April 2024
Smart Light Bulbs: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of smart light bulbs rankings posted by key online experts, as of April 2024.
Summary
On 5 Apr 2024, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 82 smart light bulb endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
57 smart light bulbs were endorsed in total, only 14 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)
As of 5 Apr 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
-
Philips Hue: 6 smart light bulbs
(#1 is Philips Hue Starter Kit)
-
Govee: 6 smart light bulbs
(#1 is Govee Wi-Fi LED)
-
Wyze: 5 smart light bulbs
(#1 is Wyze Bulb Color)
-
NanoLeaf: 4 smart light bulbs
(#1 is Nanoleaf Shapes)
-
Sengled: 4 smart light bulbs
(#1 is Sengled Smart Wi-Fi LED)
Price breakdown
At a glance - April Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Smart Light Bulb |
TechHive
|
Digital Trends
|
Tom's Guide
|
Forbes
|
Wirecutter
|
PCMag
|
IGN
|
TechRadar
|
T3
|
WIRED
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
- | $50 |
Philips Hue Starter Kit
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
10
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
3
|
|
2
|
- | $50 |
Wyze Bulb Color
|
2
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
3
|
- | $40 |
Wyze Smart A19
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
|
4
|
- | $8 |
GE Color Direct Connect
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
|
5
|
- | $170 |
Nanoleaf Shapes
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
8
|
|
6
|
- | Check price |
Nanoleaf Matter Essentials
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
8
|
3
|
-
|
|
7
|
- | $6 |
Sengled Smart Wi-Fi LED
|
-
|
3
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
10
|
+1 | $18 |
Philips Dimmable A19 Wiz
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
|
11
|
-1 | Check price |
Kasa Smart KL130
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
|
12
|
- | Check price |
Lifx Nightvision A19
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
|
13
|
- | $300 |
Nanoleaf Light Panels
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
|
14
|
- | $273 |
Philips Hue Lily
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
15
|
- | $90 |
Ring Solar Pathlight
|
11
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
16
|
- | $15 |
Hive Active Light Colour
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
10
|
7
|
-
|
We ranked Philips Hue Starter Kit #1 in April 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
|
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
|
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
|
Tom's Guide
The best smart light bulb starter kit
|
Easy setup with intuitive app
Extensive third-party integrations
Stunning color effects
|
Expensive
|
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.
|
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
|
We ranked Wyze Bulb Color #2 in April 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Wyze Bulb Color as #1.
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
|
Digital Trends
The best budget bulb
|
Really bright output
Colors are very saturated
Doesn't require a bridge
Ridiculously low-priced
|
Basic scene modes
|
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
|
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 April 2024 ranking
TechHive
Digital Trends
Tom's Guide
Forbes
Wirecutter
PCMag
IGN
TechRadar
T3
WIRED
We ranked Wyze Smart A19 #3 in April 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
|
Doesn't work with HomeKit
|
We ranked GE Color Direct Connect #4 in April 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 Nanoleaf Shapes #5 in April 2024 because:
- 3 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
|
Panels can be difficult to remove from a wall (but don’t appear to cause any damage)
Chunky AC adapter
Expensive
|
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
|
We ranked Nanoleaf Matter Essentials #6 in April 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
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
|
T3
Essentially some great little cheap bulbs and light strips
|
Good price
Thread compatibility
Excellent app
|
Not a big range of options
|
We ranked Sengled Smart Wi-Fi LED #7 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
Digital Trends
The best starter bulb
|
Easy installation
Intuitive smartphone app
Affordable
|
Lacking some smart home integrations
|
Tom's Guide
Affordable Wi-Fi smart bulb
|
Super easy setup
No hub required
App tracks energy consumption
|
Missing more advanced automation features
|
We ranked Philips Dimmable A19 Wiz #8 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
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
|
We ranked Kasa Smart KL130 #9 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
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
|
We ranked Lifx Nightvision A19 #10 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
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
|
We ranked Nanoleaf Light Panels #11 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
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
|
We ranked Philips Hue Lily #12 in April 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
|
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
|
We ranked Ring Solar Pathlight #13 in April 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
|
Fabricated entirely from plastic
Much more expensive than dumb pathlights
Requires Ring Smart Lighting Bridge, which connects only to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi networks
|
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
|
Pricey
|
We ranked Hive Active Light Colour #14 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smart light bulbs” rankings.
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
|
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
|