Buy the Fire HD 8 tablet at Amazon – $60

Buy the Fire HD 8 Plus tablet at Amazon – $80

Buy the Fire HD 10 tablet at Amazon – $100

Echo Studio + Echo Show 5 bundle

Billy Steele / Engadget

Best Buy’s solid deal that includes a free Echo Show 5 and a Philips Hue smart light bulb when you buy an Echo Studio is ongoing. The $199 Echo Studio is the best sounding smart speaker in Amazon’s Echo lineup and it earned a score of 88 from us. The Echo Show 5 makes a great smart alarm clock and is one of the most compact smart displays you can get right now. Best Buy’s website doesn’t make it easy to see the offer, but all you need to do is add the Echo Studio to your cart and the two free items will appear there before you checkout.

Buy Echo Studio + Echo Show 5 bundle at Best Buy – $200

16-inch MacBook Pro

Dana Wollman / Engadget

Now’s a good time to grab a new MacBook Pro if you need one for the upcoming school semester. Amazon has the latest 16-inch MacBook Pro on sale starting at $2,099. This laptop is truly for power users thanks to its powerful Intel CPU/AMD GPU combination. It earned a score of 90 from us thanks to that as well as its lovely 16-inch Retina display, stellar speaker and mic combo and comfortable Magic Keyboard.

Buy 16-inch MacBook Pro (512GB) at Amazon – $2,099

Buy 16-inch MacBook Pro (1TB) at Amazon – $2,449

Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

Microsoft

You can still get the 13-inch Surface Laptop 3 starting at $800 at Amazon. The base model, which has a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, will suffice for some, but we generally recommend the next tier up in specs if you want to use the device as your daily driver. That machine is on sale for $1,299 and has a Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. We gave the 15-inch Surface Laptop 3 a score of 80 for its minimalist design, comfortable keyboard and lovely display.

Buy Surface Laptop 3 (Core i5) at Amazon – $800

Buy Surface Laptop 3 (Core i7, 256GB) at Amazon – $1,299

Buy Surface Laptop 3 (Core i7, 512GB) at Amazon – $1,690

Jabra Elite 75t

Billy Steele / Engadget

Jabra’s excellent Elite 75t true wireless earbuds remain discounted to $150 at Amazon and Best Buy. That’s $30 less than their normal price and the lowest we’ve seen them. The Elite 75ts (87) are smaller and more comfortable to wear than their predecessors, and they can better withstand sweat while you’re working out thanks to their IP55 rating. They don’t have active noise-cancellation, but they do have solid sound quality, a good battery life and a handy mobile app in which you can customize some audio preferences.

Buy Jabra Elite 75t at Amazon – $150

Buy Jabra Elite 75t at Best Buy – $150

New deal additions

Philips Hue White + Ambiance starter kit

One of the easiest ways to start building a smart home is with smart light bulbs and Best Buy has a complete Philips Hue starter pack for $130, which is $60 off its normal price. This pack includes three white + color smart bulbs, one bridge to connect them all and one dimmer switch. Once set up, you can control all of the lights with the Philips Hue mobile app, doing things like turning them on and off, changing light colors, setting routines and more.

Buy Philips Hue starter kit at Best Buy – $130

Apple Magic Keyboard (11-inch iPad Pro)

iPad Pro users can snag the new Magic Keyboard for slightly less right now at Amazon. The keyboard case is down to $280, which is $20 off its launch price and the lowest it’s been since it came out. We gave the Magic Keyboard a score of 84 for its excellent typing experience (thanks mostly to Apple’s new scissor-switch keys), solid glass trackpad and USB-C port for charging. It’s quite an expensive iPad accessory even at this sale price, but it’s certainly the most luxurious typing experience you’ll get with an iPad if you’re willing to spend the money.

Buy Magic Keyboard at Amazon – $279

Google Home Mini

Walmart has a two-pack of Google Home Mini speakers for $40, which is roughly 50 percent off the normal price. Yes, these are Google Home Minis not Nest Minis, so they are older models of Google’s most compact smart speaker. That said, the Home Mini and the Nest Mini have a lot in common — the exterior design is mostly the same and they both house the Google Assistant. The Nest Mini has an improved sound system and additional mounting options, but if you primarily want a decent, compact smart speaker for cheap, this bundle fits the bill.

Buy Google Home Mini (2-pack) at Walmart – $40

Plugable Thunderbolt 3 dock

Amazon dropped the price of Plugable’s Thunderbolt 3 dock to $199, which is $30 less than its normal price. This docking station gives you nine ports, including five USB-A ports, an Ethernet port and a DisplayPort, with which to connect displays, accessories and other peripherals to your laptop. It also charges your host laptop when it’s connected with up to 60W of power. We also like its sleek metal design and that it comes with a rubberized base that you can use to stand the dock up vertically on your desk.

