Smart Light Bulbs: Save Energy the Smart Way

If you’re looking to save on your energy bills, switching to smart light bulbs could be a good option. They are simple and cost-effective which makes them a great entry into the realm of smart homes. You can control this LED light bulb wirelessly from any device that is connected to your network, like a smartphone, a tablet or as part of a home automation system.

Best Smart Light Bulbs

Smart light bulbs have revolutionized home lighting by offering convenience, energy efficiency, and advanced features like voice control, scheduling, and color customization. Here’s a breakdown of the best smart light bulbs in 2025:

Best Overall Smart Light Bulb: Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance

Best for: Those who want premium quality, vibrant colors, and smart home integration.

Best Budget Smart Bulb: Wyze Bulb Color

Best for: Budget-conscious buyers who still want color options.

Best for Gaming & Entertainment: LIFX Color A19

Best for: Gamers and those who want bright, responsive lighting.

Best for Apple HomeKit Users: Nanoleaf Essentials A19

Best for: Apple ecosystem users who want fast, efficient lighting.

Best No-Hub Smart Bulb: TP-Link Kasa Smart Bulb (KL125)

Best for: People who want simple, reliable smart lighting without extra hubs.

Best Energy-Efficient Bulb: Sengled Smart LED (A19)

Best for: Eco-conscious users looking for cost-effective automation.

Best for Creative Lighting: Govee Smart Bulbs (RGBIC)

Best for: Parties, accent lighting, and creative setups.

Best Solar-Powered Outdoor Smart Bulb: Ring Solar Pathlight

Best for: Pathways, gardens, and eco-friendly setups.

How Smart Light Bulb Works

Smart light bulbs are a modern upgrade from traditional incandescent or LED bulbs, offering remote control, automation, and energy efficiency through wireless connectivity. Unlike standard bulbs, they contain mini-computers that allow them to respond to commands from your phone, voice assistant, or smart home system.

Core Components of a Smart Light Bulb

Every smart bulb is built with specialized hardware that enables its advanced features. While they may look like regular bulbs on the outside, inside they contain:

• LED Lighting – Energy-efficient diodes that produce light (with adjustable color/temperature in some models).
• Wireless Chip – Enables communication via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, or Z-Wave.
• Processor – A small computer inside the bulb that executes commands (e.g., dimming, color changes).
• Power Regulator – Converts home electricity (120V/240V AC) to low-voltage DC for the bulb.

How They Connect to Your Smart Home

One of the most important aspects of smart bulbs is how they communicate with your devices. Depending on the brand and model, they use different wireless protocols, each with its own advantages:

Wi-Fi (Direct Connection)

• Example Bulbs: LIFX, TP-Link Kasa
• How It Works: Connects directly to your home Wi-Fi (no hub needed).
• Pros: Simple setup, no extra hardware.
• Cons: Can clog Wi-Fi networks if you have many bulbs.

Bluetooth (Short-Range Control)

• Example Bulbs: Some Philips Hue, Wyze Bulb
• How It Works: Connects directly to your phone within ~30 ft.
• Pros: No hub required.
• Cons: Limited range, no remote access outside Bluetooth range.

Zigbee/Z-Wave (Hub-Based)

• Example Bulbs: Philips Hue (with Bridge), Sengled
• How It Works: Uses a dedicated hub (like the Hue Bridge) for a more stable, low-power mesh network.
• Pros: More reliable, works even if Wi-Fi goes down.
• Cons: Requires an extra hub (added cost).

Thread (Next-Gen Smart Home Protocol)

• Example Bulbs: Nanoleaf, Eve, newer Philips Hue
• How It Works: A low-power, fast-response protocol (used with Apple HomeKit, Matter).
• Pros: Self-healing network, ultra-responsive.
• Cons: Still growing in adoption.

How You Control Smart Bulbs

Smart bulbs offer multiple ways to adjust lighting, making them incredibly versatile. Depending on your setup, you can control them through:

Smartphone Apps

• Each brand has an app (e.g., Hue, LIFX, Kasa) to adjust brightness, color, and schedules.
• Some allow geofencing (lights turn on when you arrive home).

