If you only need a few, you might be able to skip the bridge, but the more you need, the more you’re going to want to take the strain off of your home network. You should consider how many bulbs you’re going to need and whether a bridge will be necessary to power them. Read our full Nanoleaf Shapes review How to choose the best smart light bulbs for youīefore you choose the best smart light bulb for your home, you first need to get an idea of where you’re going to put it and the space it will illuminate. Though they're pretty pricey, especially for something ornamental, Nanoleaf Shapes will upgrade any smart home space instantly. With all their brightness settings, color patterns and pulsing music modes, these mountable panels aren’t like any of the other products on this list. They're better. The $199 Nanoleaf Shapes light panels are modular hexagon tiles that connect together like custom puzzle pieces, pair to Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri, and provide a healthy dose of chaos to a boring bedroom or work-from-home setup. They're not bulbs per se, but if you want your home to make a statement, the Nanoleaf Shapes is one of the best smart light bulbs out there. Read our full Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Starter Kit review. To update your Philips Hue bridge, go into the Philips Hue mobile app, open Settings and click Software update. Make sure you update your bulb firmware to prevent malware from jumping through your bridge to your network. If you’re looking for a white smart bulb that can be a versatile addition to your smart home, this is it.Īs a disclaimer, Philips Hue systems have known security flaws. Plus, Philips Hue works with just about every other smart home system or device you can think of: Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT, Nest, SmartThings and more. What separates Philips from the competition - and makes it the standout among the best smart light bulbs - is the depth of its app, which is packed with features, including routines, sunrise/sunset automation, scenes, geofencing and a vacation mode.

Philips Hue’s White and Color Ambiance Starter Kit includes your choice of two or four dimmable colored bulbs plus a hub.

Wifi vs bluetooth bulbs