Buy Plugable Thunderbolt 3 dock at Amazon – $199

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

The Echo Plus levels-up the standard Echo by including a Zigee home hub inside of it. That means you don’t need to buy any extra connecting hubs when you purchase other IoT devices like light bulbs, door locks, security cameras and others. If it works with the Zigbee protocol (a majority of IoT devices do) or Amazon’s own Works with Alexa platform, then it’ll be able to connect to the hub inside of the Echo Plus.

This makes it a great device for those just starting out with smart home devices. Instead of buying some smart lights only to find out you need an extra piece of the puzzle for them to work properly, you can opt for an Echo Plus and have a plethora of smart devices available to you after that. The Philips Hue light bulb that comes in the Echo Plus bundle, which normally costs $30 on its own, can connected directly to the smart speaker. Then, you can then ask Alexa to control the lighting in your home whenever you want.

The Echo Plus also improves on the original Echo’s sound quality — that’s one of the reasons why we gave it a score of 86. However, audiophiles will, (unsurprisingly) still want to look elsewhere for a smart speaker with the best audio quality possible. The Echo Studio is your best bet on that front within Amazon device family.

Among the other Echo devices on sale, the Echo Show 5 for $60 and the Echo Show 8 for $90 are decent sales. Though not the lowest prices ever ($50 and $80, respectively), these sales are worth considering if you’ve wanted a smaller smart display. The Show 5 makes a good smart alarm clock, while the Show 8 could make a good kitchen TV of sorts if you use it to follow along with recipe videos. The Echo Flex adapter has also dropped to its lowest price ever, only $17.49, and it’s useful if you want to have Alexa voice controls in a room with no space for another IoT device.

Signify, the company formerly known as Philips Lighting, promised voice control for the Hue Play HDMI Sync Box back in January at CES. Now, the feature is finally rolling out as part of the device’s latest software update. The HDMI box syncs the company’s smart lights with whatever is playing on your TV for a watching experience that’s more immersive than usual. However, it didn’t ship with voice control out of the box.

This update makes the device compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri, giving you the power to switch it on or off, to start or stop the light sync function, to switch sync modes (video, music and games) and even to switch HDMI channels by issuing a voice command. The latest software update also enables synchronized surround lighting for color-capable Hue lights when watching Dolby Vision or HDR10+ content.

After April 2020 no software updates will be made available for the Hue Bridge v1 and compatibility with our online services will be terminated at that time. The Hue Bridge v1 can still be controlled locally via the dedicated Philips Hue Bridge v1 app. >>

— Philips Hue (@tweethue) March 6, 2020

While the more recent versions of the Bridge are square (like in the image above), the oldest version is a round-shaped device that serves as Hue lights’ central controller. New Hue lights don’t need a bridge anymore, but you still have to have one if you want to pair them with additional accessories like motion sensors or to access their more advanced features.

The first-gen Hue Bridge’s retirement doesn’t come as a surprise. Signify stopped releasing feature updates for the device in April 2019. It even announced back then that it will completely stop rolling out software updates and will terminate online services for the Bridge on April 30th, 2020. Besides, all smart gadgets will eventually be put out to pasture. That’s just the nature of internet-connected devices — it just so happened that it’s the first-gen Hue Bridge’s time to say goodbye.

New to the collection are the Philips Hue Nyro, an angular light available as a path lamp or wall lamp; the Hue Resonate, a box that will cast light up and down the wall; and the Philips Hue Appear, a tubular version of the Resonate. Other new wall lights will include the circular Daylo and Attract, which has a transparent lampshade. All of the new designs are color and ambiance models.

Hueblog.de

Philips Hue is updating its Lily garden spotlight, which will now also come in a larger size. The Lily XL is roughly five inches wider and has 1,200 lumens — almost double the 640 lumens of the original Hue Lily. There’s also a new Impress outdoor wall light.

According to Hugeblog.de, the catalog references “Spring 2020,” but it’s not specific about a launch date or pricing. Hopefully, we’ll learn more at CES.

The second-gen Echo Show has a sharp, colorful, 10-inch display — thanks to design refinements, it doesn’t take up too much counter space. The Echo Show 8 is Amazon’s most recent addition to the lineup. It combines the same screen and sound capabilities of the Echo Show with the camera shutter and form factor of the Echo Show 5, and of course, an 8-inch display.

Plenty of other Amazon products are on sale too. In addition to the Fire TV and Echo discounts, Amazon is offering $45 off its latest Kindle Paperwhite ($85) and $30 off its latest Kindle ($60). Those devices received high scores when we reviewed them, 95 and 91, respectively. The new Paperwhite is a welcomed update to the classic. It’s added perks include waterproofing, Audible support over Bluetooth, improved design and a better-contrast display. The updated Kindle gives the Paperwhite a run for its money, though. In addition to a touchscreen and Audible support, the lower-end Kindle finally has a front-lit screen.

These discounts are valid through December 2nd.

