November 2023

Smart Light Bulbs: MetaRanking

This page highlights the aggregate summary of smart light bulbs rankings posted by key online experts, as of November 2023.

Summary

On 7 Nov 2023, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 87 smart light bulb endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.

56 smart light bulbs were endorsed in total, only 16 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)

As of 7 Nov 2023, Philips Hue Starter Kit takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed smart light bulb with 9 expert endorsements. 6 experts out of 9 recommended it as the '#1 smart light bulb' this month.

Brand breakdown
Show all brands

Price breakdown
As can be seen in the chart below, lowest high-ranking smart light bulbs start at $5.99 (Sengled Smart Wi-Fi LED) and go up to $353.28 (Philips Hue Lily). Median smart light bulb costs $29.98 (Wyze Night Light).
$5.99
$353.28

At a glance - November Ranking

Scroll horizontally to browse this ranking table
Rank Change Price Smart Light Bulb
Digital Trends
Tom's Guide
TechRadar
IGN
PCMag
Wirecutter
Forbes
T3
WIRED
TechHive
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.
1
1
1
1
10
4
1
-
3
1
2
- Check price
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.
4
-
-
-
1
1
-
-
-
2
3
- 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.
-
2
-
6
-
-
3
-
4
-
4
- $249
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.
-
10
3
-
-
-
-
-
8
7
5
- $16
C by GE Full 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.
-
-
-
4
-
-
-
-
1
-
6
- $16
Philips Dimmable A19 Wiz
The Philips Dimmable A19 Wiz Smart Light Bulb offers customizable lighting options, voice control compatibility, scheduling capabilities, and energy efficiency, making it a versatile and convenient choice for smart home lighting.
-
-
-
-
6
2
-
-
5
-
7
- 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.
-
-
8
9
-
-
-
3
-
-
8
- $6
Sengled Smart Wi-Fi LED
The Sengled Smart Wi-Fi LED is a versatile and energy-efficient smart light bulb that offers customizable colors, dimming capabilities, compatibility with popular smart home ecosystems, and easy setup, making it a convenient choice for enhancing the lighting experience.
3
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
10
- Check price
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.
-
-
-
-
-
-
6
5
-
-
11
- Check price
Lifx Nightvision A19
-
-
7
-
-
-
5
-
-
-
12
- $107
Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus
The Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus offers a wide range of color options, excellent dimming capabilities, and compatibility with popular smart home ecosystems, making it a versatile and customizable lighting solution for any space.
-
8
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5
13
- $250
Nanoleaf Light Panels
-
-
-
7
-
-
-
6
-
-
14
- $353
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.
-
-
-
-
-
-
7
-
-
8
15
- $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.
-
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
11
16
- Check price
TP-Link Kasa Filament
The TP-Link Kasa Filament Smart Bulb is a versatile and convenient lighting option that offers attractive lighting options, dimming capabilities, scheduling features, and is highly compatible with popular smart home ecosystems.
-
7
9
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
17
- $15
Hive Active Light Colour
The Hive Active Light Colour Smart Light Bulb is a versatile and user-friendly smart bulb that offers a wide range of color options, dimming capabilities, and energy-saving features, making it a great choice for creating personalized lighting experiences and integrating with other smart home devices.
-
-
10
-
-
-
-
7
-
-

; ; ;
#8 $5.99 Sengled Smart Wi-Fi LED
#17 $15 Hive Active Light Colour
#5 $15.99 C by GE Full Color Direct Connect
#6 $16.19 Philips Dimmable A19 Wiz
#1 $39.95 Philips Hue Starter Kit
#15 $89.99 Ring Solar Pathlight
#12 $106.86 Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus
#4 $249 Nanoleaf Shapes
#13 $249.99 Nanoleaf Light Panels
#14 $353.28 Philips Hue Lily

We ranked Philips Hue Starter Kit #1 in November 2023 because:

  • 9 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
  • Out of those, 6 experts ranked Philips Hue Starter Kit as #1.
Critic endorsements:
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

Bridge must be plugged into your router
Expensive

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best smart light bulb starter kit

Easy setup with intuitive app
Extensive third-party integrations
Stunning color effects

Expensive

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best smart light bulb you can buy

Easy to set up
Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit
Wide array of different smart lights

Hub needed to access all features
Expensive compared to incadescent bulbs

Go to ranking

IGN

Best Smart Bulb

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best Hue Lighting Without a Hub

Works without a hub.
Easy to install.
Vibrant colors.
Supports Alexa and Google voice commands.
Can be added to Hue ecosystem.

Expensive.
Requires Hue Bridge for remote access and to use other Hue features.

