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The best smart light bulbs overall

This entry was posted on July 22, 2019 by Cutebuy.

The Philips Hue light bulbs are easy to use and set up, and they are the most reliable bulbs we've tested.

Philips is arguably the most famous smart light bulb manufacturer, and for good reason. In our testing, not only were the Philips Hue light bulbs extremely easy to set up, but they were also easy to use and very consistent.

Perhaps the best thing about the Philips Hue bulbs is their versatility. You could go for the color-changing bulbs, which are a little more expensive, but there's also the option for the simple white bulbs, which are much cheaper and could offer a better option for those looking to set up their entire home. No matter which set you buy, all Hue bulbs are dimmable and can be controlled remotely with the Hue app.

The light bulbs themselves output 800 lumens, which is more than enough for most small to medium-sized rooms, and while larger rooms could benefit from multiple bulbs, that's also true of your standard 60W light bulbs that your home may already be using. On top of that, they're relatively small, unlike bulbs from the likes of LIFX, so they'll be able to fit into most places that your average light bulbs fit.

There are a few downsides to using Philips Hue bulbs, including the fact that you'll have to use the Hue Bridge (Zigbee) hub and that they're more expensive to own than Bluetooth bulbs when you factor in the price of the hub (the white bulbs are the most affordable, costing around $15 each). Also, the Hue Bridge hub will not support other brands' bulbs, even if they use Zigbee, but some Zigbee-certified hubs will support Hue bulbs. Of course, the upside to that is reliability and the ability to remotely control your lights, so it is well worth it.

You can also control the bulbs with your voice if you have Google Home, Apple HomeKit, or Amazon Alexa. It's extremely convenient when you don't want to go get your phone or your hands are busy. You can also control the lights using the respective apps for the aforementioned platforms.

We weren't the only ones who liked the Philips Hue smart bulbs — both CNET and Trusted Reviews rated them highly. Experts and buyers alike agree that these bulbs are the best ones you can buy. Having purchased and tested various smart bulbs, Guides Editor Les Shu eventually settled on Philips Hue for his home, citing the easy set-up and operation with both HomeKit and Alexa.

Note: In 2019, Philips introduced new bulbs that support both Bluetooth and Zigbee, which means you can use them with or without a Hue Bridge hub. A two-pack of new white bulbs costs $29.99 (equivalent to standard Hue white bulbs) and a two-pack of new color bulbs costs $89.99. The white-bulb set is priced in-line with the C by GE Bluetooth set we mention in this list, but since we haven't tested the new Hue bulbs yet, for now, our pick for Bluetooth bulbs remain the C by GE. Based on our experience with Hue bulbs, we think these will perform just as well, but now with the option of using Bluetooth.

Pros: Reliable, versatile, easy to use, easy to set up, consistent, voice control, dimmable

Cons: Require Hue Bridge hub, a little pricey

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Details

Main Features:
● Power supply: solar power charging, 1 AAA battery ( included )
● Plastic material, durable, high-temperature resistance and wearable
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● Light color: whiteStyle: LED
LED Color: White
Features: RechargeableMaterials: Plastic
Power Supply: Solar PoweredBattery Voltage: 1.2V
Battery Current: 600mAPackage weight: 0.139 kg
Product size (L x W x H): 8.50 x 8.50 x 8.50 cm / 3.35 x 3.35 x 3.35 inches
Package size (L x W x H): 9.00 x 9.00 x 9.00 cm / 3.54 x 3.54 x 3.54 inchesPackage Contents: 1 x Solar Floating Light