When to use a smart plug

Photo: Michael Hession

Smart plugs are best when you want to control a lamp. They’re small devices that fit into any outlet, and they’re the easiest way to convert a table lamp, floor lamp, or night-light into a smart light. They don’t need you to have a familiarity with wiring or any electrical know-how, as smart in-wall switches do. Smart plugs are especially easy to set up, remove, and move from room to room—once you plug one in, you simply sync it with your smartphone, and you’re off. The only downsides are that they take up some outlet space and don’t control hardwired fixtures like ceiling lights or sconces.

I like the Wemo Mini because it’s cheap, it works with all of the major smart-home platforms (Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit), and it has been reliably turning my son’s night-light on and off for over a year now. If you don’t need your plug to work with multiple smart-home platforms, you can find other great smart plugs out there that are even cheaper, such as the Wyze Plug.

One of the great things about smart plugs is that you can use them for other things besides lights. I have an iClever IC-BS06 underneath my house so that I can trigger a pump to clear out water when it starts to flood under there (and that happens often). The iClever plug has an extra outlet, so we can add holiday lights or a giant inflatable Christmas dragon, which we can control through the app as well via voice commands (“Alexa, release the dragon”).

When to use a smart bulb

Photo: Michael Hession

Smart bulbs are best when you want to control bulbs individually or want to adjust the color of your home’s light. Since they come in different shapes and sizes, there’s a smart bulb for almost any lamp or fixture, indoors and outdoors (so long as your fixture is weather-tight). They screw into a fixture just like any other bulb, but they sync with a smartphone app, which lets you create custom scheduled on/off times or custom Scenes (preset brightness or color settings for different activities that you can trigger instantly). The whole process is easy, and you don’t need to do a lick of wiring.

I love the Philips Hue White Ambiance Smart Bulb Starter Kit, which includes four dimmable white bulbs and a hub—a little box you plug in to your home Internet router that allows your bulbs to talk to each other and other devices, and lets you control everything when you aren’t home. (You can also use the Amazon Echo Plus or Echo Show, which each have a hub built in). Besides putting the bulbs on a schedule (an easy task), you can dim or tweak the color temperature of the bulbs to suit your preference. Philips also has color-changing bulbs, which add a splash of color to a stale room and work with third-party apps that can alert you to security alarms and weather changes—or just create a disco effect (video). The Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Starter Kit is pricier than the white-bulb set at a typical price of $200, but it includes four color bulbs and a hub.

If extras don’t matter and you’re just looking to dabble, the Wyze Bulb (usually about $10) connects right to your home Wi-Fi and lets you turn the white light into a variety of shades on command and schedule on/off times; it also includes Alexa and Google Assistant support. Unlike smart plugs, smart bulbs work only with light fixtures, and those fixtures need to be turned on at all times. If someone flips the switch, you won’t be able to access a smart bulb without an add-on like the Lutron Aurora dimmer, which works only with Philips Hue bulbs.

When to use a smart switch

Photo: Michael Hession

Smart in-wall dimmers and switches are best when you want to control lights operated by a light switch, and they’re especially useful for switches that control several lights at once. A smart switch or dimmer is a more permanent way to add smart lighting into your home, but that means they’re not good for rentals. They allow you to turn your lights on and off or to dim them, from a single switch or a smartphone app (or by voice, if you have a smart speaker set up for that), but they also enable you to create lighting schedules. And you can install them without having to change your existing fixture or any bulbs. The Lutron Caséta is a favorite because of its reliability, and it works with a huge range of smart-home devices. On a technical note, this switch doesn’t need a white “neutral” wire in your wall to be installed, which many other smart switches require (and which is often missing, especially if you live in an older house like I do).

Smart switches are also great for homes with vaulted ceilings or areas with hard-to-reach lighting fixtures. The Lutron model does need a hub, so if you’re not interested in adding another box to your home networking setup, or if you just want to replace one or two switches in the house, opt for the Wemo Dimmer instead. Of course, you’ll also need some basic knowledge of wiring. If you don’t have that, hire an electrician.

This guide may have been updated by Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here.

When readers choose to buy Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commissions.

Why you should trust me

I’ve written about consumer electronics for more than 15 years, and I’ve tested a variety of smart-home items—everything from remotes and security cameras to AV receivers and smart light switches. I’ve held editor positions at Electronic House and Big Picture Big Sound, and I’ve also written buying guides and tech articles for The New York Times (Wirecutter’s parent company), Wired, Men’s Health, and others.

Who this is for

More than anything, smart lighting is just convenient—you no longer need worry about entering a dark house, falling near a dark swimming pool, stumbling by the trash cans, or wondering where the edge of the driveway is.

If you hate it when outdoor lights remain on all day, if you have concerns about home security, or if you just want to enhance the looks of your yard or garden, smart lighting can be a great all-in-one choice. Smart outdoor lighting allows you to turn lights on and off from almost anywhere using a smartphone app, as well as to set them to operate automatically based on schedules, motion sensors, or triggers that you program in the app. Just like indoor smart lights, outdoor ones can integrate into a system to work with a variety of other smart devices such as smart locks, sensors, and alarm systems.

