Smart Lighting 101

If you are looking for a way to make your home more comfortable, convenient, and energy-efficient, smart lighting might be the solution you need. Smart lighting is a term that refers to lighting systems that can be controlled remotely, wirelessly, or automatically using various devices and platforms. Smart lighting can also change its color, brightness, and temperature according to your preferences, mood, or schedule. In this article, we will explain what smart lighting is, how it works, what are its benefits, and what are some of the best smart lights you can buy.

What is smart lighting?

Smart lighting is an advanced way to light your home. Smart LED bulbs contain software that connects to an app, smart home assistant, or other smart accessory so you can automate your lights or control them remotely, eliminating the need for traditional wall switches. Conventional light bulbs work by flipping a switch on and off. Sometimes they are hardwired into a dimmer switch, allowing you to dim or brighten the lights. However, this is generally the extent of the functionality of traditional home lighting. Smart lighting, on the other hand, gives you far more control over your lights. They are still connected to your home’s power, but each smart bulb and LED-integrated fixture allows you to control it wirelessly with your phone, tablet, or smart assistant, such as Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.

How does smart lighting work?

Smart lighting works by using different technologies and protocols to communicate with your devices and platforms. There are two main types of smart lighting systems: those that require a hub and those that don’t. A hub is a device that connects to your router and acts as a bridge between your smart lights and your network. Some smart lights, such as Philips Hue, need a hub to work, while others, such as Wyze Bulb, can connect directly to your Wi-Fi without a hub. The advantage of using a hub is that it can support more devices and offer more features, such as integration with other smart home products. The disadvantage is that it adds an extra cost and complexity to your setup.

Another factor that affects how smart lighting works is the communication protocol. This is the language that your smart lights use to talk to your devices and platforms. Some of the most common protocols are Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and Z-Wave. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are the easiest to set up, as they use your existing network and devices. However, they can also consume more power and bandwidth, and have a limited range. Zigbee and Z-Wave are low-power and long-range protocols that use a mesh network, meaning that each device acts as a repeater and extends the signal. However, they usually require a hub or a compatible device to work.

What are the benefits of smart lighting?

Smart lighting offers many benefits over traditional lighting, such as these:

• Convenience: You can control your lights from anywhere, anytime, using your voice, app, or smart accessory. You can also create scenes, routines, and schedules to automate your lighting according to your needs and preferences. For example, you can set your lights to turn on when you wake up, change color when you watch a movie, or dim when you go to bed.
• Energy efficiency: Smart LED bulbs last much longer and generate less heat than the original light bulbs, thus using less energy. You can also monitor and adjust your energy consumption using the app or other smart devices. By being able to automate and remotely control which lights are on, you can ensure that you’re only using lights when and where they’re needed. This can further cut electrical usage and reduce cost.
• Security: Smart lighting can help you protect your home from intruders by creating the illusion that someone is home when you’re away. You can set your lights to turn on and off randomly, or sync them with your smart security system, such as cameras, doorbells, or alarms. You can also receive alerts and notifications when your lights detect motion or other events.
• Ambiance: Smart lighting can create different moods and atmospheres for any occasion, whether you’re using warm-to-cool white light or color LED lights. You can choose from millions of colors and shades, and adjust the brightness and temperature to suit your taste. You can also sync your lights with music, games, or movies to enhance your entertainment experience.

What are the best smart lights to buy?

There are many smart lights available in the market, but not all of them are created equal. Depending on your budget, preferences, and needs, you may want to consider the following factors when choosing the best smart lights for your home:

• Compatibility: You want to make sure that your smart lights work with your existing devices and platforms, such as your phone, tablet, smart assistant, smart hub, or smart home system. You also want to check if your smart lights support the communication protocol and the voltage of your home. Some smart lights may not work well with certain switches, dimmers, or fixtures.
• Features: You want to compare the features and functions of different smart lights, such as the color, brightness, temperature, dimming, scheduling, automation, motion detection, and scene creation. You also want to check the quality and reliability of the app and the software updates. Some smart lights may offer more options and customization than others.
• Price: You want to compare the prices and value of different smart lights, taking into account the initial cost, the ongoing cost, and the potential savings. Some smart lights may be cheaper upfront, but more expensive to run or maintain. Some smart lights may be more expensive upfront, but offer more benefits and features. You also want to consider the cost of the hub, if required.

