The 17 Best Smart Home Lighting Fixtures (2024): Decorative Panels, LED Strips, and Ambient Lights

More smart lights we tested

Photo: Simon Hill

There are tons of smart ambient lighting panels, strips, lamps, and strings. Here are a few we like too.

Lepro N1 AI Smart Neon Light Strip for $40: This is very similar to the Govee Neon Light Strip above, offering a lovely diffused light in whatever color you want with support for many animated effects, music syncing and much more in the app. But I found the connection to be less reliable and prefer the Govee app. I tested and Lepro S1 AI Smart LED Strip Light ($20)cheaper light strip without a diffuser and is perfectly decent for recessed spots.

Linkind Smart TV Light Strip with HDMI Sync Box for $47: This is a much cheaper version of the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box above and includes a sync box and a colored light bar suitable for up to 90-inch TVs. It works goodbut the HDMI inputs are limited to 4K at 60Hz, and it’s not as good as our TV pick above, although it’s much more affordable. I tested and Linkind Smart Neon Rope Light ($80) and liked it.

Wiz Smart Neon Flex Strip for $80: This is another diffused light strip that looks a lot like the Govee Neon Light Strip above. It’s easy to place and style, can display multiple colors at once, and supports animated effects through the Wiz app. It can also be scheduled or synchronized with music. I also tested and liked it Wiz Smart LED Strip ($22).

Twinkly Dots for $82: You can stick these strings of LED dots around frames and furniture or hang them anywhere, and the app offers a wide range of colors and animated effects. You can map your template to get the most out of the effects, create your own effects and group Twinkly lights together. The downside is that the bar is split into two sections, with the power controls in the center, and you don’t get enough sticking points in the box. I also tested and liked it Twinkly Festoon ($40) string of light bulbs outdoors.

Govee G1 Gaming Light Strip for $45: This is very similar to the Philips Hue Play Gradient Lightstrip for PC listed above, but not as good. It’s easy to fit, comes in two sizes (for 24- to 26-inch and 27- to 34-inch monitors), and refreshes your games. But it relies on Govee’s unstable desktop software for syncing. Unfortunately, streaming services like Netflix mark it as a copyright violation when recording the screen, so sync doesn’t work with them. Govee DreamView and Razer Chroma compatibility lets you sync other lights and peripherals.

Moonside Lamp One for $65: This modern lava lamp looks great and features 120 dynamic color zones capable of displaying millions of colors and themes (animated effects). You can even create your own themes or make the lamp react to music. Unfortunately, application is a bit clunky, and the lamp is made of a lightweight matte plastic, so it’s all too easy to accidentally knock it over.

Philips Hue Go 2 for $90: This bowl-shaped portable lamp has a bump so you can tilt it for reading, and it’s a good bedside lamp with nighttime dimming and up to 520 lumens to wake you up in the morning. You can adjust the temperature and choose from millions of colors. This newer version (2019) has Bluetooth, so you don’t need the Hue Bridge. Battery life is limited; if you crank up the brightness you’ll be lucky to get two hours, but on dimming it can last around 10.

Nanoleaf Elements for $160: Plastic glow panels can look ugly on some walls (especially unplugged), so Nanoleaf offers this version of its larger wood effect hexagonal panels (they’re still plastic). Like the rest of the panels, you can arrange the Nanoleaf’s elements in any pattern you want, and they support touch controls and music syncing. Unfortunately, they only emit white light, but with a color temperature range of 1500K to 4000K, you can go from cool white to a warm orange glow.

Mpowered Luci Solar String Lights for $33: If you want lights you can take on the road or camping, this smart gadget from Mpowerd can brighten up your RV or campsite. The container opens to unscrew the waterproof threads (IPX4). Press the power button to use them as a flashlight or cycle through the bright colors of the string. There’s a solar panel on top for recharging (but it’s slow) and a port that goes both ways (so this can double as power bank).

Nanoleaf Lines for $140: Our previous pick for gamers, Nanoleaf Lines (8/10, WIRED recommends) project light from the back of each line onto the wall, throwing colors and creating a wonderful atmosphere. Even when turned off, the lines look better than most decorative smart light fixtures because they cast shadows on the wall and could pass for sculptural art. They also boast screen mirroring for PC to enhance gaming (Razer Chroma is also supported).

Lifx Lightstrip for $75: This isn’t as bright as the Philips Hue Gradient Smart Lightstrip, but it offers rich colors, distinct zones, and lovely animations. The app allows planning and can gradually brighten the bedroom in the morning. There’s also music syncing via your phone’s microphone. Smart home integration is solid and doesn’t need a hub, but when I tested the previous version (the Lifx Z), it would frequently disconnect from Wi-Fi and become unresponsive until reset.