You can find several styles of smart outdoor lights, including bulbs, sconces, spotlights, and floodlights, among others. Most allow you to adjust the brightness, and some let you change the light color. Where you want to put smart outdoor lights, how you plan to use them, and the technology you prefer to use will determine the type of light that’s best for you.

How we picked and tested

Photo: Rachel Cericola

We looked at all of the smart outdoor lighting options that are currently available by searching online reviews, retailers, and manufacturer websites. Many outdoor lighting devices are similar, so we whittled the group down to what we thought was worth testing based on online feedback, useful features, and price. We also eliminated outdoor lighting fixtures with integrated cameras, since we cover those in our outdoor security cameras guide.

We looked at what we thought would be the practical, real-world use for each light we reviewed, and then we judged each one based on where we thought it would work best. We also considered the following elements:

• Brightness: We took note of each model’s rated lumens, which is a measure of light output. The outdoor smart bulbs we looked at were rated to produce 1,100 to 1,300 lumens. By comparison the path lights we tested were far more subdued, producing just 35 to 600 lumens.
• Technology: In order to set up and control your lights, you need to use a smartphone app, and the lights need to connect to your home network wirelessly. Just one of the bulbs we reviewed uses regular Wi-Fi for remote control and connecting to things like Amazon Alexa. Almost every other device on our list uses Z-Wave or Zigbee, two common types of wireless signal that require the use of another device called a smart hub or bridge to connect the lights with other smart devices.
• Range: Z-Wave and Zigbee have a range of about 100 feet between a device and a hub, though each device can act as a wireless repeater to create what’s called a mesh network, where each device shares its signal and extends coverage. (Wi-Fi can’t do this and so may have range issues.) A good rule of thumb is that if you can connect your smartphone or laptop to your Wi-Fi network in a specific spot, you should be able to park a Wi-Fi device there. (And if you’re having signal issues, consider upgrading your router or adding an extender or repeater. Check out our guide to Wi-Fi routers and our guide to Wi-Fi extenders for suggestions.)
• App interface: We used iPhone and Android devices to look at the app controls to see how easy the lighting devices were to set up and to control at home and away. We also set up schedules and tested any other features.
• Smart-home compatibility: You can make most smart lights work together with other smart devices. When you wirelessly connect lights to other devices in the home, it makes them more convenient and enjoyable because they can be triggered by other lights and devices (such as security cameras). Everything we tested can pair with some type of voice assistant such as Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri, so you can operate it by voice.
• Setup: Some devices we tested were as easy to install as (literally) screwing in a light bulb. Others weren’t as simple, so we took notes whenever something had an atypical installation process. This also included how to set up each device within the corresponding app. We didn’t test any devices that called for new wiring.

With the exception of hardwired devices, we used everything we tested for two to four weeks, in our home office and out in the yard up to 50 feet from our router. We tested app interfaces using an iPhone 7 and a Nokia 3.1 running Android 9 Pie, when possible. We set schedules, created scenes so lights would go on at certain dimming levels, and triggered other devices using lights when we could. We also turned each light on and off while out of the house so that we could test remote capabilities.

For security: Sengled Smart PAR38 LED Bulb

Photo: Rachel Cericola

Who it’s for: If you have an outdoor floodlight fixture, this PAR38 bulb with a built-in motion sensor makes it easy to switch to smart lighting. Smart bulbs instantly turn any light fixture that uses traditional bulbs into a smart light you can control remotely, put on a schedule, or set to vacation mode so that the light goes on and off at random times (making it look like you’re home even when you’re halfway around the world). If you enable its motion sensor, you can receive notifications on your phone when the mail arrives, when the pizza delivery person is on your doorstep, or when stray cats wander through your yard. Smart outdoor bulbs offer peace of mind as well, ensuring that you never stumble in the dark or have to hunt around to fit your key in the keyhole (though you could just get a smart lock, of course). All smart bulbs can work outside, but outdoor smart bulbs are rated to tolerate wetness, so if you don’t have a totally weather-tight fixture, an outdoor smart bulb works best.

Why it’s great: All of the outdoor smart bulbs we tested allow you to turn them on and off using app controls, voice controls, and even in-app schedules. However, the Sengled Smart PAR38 LED Bulb was the only one we found that also included a configurable motion sensor, which could be triggered from up to 40 feet away.

The Sengled PAR38 works with any existing standard E26 fixture that does not have a motion sensor already attached. Like most smart outdoor lighting devices, it does require a small smart hub that you need to connect to your home router and plug into the wall. That hub uses Zigbee wireless, which creates a strong mesh network linking all Zigbee devices and doesn’t interfere with your Wi-Fi. In addition to the Sengled hub, a number of dedicated hubs (such as the Samsung SmartThings Hub or the Amazon Echo Plus and Echo Show) also work with this bulb.

