Best smart bulbs 2025: top ambient lighting from Philips Hue, LIFX and Ikea

Home LivingSmart HomeBest smart bulbs 2025: top ambient lighting from Philips Hue, LIFX and IkeaMeet the best smart lights with Alexa and Apple HomeKit support, from Philips Hue, LIFX, Ikea and TP-LinkWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

Meet the best smart lights with Alexa and Apple HomeKit support, from Philips Hue, LIFX, Ikea and TP-Link

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Philips Hue / Signify)

Philips Hue lightstrip

(Image credit: Philips Hue / Signify)

The best smart bulbs in 2025 add instant ambience and atmosphere to your home. With a smart bulb, strip or lamp set up in your home, you can easily control your home’s lighting with the tap of a button or a simple voice command.

Smart bulbs often come with different colour settings and levels of brightness, making them great decorative devices for any room in the home. The best thing about having smart bulbs in your house is being able to connect them to your other smart home devices like thebest smart speakers, smart displays, thebest video doorbellsor smart sensors so you can command them on and off with your voice, motion or light detection.

When you’re not home, you can still control your lighting via an app on your phone, so you can set them to a timer while your away on holiday, or have them linked to a set location so that they come on before you get home from work.

Check out our top picks for the best smart bulbs in our round up below.

Best smart bulbs 2025 ranking

Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.

(Image credit: Philips Hue)

Philips Hue bulbs

T3 Best Buy badge

(Image credit: Philips Hue)

Philips HueThe best smart bulbs overallOur expert review:Average Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆Today’s Best DealsView at Amazon(White)Reasons to buy+Broad compatibility+Responsive in operation+Huge range of bulbs and light fittingsReasons to avoid-Not the cheapest
Philips Hue

1. Philips Hue

The best smart bulbs overall

Our expert review:Average Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆

Our expert review:

Average Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆

☆☆☆☆☆

Today’s Best DealsView at Amazon(White)

Today’s Best Deals

View at Amazon(White)

View at Amazon

(White)

Reasons to buy+Broad compatibility+Responsive in operation+Huge range of bulbs and light fittings

+Broad compatibility+Responsive in operation+Huge range of bulbs and light fittings

Broad compatibility

Responsive in operation

Huge range of bulbs and light fittings

Reasons to avoid-Not the cheapest

-Not the cheapest

Not the cheapest

Hue is so well established in the smart lighting world that it has almost become a generic trademark, but there’s more to its success than simple brand recognition. Hue lights top our list because they’re just so good and so varied, that every other brand is playing catch-up – it’s why they’ve held on to theBest Smart Lighting award at the T3 Awardsagain.

The bulbs themselves use Zigbee to communicate, meaning you’ll either need a Hue Bridge to talk to them, or a generic Zigbee hub, the likes of which you’ll find in theAmazonEcho 4th Generation. Zigbee’s great advantage is that it can reach a long way - it’s a mesh network, and each bulb can act as a repeater which invisibly passes signals along to the next in line. This means you can take Hue further than your router would generally reach, making it more than plausible to get started with the Philips' vast outdoor range as well as its huge number of options for indoor lighting. If you’re really stuck, Hue also includes a Bluetooth radio in all of its newer bulbs, so you can connect and switch them on or off locally, though this is significantly less convenient.

Whichever part of its range you exploit, Hue tends to be brighter than its competitors, and very accurate in terms of colour reproduction. We’d suggest beginning with a Hue starter kit, which will pack in a few bulbs, a Hue Bridge and perhaps a discrete remote control too.

Each Hue Bridge can support up to 50 connected lights from Hue or any other Zigbee-compatible range, so there’s plenty of room to expand. You’ll be able to access and control them through every major smart assistant. This includes Siri, as the Bridge has full HomeKit support. We should note that you may not get the same level of control if you’re connecting them to a third-party hub.

Basically, they’re brilliant, as our fullPhilips Hue reviewsays. Hue deserves to be your first choice if you’re looking for the best smart bulbs for starting a smart lighting system. Yes, the requirement for a hub is awkward, but you’ll get over it. They might not have the wacky effects of LIFX, but that’s a style point that can’t take away from Hue’s substance. Oh, and did we say that they burn for absolutely ages – up to 25 years in most cases.

