What Are Smart Lights?

Smart lights are lighting fixtures and bulbs that can connect to other smart home devices, such as digital voice assistants and smart displays, to be controlled remotely over a wireless connection or via voice commands. They can be connected to other building systems, such as security cameras or doorbells, and they can also display notifications, such as calendar updates or social media messages. They are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and bulb types to match different décors and needs.

Typically, the first step to installing smarta lampor is connecting them to your Wi-Fi network. Once they have been linked, you can control them using a mobile app on your smartphone, smart display or voice-activated digital assistant. Depending on the model you choose, you may be able to set schedules, dim them or adjust their color. Some models also allow you to design different “lighting scenes” to suit different moods or activities.

What to Look for in a Smart Light Bulb

When choosing smart lights, you should pay special attention to the amount of brightness (measured in watts) and how they are designed to fit into existing fixture sockets. Some brands are more suited to table lamps or other decorative fixtures than others. They should also be rated to withstand the amount of vibration and movement that occurs in the room they are installed in.

The main reason to invest in smart lights is for the convenience of controlling them from a remote location, or even while you’re away on vacation. You can set up the lights to turn on at dusk and off at dawn or to dim them based on a daily schedule. You can also set them to flash or change colors in a specific way when you receive a notification, such as a message on your phone or a social media alert.

Some smart lights also have built-in motion and occupancy sensors that can help reduce energy consumption by automatically turning them on and off when people enter and leave the room. Other features include the ability to program lights to simulate a home’s occupants by automatically turning them on and off at various times throughout the day, or to use machine learning to learn a homeowner’s regular lighting patterns and create schedules based on them.

If you’re new to smart lights, consider starting with one brand and expanding your system as you become more familiar with the technology. Be sure to pick a protocol and platform that fits your needs, and look for products with the features you want at an affordable price. In addition to the major smart lighting brands such as Phillips, Samsung and GE, there are many other smaller companies that offer products that are similar to the major players but at more competitive prices. These include the LIFX, Yeelight LED Bulb 1S, Globe A19, and Wyze Bulb lines of smart bulbs. Many of these are compatible with the same apps and voice assistants as their larger competitors.