Using Smart Lights to Brighten Your Home
We have smartphones and smart speakers, smart TVs, smartwatches, smart lights and now we also have smart homes. It’s no question that we are heading into an interconnected world. Smart homes can easily be linked with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices, so you can control accessories from your phones. Controlling our home appliances and lighting with a single app has never been more convenient.
There are many options to choose from when it comes to smart lights, such as interior and exterior lights, brand, quality, app support, luminance, and of course, the lifespan. To control the smart lights or bulbs you need to have an app, especially if you have multiple bulbs. If you have an Amazon Echo or Google Home, look for a brand that is compatible with these voice assistants. Some smart lights require a hub that acts as a middleman between you and the bulbs. The downside of this is that adding a hub or a bridge costs more.
Now, let’s look at some popular options for smart lights.
Interior Smart Lights
Philips Hue A19 Starter Kit
Philips is the best brand when it comes to smart home technology. Now in its third generation, the A19 Starter Kit just showed its competitors what they lack: great app interface and added compatibility.
The new and improve Hue Bridge features an upgraded processor that lets you run multiple applications at the same time. The bulbs are also brighter, as Philips increased the lumens output from 600 to 800 lumens (40 to 60 watts). The lifespan of each bulb is estimated to last 25,000 hours. These smart lightbulbs also have a richer color compared to its previous model.
The Hue ecosystem allows you to use third-party apps and allows you to sync the lights to music and movies. The A19 Kit may cost more money, but you get what you pay for with this product.
C by GE Starter Pack
The C by Ge smart lightbulb is the best cheap starter when it comes to smart home products. It consists of four bulbs: two lights for the living room or kitchen (C-Life), and two sleep lights for bedrooms (C-Sleep). The lightbulbs have a design of a standard A19 incandescent bulb, and the output of the C-Life bulb is capable of to 800 lumens (40 to 60 watts).
The downside of this smart bulb is you cannot control it outside the house. It does not have a Wi-Fi connection or scheduling options. You can only control it with Bluetooth, or the easy-to-use app.
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Exterior Smart Lights
Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Outdoor Smart Spot Light
Similar to the Philips Hue A19 Starter Kit, the Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Outdoor Smart Spot Light is easy to install (with a hub required), has tons of color variation (16 million), set timers and supports a lot of third party apps. You can also control it with app and voice control by using a smart speaker such as Amazon Echo or Google Home. The smart spotlights are made of resistant and high-quality material which is perfect for outdoor use. The lifespan of each bulb is estimated to last 25,000 hours.
The Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Outdoor Smart Spot Light is expensive, but it’s worth the price, especially if you have a huge backyard. This smart spotlight is perfect for outdoor entertainment.
Kuna Porch Lamp
Kuna isn’t as popular as big brands like Philips and GE. Kuna is an app-based home security platform that powers a range of DIY smart devices like outdoor cameras, lights and motion sensors so they fit seamlessly into your home.
Unlike other smart lights, the Kuna Porch Lamp is a decorative outdoor wireless smart lamp that has a camera with a built-in intercom. The Kuna app (available on Android and IOS), allows you to set pre-recorded greetings, set alarms and control the light manually or use the dusk-dawn mode so it adjusts by itself.
The greatest feature of Kuna is that it sends you a notification when someone is at your doorstep, and you can interact with them through the app. The app and camera are synced with each other, so you do not have to worry about security issues, especially if you are on vacation. Installing the lamp is easy, and there is no need to hire an electrician.
There are three different styles of Kuna smart outdoor lamps: contemporary, craftsman and traditional.
If you want a cheaper option, you can choose the Kuna Companion Lights. The difference between the two? The companion lights don’t have a camera and connect via Bluetooth.
Kuna Smart Outdoor Lamps are one of the best options when it comes to adding security to your smart home.