Lifx bulbs

T3 Award

LIFXThe best easy-to-use smart bulbsAverage Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆Today’s Best DealsView at Amazon(White)Reasons to buy+A breeze to use+Wide selection+Reliable operationReasons to avoid-Smaller ecosystem than Philips Hue
LIFX

2. LIFX

The best easy-to-use smart bulbs

Average Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆

☆☆☆☆☆

Today’s Best DealsView at Amazon(White)

Today’s Best Deals

View at Amazon(White)

View at Amazon

(White)

Reasons to buy+A breeze to use+Wide selection+Reliable operation

+A breeze to use+Wide selection+Reliable operation

A breeze to use

Wide selection

Reliable operation

Reasons to avoid-Smaller ecosystem than Philips Hue

-Smaller ecosystem than Philips Hue

Smaller ecosystem than Philips Hue

There are two schools of thought in the smart bulb world. Some feel the best path is to opt for bridged lights, which (in the case of those which are Zigbee compatible, like Hue) form their own little mesh network, passing on activation commands and colour changes that way. Others would rather Wi-fi did the heavy lifting - and that, along with their elegant design, is the key selling point of LIFX bulbs.

These link straight to your existing wireless network, with no additional hub required. This does simplify things somewhat, but it adds to the per-bulb cost, so if you’re planning to deploy a large smart bulb network, you may find Hue (or similar) to be more cost effective overall.

LIFX are very good as smart bulbs, nailing the colour aspect perfectly, responding well to commands, and tying in neatly to your choice of smart assistant. The app offers one-touch control of your connected lights and some very detailed control deeper down, and everything’s easy to set up and get running.

There’s more than just the standard LIFX and LIFX Mini bulbs, too: look to the Plus range if you want a bulb which is going to work well with your smart security cameras, as they include infra-red LEDs which stay on even when you’ve turned the main lighting off – check out the likes of the Beam and Z Strip for feature lighting with more smarts and funky effects than most.

(Image credit: Nanoleaf)

Nanoleaf Essentials

T3 Award

(Image credit: Nanoleaf)

Nanoleaf EssentialsThe best cheap smart light bulbsToday’s Best DealsView at NanoleafCheck AmazonReasons to buy+Good price+Thread compatibility+Excellent appReasons to avoid-Not a big range of options
Nanoleaf Essentials

3. Nanoleaf Essentials

The best cheap smart light bulbs

Today’s Best DealsView at NanoleafCheck Amazon

Today’s Best Deals

View at NanoleafCheck Amazon

View at Nanoleaf

Check Amazon

Reasons to buy+Good price+Thread compatibility+Excellent app

+Good price+Thread compatibility+Excellent app

Good price

Thread compatibility

Excellent app

Reasons to avoid-Not a big range of options

-Not a big range of options

Not a big range of options

Here’s an odd move, but a welcome one, from perennial shapes-on-your-wall supplier Nanoleaf: a set of bargain-priced smart bulbs and light strips to give you control of more than just those pretty wall decorations.

Probably the most interesting thing about the Essentials line, beyond its price, is support for Thread, a smart home protocol that’s recently emerged. Thread works in much the same way as Zigbee, giving the Essentials bulbs mesh networking capabilities. While you can address them without a hub, they are compatible with the Thread hubs in devices like the Nest Wifi andAppleHomepod mini, which offers a management advantage.

They’re elegantly designed, too. We love the way the RGB bulbs look at least, even if the extendable light strips are pretty standard-looking. And you can rely on Nanoleaf’s well-matured app to give you a good range of control options. One to sample, we’d say, and at a very decent price, too.

Ikea Trådfri bulbs

T3 Award

Ikea TrådfriThe best smart lights for aesthetic and matching with furnitureToday’s Best DealsCheck AmazonVisit SiteReasons to buy+Simple to use+A choice of fittings+Very affordableReasons to avoid-More limited ecosystem
Ikea Trådfri

4. Ikea Trådfri

The best smart lights for aesthetic and matching with furniture

Today’s Best DealsCheck AmazonVisit Site

Today’s Best Deals

Check AmazonVisit Site

Check Amazon

Visit Site

Reasons to buy+Simple to use+A choice of fittings+Very affordable

+Simple to use+A choice of fittings+Very affordable

Simple to use

A choice of fittings

Very affordable

Reasons to avoid-More limited ecosystem

-More limited ecosystem

More limited ecosystem

If you’ve taken a wander around Ikea lately, you’ve probably noticed the Trådfri smart lights that have started popping up – they’re a cheap, accessible way to get started in your best smart bulb search, though you don’t get as many features as you do with products from the likes ofPhilips Hueand LIFX. Both white light and coloured options are available in E14 and E27 sizes, though you only get screw rather than bayonet fittings. Spot lights and panel lights are available too.

