One of the first ways to start getting familiar with a smart home, how it works, and how easy and convenient it is to control devices in the home from your mobile device is through smart lighting. You could grab a single bulb to swap in for an old one and get started there or consider opting for a starter kit that includes multiple bulbs like the Sengled Smart LED Multicolor A19 Starter Kit is one of the budget smart light options and includes three bulbs plus a hub. Some starter kits come with a hub or bridge if it's required for smart connectivity, while others even throw in additional goodies that can function as part of your smart lighting system.
When it comes to every feature you could possibly want in a smart lighting starter kit, this one has it all. It comes with three of the best cheap smart LED bulbs and the Sengled Smart Hub, though it can also work with other compatible smart hubs like Samsung SmartThings or Amazon Alexa devices with built-in hubs. As a bonus, this kit includes a smart switch that you can mount on your wall.
Once set up, you can turn the lights on and off, dim or brighten them, and even change colors using your Android or iOS smartphone, tablet, or even your voice via Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa with a compatible hub. Choose from more than 16 million colors or whites, with a color temperature range from 2,000K up to 6,500K. Once you choose a setting, the lights will automatically go to the last setting the next time you turn them on, perfect for a home office, for example. You can create scenes and routines, set a schedule for when you're away, and connect up to 64 bulbs to a single hub once you're ready to expand the system.
Philips Hue has a reputation for being among the best in the smart lighting category, and this starter kit is a great way to familiarize yourself with the brand before delving into more complex options. It's also a great option if you want to add more lighting to every room of the home. It provides soft white lighting from some of the best Philips Hue smart lights with Energy Star-certified bulbs that fit most lamps, overhead lights, or 4-inch recessed cans. Use it with the included Philips Hue Bridge to control up to 50 lights.
It can be controlled using the Philips Hue app on an Android or iOS device as well as voice using Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit and a compatible smart device and IFTTT. You won't get colors with these bulbs, but it's a great start until you decide to grab colored bulbs. They can also work with other Hue gear like Hue dimmers, light strips, the Hue Play HDMI SyncBox, motion sensors, and more.
The widely popular company Ring is known for its smart home security cameras and video doorbells, but there are even more excellent Ring devices beyond just cameras, including smart lighting products. Pinking up this starter kit, it will work seamlessly with other Ring devices you might have in the home. The kit has two bulbs plus the Ring Bridge to enable smart features. Once connected, you can remotely control the lights from your phone using the Ring app, set schedules, and receive phone notifications.
It's super easy to set up and customize the settings, and the 800-lumen bulbs are energy-efficient and long-lasting, rated for a lifespan of up to 25,000 hours. Plus, they work with Amazon Alexa-enabled devices for voice control. Group them together with other Ring devices and control everything from a single app.
Get the mood just right, whether you're planning to cuddle up on the couch for a good horror movie, relaxing while reading a book, or gearing up for a party with friends. This kit includes a trio of multicolor bulbs along with a hub as well as a dimmer switch. Enjoy more than 16 million colors with the ability to dim and brighten them at the touch of a button or verbal command using Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple Homekit-compatible devices. Variable lumen output lets you adjust the lighting without having to manually adjust the dimmer switch.
In addition to different colors, you can also select from different shades and even intensities so you can find the perfect light for every occasion, mood, or activity. You can also create custom scenes for things like date night or the big game. Like all the others, control it from your smartphone using the app; it is also compatible with Nest and Samsung SmartThings for home automation as well as IFTTT.
There's no need for a separate hub or bridge with these bulbs, included or otherwise. If you want to connect them with a Google Home smart device, they connect directly via Wi-Fi — no hub or bridge required. You can also connect with Amazon Alexa or Apple HomeKit devices for voice control. If you want to control the bulbs while you're away from home because you forgot to turn the bedroom light off, you can also do so through the Cync mobile app.
The set only has a wireless dimmer switch and a single bulb that can adjust among three different intensities of white: warm, amber light (2000K) and cool, bluish tones (7000K) to match your activity, event, mood, or the amount of natural light. But adding additional Cync bulbs is easy and relatively low-cost. These bulbs are designed for use where you would otherwise use 60W incandescent A19 bulbs, and you can set customized schedules and scenes or control the lights individually or in a group. They use 84% less energy than incandescent, says GE, and last up to 15 times longer.
More than just a bulb
While you can't go wrong with any of these top smart light bulbs in your home, all of which are controllable by smartphone, Alexa, and Google Assistant and include more energy-efficient and longer-lasting LED technology. The Sengled Smart LED Multicolor Starter Kit checks all of the boxes for getting going with a fully-functioning smart lighting system in your home. You get more than 16 million colors from which to choose, can remotely control your lights, set timers, and add lights to schedules, and control the lights on all of the most popular smart home platforms, including Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit.
Plus, with support for up to 64 bulbs with a single hub, there's no limit to how many lights you can add to your home, inside and out. And since this kit already comes with the necessary hub and three bulbs, you're already off to the races in a good way, able to smarten up lighting in the most important rooms of your home, like your living room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom.