million color variations, smooth dimming capabilities, and convenient control options through popular smart home ecosystems.
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9
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-
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7
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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14
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- | $90 |
Ring Solar Pathlight
The Ring Solar Pathlight is a customizable and energy-efficient outdoor lighting option that offers dimming capabilities, scheduling features, and compatibility with Amazon Alexa.
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12
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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5
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-
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We ranked Philips Hue Starter Kit #1 in October 2024 because:
- 8 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
- Out of those, 6 experts ranked Philips Hue Starter Kit as #1.
TechHive
Best color smart bulb
Bluetooth support eliminates the need for the Hue Bridge
Excellent light quality and smooth dimming
Hue ecosystem is unrivaled in terms of size and depth
Supports Apple HomeKit ecosystem
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Philips Hue products are much more expensive than the competition
Relying on Bluetooth limits you to 10 Hue devices
You need the Hue Hub to assign Hue devices to rooms
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Digital Trends
The best smart bulb kit
Useful features
Great range and responsiveness
Extensive third-party app compatibility
Works with Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant
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Bridge must be plugged into your router
Expensive
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PCMag
Best Hue Bulb
Works without a hub.
Easy to install.
Vibrant colors.
Supports Alexa and Google voice commands.
Can be added to Hue ecosystem.
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Expensive.
Requires Hue Bridge for remote access and to use other Hue features.
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TechRadar
The best smart lighting system overall
Easy to set up
Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit
Wide array of different smart lights
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Hub needed to access all features
Expensive compared to incadescent bulbs
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Tom's Guide
The best smart light bulb starter kit
Easy setup with intuitive app
Extensive third-party integrations
Stunning color effects
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Expensive
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We ranked Wyze Smart A19 #2 in October 2024 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
Tom's Guide
The best cheap smart light bulb
Tunable white
Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
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Doesn't work with HomeKit
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Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend smart light bulbs.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of smart light bulbs, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for October 2024 ranking
We ranked Nanoleaf Matter Essentials #3 in October 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
TechRadar
Smart lights that play nicely with all your devices
Easy centralized control thanks to Matter support
Bright and colorful
Affordably priced
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Not compatible with Apple HomeKit without a hub
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T3
The best cheap smart light bulbs
Good price
Thread compatibility
Excellent app
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Not a big range of options
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We ranked GE Color Direct Connect #4 in October 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked GE Color Direct Connect as #1.
We ranked Wyze Bulb Color #5 in October 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
TechHive
Best color smart bulb, runner-up
Very inexpensive
Connects via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth–no hub or bridge required
Surprisingly bright considering the price
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Can't be grouped with the tunable white Wyze Bulb
Only available as a 2- or 4-pack
No competition for Philips Hue in terms of lighting ecosystem
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Digital Trends
The best budget bulb
Really bright output
Colors are very saturated
Doesn't require a bridge
Ridiculously low-priced
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Basic scene modes
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We ranked Kasa Smart KL130 #7 in October 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
T3
The best Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and IFTTT smart bulbs
Simple to operate
Don't cost too much
Works with Google/Alexa
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No Apple HomeKit support
Not a big range of options
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We ranked Nanoleaf Light Panels #8 in October 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
T3
The best panel smart light bulbs
Will definitely impress the guests
All kinds of permutations possible
Easy to adhere
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Expensive to go large
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We ranked Nanoleaf Shapes #9 in October 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
TechHive
Most innovative lighting design
Beautiful and interactive lighting scenes
Touch actions let you control other smart devices
Alexa, Google Assistant, Thread, and HomeKit compatible
Surprisingly easy to install
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Panels can be difficult to remove from a wall (but don’t appear to cause any damage)
Chunky AC adapter
Expensive
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We ranked Philips Hue Lily #10 in October 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
TechHive
Best outdoor spotlight
Robust aluminum housing, glass lenses, and IP65 weatherization to withstand the elements
Full color light, with up to 600 lumens of brightness
Can be scheduled, controlled by Alexa or Google Assistant, and triggered by a Philips Hue Outdoor Sensor
Low-voltage cables can be buried
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Requires Philips Hue Bridge
Range is impacted by having the the Hue Bridge inside your home, hardwired to your router
Expensive, and each add-on spotlight costs another $100
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We ranked Ring Solar Pathlight #11 in October 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
TechHive
Best outdoor pathway light, runner-up
Battery powered with integrated solar panel
Built-in motion sensor
Can be integrated into the robust Ring home security ecosystem
Once you have the bridge, add-on lights cost only $35
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Fabricated entirely from plastic
Much more expensive than dumb pathlights
Requires Ring Smart Lighting Bridge, which connects only to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi networks
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Tom's Guide
Best smart light for getting you to your door
Nice design
Built-in motion sensors
Can be linked to other Ring products
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Pricey
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