Lighting is one of those nonnegotiables in the modern world. Whether you live in a one-room loft or your dream home, you need working lightbulbs. But if you’ve been sticking to traditional bulbs, you’ve been missing out on some pretty cool features offered by a specialty bulb type. What are we talking about?
Smart light bulbs, of course! They offer a dimming function, multiple colour and brightness options, and of course, smart features like automatic schedules and timers, remote control with a smartphone app, and more. Plus, since they’re almost exclusively LEDs, they’re more energy efficient than you’d expect.
Are you in agreement that smart light bulbs are the perfect lighting solution? If so, there are a few things you need to keep in mind to make sure you find the best fit. Smart light bulbs will vary in things like price, pack size, voice assistant compatibility, colour and brightness options, and more, and every feature will matter when the sun goes down!
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best smart light bulbs in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
The Best Smart Light Bulbs Right Now
- Top Pick: Govee H6008 Smart Light Bulbs
- Runner-Up: Kasa KL125P2 Smart Light Bulbs
- Another Runner-Up: Tapo TP-Link L535E Smart Light Bulbs
- Upgrade Pick: Philips Hue Essential Smart LED A19 Bulbs
- Outdoor Pick: GE Cync PAR38 Outdoor Smart Bulb
Our Top Pick for The Best Smart Light Bulb
Govee H6008 Smart Light Bulbs Review
What We Think of the Govee H6008 Smart Light Bulbs
There are lots of things to like about the Govee H6008 Smart Light Bulbs. One of the more unique features is how adjustable the brightness is. Instead of a handle of preset brightness levels, you can adjust these bulbs in 1% increments to make sure you get it just right. The colours are even better — it has a ton of standard colours built in, but you also have access to a colour wheel with 16 million colours to create a custom look for your space.
Your colours don’t have to be static, either. The app offers a mode where your light bulbs can adjust the colours to match the music you’re playing — what a way to party! There are 54 preset scene modes, too, so you don’t have to do everything manually. The app also lets you set timers or a regimented schedule to completely take lighting concerns off your plate. Doesn’t that sound nice?
There’s only one reason why this option might not be suited to everyone, and that’s the companion app. It’s pretty busy with some social media integrations, so if you prefer lighting apps that are simple and straightforward, this might not be the best choice. That’s the only possible downside to choosing this two-pack of smart bulbs, though!
All in all, the Govee H6008 Smart Light Bulbs are an easy one to recommend to just about everybody. As long as a busy companion app won’t overwhelm you, you’ll love everything about this choice.
- Performance: 5/5
- Usability: 5/5
- Price: 5/5
- Quality: 5/5
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Govee H6008 Smart Light Bulbs
Reviewers have very positive feedback for the Govee H6008 Smart Light Bulbs. They love being able to choose custom colours for their bulbs, and the brightness level can be adjusted in very small increments, so it’s easy to get it right. Some people feel that the app is too busy, but the timers and schedules still work well once they get everything set up.
Govee H6008 Smart Light Bulbs Pros and Cons
Buy If…
- You’d love lights that dance to music with you
- You’d appreciate precise control over the brightness
- You want lights that can adapt to any setting
- Easy timers and schedules would be nice
Don’t Buy If…
- You prefer simple, streamlined apps
Govee H6008 Smart Light Bulbs Specifications
- Pack Size:2
- Light Type: LED
- Brightness Levels: 100
- Colour-Changing: Yes
- Compatible Voice Assistants: Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
- Warranty: 2 years
Our Runner-Up
Kasa KL125P2 Smart Light Bulbs Review
What We Think of the Kasa KL125P2 Smart Light Bulbs
We really like the Kasa KL125P2 Smart Light Bulbs. One of the things we think you’ll like best is the energy monitoring it offers — you’ll be able to track your power usage and make adjustments based on those insights. Helpful, isn’t it? The away mode is another feature that brings peace of mind. Whenever you leave your home unattended for several days, this mode will randomly turn lights on and off to make sure it looks like people are still home. Brilliant.
The customizable settings are another huge selling point for these light bulbs. The brightness can be adjusted between 1% and 100%, so there’s tons of variability in its dimming function, and it offers a wide range of colours for you to choose from, too. Sixteen million, in fact! Since these bulbs are compatible with two different voice assistants, most folks will be able to enjoy hands-free control.
The only shortcoming we need to mention before we wrap this up is the occasionally buggy adjustments to brightness and colour settings. You might need to give the bulbs a few seconds (or a second try) to respond to your requests. Not ideal, we know, but not a dealbreaker either, right? That’s the only performance/quality issue you’ll have to worry about.
Overall, the Kasa KL125P2 Smart Light Bulbs will integrate very well into any type of home. Whether you want dimmable bulbs for energy conservation, fun party lights, or an additional security measure for when you’re away, these bulbs will be a great fit for you.
