If you’re anything like me, you spent your childhood dreaming of lights you could control by clapping. The Clapper’s premise was brilliant—no more getting up from your comfortable bed to hit the light switch! (You can still buy it.) But technology has come a long way since then. Now, you can control lightbulbs with your smartphone or even your voice if you have a smart assistant in your home. It’s not just about turning your lights on and off, either. Some models let you change colors and create custom routines, no clapping required.
Smart bulbs are a great place to start if you want to make your home a little smarter. Most options are relatively cheap and they’re easy to install. There are also no cameras or door locks for someone to hack into and invade your privacy. I’ve tested out a handful for the past month, and these are my favorites.
You might want to look into getting a smart speaker or smart display if you want to use your voice to control these bulbs. Two affordable options we like are the Nest Mini and the Echo Dot, but you don’t need them. You can always use the bulb’s corresponding app.
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