To help you narrow down your choices, here are some of the best smart lights that we recommend, based on our research and testing:

• Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance: This is one of the most popular and versatile smart lighting systems, offering a wide range of products, features, and integrations. You can choose from different types of bulbs, lamps, lightstrips, and accessories, and control them with the Hue app, smart assistant, or other smart devices. You can also create stunning color effects, sync your lights with music or movies, and integrate your lights with other smart home products. However, you will need a Hue Bridge to access all the features, and the system can be quite expensive compared to other options.
• Wyze Bulb: This is one of the most affordable and easy-to-use smart lighting options, offering a simple and reliable way to control your lights. You can connect the Wyze Bulb directly to your Wi-Fi without a hub, and control it with the Wyze app, Alexa, or Google Assistant. You can also adjust the brightness and temperature, set schedules and timers, and create scenes and shortcuts. However, you will not be able to change the color, sync your lights with music or movies, or integrate your lights with other smart home products.
• LIFX A19: This is one of the most powerful and colorful smart lighting options, offering a high-quality and feature-rich way to light up your home. You can connect the LIFX A19 directly to your Wi-Fi without a hub, and control it with the LIFX app, smart assistant, or other smart devices. You can also choose from millions of colors and shades, adjust the brightness and temperature, set schedules and routines, and create scenes and effects. You can also sync your lights with music, games, or movies, and integrate your lights with other smart home products. However, you will pay a premium price for this smart bulb, and it may not fit in some fixtures or sockets.

Conclusion

Smart lighting is a great way to improve your home comfort, convenience, and efficiency. Smart lighting can also enhance your home security, ambiance, and entertainment. However, smart lighting can also be confusing, complicated, and costly. Therefore, you need to do your research and compare your options before you buy. Here are some of the key points to remember:

• Smart lighting is lighting that can be controlled remotely, wirelessly, or automatically using various devices and platforms.
• Smart lighting works by using different technologies and protocols to communicate with your devices and platforms. Some smart lights require a hub, while others don’t. Some smart lights use Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, or Z-Wave.
• Smart lighting offers many benefits, such as convenience, energy efficiency, security, and ambiance. You can control your lights from anywhere, anytime, using your voice, app, or smart accessory. You can also create scenes, routines, and schedules to automate your lighting according to your needs and preferences.
• Smart lighting varies in price, features, and compatibility. You need to consider your budget, preferences, and needs when choosing the best smart lights for your home. Some of the best smart lights are Philips Hue, Wyze Bulb, and LIFX A19.

FAQs

Here are some of the frequently asked questions about smart lighting:

• Q: Do smart lights need Wi-Fi?
• A: Not necessarily. Some smart lights can work without Wi-Fi, using Bluetooth or other protocols. However, Wi-Fi is usually required for remote control, voice control, and smart home integration.
• Q: Do smart lights work with regular switches?
• A: Yes, but with some limitations. You can still turn your smart lights on and off with regular switches, but you will lose some of the smart features, such as dimming, color changing, and automation. You will also need to keep the switch on for the smart lights to work.
• Q: Do smart lights save money?
• A: Yes, in the long run. Smart lights use less energy than traditional bulbs, and can help you reduce your electricity bills by allowing you to monitor and adjust your usage. However, smart lights are more expensive to buy upfront, and may have some additional costs, such as hubs, accessories, or subscriptions.
• Q: How do I install smart lights?
• A: It depends on the type and brand of smart lights you choose. Some smart lights are easy to install, and only require you to screw them into your existing sockets, and connect them to your Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Others may require you to replace your switches, dimmers, or fixtures, and connect them to a hub or a compatible device. You should always follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer, and consult a professional if you are not sure.
• Q: How do I control smart lights?
• A: There are many ways to control smart lights, depending on the features and compatibility of your smart lights. Some of the most common ways are:
• Using the app: Most smart lights come with a dedicated app that allows you to control your lights from your phone or tablet. You can turn your lights on and off, change the color, brightness, and temperature, set schedules and timers, create scenes and effects, and monitor your energy consumption.
• Using your voice: Many smart lights work with smart assistants, such as Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri. You can use your voice to control your lights, such as asking them to turn on or off, change the color, brightness, or temperature, set schedules and routines, create scenes and effects, and sync your lights with music or movies.
• Using smart accessories: Some smart lights work with smart accessories, such as remotes, switches, dimmers, sensors, or buttons. You can use these devices to control your lights without using your phone or voice, such as turning them on or off, changing the color, brightness, or temperature, or activating scenes and effects.