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With the constant release of new Alexa and Google-enabled devices, converting to a smart home seems almost inevitable. You’ve got smart lights, smart speakers and even smart plugs to choose from, and something that’s picked up in recent years is smart lamps.
What Can a Smart Lamp Do?
The best smart lamps let you adjust hue, brightness, set automatic timers and are even portable enough so you can take them with you wherever you go — as long as you have a stable Bluetooth/Wi-Fi connection.
Similar to smart lights, smart lamps work with your chosen voice assistant to illuminate your space while also acting as mood and accent lighting, creating lighting effects for your TV shows and movies, and even functioning a wake up alarm.
What to Look For in a Smart Lamp
There are a number of good smart lamps out there, so to make it easy to choose, we’ve listed everything you need to look for to find the best smart lamp for you.
Smart Home integration: Your new smart lamp should be functional with your smart home ecosystem. For example, if you use Google Home, you won’t want to choose a lamp that only functions with Alexa. Plus, some of the options mentioned below may not be compatible with Siri, if you’ve got an Apple-enabled smart home. Always check to see if your chosen smart lamp has got the voice assistant functionality you need.
Hue and brightness: Does your smart lamp have a generic amber glow or are you able to adjust the color and brightness settings to your liking? Every smart lamp we’ve mentioned below has the option to be customized into any color you want via both voice commands and in-app settings.
Portability: Some smart lamps must be plugged into a socket to function and some work on a rechargeable battery. Generally, if it’s got a rechargeable battery it’s considered portable. This means you’ll be able to set your smart light anywhere around your home and even carry it into your balcony or backyard during warmer weather.
Extra features: Can your smart lamp sync to movies and TV shows in your home theater? Does it have auto-shut-off features or can you set a timer to it? Does your smart lamp mimic your sleep/wake schedule? There are a lot of things a good smart lamp can do and these are just some of the extra features you should be looking for before you purchase your own.