- Performance: 4.5/5
- Usability: 5/5
- Price: 5/5
- Quality: 5/5
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Kasa KL125P2 Smart Light Bulbs
Reviewers are getting a lot of use out of their Kasa KL125P2 Smart Light Bulbs. The away feature gives people a lot of peace of mind when they have to leave their home for a few days, and the energy monitoring offers great insights. They appreciate how adjustable the colour and brightness are, as well. The changes can be a bit buggy sometimes, though.
Kasa KL125P2 Smart Light Bulbs Pros and Cons
Buy If…
- You’d appreciate multiple options for voice control
- You leave your home empty fairly often
- You want your home to be as energy-efficient as possible
- You’ll make use of a dimming feature
Don’t Buy If…
- Instant changes to colour and brightness are a priority for you
Kasa KL125P2 Smart Light Bulbs Specifications
- Pack Size: 2
- Light Type: LED
- Brightness Levels: 100
- Colour-Changing: Yes
- Compatible Voice Assistants: Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
- Warranty: 2 years
Another Runner-Up
Tapo TP-Link L535E Smart Light Bulbs Review
What We Think of the Tapo TP-Link L535E Smart Light Bulbs
We’re excited to introduce you to the Tapo TP-Link L535E Smart Light Bulbs. With a maximum brightness of 1,100 lumens, they’re significantly brighter than most smart light bulbs. That’s certainly something we love. Another unique feature is the colour matching in natural light — your lamps will always fit in seamlessly with the amount and colour of natural light in your space.
The energy usage monitoring is another feature we really admire. If you’re interested in knowing how much energy your lighting uses around your home, these bulbs, and their companion app, are a great way to delve into that mystery. We also appreciate that these bulbs are compatible with three voice assistants, not just two. Who needs limitations, right?
The only thing we’d improve about these bulbs, if we could, is their fun factor. They don’t offer a sync-to-music feature as some other smart light bulbs do, and they’re also really limited in terms of preset themes. If those are features you’re keen on enjoying, a different pair of smart light bulbs might be better for you.
Overall, we’re really happy with the Tapo TP-Link L535E Smart Light Bulbs, and we think you’ll enjoy them a lot as well. They don’t offer many preset themes, but you’ve got more compatible voice assistants, excellent colour and brightness options, and an affordable price tag to make up for it.
- Performance: 5/5
- Usability: 4/5
- Price: 5/5
- Quality: 5/5
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Tapo TP-Link L535E Smart Light Bulbs
Reviewers have mostly great things to say about the Tapo TP-Link L535E Smart Light Bulbs. They’re very happy with how bright these bulbs can go — one is enough to illuminate an entire room. The colour options are outstanding, too, and the energy monitoring is really useful. Several people are unhappy with how few themes there are to choose from, though.
Tapo TP-Link L535E Smart Light Bulbs Pros and Cons
Buy If…
- You enjoy really bright light bulbs
- You don’t want to be limited in terms of compatible voice assistants
- Colour matching with natural light sounds cool
- Energy monitoring appeals to you
Don’t Buy If…
- You’d appreciate preset theme settings
- You want a sync-to-music setting
Tapo TP-Link L535E Smart Light Bulbs Specifications
- Pack Size: 2
- Light Type: LED
- Brightness Levels: 100
- Colour-Changing: Yes
- Compatible Voice Assistants: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri
- Warranty: 2 years
Our Upgrade Pick
Philips Hue Essential Smart LED A19 Bulbs Review
What We Think of the Philips Hue Essential Smart LED A19 Bulbs
The Philips Hue Essential Smart LED A19 Bulbs are pretty impressive. One of the reasons for that is how quickly they respond to colour and brightness changes…it’s basically instant. No lagging, no buggy quirks. We love that for you. We also love the preset light themes. There are tons of unique light scenes to choose from for different occasions, but you can create your own custom themes, too, just in case they don’t have one that’s just right.
You’ll also appreciate the ability to set schedules — there’s nothing worse than coming home to a dark house, right? With these bulbs, you’ll be able to schedule your lights to turn on before you get home, and even turn off at bedtime or make colour changes at certain times. Doesn’t that sound fun? Three options for voice assistant control guarantee you can make changes hands-free, too.
The high price of this smart light bulb pair is our main concern, especially if you want to change every bulb in your home to a smart one. If you’re shopping on a budget, these are not the bulbs for you, and that’s even more true when you consider that you also have to buy a hub to be able to use voice assistants and set schedules. You might prefer the ones that connect directly to your home’s Wi-Fi.
All in all, the Philips Hue Essential Smart LED A19 Bulbs have a lot to offer, no matter what kind of lighting mood you like to set in your space. With multiple voice assistants to choose from, an intuitive companion app, and tons of customizability, they’re right for almost every home.
- Performance: 5/5
- Usability: 5/5
- Price: 3.5/5
- Quality: 5/5
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Philips Hue Essential Smart LED A19 Bulbs
Reviewers have a high opinion of the Philips Hue Essential Smart LED A19 Bulbs. They’re very happy with how many preset themes there are, and it’s easy to set up their own custom scenes as well. Changes occur instantly, no matter how they initiate them (app or voice assistant), and the schedules are reliable. Some people would prefer not to need a hub, though, considering the bulbs are already expensive.
