Smart lights are one of the most popular ways to start building a smart home, many of choices there. With all the different shapes and colors, it can be overwhelming to decide which ones need hubs and which ones don’t.
If you don’t know what a hub is, in the early days of the smart home, most smart lights needed another piece of equipment called a bridge or hub to control the smart lights, but no longer. Here are the best smart lights that don’t require a hub.
GE Sync Smart Bulb
Overall best
GE has been in the light bulb game for a long time, and its smart lights show it. All the best GE Sync bulbs offer great connectivity and an array of features to set up each light exactly the way you want it. From 16 million color LED strips to white-only bulbs, you’re sure to find the right lighting for your home.
LIFX
bold, bright and beautiful
The LIFX smart light is one of the best smart lights for dark spaces thanks to its high lumen rating. Not only are these lights bright, they offer the most saturated and bold colors on the market. You’ll find apps with a variety of form factors and many customization options to suit your smart lighting needs.
Phillips With
no hub here
Yes, Philips Hue smart lights have a hub, but it’s not required. Many of the best Philips Hue smart lights use a hub to get the most out of the light, but Philips’ other brand’s Wiz doesn’t. Set schedules, adjust your lights, control your lights away from home, and use them with your favorite smart speakers. No hub required.
sylvania smart plus
Control your way
Sylvania is another company that has been manufacturing lighting solutions for a very long time and now offers some of the best smart lights out there. Choose from standard bulbs, light strips and even floor lamps to match your home. The reason I use these high quality lights is because they are packed with smart features that make them work great even without a hub.
vonto smart light
smart and cheap
Mr. Bont bucks this trend when it comes to the phrase “you get what you pay for.” These lights are some of the best cheap smart lights out there. Getting a well-functioning smart light within your budget is a big win.
Govee DreamView T1 TV Backlight
lose yourself
The Govee DreamView T1 TV Backlight is just one of many great Govee smart lights that prioritize Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and don’t use a hub. Combining RGBIC LED light strips with a special camera, these lights mimic what’s happening on your TV with the wall light behind you, immersing you deep into your favorite shows.
nanoleaf shape
illuminated wall art
Shapes are some of the best Nanoleaf lights thanks to the wide variety of options in the lineup and excellent control. Shapes can be hexagons or triangles, and each shape has two sizes. You can combine these panels to create a work of art on your wall. That’s before you turn on the panel. The app is full of customizations to set the perfect scene in your home.
all i need is light
Getting started with a smart home can quickly become overwhelming. In addition to finding the best smart home device for your home, you should also consider the amount of hardware you need to connect. So it’s great to find a smart light solution that allows you to continue to take advantage of all the fun features these products have to offer without the need for additional hubs.
GE Cync has done a great job growing its smart lighting portfolio while maintaining the quality that many have come to expect from the brand. Newer companies such as Govee and Vont have done a great job of adding their own products with impressive features without a hub.
But no matter which hubless smart lights you choose, make sure you have the best Wi-Fi router to control them seamlessly.
