Smart switches are the usual go-to choice for reliable, full-featured smart home lighting. Be that as it may, they’re not always the right option, and sometimes they’re not even an option. While tech geeks like to scoff at smart bulbs, I personally love them for one simple reason—they’re plug-and-play. Allow me to explain.
Smart bulbs are great for renters
If you live in a rental, as I do, installing smart switches to control your lighting isn’t even on the table. Even if your contract allows tenants to make permanent changes to the wall or wiring, why would you spend money renovating a house you don’t own?
If you’re not comfortable doing the upgrade yourself and need to hire an electrician, you’re looking at a triple-digit investment per switch. That’s a hefty price tag just to be able to say, “Hey Google, turn off the kitchen lights.”
When moving day comes, the last thing you’ll want to do is rip your smart switch out and reinstall the dumb one, so however you look at it, it’s not a smart investment.
Fortunately, there’s a simple solution to your lighting woes, and it comes in the form of smart light bulbs. They offer something that smart switches don’t: installation is so effortless it’s become a common joke.
Since it’s just a light bulb, you don’t need anyone’s permission to make the upgrade. Just grab the right smart bulbs (usually E26 or E12 for the base), screw them in, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to pair them with your smart home. Voilà, just like that, you can control your lights remotely or with your voice and add automations.
- Colors
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Multicolor
- Connectivity
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Wi-Fi & Bluetooth
For inexpensive but reliable color changing bulbs, it’s tough to beat Govee. The bulbs are bright and colorful, and the Govee app has a ton of fun patterns for every mood and season.
Plus, you can install them in any light fixture you want, meaning your smart functionality isn’t tied to a smart plug or switch.
Admittedly, bulbs aren’t the perfect solution—you effectively lose the functionality of the physical switch, as it needs to stay on in order for the bulb to receive power and communicate with your smart home. That’s why I find smart bulbs work best for ambient lighting in things like sconces and lamps, while the physical switch stays for the main fixture.
That said, if you want smart functionality, installing a few smart bulbs is far easier than debating whether to put in switches.
Another perk of smart bulbs is that you can take them with you when you move. They’re just as easy to remove as they are to install, so when it’s time to pack up, don’t forget to grab every bulb before you go.
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Smart bulbs have a few unique benefits
Smart bulbs and switches are often mentioned in the same breath, as if they’re the same type of device. In a way, they are, because both control lighting and are dimmable.
However, smart bulbs go a step beyond simple switches with colors. In addition to letting you adjust the color temperature from warm to cool white, many smart bulbs allow you to change them to millions of colors.
For many people, this is little more than a fun party trick for the kids’ room, but I personally love it.
I like to match the color of the room with the theme of the TV show or movie I’m watching. For instance, Fallout is mostly set in the desert, so I pick a pale golden color when watching Season 2. Pluribus is obviously yellow. The Boys has a bit of a blue tint, so that’s the color I choose when watching it.
I’m delighted with my cheap smart bulbs
It’s a common misconception that smart bulbs are expensive. Fortunately, you can now find surprisingly affordable options that won’t hurt to replace. I ordered a pack of four E14 bulbs for my lamps from Temu, and they set me back less than $20.
They’re not brand-name bulbs and don’t get as bright as I’d like, but they still work surprisingly well. They’re Wi-Fi-controlled, which isn’t ideal, but so far they’ve been reliable. I’ve yet to see them fail to connect to Google Home or ignore my commands.
So if you come across some cheap smart bulbs you want for ambient lighting, don’t be afraid to give them a try. Just make sure they’re compatible with your preferred smart home app before you buy.
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Smart switches are still the better choice
As much as I love my smart bulbs, they’re not perfect. The biggest drawback is how they’re actually operated. If your smart bulb is connected to a traditional switch and someone flips it, you lose remote control and automations. Plus, like any bulb, they’ll eventually fail—and replacing them is far more expensive than a standard cheap LED bulb.
Smart switches don’t have those drawbacks. While installation can be intimidating, the cost is roughly on par with bulbs, and once installed, they’ll last for years, if not decades.
The best part is that you keep the functionality of the physical switch, so you can still flip it to turn the lights on while also using automations, voice commands, or app controls.
- Matter support
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Matter certified
- Voice
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Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, and Google Assistant.
An inexpensive smart switch that offers various cutting-edge features, the Tap S505 Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch is something worth considering. With an easy setup, it’s an excellent choice for your smart home.
