Govee Curtain Lights
Wattage: 25 | Lumens: TBD | Voice control option: Yes
What would you do if you had a five-by-six foot panel dotted with 520 individually controllable lights? Create a Christmas tableau for your holiday morning? Program a pulsating, colorful animation for your party? Create a custom “Congrats Grad!” or “Happy Birthday!” sign in light? With the Govee Curtain Lights, you can create almost any colorful tableau or basic animation that you want. This sheet of colorful LEDs offer a lighted canvas that can be used in so many different ways, and that’s true whether you make the curtain a permanent fixture on a wall or you break them out just for fun now and then.
Controlled via app or voice (with Alexa or Google Assistant), it’s easy to turn on pre-programmed lighting displays—yours or Govee’s creations—and you can also set the lights to glow and pulse along with music or a movie, the wall of color enhancing your enjoyment of your space.
What our writers say: “Perhaps no smart lights excited my kids more than these curtain lights from Govee, which allow them to create artwork with light and even program animated scenes, treating each little LED bulb as a pixel. They have been an awesome addition for play time.”
Pros:
- Great for parties, holidays and gatherings
- Can be safely used outdoors
- Multiple sets can be daisy chain synced
Cons:
- Require large space for setup
Best Minimalist Smart Lights
Elegant Simplicity Illuminated
Nanoleaf Elements Hexagons
Wattage: 2 per panel | Lumens: 22 per panel | Voice control option: Yes
Let’s be honest here: Not everyone likes the look of smart lights. And we’re not talking about the light itself, as in those millions of different hues and colors of lumens pouring out; we mean the hardware. If strips or tubes or curtains of lights aren’t your idea of an aesthetic win but you still want smart lighting you can easily control and enjoy, then the Nanoleaf Elements Hexagons are your smart lights.
These subtle faux wood panels look great even when not illuminated, adding depth and character to your walls, and can be arranged in myriad different patterns. When turned on, the panels shine softly in several different color temperatures, from a pale white approximating the morning’s sun to a warm glow more akin to gentle firelight. You can set them to “flicker,” in which case they genuinely do approximate firelight. Subtle and refined, these panels are a great addition to any space that can benefit from more ambiance (and light) but where bright, obvious smart lights just won’t fit in.
What our writers say: “Nanoleaf makes a lot of great smart lighting products that I have tested, but this is the only smart light they make that doesn’t look conspicuously like, well, smart lights. These faux wood hexagons simply look like an artistic installation… until they start glowing!”
Pros:
- Subtle and classy styling, even when turned off
- Rated for 25,000 hour lifetime
- Can by synced to music, movies and other media
Cons:
- Base kit is expensive
Best Outdoor Smart Lights
When It Rains, It Shines
Phillips Hue Lily Outdoor Spot Light
Wattage: 49 | Lumens: 640 | Voice control option: Yes
If you want what may well be the best possible solution to your outdoor illumination woes, then you may want to just choke down the cost and get a set of these Lily Outdoor Spot Lights from Phillips Hue. As each kit only comes with three lights, you may want to consider more, but it’s the best outdoor lighting choice for many residences. That’s because these lights are powerful, durable and they can be customized in so many ways. From the angle at which you position them to all the choices you have for brightness and color, when you install these smart outdoor lights, each one is a force multiplier, able to do the role that would have been required by myriad different fixtures in the past.
Controlled via app, voice, switch or compatible with various types of sensors—as in motion sensors or light sensors—the options for control are almost as numerous as the options for color. (OK, not actually, as these lights can put out 16 million different colors.) And if you want to save power but always feel safe and welcome when you get home, program your Lily lights with a geofence setting that has them come alive as you draw near—provided your phone is in your purse or pocket.