You do need a separate gateway or remote device to connect to your router for the advanced features (such as controlling whole groups of lights), but there is now support forAmazon Alexa,GoogleAssistant andAppleHomeKit, making them simple to integrate into an existing system. Much likePhilips Hue, there are other useful smart home accessories in the Trådfri range that supplement the bulbs, such as smart plugs and smart light switches.

Even more interesting is that there are light panels that can be built into Ikea furniture, again fully controlled via the smart system – a really clever and unique touch.

(Image credit: Future)

TP-Link Kasa KL130 review

(Image credit: Future)

TP-Link KasaThe best Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and IFTTT smart bulbsOur expert review:Average Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆Today’s Best DealsCheck AmazonReasons to buy+Simple to operate+Don’t cost too much+Works with Google/AlexaReasons to avoid-No Apple HomeKit support-Not a big range of options
TP-Link Kasa

5. TP-Link Kasa

The best Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and IFTTT smart bulbs

Our expert review:Average Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆

Our expert review:

Average Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆

☆☆☆☆☆

Today’s Best DealsCheck Amazon

Today’s Best Deals

Check Amazon

Reasons to buy+Simple to operate+Don’t cost too much+Works with Google/Alexa

+Simple to operate+Don’t cost too much+Works with Google/Alexa

Simple to operate

Don’t cost too much

Works with Google/Alexa

Reasons to avoid-No Apple HomeKit support-Not a big range of options

-No Apple HomeKit support-Not a big range of options

No Apple HomeKit support

Not a big range of options

TP-Link has a more limited range of products compared to Philips Hue, and you can’t do quite as much with these bulbs, but we’ve taken quite a shine to theTP-Link Kasabulbs nonetheless. They’re cheap and you can get them up and running very easily, without having to buy a separate gateway or hub. The major bulb types are covered, of course, so there’ll still be something great here for most people.

Affordable and reliable is usually the theme with TP-Link kit. The manufacturer has a strong track record in networking and smart home gear, especially in this Kasa range, so you can buy safe in the knowledge that these bulbs are going to last, even if they don’t have as many features as some rivals. There are a few different lighting options to check out – including theTP-Link Kasa Smart Light Strip (KL430)– so be sure to read our review.

Even better, these smart bulbs can work withGoogleAssistant,Amazon Alexaand IFTTT, so there’s plenty of opportunity for integrating them in with the rest of your smart home. Sadly, they don’t work with Apple HomeKit, but if you just need one or two basic lights to hook up directly to your Wi-Fi router then these are definitely worth considering.

TP-Link seems committed to adding new products over time and considering it also puts out smart plugs and other bits and pieces, we don’t think you’re going to find these products abandoned anytime soon. Well worth a spot on our best smart bulbs list.

Nanoleaf Light Panels

T3 Award

Nanoleaf Light PanelsThe best panel smart light bulbsAverage Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆Today’s Best DealsView at Amazon(Blue)Reasons to buy+Will definitely impress the guests+All kinds of permutations possible+Easy to adhereReasons to avoid-Expensive to go large
Nanoleaf Light Panels

6. Nanoleaf Light Panels

The best panel smart light bulbs

Average Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆

☆☆☆☆☆

Today’s Best DealsView at Amazon(Blue)

Today’s Best Deals

View at Amazon(Blue)

View at Amazon

(Blue)

Reasons to buy+Will definitely impress the guests+All kinds of permutations possible+Easy to adhere

+Will definitely impress the guests+All kinds of permutations possible+Easy to adhere

Will definitely impress the guests

All kinds of permutations possible

Easy to adhere

Reasons to avoid-Expensive to go large

-Expensive to go large

Expensive to go large

After something a little bit different in your search for the best smart bulbs? Nanoleaf’s approach might be just what you’re after: flat panels that tessellate to create walls of coloured light that you can graduate across your designs, and that can even pulse along with music. The panels can be adhered easily to walls or the ceiling, and besides the music trick, they can also be set to run on a schedule, controlled manually from your phone, or even used as alarms to wake you up in the morning.

Everything works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit as well, so it’s easy enough to combine the Nanoleaf range with whatever else you’ve got happening in your smart home. You can easily expand beyond the nine panels you get with the starter kit to cover a whole room if you want – and while we’ve pictured the triangular starter pack above, there are also square and hexagonal panels with their own starter kits.

These smart lights aren’t for everyone – just looking at the product picture should be enough to tell you if these are the best smart bulbs for you – but there’s no doubt that they definitely stand out from the crowd and let you create some amazing ambiance.

(Image credit: Future)

Philips Hue Gradient Signe Floor Lamp

(Image credit: Future)

Philips Hue Gradient Signe Floor LampThe best smart lampOur expert review:Average Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆SpecificationsHeight:145.8cmLength:11.15cmWidth:11.15cmBulb type:LEDToday’s Best DealsView at Best Buy(White)View at Amazon(Black)View at DellReasons to buy+Very powerful+And very versatile+Easy setupReasons to avoid-Bit too tall and expensive-Will it work with your aesthetic?
Philips Hue Gradient Signe Floor Lamp

7. Philips Hue Gradient Signe Floor Lamp

The best smart lamp

Our expert review:Average Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆

Our expert review:

Average Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆

☆☆☆☆☆

SpecificationsHeight:145.8cmLength:11.15cmWidth:11.15cmBulb type:LED

Height:145.8cmLength:11.15cmWidth:11.15cmBulb type:LED

Height:145.8cm

Length:11.15cm

Width:11.15cm

Bulb type:LED

Today’s Best DealsView at Best Buy(White)View at Amazon(Black)View at Dell

Today’s Best Deals

View at Best Buy(White)View at Amazon(Black)View at Dell

View at Best Buy(White)

View at Best Buy

(White)

View at Amazon(Black)

View at Amazon

(Black)

View at Dell

Reasons to buy+Very powerful+And very versatile+Easy setup

+Very powerful+And very versatile+Easy setup

Very powerful

And very versatile

Easy setup

Reasons to avoid-Bit too tall and expensive-Will it work with your aesthetic?

-Bit too tall and expensive-Will it work with your aesthetic?

Bit too tall and expensive

Will it work with your aesthetic?

As we note in ourPhilips Hue Gradient Signe Floor Lamp review, this is an incredibly powerful and versatile smart lighting lamp. Unlike Signe lamps of old, the Gradient aspect means that three different lighting zones within the bar can be individually customised in colour, meaning you can have a range of shades being emitted at any one time.

As a powerful back lighter to illuminate walls or corners of rooms, it is unparalleled. And as a wake-up light it naturally and subtly displays a wake-up scene to gently bring you round from the land of nod.

It’s also a great pairing for aPhilips Hue Play HDMI Sync Boxas it can really help bring movies, games and TV shows to life with extra synchronised lighting immersion. This excellent performance does come with caveats in terms cost and just how well it will aesthetically match the buyer’s home environment but, those points aside, the Signe is still the best bar-style smart lamp on the market.

(Image credit: Govee)

Govee Floor Lamp Pro

T3 Awards 2024 Winner logos

(Image credit: Govee)

Govee Floor Lamp ProThe best smart lamp with speakerOur expert review:Average Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆SpecificationsSizing:262×262×1746mmBulb type:LEDToday’s Best DealsView at GOVEEView at AmazonView at Best BuyReasons to buy+Lighting and music+Impressive lumen output+StylishReasons to avoid-Not Matter compatible
Govee Floor Lamp Pro

8. Govee Floor Lamp Pro

The best smart lamp with speaker

Our expert review:Average Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆

Our expert review:

Average Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆

☆☆☆☆☆

SpecificationsSizing:262×262×1746mmBulb type:LED

Sizing:262×262×1746mmBulb type:LED

Sizing:262×262×1746mm

Bulb type:LED

Today’s Best DealsView at GOVEEView at AmazonView at Best Buy

Today’s Best Deals

View at GOVEEView at AmazonView at Best Buy

View at GOVEE

View at Amazon

View at Best Buy

Reasons to buy+Lighting and music+Impressive lumen output+Stylish

+Lighting and music+Impressive lumen output+Stylish

Lighting and music

Impressive lumen output

Stylish

Reasons to avoid-Not Matter compatible

-Not Matter compatible

Not Matter compatible

One of the newer smart bulb brands on the market, Govee has gained popularity due to its affordable and extensive range of lighting. TheGovee Floor Lamp Pro, which won Best Smart Lighting at the T3 Awards 2024, is Govee’s first smart light with integrated sound, and it’s pretty impressive.

