Specifically, they're all able to pair directly with the Google Nest Audio and other Google Nest smart speakers and displays. GE Lighting is a Made for Google partner, so it's no surprise that its lineup of C by GE smart light bulbs all work really well with Google Assistant. Consider it a worthy splurge candidate, but keep an eye out for sales. Meanwhile, the color-changing version of the Lifx Mini is a lot more expensive at $45 - but it also boasts the best-looking colors of any smart bulb in its class. If you're a HomeKit user looking for white-light automations like the lights coming on as soon as your phone detects that you've returned home, the Lifx Mini White is the best value. Compared to those, the superior Lifx app features and integrations put it over the top. There are other smart bulbs that work with HomeKit, but only a few that don't require a hub. It isn't quite as bright as I'd like with a max setting of just 650 lumens or so, but it dims well and you can start using all of its features as soon as you turn it on, hubs be damned. Now available for $19 each (and regularly on sale for as little as $10), the Lifx Mini White is a well-established Wi-Fi smart bulb with a terrific app and support for Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant, plus an excellent channel on IFTTT. You'll soon start seeing them on the shelf at Lowe's, too. Not bad for 10 bucks!Īs of writing this, Cree Lighting's bulb is listed as out of stock on Amazon after its initial launch, but more stock is expected to arrive by the end of November. I prefer the extra features in the Philips Wiz app, but the Cree Connected Max LEDs at least let you schedule automated lighting changes, and you can also set your bulbs to mimic the white light tones of the sun throughout the day. The bulb supports both Alexa and Google Assistant voice controls without need for any extra hub hardware, so you can literally just screw it in, turn it on, pair with it in the Alexa or Google Home app, and then tell your assistant of choice to make the lights whatever color you like. Read our Philips Wiz Connected LED review.Īt just $10, the color-changing 60W-replacement version of Cree Lighting's new, second-gen smart bulb is an outstanding value for anyone who likes the lights red, blue, green, purple or any other shade you like (and yeah, it does white light, too). All of that helps make it the first bulb you should consider if you're looking for something smart. Along with basics like grouping and scheduling, it offers a wide array of fun color cycles, plus useful extras you don't often see at this price range like vacation mode lighting and energy tracking. The Wiz app, which you'll use for setup and programming, is surprisingly full-featured, too. Apple HomeKit isn't supported, but you can still control the bulbs using a limited range of Siri voice commands using Apple's Shortcuts app. With Wi-Fi radios in every bulb, the Philips Wiz Connected LEDs don't need a hub to pair with your router, and they can connect with Alexa or Google Assistant for voice controls, too. It isn't a Hue bulb, but it does offer a full spectrum of RGB color settings in addition to the white light settings, which you almost never see for anything less than $30. My new top pick among cheap smart bulbs is the $13 Philips Wiz Connected LED. Here are my favorites - none of which will cost you any more than $20. but I'm assuming you're here for some quick buying advice, so let's start there. Now, believe me, I could go on about the benefits of smart light bulbs like these (and of LED lights in general, especially compared with the inefficient incandescent bulbs they replaced), and I've got lots of data to share from the weeks of tests we ran in the CNET lighting lab and here at my home. That's roughly the same price you would have paid for a plain old dumb LED just six or seven years ago. If you're looking to make the upgrade, there are plenty of smart bulb options to consider, including a growing number of LED smart bulbs from reputable brands that cost $20 apiece or less. And don't even get me started on the energy savings, or the perfect, flicker-free dimming. They're simple, inexpensive, and you'll use them each and every day, complete with the convenience of automation and voice control. For years, I've maintained that smart lights are the most sensible entry point into the connected home.
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