Pros:
- Withstands harsh weather conditions
- Multiple control options
- Additional lights can be added for whole property illumination
Cons:
- Very expensive
Best Smart Desk Lamp Lights
Glowing Beside You All Day Long
Govee RGBIC Aura Table Lamp
Wattage: 12 | Lumens: 350 | Voice control option: Yes
The Aura Table lamp is a great choice for anyone who wants to add two things to a space: a source of illumination and a source of amusement. As a light, the Aura can be bright enough for reading, writing, studying and so forth, especially when it is complementing other lighting. But when used just for fun, the Aura is arguably at its best. It can be set to flicker, glow and display all sorts of different lighted “scenes,” from romantic hearts for Valentine’s Day to Christmas colors to 4th of July hues and more. There are scenes in which lights on its surface approximate a fish bowl and much more.
And while many smart lights can only be controlled via app or voice, this one offers those control features but can also be operated via physical buttons on its top. Now, that said, those buttons don’t always work that predictably… but the app interface and control are excellent.
What our writers say: “I’ve had the Aura Table Lamp from Govee sitting on my desk for about two years now, and I love the way it can change the feeling of my office. In the morning, I set it to a bright, pale white color and it helps wake me up; in the afternoon, as the work day winds down, I turn it to a deep orange color, and it’s calming cue for me to wrap up and move on with the day.”
Pros:
- Features dozens of scene modes
- Great reading lamp or night light
- Can be programmed to shut off or turn on at given times
Cons:
- Physical controls on lamp often finicky
How User-Friendly Are Smart Light Apps?
Smart light apps vary in user-friendliness, with some brands offering more intuitive interfaces than others. Many of the smart lights on our list, including our top pick, the Amazon Basics Smart A19 LED Light Bulb, work with platforms like Amazon Alexa, a popular smart home system. Others offer user-friendly features with Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit and Matter.
Choose a system that aligns with your preferences and comfort level with technology. You also want to choose a system that works with your current setup, whether you have Amazon, Google, Apple or Matter.
Do Certain Smart Lights Offer Extra Features Like Voice Control, Motion Sensing And More?
Many smart lights come with extra features to make it very easy to control your home. One of our picks, the Phillips Hue Lily Outdoor Light, offer motion sensing so they automatically come on when an animal or person passes by them and triggers the sensor.
Many different features are described in the product descriptions, including voice controls and compatibility with different systems. Check the product description and fine print on any smart light bulb you’re considering to get a sense of what extras are offered.
What’s the Typical Lifespan of Smart Bulbs?
The average lifespan of smart bulbs typically ranges from 15,000 to 25,000 hours of use. Factors affecting durability include the quality of the bulb, usage patterns, and environmental conditions. Choose smart light bulbs from reputable brands, like Phillips and Govee, and follow the recommended guidelines in the user manuals to maximize your smart bulb’s lifespan.
How Do Installation Processes Vary for Different Smart Lights?
Installation processes for smart lights can vary, but most involve a straightforward, easy setup. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully, and consider brands that offer user-friendly installation guides. The good news: All of the best smart lights we recommend feature easy self-installation, so you don’t need to hire professional help to set them up in your home.
However, some issues may arise, coming from our own personal experiences setting up smart lights. Common challenges may include connectivity issues or app setup glitches. Check troubleshooting guides provided by your brand, and if you’re still having issues, reach out to customer service, who is always happy to help resolve any issues.
How We Chose The Best Smart Lights
The smart lights featured on this list were chosen almost exclusively thanks to firsthand testing experience. And in some cases, that is to say years of experience trying out many different products from many of the brands that made our list.
With lighting, seeing really is believing, and you can believe us when we tell you we have seen these lights in our homes and offices and yards and beyond. When needed, we also turn to reviews and ratings left about smart lights that come from verified customers. In the end, only the best smart lights—those we’re confident enough about that we’d gladly buy them ourselves—made the cut.
In particular, this story was authored by contributing writer Steven John, an accomplished writer, journalist with multiple outlets and an experienced product tester. In addition to covering dozens of tech topics, Steven has written many articles covering everything from camping gear to kitchen hardware to DIY tools and more.
We know tech tends to become quickly outdated. To keep this piece fresh and accurate, it’s regularly updated; its current iteration is from August 2023.
