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I replaced my Philips Hue lights with a cheaper alternative and I'm hooked
Govee provides brilliant quality and connectivity without breaking the bank
When it comes to smart lights, Philips Hue is probably the first name that springs to mind. Its products are high-quality and popular, but too expensive for a lot of shoppers. This is where Govee comes in. I had the opportunity to try a wide variety of Govee lighting gear in my home for a few weeks, and not only have I found Govee’s ecosystem up to par with what I expect from the likes of Philips, I might even actually prefer it. While Govee did provide AP with product samples to test, I’ve also bought some of my own, and I intend to keep building out the kit as time goes on. Here's why.
If you're looking for smart lights but are mindful of your budget, consider WiZ Connected, Philips Hue's cousin. Both brands belong to Signify and offer excellent build quality and ease of use. WiZ Connected smart lights use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and don't require a hub to get online. They're set up using the WiZ app on Android and iPhone. These lights are perfect for automating a smart home ecosystem while being budget-conscious.
Philips Hue's new Dymera lights let you tailor your ambiance with dual beam control
The Dymera wall light works both indoors and outdoors
If you already have customizable smart bulbs in lamps throughout your home, you’re likely used to the convenience. In addition to being able to schedule these smart devices, you can also often alter their color, brightness, and more. That being said, smart bulbs can be limited to where and how they’re used. Philips Hue has now created a new wall light that reduces these restrictions while giving homeowners more customization options.
Smart home devices, particularly intelligent light bulbs, are key to building home automation and adding convenience. LIFX bulbs stand out as innovative and sought-after smart lights known for their reliability and expandability. These bulbs are an excellent choice if you're purchasing new smart lighting.
Best LIFX smart lights, bulbs, and strips in 2024
Illuminate your world with any (or all) of these fun and colorful smart lights from LIFX
When it comes to budget-friendly smart lighting, one of the best brands in the business is LIFX. Offering numerous smart light bulbs and LED light strips, as well as more niche items, LIFX smart lighting products are easy to install, simple to use, and boast all kinds of features. Plus, they’re usually very inexpensive, which is a big win for those looking to add automation on the cheap.
Smart lighting has taken the world by storm, and it’s one of the best ways to add fast and intelligent automations to your homestead or business. Trust us: there’s no better feeling than arriving home from work, only for your first floor lights to automatically kick on thanks to geofencing with your phone. It’s also an amazing feeling to be able to dim lighting and adjust colors using voice commands, and thanks to Google Assistant, you’ll be able to do so using smart speakers, smart displays, and even smart TVs!
Philips Hue manufacturer will scale back its budget by $200 million in 2024
It is unclear how many jobs will be impacted by the decision
Philips Hue has been focusing on the smart product market and automation since its humble beginnings. As its line of smart lights and systems expanded, it decided to create Signify, a sister company to spearhead the division. Signify has since become associated with everything from automated lamps to track lighting. However, it seems that even the increasing interest in smart home automation isn’t going to be enough to sustain Signify — the Philips Hue manufacturer is preparing to drastically reduce its budget in the New Year.
Philips Hue’s next big thing might be smart lamps with motion sensing
The technology, which could debut at CES 2024, has been in development for years
Philips Hue is commonly associated with its automated smart lights, which give you the ability to manage the lighting throughout your home. Now, rumors are swirling that the company wants to take the versatility of its products one step further. Motion sensors are not uncommon in smart home devices, and Philips Hue could be looking into integrating such technology into its lamps.
Smart lights are a fundamental and transformative component of any smart home setup. They allow you to automate things and control lights hands-free, creating a futuristic and convenient living environment. While they're usually reliable and efficient, you may encounter issues such as connectivity problems or unresponsiveness. These issues don't spell the end for your smart Wi-Fi lights and you don't need to replace them. A simple software reset often fixes the problem, saving you time and money.
When thinking about smart lights, a popular bulb brand that comes to mind is Philips Hue. These products are reliable, easy to install, and integrate perfectly with other gadgets. They're known to be expensive, which may not make them the go-to option for most people.
