Readers Choice Smartest Home: Your favorite smart lights
In a recent survey conducted among readers, the results revealed a clear favorite in the realm of smart home lighting, with TP-Link’s Kasa and Philips Hue emerging as the top contenders. Smart lights are increasingly popular due to their affordability and ease of integration into existing home systems, allowing users to control their lighting through smartphones or voice assistants. According to the survey, Kasa took the lead in overall satisfaction with an impressive score of 8.6 out of 10, while Philips Hue followed closely with a score of 8.1. This distinction highlights a growing trend among consumers who prioritize both functionality and cost-effectiveness when selecting smart home gadgets.
When it comes to cost, Kasa stands out as a more budget-friendly option compared to Philips Hue. Respondents noted that while Philips Hue offers advanced features, its higher price point—rated at just 6.4 in cost satisfaction—makes it less appealing for some users. One survey participant remarked, “The only reason I am not ‘extremely likely’ to recommend Philips Hue is they are relatively expensive compared to other brands.” Conversely, users of Kasa praised its affordability and reliability, with one stating, “I was glad to find these worked to my liking at a lower cost.” Despite the price disparity, both brands received high marks for ease of use and compatibility with smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant, making them appealing choices for anyone looking to enhance their smart home experience.
In terms of features, Philips Hue scored particularly well in areas such as bulb longevity and preset color themes, although not enough Kasa users rated these aspects to generate a score. Many respondents expressed satisfaction with their smart lighting setups, highlighting the convenience of scheduling lights to turn on or off at specific times or controlling them through voice commands. As smart home technology continues to evolve, the preference for Kasa and Philips Hue among readers underscores the importance of balancing quality, cost, and user experience in this burgeoning market. For those looking to upgrade their home lighting, both brands offer compelling options to consider.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni4pMe1FgDM
In case you missed it, we polled our readers on the smart home tech they use and love. The results are in, and your favorite smart home brands have been revealed. Smart lights are some of the most approachable and accessible smart home gadgets, thanks to their low entry pricing and ease of use. They can be controlled via your smartphone or smart home assistants, giving you some versatility on how you integrate them into your home. Check out our
full survey results
, or continue reading for our breakdown of our readers’ preferred smart lights.
SEE ALSO:
Readers’ Choice Awards 2025: Your favorite smart home brands
Your favorite smart lights
Readers narrowed down their favorite smart lights to just two brands: TP-Link (Kasa) and Philips Hue. Kasa won in most categories, including overall satisfaction, where it cinched an 8.6 out of 10 rating (compared to Philips Hue’s 8.1). See how each brand fared in different categories in the chart below by clicking the arrows or using the dropdown menu.
Editor’s note: TP-Link has been under investigation for
security vulnerabilities
with its routers and
predatory pricing
.
Cost and installment
Smart light bulbs are one of the more accessible smart home devices, thanks to their relatively low cost. However, when comparing smart lights, you’ll find a clear divide in this product category between premium-priced brands and more budget-friendly brands. It’s clear from our survey responses that Philips Hue and Kasa are on different ends of the price spectrum. Philips was rated pretty low at 6.4, while readers favored Kasa at 8.7.
“The only reason I am not ‘extremely likely’ to recommend Philips Hue is they are relatively expensive compared to other brands,” one respondent wrote.
A Kasa user commented, “I had another brand before and found them so frustrating. I was glad to find these worked to my liking at a lower cost.”
Using the smart bulbs
Both Kasa and Philips Hue scored favorably in ease of use, reliability, and integration with smart assistants.
“Mostly, they work extremely well. We primarily control them by voice through Alexa,” one respondent said about their Philips Hue lights.
Multiple survey respondents noted integrating their smart lights with either Alexa or Google Assistant. From a Kasa user: “I have a bunch of these bulbs throughout the interior and exterior of the house. The exterior ones had issues, but after upgrading to a mesh router, I haven’t had any since. I can set them up for specific times, on and off at sunset/sunrise, and they have the ability to change colors. They integrate into my Google Home system without any problems.”
Not enough respondents rated their TP-Link (Kasa) bulbs on lifetime of bulb, preset color themes, or routines and automation to generate a score, but Philips Hue received high marks in all of these areas.
Likelihood to recommend
Mashable readers equally recommend TP-Link (Kasa) and Philips Hue, each cinching a score of 8.1 out of 10.
Shop smart lights
Philps Hue Essential A19 smart bulb
$24.99 at Philips Hue
Shop Now
Philips Hue A19 white and color smart bulbs (2-pack)
$74.27 at Amazon
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Philips Hue indoor smart LED light strip
$60.98 at Amazon
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Kasa A19 dimmable smart light bulb KL110
$20.00 at Walmart
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Kasa dimmable smart light bulbs (4-pack)
$26.99 at Amazon
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Kasa color-changing smart light bulbs (4-pack)
$26.99 at Amazon
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