Voice Assistants

• Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri (e.g., “Alexa, turn the lights blue”).

Automation & Smart Home Integration

• Works with SmartThings, HomeKit, IFTTT for routines (e.g., “Turn on at sunset”).
• Can sync with TVs, alarms, or security systems (e.g., flash red if motion is detected).

Advanced Features

Beyond simple on/off control, smart bulbs offer innovative functionalities that enhance convenience and ambiance. Some of the most popular features include:

• Color Changing (RGB bulbs like Hue, LIFX)
• Tunable White (Adjust from warm to cool white)
• Circadian Lighting (Automatically adjusts to match natural daylight)
• Music Sync (Lights pulse to music, e.g., Govee)
• Energy Monitoring (TP-Link Kasa tracks usage)

Where Can I Use A Smart Light Bulb?

Smart light bulbs can be used anywhere you’d use a regular light bulb. They are more suited for lamps and fixtures that are not controlled by a switch. For lights that are controlled by a switch, a smart light switch may be a better option. Some smart bulbs may be a bit more bulky than a standard light bulb, so they may not be the best choice for ceiling fans.

Setting Up A Smart Light Bulb

Setting up a smart light bulb can be done in just a few easy steps.

• Plug in the wireless hub
  Some smart light bulbs come with a hub that is used for communicating with the smart bulb. If yours came with a hub plug it into a power source.
• Replace your old light bulb with your new smart bulb
  Your new smart light bulb screws right into your light just like a regular bulb. Just make sure you remove your old bulb first
• Download the app
  Visit the app store or follow the instructions that came with your smart bulb to download the app that you will use to control your new smart light bulb.
• Pair the bulb with your app
  Open up the app you just downloaded and follow the instructions to pair it with your new smart bulb
• Label your smart bulb
  After you’ve paired with your new bulb, make sure to give it a name that allows you to easily keep track of which smart bulb is which in your home.

Save Money With Smart Light Bulbs

Not only can you save money by being able to schedule when your lights turn off and turn them off wirelessly when you’re not in the room, but they are also more energy efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs. As an added bonus they also last longer, up to 20 years, so you’ll have to buy less light bulbs.

Which Smart Light Bulb is Right for Me?

While, in the end, they are all light bulbs, there are a few features to consider when choosing a smart bulb.

• Cost
  Let’s start to the biggest factor when it comes to your budget and that’s how much the bulb costs. On the lower end, you can get a smart bulb for around $2, but they can go up to nearly $60, so keep an eye on price and make sure you’re only paying for what you need.
• Size
  Some light fixtures require different sizes, make sure the smart bulb you choose fits properly.
• How it connects
  Does the smart bulb require a hub? Some don’t and have everything built in, but that will make the bulb a bit more bulky. Also make sure you can pair it with any voice activated assistants, like Siri, Google Home or Alexa.
• Colors and Spectrums
  Many smart bulbs allow you to change colors from an entire spectrum of colors. This can allow you to have some fun and use interesting colors, and then change them whenever you want.
• Brightness
  Make sure you pick a bulb that is equivalent to the number of watts of your current bulbs
• Bulb Design
  Smart bulbs come in lots of designs and some are bulkier than others. Pick the one that is best for your usage
• Scheduling
  The app that comes with your new smart bulb will allow you to set schedules for when lights turn on and off. Make sure that the scheduling system with your new bulb fits your needs.
• Geofencing
  Geofencing allows your smart bulb to use the GPS on your phone to determine where you are and can then turn on and off your lights as needed.

The low cost of entry for smart bulbs make them an excellent way to save on energy usage and in turn save money. Since you can turn lights on and off, even when you are not home, they can also be used as a security device. Welcome to the first step towards having an energy efficient smart home.

About the Author

David Cosseboom

David has been an integral part of some of the biggest utility sites on the internet, including InMyArea.com, HighSpeedInternet.com, BroadbandNow.com, and U.S. News. He brings over 15 years of experience writing about, compiling and analyzing utility data.