Things To Know Before Buying Smart Light Bulbs

Last updated on December 12, 2023

Lighting has always been a matter of great interest due to its power to transform any space. With evolving lifestyle and trends, the world of space lighting has witnessed significant advancements, and new lighting products are constantly being introduced.

Smart light bulbs are one such new product introduced to meet evolving customer requirements.

While traditional lighting products have been used extensively in the past, today they are becoming increasingly popular.

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What is a smart light bulb?

A smart light bulb is an advanced form of light bulb that provides customized lighting, scheduling, and remote controllability.

Smart bulbs are internet of things (IoT) based light products that come with smart functionalities like the capability to connect to smart devices and home assistants for a more advanced space lighting experience and convenient control.

They are internet-enabled light bulbs that are adaptable to the home automation and smart home concepts of today.

Where to use smart light bulbs?

The current trends in interior design and evolving lifestyle have increased the popularity of smart bulbs.

There used to be a time when traditional light bulbs were used for the sole purpose of lighting up rooms and offices.

However, today lighting products are an indispensable component of interior décor too, where smart bulbs now fulfil décor enhancement needs along with space lighting functionality.

As such, they are being used almost everywhere for the versatility they offer. They are extensively used in homes, offices, and corporate spaces. They are also being used in the commercial sector as well.

Advantages of Smart Light Bulbs

The main reason behind the increased popularity of smart bulbs are the numerous advantages offered by them as a result of their advanced technical features.

Here we will discuss the major advantages of using smart bulbs instead of conventional light sources.

➡ Energy Conservation

Amid the ongoing energy crisis, consumers prefer energy-conserving products and appliances.

Through optimized operational control, smart light bulbs help save considerable energy without compromising illumination quality.

Particularly, smart LED light bulbs provide an enhanced illumination experience with minimum energy utilization.

➡ Ambience

Lights are a great source for ensuring ambience in any kind of environment.

Smart bulbs enhance this ambience factor through their versatile functionality and additional incorporated product features.

This makes them a good fit for all sorts of public places and visiting spots.

Most of the smart light products offer multiple coloured lights with adjustable illumination and intensities.

Through the variety of options available, compatible products can be selected as per the user’s preferences.

This helps create an ambient environment in all kinds of places as per the space requirements.

➡ Convenient Operation

Conventional lighting products are often inconvenient because of their effort-demanding operations

Having to leave your couch or warm bed for the sole purpose of switching ON or OFF the light is too tedious.

This is where smart bulbs jump in to help you with their advanced functionalities.

With smart bulbs, device operation becomes more convenient for the user, as they can be operated from the comfort of a couch or a warm bed.

You don’t need to physically press switches; rather, a smart app can easily perform this function, so you can conveniently operate them with minimal effort.

➡ Health Benefits

Lights sources have been proven to have significant health benefits for users, and smart bulbs are a great source of such benefits.

Smart light bulbs come with lights of varying colors and frequencies. Many rainbow hue-type smart bulbs even offer multiple colored lights together.

Many of the smart light bulbs also mimic daylight and replace it in places with no daylight exposure like basements which helps prevent seasonal affective disorder.

In addition to that, task-specific and purpose-specific light colors and varying intensities provide an optimal lighting experience to users without straining eyes.

➡ Remote Controllability

Perhaps the greatest benefit of smart light bulbs is their remote controllability even from far-off distances. All you need is to have an established connection with your smart home products in order to control them remotely using smart devices.

This can be done using a smartphone app or home assistant, and can also be achieved using connectivity options like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

➡ Décor Enhancement

Smart light bulbs are extensively being used for décor enhancement, as their versatile nature and precise controllability helps enhance the space décor.

Smart light bulbs of varying colors, intensities, and designs fit well with different themed decors. As such, they resonate with different spaces and interior designs.

In addition, smart light bulbs not only beautify interior spaces but they are good for outdoor usage too.

➡ Motion Detection

Many smart light bulbs come with motion sensing technology.

These bulbs stay OFF during normal situations; however, once they detect any motion, they switch ON.

This motion detection and sensing technology has made them highly popular from a security perspective.

