Hey there! If you‘ve been thinking about upgrading some of your exterior lighting to smart LED bulbs or fixtures, you‘ll definitely want to check out this guide I‘ve put together. I‘ve been testing and reviewing emerging home technology for over 8 years, and intelligent outdoor lighting is one of my latest obsessions!
The Growing Popularity of Smart Outdoor Illumination
Before we jump into this year‘s top products, I think it‘s really cool to see just how much innovation has happened in exterior lighting over the past decade. Back in 2012, your only option was a basic timer-controlled outlet to turn lights on and off. Now, the outdoor lighting category sports advanced WiFi-enabled LED bulbs and fixtures packed with awesome features.
What sparked this smart lighting movement? Well as you probably guessed, it comes down to the rise of mobile technology and AI voice assistants. Major players like Philips Hue and LIFX leveraged cloud connectivity and LED efficiency to make previously "dumb" lightbulbs intelligent. This allowed them to be controlled from smartphones anywhere and respond to voice commands.
According to Statista, 72% of smart lighting device sales are now exterior products compared to just 28% for indoor models. With demand booming, manufacturers are packing outdoor offerings with color changing, scheduling, motion detection, voice activation, and integration with other smart gadgets. Cool right?
Now let‘s check out this season‘s finest smart exterior illumination options! I‘ve picked the creme of crop tailor-made to shine up your outdoor living space.
Smart Spotlight – Philips Hue Lily
Let‘s start with a smart spotlight package that caught my attention. Philips Hue dominates the LED lighting game. Back in 2012, they released one of the very first smart bulbs, and they‘ve been innovating ever since.
For accenting key architectural elements of your home‘s exterior, I highly recommend the Philips Hue Lily spotlight kit. Equipped with the latest Bluetooth/WiFi-enabled LED bulbs and Hub, it unlocks a suite of cutting edge lighting features:
- Beam Angle: 36 degrees of focused illumination
- Lumens: 1200 high-brightness lumens per bulb
- Color Options: 16 million colors + 50,000 tunable white tones
- Weatherproof: IP65 dust and water jet rating
- Extensions: 16‘ cord length for flexible placement
Here‘s a handy comparison chart of the Philips Hue Lily‘s integrated smart lighting capabilities vs basic spotlight setup:
| Feature | Philips Hue Lily Spotlights | Basic Halogen Spotlights |
|---|---|---|
| Voice Control | Yes | No |
| Smart Phone Control | Yes | No |
| Color Changing LEDs | Yes | No |
| Automated Scheduling | Yes | With timer outlet only |
| Motion Activation | Yes with upgrade | No |
As you can see, you gain so much functionality by going smart! We‘re just scratching the surface too. The Hue app unlocks unique lighting "scenes" where you can save and activate multi-light setups for parties, gatherings, or just setting a mood. Think tropical color fades or animated holiday displays. The options are endless!
So if you‘re seeking some accent lighting packed with insane customizability, smart controls, and innovating lighting effects, grab the Philips Hue Lily Spotlight kit.
Add Security with Ring Floodlight Cam
Next up – let‘s talk about an LED floodlight fixture I rank as this year‘s best for boosting exterior security. Smart floodlight cameras have exploded in popularity thanks to their combination of ultra-bright, motion activated lighting and integrated home monitoring.
The Ring Floodlight Cam Plus takes the smart security formula even further for 2023. Running the show are its best-in-class twin 1080p HDR cameras with night vision, advanced motion sensors, built-in 90+ dB siren, and wide-range audio. All designed to keep your property safe.
Here are some of the standout features homeowners love:
- Brightness: Adjustable up to 3000 lumens
- Video Quality: 1080p HD recording with infrared night vision
- Security Deterrents: Loud siren, customizable strobe settings
- Motion Zones: Focus alerts only on key areas
- Power System: Hardwired to existing junction box
I especially like that Ring engineered their Floodlight Cam Plus as an easy upgrade to your existing exterior lights. You get advanced smart detection and lighting without the headache of installing a totally separate security system. Just use the same wiring hookup!
Give some thought about where you‘d position this bad boy for maximum impact. Ideal spots are above garage doors overlooking driveways, back patio corners, or front entryways.
Ready to select spotlights, floodlights, or other fixtures perfect for your home? First, ponder where you‘ll install them, how much area needs brightening, and what control functionality is most important to you. Once decided, the buying process becomes much easier!
Now let‘s explore two more ingenious smart exterior lighting styles to consider.
Fun String Lights – Philips Hue Festavia
If fun and ambiance is the goal with your new outdoor lighting, Philips Hue again sets the bar with their Festavia smart string light collection.
Built to bring extraordinary color effects outdoors, these customizable LED string lights feature commercial-grade, shatterproof housing designed to permanently withstand the elements. Translation – these babies will light up your patio, pergola, or landscaping beautifully and reliably for years on end!
The Festavia line really amps up functionality. We‘re talking:
- 16 million colors + 50,000 white shades
- Animated lighting scenes and color changing effects
- Music synchronization reacts to songs playing
- Sync with movies, gaming, and other Hue smart lights
- Schedule routines like fade on at sunset, off at 11 PM
So whether you‘re hosting a backyard bash or just lounging on the deck, you can set a vibrant mood with ease!
Solar Path Lights – Vivlio
Last but not least, I want to highlight an innovative smart path light solution that doesn‘t require any electrical work – Vivlio Solar Powered Pathlights.
Tired of dealing with low-powered path lights that constantly need battery swaps? Vivlio solves this by packing their fixtures with a high-capacity AA NiMH battery that charges via a built-in solar cell. Just stake them alongside walkways, patios, or driveways and let the sun keep them glowing.
In addition, they‘ve integrated adjustable brightness, automated runtimes, and app-based timers. So you can have your path lights trigger on schedule and customize settings from your phone.
- Lumens: 100 high-output lumens
- Power System: Integrated solar panel + NiMH AA battery
- Housing: Rust/water resistant aluminum
- Controls: Timer automation via app
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2 up to 65 feet
I really think Vivlio nailed it by baking solar power, durable components and smart controls into an easy-to-install path lighting solution. Definitely worth considering!
And there you have it my friend! The best and brightest intelligent outdoor illumination products out today. I‘m confident one of these smart LED lighting systems will help kick your exterior spaces up a notch. Whether used for accenting, security, ambiance, or visibility, they pack the performance and innovation to impress.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Jeremy
Tech Lighting Analyst
