The Pros and Cons of Smart Lighting in 2020

Automation is the current trend, allowing your home to work for you instead of against you. However, it’s worth noting the benefits and potential pitfalls of home automation. Let’s look at the pros and cons of smart lights:

Breaking down the cons of smart lighting

Lightbulbs and lighting are one of the new additions to smart appliances. Each year, they are less buggy, and for every evolution, companies improve their product’s automation quality. But there are still some kinks to be worked out.

• Lightbulbs are still trying to work out the bugs. For instance, GE Link syncs with an Amazon Echo or Alexa, but there are apparent glitches. Voice activation automation is a huge draw; however, when light bulbs blink or don’t register your verbal requests, it can be frustrating.

• Many bulbs and lighting systems that are automated come with chargers. The negative is if you lose the charger, you will find yourself stuck in the dark. Always check if your new automation is compatible with more than the provided charger.

• Brands have not perfected the smart lightbulb quite yet. In some cases, smartphone applications are either not compatible or unreliable with their connection to your lighting system. 

• Complaints that the variation in lighting between smart bulbs and regular light bulbs are significant. They simply have not gotten bright enough to shine as brightly.

Proving the pros of smart lighting

• Cree is an example of a brand that has positive results as a smart light bulb that lives up to the hype. The bulbs are Alexa compatible, making voice automation easy.

• Many automated appliances can be controlled through smartphone apps. LIFX is a lighting system that works without a hub. You can control your lights from across the country.

• A lot of the automated light systems have color options. And not your typical white or yellow glow either. An entire rainbow of options is available through your hub or smartphone app.

• Do you have a pet or little one that is not fond of the dark? With most of the smart lighting systems, you can control the on and off switches from miles away. You are not wasting energy to keep them calm while you are out and about.

Surveying smart lighting

Home automation is the trend for the future. But it does not mean that every aspect is intended for everyone. When it comes to smart lighting, you will want to consider your needs versus wants.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is constantly evolving. Some models link with hubs, and some do not. Other models are compatible with smartphones, and others are not. The choices may seem overwhelming, but there are people more than willing to walk you through any questions you may have and the step-by-step installation of your smart lighting system.

At Brinks Home™, professional technicians are available to answer all your questions about your new smart light system and walk you through how to set it up to suit your needs.

Lauren Slade is a Dallas-based writer and editor.