As such, smart bulbs can help in preventing and monitoring crimes like robbery and theft particularly at night.

➡ Customization

A great feature of smart bulbs that gives them an edge over traditional light bulbs is their customizability.

They are highly customizable when it comes to light colour, bulb design, and light intensity. They also offer customizable options for their operations and controls, where they can be programmed using features like timer and sleep for automation.

This enhances the user experience and provides automated product control with minimal effort.

➡ Architecture Personality

Smart light bulbs reflect the architectural quality of a space.

The Installation of smart bulbs is a sign of modernity which ultimately adds value to homes and commercial properties.

With evolving trends and lifestyle changes, people tend to prefer homes and corporate spaces offering maximum smart features.

Hence, using smart light bulbs can increase the worth of your property and lead to financial benefit from higher resale and rental values.

➡ Warranty

The final considerable advantage of smart light bulbs is that almost all of them come with warranties.

The duration of a warranty can vary based on the manufacturer, where they usually start from 1 year but can be much longer

Various kinds of warranties are offered by companies and manufacturers, where some offer replacement warranties while others may offer maintenance during the warranty period.

Such warranties help prevent financial loss in the case of product breakdown.

Disadvantages of Smart Light Bulbs

Though smart light bulbs come with many benefits, they also hold certain disadvantages like any other product.

Here we will discuss a few disadvantages of smart light bulbs to consider when buying them.

➡ Expensive

Smart light bulbs can be quite expensive, as they come with advanced technology and different features. Hence, their price can increase based on the product brand and features offered.

Besides purchasing costs, it is also worth considering the cost of installation and operation of smart light bulbs.

Installation of smart devices is often complicated, as the connections need to be precisely established with smart devices and remote modalities.

Along with that, if you have too many smart bulbs installed, they could drain electricity even when they are apparently switched OFF, as the smart system stays active.

As such, these increased costs may turn out to be a major drawback of smart light bulbs that makes them unaffordable for many.

➡ Additional Hub

Many smart light bulbs require additional hubs for optimal functionality. This hub requirement can become quite expensive for users as it adds to the cost of installing smart light bulbs.

These hubs are not required for all smart light bulbs, but their installation helps ensure smooth and consistent operation of the smart appliances.

Again, this can be a disadvantage for the people who can’t afford to install hub for smart light bulbs.

➡ Technical Glitches

Technical glitches are another disadvantage associated with many smart bulbs.

Smart bulbs require a highly precise system for optimal operation; however, many of these bulbs come with technical glitches that mar their performance.

Some examples are that smart apps turn out to be incompatible, or remote connectivity issues arise leading to compromised product performance.

Such technical glitches may cause the user to suffer and lead to financial losses too in case of product breakdown.

However, this risk can be minimized by using products from trusted brands and by careful installation of the bulbs to ensure smooth product operations.

➡ Security Issues

Smart light bulbs can pose a security threat due to their Wi-Fi network connectivity.

As such, they can be hacked or accessed leaving other systems in the network vulnerable to security breach issues, as hackers can access them through lateral privilege escalation.

In this case, smart light bulbs can lead you to a significant security risks, where malware can be installed on other devices connected to the same network.

However, having a strong Wi-Fi password, regular firmware updates, and features like two-point authentication may help counter such potential security risks.

Factors to Consider when Buying Smart Light Bulbs

Based on their increased popularity over time, today a wide range of smart light bulbs is available in the market.

Numerous brands are introducing their smart light products in the market with a varying price range and product features. Hence, it can get difficult to choose the product that best meets your needs.

Here we will discuss 5 factors to consider when buying a smart light bulb.

This will help you narrow down your choices and select the product that best matches your requirements.

1. Product Cost

Cost is the main factor to consider when buying smart light bulbs.

Products with varying prices are available in the market depending on the brand and features offered.

In addition to upfront product cost, the ongoing power consumption of the smart light bulbs should also be considered.

Bulbs with higher power consumption may lead to higher operational costs in the long run.

In order to make a smart purchase, try to select the product that fits best with your budget in terms of both upfront and operational costs, while adequately fulfilling your requirements.

2. Product and Light Colors

In addition to their basic function of space lighting, bulbs also play a significant role in interior décor.