The Govee Floor Lamp Pro has a stylish design and impressive performance. Its advanced LED arrangement provides a vast array of lighting effects, including 324 colour and white light beads with brightness of 2100 lumens and a wide colour temperature range. It has an integrated Bluetooth speaker that seamlessly syncs sound with light to create a fun and ambient atmosphere.

While it’s not yet Matter-compatible, the Govee Floor Lamp Pro is a stylish and dynamic addition to your smart home, plus it’s affordable and easy to set up.

Hive Active Lights

T3 Award

Hive Active LightsThe best Hive smart bulbsAverage Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆Today’s Best DealsCheck AmazonVisit SiteReasons to buy+Different bulb types available+Simple to set up and operate+Works with a range of other kitReasons to avoid-Hub required
Hive Active Lights

9. Hive Active Lights

The best Hive smart bulbs

Average Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆

☆☆☆☆☆

Today’s Best DealsCheck AmazonVisit Site

Today’s Best Deals

Check AmazonVisit Site

Check Amazon

Visit Site

Reasons to buy+Different bulb types available+Simple to set up and operate+Works with a range of other kit

+Different bulb types available+Simple to set up and operate+Works with a range of other kit

Different bulb types available

Simple to set up and operate

Works with a range of other kit

Reasons to avoid-Hub required

-Hub required

Hub required

Hive started out with a smart thermostat but has since expanded its range to include just about everything you might need for your smart home. The smart bulbs that Hive puts out are very capable and attractively priced so they’re well worth a spot on our best smart bulbs list.

You will need a hub attached to your router to use these lights (unless you hook them up to aSamsungSmartThings network instead). Within the app, you get colour changing and schedule setting features, and the bulbs work with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

If you already have Hive kit in your home then it makes sound sense to go for Hive bulbs as well, as everything is going to work seamlessly together.

(Image credit: Innr)

Innr smart lights

T3 Award

(Image credit: Innr)

InnrThe best smart bulbs with multiple bridge compatibilityOur expert review:Today’s Best DealsCheck AmazonVisit SiteReasons to buy+Can work with several bridges+Plenty of bulbs to pick from+Very simple app and operationReasons to avoid-Not as many options as Philips Hue yet
Innr

10. Innr

The best smart bulbs with multiple bridge compatibility

Our expert review:

Today’s Best DealsCheck AmazonVisit Site

Today’s Best Deals

Check AmazonVisit Site

Check Amazon

Visit Site

Reasons to buy+Can work with several bridges+Plenty of bulbs to pick from+Very simple app and operation

+Can work with several bridges+Plenty of bulbs to pick from+Very simple app and operation

Can work with several bridges

Plenty of bulbs to pick from

Very simple app and operation

Reasons to avoid-Not as many options as Philips Hue yet

-Not as many options as Philips Hue yet

Not as many options as Philips Hue yet

Innr is a newish name in the smart lighting market but it’s already attracting a lot of attention with an impressively large range of bulbs that are simple to set up and even easier to use.

This is a smart lighting system that you need a bridge for, but you don’t necessarily have to use the Innr Bridge if you don’t want to – the bridges for Philips Hue andSamsungSmartThings use the same kind of technology, so you can use them instead if that’s more convenient.

You can pick from spot lights, light strips, standard bulbs, filament bulbs, candle bulbs, LED lights and more, both coloured and white. While Innr won’t topple Philips Hue or LIFX any time soon and the app is a bit rough around the edges, we’re impressed with the size of the range here and the overall affordability, especially if you have Philips Hue already and want a lower-cost way to expand.

For those who don’t currently own a bridge, it might also be worth considering theInnr Wi-Fi Bulbswhich connect directly to your router so don’t require a hub.