We found the Sengled bulb to be the easiest to use of the bulbs we tested. And although it does lose some minor functionality when you use it with a third-party hub (for instance, you need to set a routine to disarm the motion sensor versus tapping an in-app button), we found that it still responded quickly to voice commands from an Amazon Echo Plus, as well as to iOS and Android apps. On and off controls, dimming, and a look at the most recent motion trigger are all right on the homepage of the Sengled Home app (though the interface may vary if you use a different hub and its app). The Sengled app also allows you to adjust the sensitivity of the motion sensor so that it can turn on only when it’s dark out, for example, or also when it’s merely dim. The app also has adjustable settings for how long a light should stay on, between one and five minutes after sensing motion. And you can create up to 15 lighting schedules, each with its own custom dimming levels: My husband used to turn the front light on to go to work at 4:00 a.m., and it tended to stay on a lot of the day—but with the Sengled bulb installed, it now goes on and off every weekday morning automatically.

We wish the Sengled PAR38 and its hub could integrate with a wider range of other smart-home devices out of the box and that you could adjust the color, but as a replacement for a traditional bulb it does the job very well—and it does so for much less than the other bulbs on our list. You could buy three outdoor Sengled bulbs for less than the cost of just one LIFX bulb, or two Sengled bulbs for just a little more than one Philips Hue.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Sengled PAR38 bulb is the only bulb we tested that does not work with the Apple HomeKit smart-home platform. If you use HomeKit, we have two recommendations that are also very capable.

For safety: Ring Pathlight

Photo: Rachel Cericola

Who it’s for: Anyone with a poorly lit walkway, driveway, or yard can install these lights without doing any wiring. Path lights are terrific for guiding people safely along a walkway, preventing you or your visitors from trampling flower beds and ensuring that you don’t slip and fall into the pool. Smart path lights illuminate automatically, only when needed. They also look great, so you can install them to highlight the best-looking areas around your home.

Why it’s great: The Ring Pathlight quickly, cleanly, and cheaply provides an elegant bright-white guide (3,500 K) for you and your guests through areas that would otherwise be dicey in the dark. It doesn’t require running wires underground and into your house, and you can control it centrally with an app or let the built-in motion sensors automatically turn it on and off.

The Ring Pathlight uses four standard D batteries. To conserve battery life, it doesn’t continuously blast out white light all night long. Instead, it’s triggered by motion or Alexa voice commands, or you can turn it on manually through the Ring app. The motion settings are adjustable, as is the brightness level of the light. At 80 lumens, its full brightness is a fraction of what a typical bulb produces, but that’s still enough to light the way and create a nice ambiance.

Photo: Rachel Cericola

Ring, an Amazon-owned company, is well known for Wi-Fi–connected doorbells and cameras (see our guides to the best doorbell camera and the best home security system). Ring Smart Lights, however, require the use of a Ring Bridge, a tiny box that connects to your home Wi-Fi router and links all Ring Smart Lights together and with the Ring app. Unlike other hubs on our list, the Ring Bridge uses a proprietary wireless signal to make the connection. Ring claims that Ring Smart Lights work “hundreds of feet” away from this tiny hub. In testing I was able to control a Ring Pathlight I’d set up across the street in a neighbor’s yard, 185 feet away from the Ring Bridge inside my house.

We used the Ring app to turn lights on and off individually and as a group. We used both an iPhone and an Android phone, with the latter having a slightly different layout in the app but performing the same functions. Both apps have brightness controls, sensor settings, and the option to link devices together so that when one light turns on, others automatically turn on. Or you can trigger other Ring devices, too—for instance, we easily linked the Ring Stick Up Cam Battery to the Pathlight so that every time it detected motion, the camera would create a recording. You can also fine-tune how often you get motion alerts: turn them off altogether, put them on a schedule, adjust the sensitivity so they aren’t as touchy, or snooze them for 30 minutes, one hour, four hours, or the rest of the day. Both apps keep tabs on when triggers happen under the Event History panel. They even include access to Ring’s Neighbors feature, which automatically sends user-generated alerts about crime and safety in your area unless you turn those notifications off.

Photo: Rachel Cericola

Each Ring Pathlight uses four D batteries. You probably don’t keep too many of those around the house, but you don’t have to worry about that: In our testing, after a month of three people going in and out of the house during a busy summer vacation, remarkably the battery gauge didn’t budge at all. We will long-term test this path light to see if it actually delivers on Ring’s claim that the batteries will last a year.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Ring’s model conserves battery power by not allowing you to schedule the lights to be on full brightness for long periods of time—you can manually turn them on and leave them at full power for only up to 15 minutes. (A dusk-to-dawn feature maintains a minimum low light level at night and then turns up the brightness in response to motion.) If you have Alexa, you can schedule your Ring Pathlights through that app, but only in the same one-, five-, 10-, and 15-minute increments. If you want continuous lighting of a pathway at full brightness, consider other devices that aren’t battery powered.

The Ring Bridge uses proprietary wireless technology, so you can’t swap it out for something like the Amazon Echo Plus or the Samsung SmartThings Hub. Also, Ring lights currently work only with Alexa (Amazon is Ring’s parent company). If you use Google Assistant or HomeKit, you may want to opt for one of our other picks.

For entertaining: Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Calla Bollard

Photo: Rachel Cericola

Who it’s for: This light is for anyone who likes to entertain outdoors and has a pool or patio area, or a large yard. Besides lighting the way, multicolor path lights can match the scenery or add a splash of color whenever you want it.

Why it’s great: Though the Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Calla Bollard is the most expensive of our picks, it’s also the best-looking outdoor smart lighting fixture we tested. It’s bright enough to illuminate landscaping or to light the way for family and friends enjoying a late-night dip in the pool or a backyard barbecue. If you like to add variety to your backyard, you can shift the Calla through 16 million colors to complement any activity, holiday, or mood.

The Philips Hue Calla Bollard relies on Zigbee wireless, so it requires the use of a hub such as the Philips Hue Hub, though we successfully paired it with an Amazon Echo Plus and the Samsung SmartThings Hub, both of which have Zigbee built in. Using one of those third-party hubs means you lose some of the Hue system’s one-touch special effects and other functionality, but you can still control the device, change bulb colors, and schedule lights. If you already use Hue bulbs indoors, you don’t need an additional hub for the Calla. Compared with other smart light systems we tested, the Hue system supports more smart-home platforms and devices, including Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT (“If This Then That”), and Samsung SmartThings.

Photo: Rachel Cericola

Each Calla Bollard measures 10 inches high, but the 600-lumen LED on top takes up less than 3 inches of that. Included in the base kit are a power supply and cord that allow you to place the unit up to 11.5 feet away from a covered outlet and that can support up to five lights. (Need to go farther? Another 16.5-foot extension cable is included too.) The cords are thick and should withstand the elements, although we recommend running them against the side of the house or through shrubbery to prevent tripping or lawn mower mishaps. (Philips says the cables can also tolerate being buried underground, and recommends a minimum depth of 4 inches.)

Although the add-on Calla Bollard is cheaper without the power supply, it’s still far more expensive than our other picks. It’s also the most decorative and most colorful of any of the lights we reviewed. The housing disappears in the darkness, leaving just the illuminated portion highlighted. We were able to create colored mixtures to match patio furniture and to add a touch of color to shrubbery, and we can see how it would work to highlight a holiday-season theme.

The Calla Bollard reacted quickly to the Hue app for iOS and Android devices, which allows you to control individual lights or group them by room. We also successfully created schedules and scenes so that the Calla Bollard would instantly turn on to a specific brightness and a specific shade of pink, blue, purple, or bright white.

The Calla Bollard doesn’t have a built-in motion sensor, but Philips Hue does offer a separate outdoor sensor, which you can use to configure your lights to automatically turn on when someone or something walks by.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Hue system has a wireless range of just 30 feet, so if you don’t have your home router close by, you may have problems if you place the Calla Bollard too far from your house. However, if you happen to have other Hue devices (such as our smart bulb pick), each device acts as a Zigbee wireless repeater and so extends the network. Also, being limited to just five Calla Bollard lights for each power supply may require some people to buy multiple base stations (and have outlets to support them).

The competition

We tested a number of lighting devices that we didn’t prefer as overall picks but that we think would be perfectly good for specific outdoor lighting needs.

Philips Hue bulbs are our top indoor pick, and the Philips Hue Single PAR38 Outdoor White Bulb is a good choice for anyone with that system. It works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit, as well as everything under the Hue umbrella, making it perfect for those looking to sync a larger smart-home setup. The Sengled bulb just edged this one out because of cost and the Sengled’s built-in motion sensor.

If you don’t want to deal with a hub, go for the LIFX + BR30 Wi-Fi Smart LED Light Bulb. It connects directly to Wi-Fi and is the only outdoor color-changing bulb we tested. Note that this particular model includes infrared LEDs, which can perk up the night-vision capabilities of any nearby outdoor security cameras you may have. (LIFX also sells a standard BR30 bulb for less money.) This bulb is not as bright as the Sengled or the Philips Hue PAR38 and is more expensive, so we recommend it only if you have a single outdoor fixture that’s located within range of your home Wi-Fi network.

Putting out just 35 lumens, the battery-powered Ring Steplight is the least powerful outdoor smart light we tested. However, it was also the least expensive outdoor lighting fixture. Designed for stairs where you don’t need an intense burst of light, the Steplight works great, but it’s mainly just for accent lighting and has the same drawbacks as the Ring Pathlight, including the inability to stay on continuously.

The 600-lumen Ring Floodlight Battery can brighten nearly any space, making it perfect for placement by the shed or next to trash cans. Unlike the Ring Pathlight, this model needs to be mounted on something, but since you don’t have to deal with wiring hassles, you could put it on the side of the house, in the garage, on a shed, or even on a tree. (Ring also sells a hardwired version, if you do have an existing fixture.) This model was brighter than any of the other Ring smart lights we tested, but we found it to be too sensitive to motion—it would turn on seemingly randomly at night—and it’s also less attractive.

