Are you looking for a smart bulb? Very popular with fans of home automation, connected bulbs are often the first step in connecting your home to your smartphone. They are easy to install and use and they are still relatively affordable. On the other hand, it can be difficult to choose from the multitude of models available. To help you with your purchases, we have therefore concocted a small selection of the best connected bulbs on the market. Follow the leader !
Selection of the best smart bulbs
Like a classic light, a connected bulb is primarily used to enlighten you in your daily life. Passing through a Android or iOS appor through your voice assistant, you will be able to easily control the switching on and off of your lamps. Most smart bulbs on the market also offer intensity and color control. Say goodbye to the traditional switch!
The icing on the cake: by setting up routines, or by associating your light bulbs with other connected objects, you will be able to automate your lighting from A to Z. For example, you can program your bedside lamp to wake you up gently from 7 a.m., or dim the lights in your living room in the evening.
Passing through a app like IFFTT, you will also be able to simulate a presence in your home while you are away, or ask your lamps to change color if you receive an SMS or an email. In recent years, the market for smart bulbs has literally exploded. It is not always easy to navigate between the different offers. Before you decide, you must first ensure that the lighting system that tempts you is compatible with the other connected objects that you use. We’ve broken that down for you.
Philips Hue White & Color E27 (Kit 2 bulbs + bridge)
Philips Hue White & Color E27 at the best price
Amazon
113.82€
If there is one reference mark in the smart bulb market, it’s Philips Hue. Over the years, Philips Hue has built a unparalleled know-how in the field with models that are very easy to install while having all the features expected of an excellent connected light bulb.
Compatible with Alexa, Google Home, HomeKit and IFTTT, you will have no trouble integrating this solution into your connected home. Philips Hue has chosen to offer one of the most open platforms on the market while forging partnerships with many partners. The application is therefore complete with the possibility of setting up predefined scenarios or automatisms. You also have the option of fine tune the temperature or color of your lighting to get the exact mood you want.
If it is possible to connect directly to the bulbs via bluetooth, it is preferable to have the Philips Hue bridge to connect your entire system via Wifi and thus have access to all the features. It is for this reason that we offer you here the starter kit with two bulbs and bridge. Thereafter, you will only have to buy packs of bulbs to equip all your rooms if you wish.
| The + | The – |
|---|---|
| Lighting quality | High price |
| Full app | Wifi bridge required |
| Compatible with most existing systems |
AwoX SML2-W7-E27
AwoX SML2-W7-E27 at the best price
Amazon
8.9€
Fnac
17€
If you want to install smart bulbs in your home without breaking the bank, there are easy-to-use models for Less than 10 euros (see less than 5 euros for the 13 W model). AwoX offers theone of the cheapest solutions on the market.
The bulbs connect to your smartphone by Bluetooth. So you can control 8 bulbs at the same time via the AwoX SmartCONTROL app. The intensity as well as the heat of the lighting are thus adjustable. On the other hand, the absence of a Wifi connection does not allow these lights to be controlled via a voice assistant or remotely.
| The + | The – |
|---|---|
| Little price | No Wi-Fi |
| Simple and effective app | Not compatible with voice assistants |
| Adjustable heat and light intensity |
Xiaomi Yeelight 1S
Xiaomi Yeelight 1S at the best price
Amazon
21.05€
Xiaomi has designed smart bulbs that already have a integrated Wi-Fi connection. So you don’t need a bridge to pay extra to connect your bulbs to your network. Moreover, this model is compatible with Alexa, Google Home, HomeKit, SmartThings and IFTT, among others. The light produced can be white (adjustable between 1700k and 6500k) or color (to be chosen from 16 million colours). Thanks to the dedicated application, you can easily set up scenarios and automations.
| The + | The – |
|---|---|
| Built-in Wi-Fi | Installation a little complex |
| Compatibility with all systems | |
| Many possible settings |
WiZ color E27 WiFi 60W
WiZ color E27 Wi-FI 60W at the best price
Cdiscount
13.99€
Amazon
15.99€
Another model with the Wifi directly integrated, this WiZ bulb stands out for its interesting price without compromising on functionality. Under a very classic aspect reveals a fairly complete bulb that illuminates in white and in color and who can even offer dynamic lighting to simulate a chimney fire or a sunset for example. Compatible with Alexa, Google Home and IFTTthis bulb also allows via its application to program its lighting in advance or to simulate a presence during your vacation for example.
| The + | The – |
|---|---|
| No need to buy a bridge | No HomeKit compatibility |
| Many features | |
| Dynamic lighting in white and color |
WiZ ST64 E27 Amber Filament
WiZ Filament amber ST64 E27 at the best price
Amazon
23.17€
If most users will choose white bulbs to light up their interior, there are other more decorative models, also connected. Also at WiZ, here is the amber filament model that allows you to give a more vintage look to your lighting.