Now read ourInnr Flex Light lightstrip review

Osram Lightify

T3 Award

Osram LightifyThe best indoor and outdoor smart bulbsAverage Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆Today’s Best DealsView at Amazon(LED)View at AmazonReasons to buy+Plenty of options+Indoor and outdoor operation+Gateway is wirelessReasons to avoid-Hub required-Bit more involved than some
Osram Lightify

11. Osram Lightify

The best indoor and outdoor smart bulbs

Average Amazon review:☆☆☆☆☆

☆☆☆☆☆

Today’s Best DealsView at Amazon(LED)View at Amazon

Today’s Best Deals

View at Amazon(LED)View at Amazon

View at Amazon(LED)

View at Amazon

(LED)

View at Amazon

Reasons to buy+Plenty of options+Indoor and outdoor operation+Gateway is wireless

+Plenty of options+Indoor and outdoor operation+Gateway is wireless

Plenty of options

Indoor and outdoor operation

Gateway is wireless

Reasons to avoid-Hub required-Bit more involved than some

-Hub required-Bit more involved than some

Hub required

Bit more involved than some

You might not have heard of them but Osram has been in existence since 1919 and is one of the leading manufacturers in the lighting industry – in fact they have been known to do the backdrops for Eurovision, so there you go. If you’ve ever thought your home could use a bit more Eurovision glitz and glamour, then you know where to come.

From simple white bulbs to multi-colour top-of-the-range lights, there are plenty of choices in the Osram range: this is a more comprehensive solution than the likes of Ikea and TP-Link can offer, and it takes a bit more effort to set up too, so bear that in mind in your search for the best smart bulbs.

You can really go to town if you want to, with LED strips and garden lights included in the range. For all of this to work, you’re also going to have to buy yourself a gateway device, though thankfully it doesn’t need a wired connection to your router like the Philips Hue Bridge does – so that’s one point in its favour.

If you’re looking to give your whole home a smart lighting revamp, the Osram is definitely one of the best smart lighting options out there. However, for smaller-scale projects and simpler operation you might be better off looking elsewhere.

Things to consider when purchasing smart lighting

Ikea Trafri

Smart bulbs are pretty easy to use and set up, and the difference they can make in the home is huge. Our favourite definitely has to be the Phillips Hue range. While they’re not the cheapest, Philips has a wide range of different bulbs for every area of the house, making the Hue system the most versatile of all.

If you’d like to shop the Phillips Hue range but you’re on a budget, then fear not! You can check out our guide to thebest Philips Hue deals. And you can even add more to your ecosystem with more Phillips Hue offers such as thebest Philips Hue Starter Kit deals, thebest Philips Hue Lightstrip dealsand thebest Philips Hue Outdoor lights.

How to buy the best smart bulb

Smart bulbs are a great way to dip a toe into thesmart homewaters: they may not change your life overnight, but they’re definitely fun little devices that you can tinker around with. They’ll undoubtedly impress guests, and can prove surprisingly useful too (maybe you could have the kitchen light up whenever someone walks in).

If you’ve got some smart home kit already, get smart bulbs which play nice with everything else you own. The main ecosystems to look out for are Apple Homekit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Samsung SmartThings though the larger brands (like Philips Hue and LIFX) tend to offer good compatibility across the board.

Those of you who aren’t so interested in building out a wider smart home ecosystem can go for cheaper options such as the Ikea Trådfri system – these bulbs have their own app and remote, but don’t fit in with wider ecosystems quite as well.

You also need to decide whether you want smart bulbs that can cycle through all the colours of the rainbow or simple tuneable white bulbs that emit a range of white tones from bright white to soft yellowy white. Colour-changing bulbs look fancier, but they’re much more expensive to buy and you may soon tire of all the colours and end up opting for a candle-like glow which can be achieved just as easily using a non-colour bulb.

A bulb’s lumen rating (how bright it is) is also important to consider, and you also need to make sure you buy a bulb which fits your lamp socket. Most smart bulbs feature an E27 screw fixing, but some manufacturers such as Philips and Osram offer a wide variety of fixings, including bayonet, GU10, and more, so it’s always worth checking.