We also tested a few lighting devices that worked fine but didn’t earn our recommendation because our picks were much better:

We recommend the Arlo Smart Home Security Light only if you currently have an Arlo camera system. It’s pricey, it requires the use of an extra bridge (that isn’t one of the existing Arlo Base Stations), and it isn’t as pretty or as bright as other colored-light offerings on our list—or, frankly, what we’d expect at this price.

We dismissed the Philips Hue Welcome Floodlight and the Philips Hue Lucca Wall Light based on the design, price, and installation process. There aren’t too many in-wall outdoor lighting fixtures available yet, and we don’t think you should start with either of these. We found each one trickier to install than it needed to be—you’d be better off picking the fixture of your choice and using a smart bulb.

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Best smart light bulbs for Alexa

Photo: Michael Hession

The Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 smart bulb was the first smart product to join Alexa’s friends list, and it’s our pick as the best smart light bulb. All current Hue models work with Alexa, allowing you to power multiple lights on and off, dim them, change a bulb’s color, and even create light groups to enable color schemes throughout the house on command. Just know that in addition to your Alexa device, you’ll also need the Hue Bridge (unless you get the Echo Plus, which includes a Zigbee radio like the Hue Bridge), a hub that can handle up to 50 Hue-ified lights.

Similar to the Philips Hue, the LIFX A19 bulb works with Alexa, so you can verbally power, dim, and change the colors of the lights. LIFX doesn’t have quite as many partners or the same versatility as the Hue lineup. However, LIFX bulbs work with Wi-Fi (versus Zigbee for the Hue series), so you don’t need a separate hub or gateway.

Best smart plugs for Alexa

Photo: Rachel Cericola

The Wemo Mini smart plug (our preferred plug-in smart outlet) is one of the many Wemo devices that you can control with Alexa. It plugs into any outlet and connects to your Wi-Fi network, so you can turn fans, lights, coffee makers, and pretty much anything else on and off from your smartphone or using Alexa voice commands. The app also allows you to group outlets with lights and other appliances, so you can control everything with a single voice command.

Although not quite as versatile as the Wemo, the iClever IC-BS06 is one of the few smart plugs that can be used outdoors. It’s also the only Alexa-compatible unit that features two outlets that you can control independently using the sound of your voice.

Best smart light switches for Alexa

Photo: Rachel Cericola

Lutron’s Caséta is a strong wireless lighting-control system on its own, and one that we recommend to people who want a good lighting system but don’t necessarily need all of the other features that a system like SmartThings offers. Alexa works with Caséta in-wall dimmer switches and plug-in dimmer switches, and you can group them so you can turn off lights in an entire room or section of the house with the sound of your voice. For instance, you can put the Caséta system in your entertainment space and make a room movie-ready by saying something like, “Alexa, turn off all theater lights.” You can even use your voice to set dimming levels. It’s also convenient that Caséta switches are often paired with a separate remote, which you can mount or leave in that room; that way, you can bring up the lights while the action is still on-screen without having to call out.

If you don’t want or need another device (or at least the expense of one), the Wemo Dimmer can turn lights on, off, and to specific dimming levels using any existing Wi-Fi network and Alexa.

Best smart thermostats for Alexa

Photo: Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

What’s the current temperature setting on your Nest Thermostat E? Ask Alexa. The voice assistant can also raise and lower temperatures or set our top smart-thermostat pick to Away mode. If you don’t use the Nest’s geofencing features (and many people don’t), the ability to verbally adjust temperature settings can be a favorite feature. Multiple-thermostat owners can also call for specific devices by naming each Nest.

The Ecobee4 works with Alexa in the same way as the Nest, and actually has the voice assistant built in, so you have no need for a separate device. You can just say, “Alexa, tell Ecobee I’m hot,” and the assistant will adjust the temperature a few degrees for you. Another big difference between the two smart thermostats is that the Ecobee model includes sensors that you can place in any room, so you can ask Alexa about the temperature all around your home. Alexa can also use the Ecobee model to control your system’s fan, tell you what equipment is running, and switch between heat, cool, and auto modes.

Best robot vacuums for Alexa

Photo: Liam McCabe

Few people love vacuuming. Of course, robot vacuums make the chore as easy as pushing a button. However, the iRobot Roomba 690 and iRobot Roomba 960 ensure that you never even have to lift that one finger, thanks to Alexa integration.

Alexa allows you to bark out orders to command that Wi-Fi–connected robot army to start, stop, or resume cleaning. You can even ask Alexa to locate the little buggers, if they’ve gone rogue and wandered off into another part of the house. We go into more detail about each model in our guide to the best robot vacuums, but the main difference is that the Roomba 960 is designed for larger spaces—and currently costs about twice as much as the 690.

Best home security cameras for Alexa

Photo: Michael Hession

Adding Alexa control to Wi-Fi security cameras allows you to arm and disarm cameras as you enter and exit your home, as well as to call up specific cameras located around the house to view live feeds through the Echo Show, Echo Spot, or Amazon Fire TV.

Logitech’s Circle 2 works with the Echo Show, Echo Spot, and Fire TV, so you can call up live feeds from different devices around the house. Designed to work indoors and outdoors, our favorite indoor security camera can also accept prompts through Alexa to turn the camera on, disable the privacy mode, and even initiate recordings on command.