Just like the previous model, it is a bulb Wi-Fi without a bridge. You can control its intensity but also its heat. So you can even decide to have cool white lighting. You are not limited to a typical warm white of this kind of retro bulb. The application is still quite complete with options like a ssunrise simulation to wake up gently or a presence simulation during your long absences. Finally, the bulb is compatible with Alexa, Google Home and IFTT.
| The + | The – |
|---|---|
| vintage look | No HomeKit compatibility |
| Full app | |
| Wi-Fi connection without bridge |
TP-Link Tapo L530E (Pack of 4)
TP-Link Tapo L530E (Pack of 4) at the best price
Amazon
39.99€
TP-Link is a recognized brand in home automation. With this pack of 4 bulbs, you can equip a good part of your rooms to only 10 euros per bulb.
For a model with built-in Wi-Fi without a bridge, this is excellent value for money. Especially since you can choose a white or colored lighting. You can set up scenarios according to your daily routine and save specific settings to use according to your activity: watching a movie, reading, cooking… Voice control is also present with Alexa or Google Assistant. Simple, complete and effective, this bulb has everything to seduce.
| The + | The – |
|---|---|
| Good value for money | No HomeKit compatibility |
| Many features | |
| Built-in Wi-Fi |
Nanoleaf Essentials E27
Nanoleaf Essentials E27 at the best price
Amazon
19.98€
Baker
19.99€
Fnac
34.67€
If you have a connected home that mostly uses Apple HomeKit, it may be more difficult to find a bulb compatible with your existing system. With the Nanoleaf, it’s just the opposite. Compatible with the new Thread protocol (which aims to replace the Zigbee protocol), this bulb will require a compatible bridge to be able to connect via Wifi and thus reveal all of its functionalities. the HomePod Mini as well as theApple TV 4K are for example compatible bridges.
If you don’t have this kind of bridge, you can still connect via Bluetooth but then there are much cheaper bulbs if you want to connect only via Bluetooth.
In addition to its Thread protocol, this bulb also sports an innovative design and interesting features such as the possibility of automatically change the temperature of your lighting according to the time of day.
| The + | The – |
|---|---|
| Thread Protocol | Requires a Thread-compatible bridge to have full functionality |
| HomeKit-enabled | |
| original design |
What is a smart bulb?
Connected bulbs are more expensive than conventional bulbs but they have many advantages. A connected LED bulb is equipped with a Bluetooth or WiFi module that allows you to control the lighting remotely from a related device, whether it is a smartphone, a tablet, a computer, a voice assistant or a home automation box. So you can turn it off, turn it on, adjust the brightness intensity or even define the color temperature of the bulb.
Depending on the model chosen, you can also program the ignition, set up a color change to signal an incoming call, monitor your home when the connected bulb is also equipped with a camera or listen to music via a loudspeaker. built-in speaker.
The market for smart bulbs is constantly growing and with all the models available, the choice is not always easy. Here are the important points to know to choose your connected bulb.
- The protocol for connecting your bulb : there are different ways to pair your bulb to control it remotely. It can thus operate in Bluetoothin which case it is necessary to be in a fairly close perimeter, in Wireless to use it from anywhere thanks to the internet, or via ZigBee using very energy-efficient low-frequency signals. the new Thread protocol will soon replace the Zigbee.
- The different functionalities of the connected bulbe such as voice control, color management, intensity and white temperature, integration of a camera or even a loudspeaker.
Even if the bulb itself is installed like a conventional bulb, you also need associate it by first downloading the dedicated application of the brand. Most of the time, you will have to create an account to access the space which will then allow you to manage your connected bulb.