Smart bulbs worth buying in 2026: Cync, Meross, and Tapo

In every home In the past decade, I have been installing smart lights. Time and time again, between four different apartments and one townhouse, I’ve been amazed at how easy smart lights are to use and how easy they are to use throughout the house, especially when the main lights are plugged into switchless outlets. No more searching for a switch; I just ask the smart speaker to turn off the lights for me.

After my last round of testing nine different lights, my favorite remains this GE Cync Dynamic Effects Smart Bulb ($36 for two). The app is beautiful and comes with cool extras, including fun light shows and even music shows. Because yes, this bulb can react to music and sound around it thanks to the built-in microphone. If you are an Apple user,… Meross Smart Wi-Fi LED Bulb ($29 for two) It easily connects to your Apple HomeKit setup without needing a separate app to control it. Are you looking to get more lights without spending more? verify TP-Link Tapo Smart Light Bulbs ($32 for four).

Read on to see how each of these smart bulbs were chosen and what makes using one so great. While you’re at it, get more of our smart home tips with our guides on The best smart speakers, Best video doorbells, Best smart locks, and Best permanent outdoor lights.

What makes smart bulbs great?

Smart bulbs are very easy and affordable to add to your home. You’re using light bulbs somewhere in your home now, so it’s easy to switch out a smart bulb without developing a new habit or setting up anything beyond a single app (or even that, sometimes). I test a lot of smart home gear for work, but my smart lights have been an absolute must-have, even when I’m not working. They turn lights plugged into random outlets into devices that are easy to control. It also adds the ability to dim and color without having to rewire a switch for this capability, and you can add routines for lights to automatically turn on and off to smooth out evenings and mornings (or make strangers think you’re home when you’re not).

How do smart bulbs work?

Smart bulbs connect to Wi-Fi or other devices in your home using smart home protocols like Zigbee and Matter, as well as typically Bluetooth for initial setup, so you can connect the bulb to an app, smart speaker, and the Internet to control it at any time.

You usually need the brand’s app to set up the light bulb and access the full controls, but you usually don’t need a hub. Philips Hue, their popular smart bulb line, still requires a hub and has used it for a long time (although its WiZ line doesn’t), but almost every other smart bulb coming out doesn’t. He may order a hub if he needs one for Matter connectivity, but Matter connectivity means you can skip a separate app and let devices like an Alexa speaker control the light bulb instead. However, you can get better controls with an app for smart lights, such as super-specific color controls, schedules, and for some apps, fun custom light shows or even the ability to interact with music.

The best smart bulbs we’ve tested

After the latest round of testing, these are my latest favorite smart bulbs.

This flashlight has been my favorite for a while, and it still holds its place after the latest round of testing. The Cync app is nice and easy to use, and it offered to connect the bulb to your Amazon Alexa device right after I finished setting up. Cync has a lot of great lightweight products that I love, so I already set up the app, but it’s easy to get started if you’re new to the world of Cync.

It has all the classic controls, like different shades of white and colors, and you can also set up scenes and schedules in the routine button. The app has a lot of fun options, including Cync’s Light Shows, which feature vibrant, moving color combinations that work best with a two-light setup, and Music Shows, which react to the music and sound in the room. My favorite is the candle for a cozy atmosphere. It always responds quickly to my voice commands, doesn’t require a hub, and can even respond to schedules I set in the Alexa app.

Are you an Apple Home user? Meross is usually my favorite Apple-focused brand, and the Meross MSL120 flashlight is no exception. It’s quick and painless setup with Apple Home (a quick scan of the bulb’s barcode, a minute or two of waiting, and you’re done), even if you don’t have a dedicated Apple hub like a HomePod or Apple TV.

While I usually prefer a dedicated branded app for full control, especially since I primarily test using an Amazon Alexa setup, Apple does a great job of displaying a range of whites and makes it easy to customize a colorful option. You can also connect this bulb to Alexa, Google, and SmartThings if you decide to turn off HomeKit in the future.