Ikea's Smart Lights Offer Excellent Performance, and They Cost Up to 80% Less Than Philips Hue

Smart lights make an excellent addition to smart home setups, whether you want to light up your outdoor space for spring entertaining or upgrade your interior lighting. But the most popular option can be quite pricey. To say I had a lightbulb moment recently while testing Ikea's smart lights would be silly -- so I won't. But it was revelatory to learn there are perfectly capable smart lights for significantly less than the cost of Philips Hue. Ikea may not be known for smart lighting but maybe it should be. Ikea's smart lighting covers all the bases: affordability, local control, excellent remotes and tons of lighting products to create innumerable combinations. These options are certainly worth considering, especially if you're a beginner looking for a budget-friendly entry into the smart home world. Ikea holds its own against other budget smart home brands The Ikea Home Smart app's simple design makes it easy to use. Screenshots by John Carlsen/CNET My smart home philosophy has a ... Read full article.