Round up of today’s best deals

Philips Hue Personal Wireless Lighting$195.88ViewSee all pricesLIFX A19/A60$39.99$34.98ViewSee all pricesNanoleaf Essentials A19 E27$19.99ViewSee all pricesNanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Starter Kit$299.99$249.98ViewSee all pricesPhilips Hue White and colour Ambiance$329.99$273.99ViewSee all pricesGovee Lyra Corner Floor Lamp$149.99ViewSee all pricesGovee RGBIC Floor Lamp$99.99ViewSee all pricesGovee RGBICW Smart Corner Floor Lamp$99.99$64.99ViewSee all pricesOsram Lightify$87.76ViewSee all prices

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NANOLEAF ESSENTIALS | BULB

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Man doing leg press

The ultimate full-body gym workout for beginners, according to a fitness expertWant to hit the gym to build strength and muscle, but don’t know where to start? This workout can help

Want to hit the gym to build strength and muscle, but don’t know where to start? This workout can help

Kindle Colorsoft review

Amazon upgrades Kindle Colorsoft already – new model addresses customer complaintsAmazon’s full-colour e-reader fixes a problem that was plaguing its display

Amazon’s full-colour e-reader fixes a problem that was plaguing its display

nutrition test

Best personalised nutrition test 2025: find out what works for your body and whyWhich personalised nutrition tests are the best on the market? Here’s our top recommendations

Which personalised nutrition tests are the best on the market? Here’s our top recommendations

Mammotion LUBA 2 AWD lawn stripes

Best robot lawn mower 2025: autonomous mowers that cut the grass so you don’t have toThese are the best robotic sward scythes to keep your lawn in tip-top condition while you sit back and relax

These are the best robotic sward scythes to keep your lawn in tip-top condition while you sit back and relax

microcurrent device

Best skincare gadgets 2025: perfect your complexion at home without the salon price tagThe best LED masks, facial massagers, cleansing devices and more for firmer, clearer, glowing skin

The best LED masks, facial massagers, cleansing devices and more for firmer, clearer, glowing skin

Philips Hue E14 luster bulbs in lamps in room

Best Philips Hue lights 2025: sophisticated smart bulbs for your spaceThe best Philips Hue lights bring state-of-the-art, remote-controlled lighting to your home

The best Philips Hue lights bring state-of-the-art, remote-controlled lighting to your home

Stihl RM 448 VC petrol lawn mower lifestyle

Best petrol lawn mower 2025: rugged lawn mowers for larger gardensTrim the sward with one of these top-rated petrol-powered lawn mowers

Trim the sward with one of these top-rated petrol-powered lawn mowers

Gino D’Acampo Pizza Oven

Best pizza ovens 2025: enjoy the crisp, crunch and gooeyness of freshly-baked pizzaFind the best indoor and outdoor domestic pizza ovens to make your al fresco bash go off without a hitch

Find the best indoor and outdoor domestic pizza ovens to make your al fresco bash go off without a hitch

Char-Broil Smart-E lifestyle

Best electric barbecue 2025: indoor and outdoor grills for all-year-round cookingFind the best all-in-one electric barbecues and grills with plug-and-play convenience

Find the best all-in-one electric barbecues and grills with plug-and-play convenience

Best cordless lawn mower: Worx Nitro 80v WG761E lifestyle

Best cordless lawn mower 2025: top battery-powered trimmers that tackle all types of turfReplace your rusty old mower and embrace the time-saving pleasures of the best cordless lawn mowers

Replace your rusty old mower and embrace the time-saving pleasures of the best cordless lawn mowers

Best smart bulbs 2025 ranking#

1. Philips Hue#

2. LIFX#

3. Nanoleaf Essentials#

4. Ikea Trådfri#

5. TP-Link Kasa#

6. Nanoleaf Light Panels#

7. Philips Hue Gradient Signe Floor Lamp#

8. Govee Floor Lamp Pro#

9. Hive Active Lights#

10. Innr#

11. Osram Lightify#

Things to consider when purchasing smart lighting#

How to buy the best smart bulb#

Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox#

Best smart bulbs 2025 ranking

1. Philips Hue

2. LIFX

3. Nanoleaf Essentials

4. Ikea Trådfri

5. TP-Link Kasa

6. Nanoleaf Light Panels

7. Philips Hue Gradient Signe Floor Lamp

8. Govee Floor Lamp Pro

9. Hive Active Lights

10. Innr

11. Osram Lightify

Things to consider when purchasing smart lighting

How to buy the best smart bulb

Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox