The best HomeKit light bulbs are an easy and impactful way to add tech smarts and a range of cool features to your home. All you need to do is screw them in and turn them on. With Apple’s HomeKit smart home integration, you can then control your bright new smart lights with the Home app on your iPhone or one of the best iPads and turn them on and off with a voice command to Siri.
There are plenty of smart light bulbs on the market, many of which are HomeKit compatible light bulbs and in this guide we’ve collected together our favorites. Whether you want to dip your toe into smart home tech and add one bulb to your bedside lamp to see what all of the fuss is about or replace all your regular old bulbs with the best HomeKit light bulbs and refresh your whole home, we’ve got the best options for you. Don't forget to check out the best HomeKit hubs if you're keen to make your whole home smarter.
The best HomeKit light bulbs for a smarter and brighter home
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Simply the best
Nanoleaf's Essentials A19 light bulb features millions of colors, 1,100 lumens of peak brightness, and support for HomeKit Adaptive Lighting. That is only part of it, as this bulb works without the need for a hub with Bluetooth and Thread connectivity. While Bluetooth is great, we were blown away by the lightning-fast response times and rock-solid reliability enabled by Thread when we tested Nanoleaf's bulb in our review.
Affordable ambiance
As noted in our review of the meross Smart Wi-Fi LED Bulb, we loved how it gives you the convenience of HomeKit and Siri controls at a price that won't break the bank. This bulb tops out at a bright 810 lumens, supports a mix of 16 million colors, and since it uses Wi-Fi, you don't have to worry about setting up a hub. If you want to maximize the savings, you can snag a two-pack for less than the price of a single bulb from some of its competitors.
Mighty and mini
The LIFX Color A19 is one of the smallest HomeKit-enabled smart bulbs on the market. Don't let the small size fool you, though — this tiny bulb pumps out 800 lumens of lighting bliss, equivalent to a standard 60-watt bulb. This bulb also supports millions of color combinations, covering just about any hue you can dream up. While the bulb isn't quite as bright as others on the market, it doesn't need a bridge or hub to function.
Brightest of the bunch
Philips Hue is synonymous with smart lighting thanks to accurate color reproduction, fast response times, and excellent reliability. The latest 16-watt A21 Hue bulbs also happen to be the brightest HomeKit light bulbs on the market at a whopping 1,600 lumens of colorful goodness. The Hue line is also highly compatible, as it supports not only HomeKit but Alexa and Google Assistant.
Vintage charm
Filament-style lighting has made a huge comeback, and what better way to welcome it back than by adding in some smarts? Sylvania's Soft White Filament Bulb does just that by mixing in Bluetooth wireless with the beautiful stylings of the original light bulb design. This bulb is more than just an accent, though, as it provides 600 lumens of brightness and an adjustable color temperature range, making it perfect for just about anywhere.
Dynamic colors
Yeelights's color LED bulb utilizes Wi-Fi, allowing it to connect to your home network with just a scan of a pairing code. It provides up to 800 lumens of multi-color goodness through the Home app and Siri, but for even more fun, the Yeelight app offers many dynamic scene options that make your home come alive.
Who needs one of the best HomeKit lightbulbs?
The best HomeKit light bulbs are ideal for smart home beginners as they're one of the quickest ways to upgrade and expand your smart home with very little cost or commitment. Once installed, you can use Siri or your iPhone to turn your lights on and off, no matter where in the house you are.
That's not to say that those who already own plenty of the best HomeKit devices won't benefit from new smart light bulbs too, as you can get creative about all of the ways your smart tech works together. The best HomeKit light bulbs will also work with the Home App, so that you can create scenes and have the lights do certain things when parameters are met. For example, you could schedule the hall light to come on when you unlock the door with one of the best HomeKit door locks.
If you want to add some smart lighting into your home but you've already got smart light bulbs or want a different option, then take a look at our best HomeKit light strips guide instead.
What should you look for in a HomeKit lightbulb?
When you're buying a smart light bulb we recommend you first consider compatibility. All of the smart bulbs in this guide are compatible with Apple's HomeKit, but if you're looking for other options, checking they work with your current set up is a must.
Another key consideration is features. Some smart light bulbs offer very simple functionality, like just simple white and yellow shades of light, whereas other bulbs offer a choice of millions of colors. The more features generally mean a pricier bulb, so decide what's a priority and how much you're willing to spend.
If you are looking for the best smart light bulb on the market, the Nanoleaf Essentials A19 Bulb is a fantastic option. This smart bulb boasts an incredible 1,100 lumens of brightness and can display millions of colors. This LED bulb utilizes Thread networking technology which offers lightning-fast response times and excellent reliability if you have a HomePod mini or the latest Apple TV 4K in your home.
Want to add some smart capability without losing the vintage charm of filament bulbs? Sylvania's beautiful Smart+ bulbs provide the hip filament look and Bluetooth functionality, enabling all of the goodies that HomeKit offers without needing a separate hub. Whichever bulb you choose, the best HomeKit light bulbs will give you all the benefits of a HomeKit light switch without messing around with wires.
