Best Smart Bulbs and Light Strips
Smart lighting is one of those upgrades that sounds gimmicky until you actually live with it. Being able to dim everything from the couch, set lights to come on at sunset, or wake up to a gradual sunrise instead of a blaring alarm — it changes how your home feels. And no, you don't need to rewire anything. The market's gotten crowded, though. You've got Philips Hue at the top charging premium prices, Govee and TP-Link offering solid budget options, and Nanoleaf doing their own artsy thing with wall panels. We've tested all of them. Spoiler alert: the most expensive option isn't always the best fit. If you just want to control your lights with your phone and set schedules, you can spend way less than you think. But if you want the full color-changing, music-syncing, movie-watching experience? That's where the premium stuff earns its price.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Best For | Key Pros | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philips Hue Starter Kit (3 A19 Bulbs + Bridge) | Lighting | Massive color range | Buy on Amazon |
| TP-Link Tapo Smart Light Bulb (4-Pack, Multicolor) | Smart-Bulb | No hub required | Buy on Amazon |
| Govee RGBIC Smart LED Floor Lamp | Lighting | Multi-segment color display | Buy on Amazon |
| Nanoleaf Shapes Hexagons Starter Kit (9-Pack) | Lighting | Customizable wall art lighting | Buy on Amazon |
| Govee Smart LED Strip Lights 65.6ft | Led-Lights | 65.6 feet covers large rooms | Buy on Amazon |
| Lutron Caseta Smart Dimmer Switch Starter Kit | Smart-Switch | Ultra-reliable RF protocol | Buy on Amazon |
Detailed Look at Each Product
Philips Hue Starter Kit (3 A19 Bulbs + Bridge)
Smart lighting starter kit with 3 color-changing A19 LED bulbs and Hue Bridge. 16 million colors and tunable white from warm to cool. Works with Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and Matter. Set scenes, schedules, and automations through the Hue app.
- Massive color range
- Works with every smart home platform
- Reliable Zigbee protocol
- Huge third-party app ecosystem
- Requires Hue Bridge
- Expensive per bulb compared to competitors
TP-Link Tapo Smart Light Bulb (4-Pack, Multicolor)
Budget-friendly color smart bulbs that work with Alexa and Google Home without requiring a hub. Sixteen million colors and tunable white from warm to daylight. Group control, schedules, and away mode through the Tapo app.
- No hub required
- 16 million colors
- Four bulbs for under $30
- Alexa and Google compatible
- 2.4GHz Wi-Fi only
- Dimming not as smooth as Hue
Govee RGBIC Smart LED Floor Lamp
Modern corner floor lamp with multi-segment RGBIC LED lighting that displays multiple colors simultaneously. Music sync mode pulses with audio for ambient entertainment. Works with Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control.
- Multi-segment color display
- Music sync mode
- Voice control compatible
- Stylish modern design
- Light output not for room illumination
- Primarily decorative and ambient
Nanoleaf Shapes Hexagons Starter Kit (9-Pack)
Modular LED light panels that attach to walls in custom patterns with 16 million colors. Touch-reactive and music-syncing capabilities. Thread/Matter border router built in. Works with Alexa, Google, and HomeKit.
- Customizable wall art lighting
- Touch-reactive panels
- Music sync capability
- Matter/Thread compatible
- Expensive per panel
- Adhesive can damage walls on removal
Govee Smart LED Strip Lights 65.6ft
RGBIC color-changing LED strips with segmented control display multiple colors simultaneously. Music sync mode pulses and changes colors in real time with your speakers. Works with Alexa and Google Assistant for hands-free control.
- 65.6 feet covers large rooms
- Segmented multi-color control
- Music sync mode
- Voice assistant compatible
- Adhesive can peel in heat
- App required for full features
Lutron Caseta Smart Dimmer Switch Starter Kit
Professional-grade smart dimmer switch with a Smart Bridge hub and Pico remote. Reliable Clear Connect RF technology avoids Wi-Fi congestion. Works with Alexa, Google, HomeKit, and Sonos. Handles LED, CFL, halogen, and incandescent bulbs.
- Ultra-reliable RF protocol
- Works with all major ecosystems
- Pico remote included
- Professional electrical grade
- Requires Smart Bridge hub
- Neutral wire sometimes needed
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a hub for smart bulbs?
Not always. The TP-Link Tapo bulbs connect straight to your WiFi — no hub, no extra hardware. Philips Hue does need its bridge, but that bridge also makes the system way more reliable and responsive. If you're just doing a few bulbs, go hubless. If you're planning to outfit your whole house, a hub-based system like Hue is worth the upfront cost.
Are smart bulbs worth the price over regular LEDs?
For the room where you spend the most time? Absolutely. Being able to set the mood, automate schedules, and control everything by voice is surprisingly nice once you're used to it. But you don't need smart bulbs in your closet or garage. Start with your living room and bedroom, see if you like it, then expand from there.
What's the difference between RGBIC and regular RGB light strips?
Regular RGB strips can only show one color at a time across the whole strip. RGBIC strips have independent color control for different segments, so you can do rainbow effects, flowing patterns, and way cooler stuff. Govee's RGBIC strips are the ones to get here — they look incredible behind a TV or along a ceiling.
Can I use smart bulbs in my existing light fixtures?
Yep, most smart bulbs use a standard A19 base (the regular screw-in kind). They'll fit in table lamps, ceiling fixtures, you name it. Just make sure you don't put them behind a traditional dimmer switch — that'll cause flickering. Use the app or a smart switch like the Lutron Caseta to dim them instead.