How Do Smart Bulbs Work: The Ultimate Guide

How Do Smart Bulbs Work: The Ultimate Guide

Whether you’re an early adapter who’s on the cutting edge of technology or a self-proclaimed old-school type who doesn’t like change, you might have wondered: How do smart light bulbs work?

After all, smart bulbs have made a huge impact over the last several years because they’re one of the easiest ways to start exploring smart home technology.

The main factor that sets them apart is that smart light bulbs can be paired with smartphones and other mobiles devices via Wi-Fi. This enables many opportunities that one simply can’t experience with regular light bulbs—features like from-anywhere control, plus dimming and tuning.

Here, we’ll share more of the benefits and shed light on these awesome products.

How Can Smart Light Bulbs Be Used?

Smart lights can be used in most standard fixtures. Their most obvious use is to replace traditional bulbs. For example, CYNC Soft White Smart Bulbs emit a nice glow that you’d expect from a traditional bulb, but they have so many more capabilities. (More on that later!)

What Are Some Different Types of Smart Bulbs?

We’re so glad you asked! Buckle up, because we have a ton of exciting products to share.

First up: Our LED+ Speaker Bulbs. Each of the bulbs in our LED+ family comes with a bonus feature. With LED+ Speaker Bulbs, you’ll enjoy a versatile soft white light, plus a built-in Bluetooth speaker! You can install the bulb in a standard fixture and stream your playlists through your lights. (Psst: We also love using them to play guided workouts. It’s like going to a class at the gym, minus the commute!) Our speaker bulbs seamlessly integrate light with sound.

Reveal® HD+ Smart Bulbs offer our best quality of light—and now, they have smart control, too. These lights combine the enhanced clarity and bold colors of our reveal® HD+ bulb with everything you love about Cync technology.

Our Decorative Smart Bulbs house brilliant technology in beautiful bulbs. These options come in interesting, inspired shapes (like Edison and globe) so you can show off your personal style with your lights. Talk about the best of both worlds!

Full Color Smart Bulbs offer 16 million different color options, so you can always match your mood to your lights. Colored LED light bulbs enhance the vibe at a party and can help level up your gaming room. When you want to try something new, you can change the shade with one touch! Just use the color wheel, found in the Cync Smart Home App, to find exactly what you’re looking for.

How Do I Set Up a Smart Light Bulb?

Thanks to our Direct Connect technology, many of our products can be set up without using a hub. Not only does this cut down on clutter, it makes it easy to sync your bulbs to your phone for optimal control and convenience.

You will need Wi-Fi to make your smart tech work, but once you connect to your home’s router, setup should be a breeze!

Do Smart Bulbs Work in Any Lamp?

Your smart bulb should work in most standard fixtures. From floor lamps to dangling chandeliers, your smart lights will shine bright!

What Features Can I Expect From Smart Bulbs?

Once you acquaint yourself with smart bulbs, you’ll be surprised at how many different features they offer!

For starters, when you pair them with voice assistants, you can enable commands. That means you can adjust or turn your lights on and off without getting up. No more getting out of your warm, cozy bed to flip off the switch!

With smart bulbs, you can also enjoy from-anywhere control. If you had a hectic morning and accidentally left your entryway light on, you could use the Cync App to turn off smart lights. You’ll save energy AND enjoy extra peace of mind.

Speaking of: smart bulbs can reinforce a sense of security that’s especially helpful in winter when the sun sets so early. Simply schedule bulbs to turn on at the same time every night, and you’ll always return to a warm, well-lit welcome.

And finally, smart bulbs often offer adjustable color temperatures. From invigorating bright whites to warm, cozy glows, you can tune your lights so that they reflect the exact vibe you’re going for. Smart bulbs may be more expensive than traditional bulbs, but because they’re so versatile and last longer than incandescent bulbs, these amazing benefits actually make them a great investment!

Will Smart Light Bulbs Work With My Other Smart Home Tech?

You’ll be happy to know that your existing smart home products can coexist with new smart bulbs. For example, our Cync line can be paired with Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, and Google Home devices.

We also recommend installing smart bulbs in your standalone fixtures, and then connecting those fixtures to our Smart Plugs. It’s a simple way to build a whole home ecosystem that works together for your convenience.

Can I Control My Smart Light Bulbs Through Normal Light Switches?

You can control smart light bulbs through normal light switches, but you might have a less seamless experience than you would with smart switches. You may notice differences in dimming capabilities, so be sure to check your smart light bulbs’ packaging for notes on compatibility.

Rest assured, options like our wireless smart switches and our wireless smart remotes help smart bulbs reach their full potential.

Now that we’ve answered some of the most common questions, we hope you’re excited to get started with smart lighting. Our bulb finder can help you decide on the best fit for you. Once you’ve installed your new tech, be sure to take a pic and share it with us on social (@GELighting). Your setups always inspire us!