Philips Hue Essential Smart LED A19 Bulbs Pros and Cons
Buy If…
- You’re a fan of preset light themes
- You’d appreciate multiple options for voice assistant control
- You’d love to set schedules
- Instant adjustment responses are a priority
Don’t Buy If…
- An affordable price tag is a priority
- You don’t want to buy a hub to access all the bulbs’ features
Philips Hue Essential Smart LED A19 Bulbs Specifications
- Pack Size: 2
- Light Type: LED
- Brightness Levels: 99
- Colour-Changing: Yes
- Compatible Voice Assistants: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Home
- Warranty: 2 years
Our Outdoor Pick
GE Cync PAR38 Outdoor Smart Bulb Review
What We Think of the GE Cync PAR38 Outdoor Smart Bulb
The GE Cync PAR38 Outdoor Smart Bulb has a pretty comprehensive list of features to make your indoor or outdoor space brighter, more fun, and easier to manage. The companion app and voice assistant compatibility make it really easy to set schedules or make real-time changes hands-free, and you’ll get access to a full range of colour temperatures, party colours, and brightness levels.
The maximum brightness of this bulb is also much higher than the average 800-lumen smart bulbs — this one can put out 1,300 lumens of light to make sure you can brighten up every corner in your space. With a guaranteed 25,000-hour lifespan, you won’t have to worry about this smart bulb quitting on you before it’s worked a full career. Thank goodness for that.
The only feature that might not work for everybody is the need to recreate certain setting combinations every time you turn the light on. It automatically reverts to white light at maximum brightness, and while that might be preferred by some people, others might find that jarring or just plain frustrating. We understand both points of view, so it’s something to consider for yourself!
All in all, the GE Cync PAR38 Outdoor Smart Bulb is the ideal choice for making outdoor spaces more entertaining. With millions of colours to choose from, the option to dim the brightness, and a great lifespan, there’s really nothing missing, is there?
- Performance: 4.5/5
- Usability: 4.5/5
- Price: 4.5/5
- Quality: 5/5
What Reviewers Are Saying About the GE Cync PAR38 Outdoor Smart Bulb
Reviewers have good things to say about the GE Cync PAR38 Outdoor Smart Bulb. It’s brighter than every smart light bulb they’ve used in the past, and the range of colours and the dimmable design make it perfect for a variety of uses. They would prefer that it save the last used settings instead of reverting to bright white light, though. Most people still recommend it for others.
GE Cync PAR38 Outdoor Smart Bulb Pros and Cons
Buy If…
- You need an extra bright light for outdoor spaces
- You enjoy various light colours at different times
- Custom schedules appeal to you
- You want a bulb that will last
Don’t Buy If…
- You want a light bulb that saves previous settings
GE Cync PAR38 Outdoor Smart Bulb Specifications
- Pack Size: 1
- Light Type: LED
- Colour-Changing: Yes
- Compatible Voice Assistants: Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
- Warranty: 1 year
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At Shopping Trends, every product we review goes through rigorous hands-on testing to ensure we’re recommending only the best for Canadian households. With over a decade of experience in product evaluation and consumer reporting, I personally oversee each test and comparison.
Our process is transparent, methodical, and grounded in real-world usage. Whether it’s a cordless vacuum, a 4K TV, or a hammock for your next camping trip, we evaluate items the way you’d use them at home. When needed, we also consult Canadian industry experts to offer context and help readers make confident, informed decisions. Every “top pick” featured in our guides has earned its spot through careful analysis, not sponsorship.
How to Properly Choose Your Smart Light Bulb
Price
Most smart light bulbs will be available in two packs for roughly $20 to $25, but you’ll occasionally see single bulbs that cost that much, or two-packs that cost triple that amount. If you’re shopping on a budget, it should be easy to find all of the features you need at the lower end of the price range.
Pack Size
The average pack size for smart light bulbs is two, but most bulbs will also be available as singles or in larger packs. You’ll want to pay attention to the price versus pack size to make sure you’re getting a good deal for your money.
Light Type
Almost every smart light bulb out there will be an LED bulb, but you might also come across the occasional incandescent light bulb. LED bulbs are much more energy-efficient, so we recommend only looking at those styles.
Colour Options
Some smart light bulbs will only offer different colour temperatures instead of full access to RGB colours, so if you’re looking for fun colours or even music-sync modes, you’ll want to make sure your smart light bulb has access to the full 16 million colour options.
Brightness Levels
Some smart light bulbs will come with a handful of preprogrammed brightness levels, but others will be dimmable between 1% and 100% brightness. If you like to be precise with the amount of light output, you’ll want a light bulb that offers that level of customizability.
Voice Assistant Compatibility
Different smart light bulbs will offer different degrees of voice assistant compatibility. Some might only be compatible with Amazon Alexa and/or Google Assistant, while others might include compatibility with Apple Home, Siri, or other assistants. If voice control is something you want for sure, you’ll want to check this feature to make sure your home’s voice assistant is on the list.
