17 Best Smart Home Lighting (2024): Decorative Panels, LED Strips, and Ambient Lamps Leave a comment

Extra Good Lights We Examined

There are tons of sensible ambient lighting panels, strips, lamps, and strings. Listed here are a number of we additionally like.

Lepro N1 AI Good Neon Gentle Strip for $40: That is very similar to the Govee Neon Gentle Strip above, providing a beautiful subtle gentle in no matter coloration you need with help for a lot of animated results, music syncing, and extra within the app. However, I discovered the connectivity much less dependable and like the Govee app. I additionally examined the Lepro S1 AI Good LED Strip Gentle ($20), a less expensive gentle strip with out the diffuser, and it’s completely first rate for recessed spots.

Linkind Good TV Gentle Strip With HDMI Sync Field for $47: This can be a far cheaper model of the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Field above, and it features a sync field and a coloration gentle strip appropriate for as much as 90-inch TVs. It really works okay, however the HDMI inputs are restricted to 4K at 60 Hz, and it’s not so good as our TV picks above, although it’s far more inexpensive. I additionally examined the Linkind Good Neon Rope Gentle ($80) and preferred it.

Wiz Good Neon Flex Strip for $80: That is one other subtle gentle strip that’s very similar to the Govee Neon Gentle Strip above. It’s simple to suit and form, can show a number of colours concurrently, and helps animated results by way of the Wiz app. It may also be scheduled or synced with music. I additionally examined and preferred the Wiz Good LED Strip ($22).

Twinkly Dots for $82: You’ll be able to stick these strings of LED dots round frames and furnishings or have them hanging someplace, and the app provides a variety of colours and animated results. You’ll be able to map your sample to take advantage of the consequences, create your individual results, and group Twinkly lights collectively. On the draw back, the strip is break up into two sections, with the facility controls within the heart, and also you don’t get sufficient adhesive dots within the field. I additionally examined and preferred the Twinkly Festoon ($40) out of doors string of bulbs.

Govee G1 Gaming Gentle Strip for $45: That is similar to the Philips Hue Play Gradient Lightstrip for PC listed above, however not fairly pretty much as good. It’s simple to suit, is available in two sizes (for screens 24 to 26 inches and 27 to 34 inches), and brightens up your gaming. However it depends on Govee’s flaky desktop software program to sync. Sadly, streaming companies like Netflix flag it as display recording copyright infringement, so the syncing doesn’t work with them. Compatibility with Govee DreamView and Razer Chroma allows you to sync up different lights and peripherals.

Moonside Lamp One for $65: This contemporary lava lamp appears beautiful and boasts 120 dynamic coloration zones able to displaying tens of millions of colours and themes (animated results). You’ll be able to even design your individual themes or have the lamp react to music. Sadly, the app is a tad clunky, and the lamp is fabricated from light-weight frosted plastic, so it’s a bit too simple to by accident knock it over.

Philips Hue Go 2 for $90: This bowl-shaped moveable lamp has a ridge so you possibly can angle it for studying, and it makes a superb bedside lamp with dimming for nighttime and as much as 520 lumens to wake you within the morning. You’ll be able to tweak the temperature and select from tens of millions of colours. This newer model (2019) has Bluetooth, so that you don’t want a Hue Bridge. Battery life is restricted; should you crank up the brightness, you’ll be fortunate to get two hours, however dimmed, it might probably final round 10.

Nanoleaf Parts for $160: Plastic gentle panels can look ugly on some partitions (particularly turned off), so Nanoleaf provides this model of its bigger hexagonal panels with a wooden end impact (they’re nonetheless plastic). Like the remainder of its panels, you possibly can prepare Nanoleaf’s Parts in no matter sample you need, they usually help contact controls and music syncing. Sadly, they solely put out white gentle, however with a coloration temperature vary of 1500 Ok to 4000 Ok, you possibly can go from cool whites to heat orangey glows.

Mpowerd Luci Photo voltaic String Lights for $33: If you’d like lights you possibly can tackle the street or on tenting journeys, this intelligent gadget from Mpowerd can brighten up your RV or campsite. The canister pops open to unspool water resistant string lights (IPX4). Press the facility button to make use of them as a torch or cycle by means of the string gentle colours. There’s a photo voltaic panel on high for recharging (nevertheless it’s gradual) and a port that goes each methods (so this may double as a energy financial institution).

Nanoleaf Traces for $140: Our earlier decide for players, the Nanoleaf Traces (8/10, WIRED Recommends) challenge gentle from the again of every line onto the wall, casting colours and creating a beautiful ambiance. Even when turned off, the Traces look higher than most ornamental sensible lighting as a result of they forged shadows on the wall and will go for sculptural artwork. They’ll additionally boast display mirroring for PC to reinforce gaming (Razer Chroma is supported too).

Lifx Lightstrip for $75: This isn’t as vivid because the Philips Hue Gradient Good Lightstrip, nevertheless it provides wealthy colours, separate zones, and wonderful animations. The app permits for scheduling and may step by step brighten a bed room within the morning. There’s additionally music syncing utilizing your cellphone’s microphone. Good dwelling integration is strong, and there’s no want for a hub, however after I examined the earlier model (the Lifx Z), it continuously disconnected from Wi-Fi and was unresponsive till reset.