Philips Hue products are among the best smart bulbs on the market, thanks to their reliability and ease of use. However, like any smart home product, they can run into issues, and resetting them might do the trick. In addition, you might want to reset them to pair them with another hub, as this is the process you'll follow to reconnect them. There isn't a real pairing mode with Hue lights, and your best bet is to remove them from the hub they're connected to.
Set the mood while saving money with these Kasa smart lights starting at $10
Upgrade your home ambiance without breaking the bank
Smart lighting is one of the easiest and most effective ways to start setting up a smart home. Smart bulbs are not only easy to configure and use, but they can also drive down energy costs over time, saving you money in the long run. Whether you’re looking for light bulbs that change color to suit your mood or to integrate with your favorite digital assistant for voice commands, Kasa light bulbs cover both bases pretty easily.
Govee Curtain Lights review: A smart light spectacle
Why settle for an RGB strip when you can have an RGB wall
Ever since childhood, I’ve been obsessed with colored lights. In 2023, that’s not a hard itch to scratch, but in the late 80s, it was a big deal to have a red or green LED in a toy. So while my inner child has enjoyed watching the RGB volcano explode in the last ten years, I can admit that some products go overboard. Thankfully, in a sea of light strips and RGB bulbs, the Govee Curtain Light does serve a purpose — albeit for a rather specific niche.
Best smart light brands in 2024
Smart lighting adds character and ambiance to any space, but no one does it like these brands
Smart lighting is one of the most popular considerations for new smart home setups since it's extremely useful and a great smart device for beginners. So instead of wading through countless off-brands, take a look at these excellent smart lighting manufacturers, with offers ranging from high-end lamps and permanent fixtures to straightforward smart bulbs. And you won't have to worry about smart ecosystem compatibility, either, as most of the best options support Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, with a select few already certified to work with the Matter standard.
Make your home merry and bright with $60 off this Google Nest Hub bundle
Get the Google Nest Hub bundled up with a smart light bulb for $39 at Walmart
If you still haven't worked out what to get all your loved ones this holiday season, we have just the thing: a smart-home mini starter kit featuring the Google Nest Hub. Not only does it include this awesome smart display to help start smartening up a home, but also tosses in a smart light bulb. The second-gen Google Nest Hub was already an affordable tool for controlling a whole home of smart devices at its regular $99 price, but this bundle deal at Walmart for a mere $39 is something really special.
This Philips Hue color bulb 3-pack is the cheapest it's ever been for Prime Day
Smartify your lights for under $80 right now
Smart lights are one of the most noticeable upgrades you can make to your home, and the undisputed king of smart lights is the Philips Hue lineup. Similar bundles of Phillips' Hue lights have consistently made the top of our best smart light lists and rank highly on our lists of all smart home devices.
Philips Hue Gradient Lightstrip review: The best lightstrip you shouldn't mount on your TV
The Hue Gradient Lightstrip is a fantastic general-purpose smart light strip
Standard smart bulbs are a good first step when it comes to smart home technology for beginners. However, if you really want to turn your home into a smart lighting paradise, you’re going to need a light strip, and the Hue Gradient Lightstrip is one of the best options on the market today. The sturdy design, ease of use, and bright colors make for an excellent experience, which it better be given the high price.
The more you buy the more you save with this Philips Hue smart bulb sale
Get two for less, save more with four
Looking for a jump start to automating your lights around the house? You can get a Philips Hue Bridge with up to four white smart bulbs at great discount for a limited time.
Razer has a plan to sync your games with every single light in your house
It includes a new app and new hardware partners
Can't bear the thought of your living room, kitchen, or guest room looking drab? Want to spread the joy of all the RGB gear in, on, and around your Fortnite rig? Razer, which booted up its CES 2022 presence with a very un-RGB smartwatch, wants to bring every single smart bulb and lightstrip in your house under its roof with the Razer Smart Home app.
GE Lighting's new outdoor camera comes in wired and battery flavors
A smart thermostat and a wave of lightbulbs are also new for 2022
Savant Systems is celebrating its first anniversary since revamping the entirety of General Electric's old lighting division from C by GE to Cync. At CES 2022, it's unveiling a whole line of smart home products to last through the winter (barring any supply chain surprises du jour) including an outdoor camera, home climate control solutions, and some lights, too — Savant decided to keep the GE Lighting name, after all.