The best smart bulbs: spotlights, filament-style bulbs and more, plus our guide on how control and use them

Lighting can really set the overall mood of a space, from soft spotlights to multicoloured strobes, it's all about the ambience. Using a smart bulb is an easy and efficient way to customise the lighting in your home to your taste. Smart bulbs can also be great energy savers, helping you to save some money in style.

So, where can you find the best smart bulbs for you? Right here. The Recommended has scoured the web to find the best smart bulbs for every need. From old-school filament designs to the handy dimmer bulb, we’ve covered all bases and pulled together our top picks to make shopping simple.

The best smart bulbs at a glance:

• Best white bulbs: TP-Link Tapo Smart Bulb
• Best screw-in bulbs: Fitop WiFi Smart Bulb
• Best bayonet bulbs: Avatar Smart Bulbs
• Best long-lasting bulbs: Hive Lights Dimmable B22 Bayonet Smart Bulb
• Best multipack: Lepro GU10 Colour Changing Smart Bulb
• Best daylight bulbs: Lepro GU10 White Smart Bulbs
• Best spotlight bulbs: Jayool GU10 LED Smart Bulbs
• Best filament bulb: Philips Hue Filament Smart Bulb
• Best colour-changing bulbs: LOHAS GU10 Colour-Changing Smart Light Bulbs
• Best for small spaces: Philips Hue White Smart Bulb Twin Pack

The best smart bulbs

Best white bulbs: TP-Link Tapo Smart Bulb

For a warm glow

Colour: Soft warm | Type: LED B22, dimmable | Wattage: ‎8.7 watts

These 8.7-watt smart bulbs work with both Amazon Alexa and Google Home and can be controlled via the free smartphone app. You get two in each pack, and on the app, you can control both of the bulbs together or keep them separate.

They’re easy to use and can be controlled by multiple devices, so multiple people in the house can control the same lights. These bulbs also allow you to set timers and schedules with ease and control brightness with a dimming range of 1-100%.

Best screw-in bulbs: Fitop WiFi Smart Bulb

Easy to install

Colour: Multiple colours | Type: LED E27, dimmable | Wattage: 9 watts

These smart bulbs are compatible with Amazon Alexa, Siri, Echo Dot and Google Home and can be controlled remotely via the Fitop app. The voice-activated lights are tunable, so offer several colour settings and a dimmer function that allows you to tailor your lighting from cool to warm white light.

These bulbs also come with various presets and timer capabilities for tailored use. They are wi-fi operated but can also be switched off by hand if your connection drops.

Best bayonet bulbs Avatar Smart Bulbs

Voice control

Colour: Multiple colours | Type: LED B22 | Wattage: 9 watts

These smart bulbs are equipped with voice control and are also compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Echo Dot. They are 9-watt LED smart bulbs and are easy to install with a simple bayonet design.

As well as being voice-controlled, you can use the free smartphone app that allows you to set timers and schedules. The bulb has over 16 million lighting colours, so there is a huge variety to choose from.

Best long-lasting bulbs: Hive Lights Dimmable B22 Bayonet Smart Bulb

25,000 hours of lamp life

Colour: Warm white | Type: LED B22, dimmable | Wattage: 9 watts

Working together with your Hive Hub, the Hive smart bulb can be controlled remotely from your smartphone. The Hive Hub brings all your smart home technology items together, so this is a useful bulb if you already have some of their products.

The Hive Smart Bulb creates a warm white light and can provide up to 25,000 hours of lamp life. This smart bulb is easily installed and can be placed on timers and schedules remotely via the Hive app.

Best multipack: Lepro GU10 Colour Changing Smart Bulb

Value for money

Colour: Multiple colours | Type: LED GU10, incandescent | Wattage: 4.5 watts

This pack of 4 smart bulbs are compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Echo Dot and is equipped with voice control technology. With four bulbs, you can cover multiple rooms/spaces in your homes so all your lights can work simultaneously.

With these versatile smart bulbs, you can also set timers and schedules via the smartphone app and choose from a warm white light or over 16 million colours. These bulbs are also dimmable and are great for energy saving with an efficiency rating of G.

Best daylight bulbs: Lepro GU10 White Smart Bulbs

Bring the outside in

Colour: Cool white | Type: LED GU10, dimmable | Wattage: 4.5 watts

These smart bulbs allow you to bring the sunshine in with lighting options ranging from warm white to cool daylight. Their light settings mean they can be used all day to brighten rooms and also save you energy as you can dim them during daylight.

They are easy to set up, simply attached to your light fittings and connect to an a2.4GHz Wi-Fi router via the smartphone app. The bulbs are compatible with Amazon Alexa, Echo Dot, and Google assistant and feature voice control technology.

Best spotlight bulbs: Jayool GU10 LED Smart Bulbs

Customisable lighting

Colour: Multiple colours | Type: LED GU10 | Wattage: 5 watts

These spotlight smart bulbs feature a memory function that retains the last used colour and brightness mode for ease of use. The remote control system means you can quickly switch them on and off from anywhere in the room.

