A woman controlling her smart holiday lights on her phone (GagliardiPhotography/Shutterstock)
Looking to upgrade your holiday decor this season? Smart Christmas lights bring a tech-savvy twist to traditional string lights. Unlike regular lights, the best smart lights can be controlled from your smartphone or voice-activated through devices like Alexa or Google Assistant. You can adjust brightness and colors, and create custom lighting effects, all from the comfort of your couch.
While high-tech lights come with a higher price tag – often double the cost of traditional options – they offer much more creativity that is worth it for many holiday enthusiasts. Ready to make your holiday display shine brighter while you kick back and stream Netflix? We’ve rounded up the top four smart light systems lighting up the web – handpicked from eight expert sources for their brilliant colors, easy control, and wow factors. If we missed one you love, comment below.
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Four top-rated smart lighting systems to upgrade your holiday display
1. Twinkly Strings
Twinkly’s holiday lights bring serious sparkle to your decor. Available in lengths from 26 to 158 feet, they come in color, white, or both. Expect eye-catching effects, music sync, and a perfect mix of Govee’s flash with Hue’s polish. While the app can be a bit finicky and wi-fi is sometimes spotty, if you’re up for a quick learning curve, The Verge says Twinkly’s effects are well worth it!
These lights are expensive, but Tech Advisor believes they are worth every penny. Connect them to the Twinkly app over wi-fi to control patterns, create custom effects, and even sync with music (just add the Twinkly Music dongle). With 16 million colors combos these lights are a serious upgrade from the ordinary.
Family Handyman agrees! There are so many design options with Twinkly lights that you’re unlikely to see the same pattern anywhere in the neighborhood. Use them indoors or outside! One downside: the light strings can’t be connected end-to-end.
2. Govee Smart Outdoor String Lights
Govee’s Smart Outdoor String Lights are a top choice for their trusted quality and stylish bulb design that instantly elevates any outdoor space. With 48- and 96-foot options, these lights pack 30 dimmable LEDs, 16 million colors, 47 scene modes, and a music sync feature. Spy.com says they are perfect rain or shine, thanks to IP65 waterproofing.
These large-bulb string lights are perfect year-round for cozy vibes on your patio, balcony, or yard. Customize each bulb’s color with voice control or the app for an easy style refresh. Family Handyman notes the app even recognizes photos to recreate light displays.
Wired likes the Govee indoor Christmas lights because they have a built-in mic to detect music, allowing the lights to sync up to tunes. The only downside? A bright silver cord, that is easy to notice on the tree.
3. Philips Hue Festavia
If you love Philips Hue lights and want to upgrade your standard lights to a smart setup, the Festavia String Lights make an excellent choice. According to Wired, the LEDs can turn any color, apply animated “scenes,” and even fine-tune the white color temperature, allowing for a cozy, warm glow that adds a classy touch.
As noted by The Verge, the Festavia String Lights are very reliable when connected to a Hue Bridge and also function over Bluetooth for added convenience. Available in two lengths, they’re compatible with all major smart home platforms and are matter-compatible, ensuring seamless integration with various smart home ecosystems.
The generous 65-foot length gives you plenty of reach if the nearest outlet is a little far, and they’re perfect for more than just your tree. Spy.com encourages you to use them on stair railings, countertops, or anywhere that needs a touch of sparkle!
4. Brizled Christmas Lights
The Brizled lights are much more affordable than the Twinkly brand, and you can adjust brightness and switch between cool white, warm white, or multicolor LEDs. With fun pulse and disco modes, the lights even sync with your music for a festive atmosphere. Plus, Tech Advisor says you can connect up to five devices for group control and set timers so your lights are on when you get home and off when you go to bed.
Spy.com agrees that Brizled lights hold their own against Twinkly and Philips Hue – minus the high price tag. They’re vibrant, though effects are a bit more limited if you’re looking for a big light show. Plus, with 66 feet of LEDs, you’ve got plenty of room to deck out your space.
According to 365electric, while these lights only offer four music modes and don’t include replacement bulbs, the built-in memory chip conveniently saves your settings for easy reuse.
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Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This article may contain affiliate links in which we receive a commission if you make a purchase.