Considering product and light colors can help you choose the one that best resonates with your interiors. Look for the product and light colors that match the current theme or color palette of your home or office.

Multicolor smart bulbs can also be a useful option to fulfill a versatile range of purposes.

For optimal utilization of your smart light bulbs, it’s best to first consider their potential usage and then select the light colors that meet your purpose accordingly.

3. Luminance

Luminance defines how bright or intense the light emitted from a product is, and it is also an important factor to consider when buying smart bulbs.

This is usually measured in Lumens, where the higher the lumens, the brighter and more intense light.

Product luminance needs to match the usage purpose, as smart bulbs with incompatible luminance can lead to straining of the eyes and inefficient product function.

4. Connectivity Features

Connectivity and smart functionality are quite fundamental features to consider when buying smart bulbs. They help you operate your smart products remotely with minimal effort.

In general, a product should be compatible with common smart devices and apps like Google Home and Alexa.

In addition, you should consider products that offer connectivity with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies, as this would facilitate operating your smart bulbs remotely.

5. Hub Requirement

Many smart products need additional hubs for optimal functioning; however, these hubs are not required by all smart light products. There are many smart bulbs, that can be installed and operated individually without the need for installing hubs.

Therefore, before making a purchase, assess the product hub requirements based on your budget. If you can afford to install an additional hub, you can go with any of the smart bulbs available. Otherwise, only go for light bulbs that do not require hub installation, as they will work optimally without the need for any additional hubs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can smart light bulbs be used without a hub?

Many smart bulbs require a hub for smooth operation and optimal functionalities.

However, hubs are not needed for every smart bulb. Some can work individually without the need for installing additional hubs.

2. Do smart light bulbs use electricity when they are Off?

Yes, smart bulbs can drain electricity even when they are apparently switched Off.

This is because the smart system stays activated even when the bulbs or other connected smart devices are Off.

This leads to the utilization of electricity while the bulbs are apparently switched Off.

3. Is there any warranty for smart light bulbs?

Yes, like any other smart device, smart bulbs also come with warranties. The duration of the warranty differs from product to product.

Some manufacturers offer replacement warranties while many others offer maintenance and labor services during the warranty period.

Yes, like any other smart device, smart bulbs also come with warranties. The duration of the warranty differs from product to product.

Some manufacturers offer replacement warranties while many others offer maintenance and labor services during the warranty period.

4. How can I operate smart light bulbs with a smartphone?

You can easily operate smart bulbs with your smartphone using smart apps. They can also be operated using smart home assistants like Alexa and Google Home.

Besides that, you can remotely operate your smart bulbs using connectivity features like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

5. Why should I prefer smart light bulbs over conventional bulbs?

Smart bulbs are quite advanced light bulbs that provide numerous benefits. You can remotely operate them with minimum effort.

They also provide features like sleep and timer for automated control. They come in a wide color range allowing you to choose what matches your needs.

They enhance space décor and optimally fulfill space lighting requirements.

6. Can smart light bulbs cause security issues?

Smart bulbs, being connected to your Wi-Fi network, may pose security issues. Hackers can invade your network through them making other network devices vulnerable.

However, a strong Wi-Fi password, regular firmware updates, and two-point authentication features can help prevent such issues.

COMPLETE RESIDENTIAL LED LIGHTING UPGRADE FROM AS LITTLE AS $33

LED Brilliance Starts Here, Just $33. Shine Brighter, Save More!

Our Team of Experts Will Guide You Through The ESS Lighting Upgrading Process To Ensure You Achieve The Most Effective Energy Efficient Improvement Possible, GUARANTEED!

A Brighter Home, A Brighter Future!

Wrapping Up

Smart bulbs have gained popularity with evolving lifestyle trends, and their versatile functionality and remote operation have increased demand for them.

With increasing demand, new and advanced smart bulbs are being launched regularly.

Such a variety of smart light products makes it quite difficult to select the most convenient one when making a purchase. However, it’s important to consider cost, color, luminance, connectivity, and hub requirements.

I hope this guide will help you assess the pros and cons of smart bulbs and buy the most suitable product to meet your requirements.