Smart lighting roundup
Since Thomas Edison lit up the world with the invention of the lightbulb, lighting is something that has brightened up our world during the day and at night, and now thanks to the Internet, we have far more control over how we illuminate our homes and the world around us.
However, with so many options out there for smart lighting for your home, the decision can be quite daunting for those not familiar with connecting your household lighting to the Internet.
Follow our compilation of all the smart lighting products on offer.
Wiz
WiZ is one of the few smart home products that offer advanced voice control compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and, more specifically, Siri.
Whether you’re after a colour adjustable Wi-Fi light or a regular dimmable Wi-Fi bulb, WiZ has you covered.
WiZ also has a 2m adjustable light strip that can be bent into any shape you want, cut to any length you need.
All controlled within the WiZ app, each smart device can be then added to either your Google Home, Apple HomeKit, or added for Amazon Alexa automation.
And in the event the Internet goes down, you can add on the WiZ infrared remote controller to control all your smart lights.
Nanoleaf
Nanoleaf is probably the most creative of the bunch, with the company producing lighting panels that can be fixed to your walls to create light displays of all different shapes and sizes.
They offer two versions of its LED light panels – the Rhythm and Canvas, with the former including an integrated audio sensor that detects and syncs with music in real-time.
Each of the modular panels snap together, almost like LEGO pieces, and are all compatible with Apple HomeKit, Google Home and Amazon Alexa.
Depending on which version you’ve selected, Nanoleaf offers expansion kits and extra linking pieces to attach more panels to your setup.
Also on offer is the Nanoleaf remote – a sleek dodecahedron-inspired trigger for the light panels.
Philips
Let’s start with the big guns – Philips Hue – without a doubt, the most robust connected home system money can buy and trust me, you’ll need a bit of cash to enter the ecosystem.
It’s the only caveat for such a perfect system, as to operate any Philips Hue product, you must first purchase the Philips Hue Bridge, through which all the devices connect.
While this allows for greater control and functionality, it does raise the entry price level for most connected home users.
That being said, Philips has you covered from lightbulbs, light strips, light bars, outdoor flood lights, wall lights, motion sensors, downlights, spotlights, mirror lamps, pendant lights, ceiling lamps and outdoor pedestal lights.
Philips even offers switch fittings to replace exiting outlets in your household to ensure connectivity is succinct across your home.
The LIFX product lineup now includes smart home products that work seamlessly with Amazon Alexa, Samsung & Google Home.
LIFX
LIFX started its life in 2012 as a Kickstarter campaign, well before the smart home boom, with a multi-coloured LED Wi-Fi light.
Their product lineup now includes smart home products that work seamlessly with Amazon Alexa, Samsung & Google Home.
On top of lightbulbs (in both E27 and bayonet fittings), LIFX offers beam lights, light strips, tile lights, downlights.
Unlike Philips Hue, users do not need to purchase an external hub to operate the lights; instead, it runs through the LIFX companion app, which connects to your Google Home, Amazon Alexa or Samsung SmartThings account.
Sengled products are all configured within the Element Mobile app, which allows you to connect up 64 smart devices.
Sengled
Sengled offers a simple selection of smart lights, all connected through the Element Smart Hub.
From single smart bulbs (in either E27 or bayonet fittings), smart downlights and outdoor floodlights, Sengled will have your home lit up with the Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Zigbee HA 1.2.1.
If you’re after something a little experimental, you can even get yourself a Sengled Pulse Smart LED light with built-in Bluetooth JBL speaker for a smarter home sound system.
Sengled products are all configured within the Element Mobile app, which allows you to connect up 64 smart devices.
Plus, thanks to Track Energy, users can also monitor home energy use through the companion app.
Lenovo
Similar to Sengled, Lenovo offers only two smart lightbulbs, but without the need for a central hub.
You can either grab yourself the Smart Colour Bulb, or keep it basic with the Smart White Bulb, both available in either E27 or bayonet fittings.
Lenovo smart bulbs are configured through the Lenovo Link app, which can then be automated via Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.
TP-Link
TP-Link has a much wider variety of smart bulbs than its competitors, all available in either E27 or bayonet fittings.
The Kasa Smart Light Bulb lineup has three options – the MultiColour, Dimmable, Filament Warm Amber or Filament Soft White.
All TP-Link products are configured with the Kasa smart home app where they can then be added to your Google Home or for Amazon Alexa automation.