A smart lighting kit may be the first real automation product for many homes. It usually starts with one section of the house, one room, or even a single lamp, but it can be hard to stop after you started connecting your home.
The starter smart lighting kits from Philips Hue and Wink Bright are two of the most popular on the market. Philips Hue has led the way in smart lighting technology and has a wide selection of lighting options. Wink Bright is another highly rated product by a company that is a leader in connecting smart homes.
Smart Light Bulb Starter Kit Comparison
Philips Hue Starter Kit
Pros
- Starter kits offer 3 types of bulbs: white, white ambiance, and white/color ambiance
- Higher rated bulb lifetime
- Greater range in lightbulb luminosity
- Works with Apple Home kit and many other smart products
Cons
- Higher price per lightbulb
Wink Bright Starter Kit
Pros
- Wink Hub 2 connects to hundreds of smart home products and brands
- Good lightbulb lifetime rating
- Lower price per lightbulb
Cons
- Starter kit only comes with basic white bulbs
- Does not work with Apple HomeKit
- Lower range in lightbulb luminosity and color options
Detailed Smart Light Bulb Starter Kit Review
Review Categories:
- Ease of Use
- Connectivity & Lighting Options
- Bulb Life & Warranty
- Pricing
EASE OF USE
Smart lighting kits are incredibly simple to set up within a matter of minutes. You can pick up a starter set that comes with between one and four A19 light bulbs depending on how many are required for your first room(s). To get started with either the Philips Hue or Wink Bright kit:
- Screw in the lightbulbs to the desired light fixtures you wish to control.
- Turn on the power to the fixture so the bulbs light up to make sure they work.
- Plug the included Hue Bridge or Wink Hub into an outlet. It’s recommended to place near your wireless router for easy access.
- Plug one end of the included ethernet cable to the Hue Bridge or Wink Hub and the other end to your wireless router. This is required since they do not have WiFi built-in to connect to the lightbulbs or other devices.
- Wait for the lightbulbs to come on to let you know the device is ready to set up.
- Download the apps made for the Philips Hue (iOS | Android) or Wink – Smart Home (iOS | Android). You can find many third-party apps that provide more control options, but it’s best to start with these main apps first.
- Open the app and it should identify your new hub. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the initial setup.
- The app will then walk you through naming rooms, adding the smart lightbulbs, and setting up connections to Apple HomeKit / Siri or Google Assistant.
- Once complete, you will have wireless control of your smart lightbulb enabled light fixtures.
- Finally, I’d recommend exploring other apps to provide greater control over your lighting. OnSwitch is a personal favorite for those using Philips Hue.
Advantage: Tie
CONNECTIVITY & LIGHTING OPTIONS
The smart lighting options between these products are fairly comparable with a choice of common A19 LED bulbs that provide standard white, ambiance/dimming, and color changing capabilities. While Philips Hue bulbs can be more expensive, they offer wider light output ranges with lower dimming settings which is ideal for reading or TV watching at night. However, Wink Bright only offers a starter kit with white bulbs with no option for dimming or color bulbs (must purchase separately).
There are also differences in the connectivity options between Philips Hue and Wink Bright which is important for those expanding their smart connections.
Philips Hue can be controlled with:
- Apple HomeKit
- Amazon Alexa
- Google Assistant
- IFTTT
- Logitech
- Nest
- SmartThings
- Xfinity Home
- Plus Many Other Apps
Wink Bright can be controlled with:
- Amazon Alexa
- Google Assistant
- ecobee
- Nest
- LIGHTIFY
- Lutron
- Ring
- WeMo
- Plus Many Other Apps
- Note: Apple HomeKit not supported
Advantage: Philips Hue
BULB LIFE & WARRANTY
Bulb lifetime is hard to accurately judge since it depends on multiple factors (light fixture, temperature, etc.), but Philips Hue is rated for 14,000 hours where the Slvania bulbs that come with Wink Bright are only 11,000 hours.
Philips Hue Warranty: 2 Years
Wink Warranty: 1 Year
Note: Consult the manufacturer’s warranty for the latest information.
Advantage: Philips Hue
PRICING
Philips Hue Starter Lighting Kit
Wink Bright Lighting Kit
Recommended Smart Light Bulb Starter Kit
Philips Hue (Buy Now) is the top recommended kit for those looking to get started with WiFi enabled lighting for the home. The Philips Hue Ambiance Starter Kit will provide you with the essentials to brighten up your smart home with high-quality and dimmable lighting.
Even if you already have a Wink Hub at home, I’d still recommend using the Philips Hue bulbs. It’s hard to beat the long bulb life, compatibility with most smart products, and excellent lighting range for increased comfort.