If you’re looking for a peek at the outdoors, Netgear’s Arlo Pro 2 offers views almost anywhere, with a rechargeable battery that provides the option to go completely wireless. The Nest Cam Outdoor, our top pick among outdoor security cameras, does have a cord—the only weatherproof one we found included with the purchase—as well as the ability to distinguish between people and pets (with a paid Nest Aware subscription). You can bring up both on the Echo Show or the Fire TV for a peek at outside action from the couch or under a blanket.

Best smart door locks for Alexa

Photo: Jon Chase

For easy keyless entry to your home via smartphone or keypad, the Yale Assure SL Connected by August can’t be beat. With Alexa you can use your voice to check door lock status or lock the door at bedtime. Our favorite Alexa-compatible smart lock includes a handy keypad, making it easy for guests to use. It comes with the August Connect gateway, which connects the lock to the Internet for remote access.

Best doorbell cameras for Alexa

Photo: Michael Hession

As we describe in our guide to smart doorbell cameras, the Ring Video Doorbell 2 offers a quick peek at who’s on the other side of the door, using the Echo Show, Echo Spot, or Fire TV. At this time, however, you can’t use Alexa to talk to the person on the other side of the camera.

Like the Ring, the Nest Hello will show you who is at the door, but won’t allow you to talk to welcome and unwelcome guests. However, it offers 24/7 video recording, AI-powered motion detection, and facial recognition—but only with an active Nest Aware subscription.

Best smart garage-door controllers for Alexa

Photo: Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

The Gogogate 2 is our favorite smart garage-door controller with Alexa support—when you’re carrying groceries, luggage, or children, you can ask Alexa to open and close the door and have it respond accordingly. As our upgrade pick, it can even integrate cameras, so you can view the status of your door from the app.

Best smart sprinkler controllers for Alexa

Photo: Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

The Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller can smarten up yard work with an easy-to-use interface and Alexa support. That means you can ask Alexa to have the system turn on and off, water specific zones, and delay run times. As we mention in our guide, the one drawback is that this system lacks any type of local control, so if your Internet service is down, you won’t be able to make any schedule adjustments.

Best media streaming devices for Alexa

Photo: Chris Heinonen

You can find a lot of devices that allow you to get your Netflix, Amazon Video, Hulu, or other streaming fix—and not just in our guide to the best media streaming devices. However, the Amazon Fire TV Stick is currently the most compact model that also packs the power of Alexa. Having voice control can save you a lot of time and help you avoid the hassle that comes with navigating tens of thousands of streaming options. You can also use one voice command to fire up Netflix, find episodes of Game of Thrones, or even compile a collection of rom-coms. In this situation, it may also be helpful that Alexa can also order a pizza, with the right skill enabled.

If you’re having trouble navigating all of the TV networks, Dish Network includes Alexa support on the Hopper DVR and Wally mobile TV receiver. Instead of channel flipping, TV watchers can surf through the lineup by calling out a network name, channel number, show title, or actor. Voice commands also work on the DVR features to pause, rewind, and fast-forward live and recorded content, as well as to call up stored programs on demand.

Best kitchen appliances for Alexa

Photo: Sarah Kobos

For the most part, Alexa’s kitchen utility is limited to its timer-setting abilities and basic recipe-reading skills. But some appliances are beginning to integrate voice controls to varying degrees of success. Web-enabled sous vide circulators are among the earliest adopters thus far.

Cooking sous vide (French for “under vacuum”) allows you to experience restaurant-quality dishes at home by submerging vacuum-sealed food in a water bath. These cookers have been available for home use for a while and recently have become very affordable—and also very high-tech.

Putting an Echo speaker in your kitchen lets you rock out while preparing a meal. Now it can also help you cook. Although our top sous vide pick doesn’t have Alexa capability, our runner-up, the ChefSteps Joule, does, making it the perfect sous chef. You can call out to check the status of a steak, adjust temperatures, and even get a little extra direction.

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According to Dutch site iCulture, Philips will launch a smart plug that will work with Apple’s HomeKit platform, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. It’s not clear whether it will need to be linked with the Philips Hue bridge, but a leaked image lends credence to the report.

Smart plugs can be plugged directly into a regular wall socket and can be used to regulate power to all kinds of things, like floor lamps and washing machines. A typical system allows the use of schedules, timers and sensors to bring regular devices inside an existing smart home setup.

Smart plugs are popular smart home purchases, with companies like Amazon and Belkin already selling their own models. so far Philips’ focus with the Hue range has been on lighting and atmosphere.

There certainly is demand for an official Hue smart plug product though, if online discussion is anything to go by. There are a range of third-party smart plugs which work with the Hue system, but this is the first time Philips has shown signs of interest in manufacturing one of its own.

The Philips smart plug has been given a suggested retail price of €29.95 in Europe, and according to 9to5Mac it will be sold for $25 in the US and £29 in the UK.