One of the most common and popular smart home products today is the smart light. Whether a light bulb or light strip, smart lighting has a variety of uses with plenty of expandability. The addition of smart lights can make your home more environmentally friendly and save money as well.
What if you do not have an Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant? That is okay, as this product is truly smart and does not require voice assistance to activate or control.
If you are having a hard time choosing between smart light bulbs or a smart light strip, this article is for you. Let’s take a look at both choices and see which one you should choose.
Why Use Any Smart Lights?
Before getting into which product is better, let’s quickly look at why smart lights make sense overall. Aside from the aforementioned eco-friendly nature and budget savings, they are just fun to use. Most smart home gadgets can be expensive and generally only appeal to a small niche of homeowners. Smart lights, on the other hand, can be useful to almost everyone. Gone are the days of turning lights on and off with a switch on the wall.
Say hello to the days of turning on lights from across the room or across the world. Have you ever found yourself sitting on a sofa wishing the lights would turn down or even off completely? Instead of getting up and flipping a switch, now all you have to do is pull out your smartphone and tap on the screen. Want to turn on your home lights while you are on vacation around the world? That is just as easy as doing it from the couch.
Why You Should Choose a Smart Light Bulb
The more popular of the two choices, smart light bulbs have grown significantly in popularity in recent years. Alongside the rest of the smart-home industry, light bulbs have been at the forefront of desirability alongside video doorbells and smart home locks.
What makes a smart light bulb like the Philips Hue so popular? For one, it is easy to install. Just unscrew your old bulbs and screw in the smart ones. Simple. It’s also worth considering whether a smart bulb requires a hub to function. As it turns out, both the smart bulb and strip are equal in this regard. Some require a hub and some do not, as is the case with Sylvania’s smart light bulbs. It’s simply up to you which brand you end up choosing.
If you are largely concerned about using less energy, the LED smart light bulbs are a “smart” option, pun intended. Linking smart lights to other home accessories is another cool function. Want your lights to turn on when you unlock your front door? That can be set up in a matter of minutes.
The single best reason to go for smart light bulbs is the cost. A single smart light strip can cost the same as a four-pack of bulbs. Yes, you might get 40 or even 80 inches of light on a strip, but that does not light up a room in the same way a pack of smart light bulbs can. For that reason alone, smart light bulbs might be your best choice.
Why You Should Choose a Smart Light Strip
When it comes to choosing a smart strip, you should consider that this product, while smart, differs in function from the smart bulb. Whereas the smart bulb offers lights and ambiance alike, the light strip is more designed for ambiance than lighting up a room.
Available in a variety of sizes, colors and price, smart light strips like the Govee are really fun to introduce accent colors, decorate a wall or add some vibrancy to a room. Want to give a whole new look to your favorite bookcase or entertainment center? Add a Philips Hue smart light strip and control it with your smartphone. Like the smart light bulbs, these strips can be controlled via voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant or through a downloadable smartphone app, depending on the brand.
However, one distinct difference between bulbs and strips is that smart light strips can be cut into two. That’s not the case with all smart light strips, but many brands encourage users to take an 80-inch strip and cut it into two or three pieces to add even more ambiance to a home. Are you getting the message yet? If ambiance is your primary concern, then the smart light strip is for you.
Which One Should You Choose?
Ultimately, the choice is yours and depends on your needs. If you value eco-friendliness and saving money in the long run, the smart light bulb is right for you. If your primary purchase is directed by adding a new level of color or ambiance, find yourself a smart light strip. You also need to consider placement, as smart light bulbs fit in nearly every light bulb placement. Smart light strips require flat surfaces to really stay attached. All of this said, the choice is entirely based on what you hope to accomplish.
Conclusion
The good news is that no matter which smart light product you choose, they are both here to stay. There is no question that smart lighting will not only continue to grow in popularity but also improve technologically in the hopes of saving homeowners more money. After all, the best way to attract new smart home shoppers is the promise of savings and convenience. It worked for me!
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David Joz
David is a freelance tech writer with over 15 years of experience in the tech industry. He loves all things Nintendo.
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