Smart Bulb vs Smart Switch: Comparing Convenience & Cost

Should you replace all of your bulbs with smart ones, or is it better to only replace your light switch and keep the bulbs?

Let's compare your different options for smart bulbs vs smart switches, including Hue and LIFX vs the GE Z-Wave switch. I'll share some ideas where a smart light switch or a smart bulb would make more sense.

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Writer/Editor/Director: Reed Kleinman
Producer: Alysa Kleinman

Disclaimer: Smart Home Solver purchased the Hue lights and GE Z-Wave switch with their own money. LIFX lights were sent for unbiased reviews in the past. As always, our opinions are 100% our own and not influenced.

[SmartHomeSolver]

Anyone else had a family member sabotage their smart lights? I feel your pain. 😬

[BertLiu]

I like the style of your video. Concise, informative, and easy to watch. Thanks.

[James-xgrh]

I’m team switches. I want to use my lights like normal sometimes and use Alexa/phone sometimes. I like the flexibility

[larrykozlowski]

Would you be willing to do an apartment-friendly product guide? Basically things you would be able to take with you as you move and wouldnt make you loose your security deposit when you have to leave.

[dhebert]

Great video, informative. Things have changed from when I was growing up in the late 70's early 80's. Those light switch guards for $5, used to be a piece of tape and smart-anything didn't exist yet, so it was usually used to block off a switch that didn't work anymore for some reason or another; don't know why people still call them "The good old day's".

[justtherecord]

I have mostly smart switches. I have only 4 smart bulbs. My rules are pretty simple. If that light is controlled by a wall switch then I use a smart switch. For table lamps I will use smart bulbs. The majority of my light fixtures don’t use regular Edison screw type bulbs so that’s why I have to go with smart switches.

[swatisquantum]

Best smart home channel. Thanks for the tips!

[MRCOCOCITY]

I wasn't aware of the magnetic light switch guard. That's a great idea. Now I don't have to use tape 😂.

[DavidAg]

Great video! I have to explain this to people all the time who want an easy to install product, but then don't actually think about what will work best in their house.

I experimented with smart bulbs when I was first getting into home automation, and I kept ending up in this weird scenario where the bulb would be off in the app, but someone would come along and flip the switch but of course the light didn't come on so they would think something was wrong then I'd try to turn the light on with the app but now the switch is in the wrong position so you end up doing this dance with the bulb and the switch to sync it all back up.

[willdwyer]

I used smart bulbs in my kitchen because I have two switches for two ceiling fixtures and I have to walk across the kitchen in the dark to get to the switches. I used a smart switch in my dining room because buying one smart switch was cheaper than buying six smart bulbs for the chandelier.

[TheJamesJones]

Thanks for making this video, this question gets asked a lot in the SH Facebook groups.

[ManchesterTechGuy]

Great information. I recently installed a smart light switch in my living room, but I also have smart spot lights in there. Alexa makes it easy to turn on the light switch first and then the bulbs with a routine.

[johnsimpson]

Hi in my kitchen we only had 1 switch but two distinct areas so went for bulbs so we could control all the lighting great video

[Salad]

Never thought "I'm taking my light switches with me" would ever be something I'd have to say upon moving out of an apartment.

[actualnotanewbie]

3:21 what's that spinning RGB light thing you have in the background? It looks cool.

[bogdanapopii]

One of my favorite tech youtuber! Good job bro!

[guiguigodro]

Great video! I'm starting out in home automation and currently have one wifi switch with Smart Life app. Do you know a Z-Wave or ZigBee hub that is compatible to be used mainly with Smart Life app ? or maybe the other way around?

[Therzino]

0:44 i'm New to smart home stuff, and I want to know how does is work? I use google home so you can maybe help me

[Deuxiit]

Thanks finally found useful video. With kids the smart light just isn't useful and easy to use. The kids will use the light switches and when you come home with groceries or just from work it seems hassle to first get the phone out to have lights around the house.

[Cusu]

The problem with switches is to have a neutral wire, which is not that common…
But, is it possible to have both? A smart switch and a smart bulb?