They are designed with both a smooth and flash mode, 12 RGB colours and dimmer functions. Perfect for a party or anyone who wants a bit more colour in the house.

Best filament bulb: Philips Hue Filament Smart Bulb

A classic look

Colour: Warm white | Type: Filament-style LED B22, dimmable | Wattage: 7 watts

This smart bulb features a vintage filament design and a warm white dimmable light for the perfect ambience. Controlled via the Philips Hue Bluetooth app, it is easy to use and is compatible with all Echo smart speakers and Google Nest devices.

The voice control technology means that it can be switched on and off wherever you are. If you would prefer, you can turn off the voice feature and simply use the app.

Best colour-changing bulbs: LOHAS GU10 Colour-Changing Smart Light Bulbs

A real rainbow

Colour: Multiple colours | Type: LED GU10 | Wattage: 5 watts

Another bulb with 16 million colours and shades of white. These smart bulbs are equipped with voice control technology and are compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home.

These smart bulbs are controllable via the smartphone app. One of their key features is that the lights can be programmed to automatically turn off when you leave a room.

Best for small spaces: Philips Hue White Smart Bulb Twin Pack

For a cosy corner

Colour: White | Type: LED B22, dimmable | Wattage: 60 watts

This twin pack of smart bulbs are easily installed and can be controlled remotely via the Philips Hue Bluetooth app. These smart bulbs are designed with smaller spaces in mind.

With a brightness of 806 Lumen, the LED bulbs provide the right level of ambient light that is bright enough to read on the couch, listen to music, or simply relax without being overpowering.

Smart bulbs buyers guide: what they are, and how to use them

The newest addition to the world of home technology is smart bulbs, and they could change the way we control our lighting forever. Gone are the days of light switches, and instead, smart bulbs work via smartphone or are voice-activated.

Most of us have only had to deal with one type of bulb in our lifetimes, but now this looks likely to change. Confused? Don’t worry, in our helpful buyers' guide, we’ll answer the most commonly asked questions regarding smart bulbs and how they can transform your home.

You can work out if they’re for you, how to use them, and what different types of bulbs make up the new lighting world.

What are smart bulbs, and how do they work?

The smart bulb works through a connection to the internet over wi-fi or Bluetooth. This means you can control them from your smartphone (hence the name smart bulb), tablet, and even your voice- think Alexa but inside a light.

On the surface, smart bulbs don’t look different to traditional ones, but because of their internet connecting properties, they have a variety of advanced features. They’re usually made of LED panels, meaning they can be dimmed, brightened, and even have their colour changed.

When they’re connected to your gadgets, you can set timers, remotely see which lights are turned on and can tell lights when to turn off even when you’re not at home.

What different types of smart bulbs are available?

Several types of smart bulbs are available on the market and are usually put into categories based on how controllable the light output is. Recent advancements mean that owners can now control more aspects of the light, including brightness, intensity, and even temperature.

• White bulbs: This is the most basic type of smart bulb and can either be brightened or dimmed to suit your mood. It is often the cheapest smart bulb and has limited features.
• Colour bulbs: As the name suggests, colour bulbs can be adjusted to offer a range of colours. They’re perfect for mood lighting or a party and don’t often break the bank.
• Tunable white bulbs: The latest type of smart bulb allows you to control how intense the light is. This lets owners change the colour of the light from warm to neutral to cool in appearance. Because they are new, these bulbs are typically more expensive.

How do you control smart bulbs?

There are typically two ways to control smart bulbs- via a smartphone/tablet or by voice. A lot of smart bulbs will have an accompanying app that you download from which you can manage the light, set schedules, and turn the lights on and off.

Voice assistants also come with some smart bulbs and can be paired with Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant. This voice command feature is particularly helpful for those with mobility issues. Nearly all smart bulbs need a wi-fi or Bluetooth connection to be operated, so it’s important to keep this in mind, or voice and smartphone controls will not work.

Smart bulb benefits

If you currently have normal lights/bulbs, you might be wondering why you should switch to a smart alternative. Well, some benefits of a switch to smart bulbs include energy savings, cost reductions, accessibility benefits, and ease.

Smart bulbs can help you with saving energy because they can be turned off remotely, and you can also manage which lights are on at one time. If you forget to turn the lights off, it can be helpful to be able to switch them off when not at home.

Smart bulbs also have a longer lifespan than traditional bulbs, reducing the need for frequent replacements and saving you money in the long run. Finally, they have accessibility benefits as they allow disabled people or those who are older to control their lighting with ease.

Common smart bulb issues and how to troubleshoot them

The most common smart bulb issues include connectivity problems, bulb flickering, and app malfunctions. If you face connectivity issues, ensure that the bulb is within range of the Wi-Fi signal and that you have the correct network settings.

Bulb flickering could be due to a compatibility issue, so ensure that the bulb is compatible with your fixture. If the app is malfunctioning, try resetting the bulb or reinstalling the app. If issues persist, contact the manufacturer for further assistance.

If you want to read more of our household-related product guides, check out our household page, where you’ll find more home recommendations, including the best shoe racks, the best blenders, and the best mini dishwashers.