If you’re an Amazon Alexa user looking for something cheaper, then Sengled is leading the way with a smart bulb that can pair directly with an Echo Plus or Echo Show — if you don’t have one of those, you’re going to need one. A Sengled hub is connected to your router. You’ll find those bulbs on Amazon in a two-pack for $22.
Sengled makes color-changing floodlights, too (and apparently, so does Philips Hue). But if it’s a color bulb you’re looking for, I say it’s worth going with Lifx, an Australian startup that often tests our color quality with bold, bright colors that look great. The company’s lights all use your Wi-Fi network to talk directly to your router, so they don’t need a hub, come with a great, full-featured app and are compatible with Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant (and IFTTT) out of the box.
Color changing Lifx is worth the cost $24 at Amazon. That’s not cheap, but the Lifx flood lights are also several hundred lumens brighter at higher settings than any competitor we’ve tested so far. Combine that with color quality, and you’re looking at a very suitable upgrade choice.
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