Go to ranking

Wirecutter

The best smart lighting ecosystem

Go to ranking

Forbes

Best Smart Light Bulb Overall

Go to ranking

WIRED

An Upgrade Kit

Go to ranking

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

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

Go to ranking

We ranked Wyze Bulb Color #2 in November 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
  • Out of those, 2 experts ranked Wyze Bulb Color as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Digital Trends

The best budget bulb

Really bright output
Colors are very saturated
Doesn't require a bridge
Ridiculously low-priced

Basic scene modes

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best Affordable Color Bulb / Editors' Choice

Affordable
Bright and dimmable
Hub-free app control
Works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT
Can be set up individually or as a group
Supports automations, custom scenes, schedules, and sleep routines

Not sold individually
No dynamic lighting effects

Go to ranking

Wirecutter

The best smart light bulb

Go to ranking

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

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

Go to ranking

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 November 2023 ranking

We ranked Wyze Smart A19 #3 in November 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The best cheap smart light bulb

Tunable white
Works with Alexa and Google Assistant

Doesn't work with HomeKit

Go to ranking

IGN

For the absolute basics

Go to ranking

Forbes

Best Budget Smart Bulb

Go to ranking

WIRED

A Great Budget Bulb

Go to ranking

We ranked Nanoleaf Shapes #4 in November 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

Best smart light wall panels

Simple setup
Striking color effects
Customizable touch commands

Expensive

Go to ranking

TechRadar

Premium smart light panels for home and gaming

Easy to set up
Illuminated wall art rather than bulbs
Can change color and pulse to create fun effects

Difficult to remove once mounted
Don't look attractive when not illuminated

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best Ambient Lighting Kit

Go to ranking

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

Panels can be difficult to remove from a wall (but don’t appear to cause any damage)
Chunky AC adapter
Expensive

Go to ranking

We ranked C by GE Full Color Direct Connect #5 in November 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked C by GE Full Color Direct Connect as #1.
Critic endorsements:
IGN

Best Smart Bulb without a Hub

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best Smart Bulb

Go to ranking

We ranked Philips Dimmable A19 Wiz #6 in November 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
PCMag

Affordable Alternative to Philips Hue

Affordable
No hub required
Connects via Wi-Fi for remote app control
Works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, and Siri shortcuts
Supports light Rhythms, Scenes, and Schedules

Finicky Wi-Fi setup and app control in testing
No HomeKit support

Go to ranking

Wirecutter

A bulb with added effects

Go to ranking

WIRED

Let’s Talk About Philips

Go to ranking

We ranked Nanoleaf Matter Essentials #7 in November 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

Another affordable smart light bulb for Apple Homekit

Affordable
Thread and Bluetooth connectivity
Circadian Lighting feature mimics natural light

Lacks Alexa integration
Unusual design

Go to ranking

IGN

Best Smart Bulb for HomeKit

Go to ranking

T3

Essentially some great little cheap bulbs and light strips

Good price
Thread compatibility
Excellent app

Not a big range of options

Go to ranking

We ranked Sengled Smart Wi-Fi LED #8 in November 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Digital Trends

The best starter bulb

Easy installation
Intuitive smartphone app
Affordable

Lacking some smart home integrations

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

Affordable Wi-Fi smart bulb

Super easy setup
No hub required
App tracks energy consumption

Missing more advanced automation features

Go to ranking

We ranked Kasa Smart KL130 #9 in November 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Forbes

Best Smart Bulb for Alexa

Go to ranking

T3

Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and IFTTT smart bulbs for an attractive price

Simple to operate
Don't cost too much
Works with Google/Alexa

No Apple HomeKit support
Not a big range of options

Go to ranking

We ranked Lifx Nightvision A19 #10 in November 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best smart light bulb without a hub

No hub required
Wide array of colors and styles
Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit

Bulky, unusual looking bulbs
Expensive compared to incandescent bulbs

Go to ranking

Forbes

Best Smart Bulb for Security

Go to ranking

We ranked Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus #11 in November 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The best smart lightstrips

Trimmable
Flexible
Accommodates 40 inches of extensions

Pricey

Go to ranking

TechHive

Best LED light strip

Bright and colorful
Supports both Bluetooth and Zigbee
Apple HomeKit compatible (with the Hue Bridge)
Robust scheduling and automation features

Much more expensive than competing products
Power cable saddled with a chunky wall wart
Lights can't be animated without a third-party app

Go to ranking

We ranked Nanoleaf Light Panels #12 in November 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
IGN

Best for decorating your home

Go to ranking

T3

A smart lighting system with a difference

Will definitely impress the guests
All kinds of permutations possible
Easy to adhere

Expensive to go large

Go to ranking

We ranked Philips Hue Lily #13 in November 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Forbes

Best Outdoor Smart Bulbs

Go to ranking

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

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

Go to ranking

We ranked Ring Solar Pathlight #14 in November 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The best smart light for getting you to your door

Nice design
Built-in motion sensors
Lots of app settings
Can be linked to other Ring products

Pricey

Go to ranking

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

Fabricated entirely from plastic
Much more expensive than dumb pathlights
Requires Ring Smart Lighting Bridge, which connects only to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi networks

Go to ranking

We ranked Hive Active Light Colour #16 in November 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best smart light for a single ecosystem

Easy-to-use app
Works with an ecosystem of other smart home gadgets
Also works with Philips Hue bulbs

Needs Hive hub
Lacks lamps and ceiling light choices

Go to ranking

T3

The best smart bulbs for your Hive smart home system

Different bulb types available
Simple to set up and operate
Works with a range of other kit

Hub required

Go to ranking