Do smart lights need WiFi?
By Kevin Rao November17,2025
If you've just purchased a smart light bulb or light strip, you may be wondering whether they require WiFi.
In a strict sense, no. Without internet access, smart lighting functions in the same way as standard LED lighting. It still possesses the same abilities to save energy. But, Bluetooth connection is also a feature of the majority of smart lights. This means that even if the Wi-Fi is down, you can still control the lights from your smartphone.
Given how popular internet-connected household appliances are right now, many people are curious in how effectively these gadgets function when Wi-Fi is unavailable. After all, there will inevitably be occasions when contemporary technology fails you and your home's internet goes down. Fortunately, smart lights don't require Wi-Fi to function. So, you can be confident that they will continue operating regardless of your connection!
Do smart light bulbs need to be connected to the internet?
Smart lights link to other devices over the internet, including your phone, laptop, and smart home products. Also, you can link them to virtual assistants like Amazon, Siri, or Google Assistant using the Wi-Fi. This means that from anywhere in the home, you can easily alter the colour, brightness, and time setting of any light.
This may be used for a variety of things, such as configuring particular lights to turn on gradually to wake you up in the morning or remotely dimming the lights at a party.
Indirectly, smart lighting also makes use of the internet. High-end smart lighting systems like Philips Hue, for instance, offer control when away from home by utilising the Hue Bridge technology. This implies that, wherever you are, you may turn on and adjust the illumination.
These functions aren't necessary, though, and the lights still function just fine without them. Several smart lights are still programmable over Bluetooth; nevertheless, before purchasing any item, always read the product's specs. If this doesn't work, a remote control normally allows you to adjust the colour and brightness.
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Wi-Fi is not required for smart lighting to function. But, a Wi-Fi network is required if you want to access some of the more interesting functions that these pieces of smart home technology have to offer.
To get the most out of smart lights, we'd advise making sure you have an internet connection while setting them up. Yet, you may relax knowing that your smart lights will continue to function normally even if your internet goes down. Ultimately, this justifies their cost.
How durable are smart lights?
If you want to get any smart lighting, you may be interested in learning how long they last.
Good news! Smart LED lights typically last between 20,000 and 25,000 hours, which is a very long lifespan. It translates to a lifespan of up to 10 years if they are used for around 6 hours each day, and even longer if you wear them less. That's a lot longer than the typical filament bulb lifespan of 1,000 hours.
Even more standard LED lightbulbs have a lifespan of about 50,000 hours. But, they lack the unique characteristics that make smart lights such a helpful addition to the house. Because of this, smart lights actually have a pretty long lifespan, especially when compared to conventional incandescent bulbs.
How long do smart lights last?
With its customizability, smart lights have a long lifespan. Of course, pricing has an impact on lifetime. Even when equipped with capabilities like music integration, customizable time settings, and more than 16 million colours, higher quality lights like those from the Philips Hue series typically last approximately 25,000 hours.
But, even inexpensive solutions have a comparable 25,000 hour lifespan, such as this two pack of the LIFX A19 650 Lumens, which is now only $10.99 at Best Buy. Hence, even if some other inexpensive alternatives may only have clocked in at 15,000 hours, you may still get a lot for your money.
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Smart lights are clearly more durable than conventional filament bulbs, making them a considerably more economical and energy-efficient solution.
Even while they might not last as long as regular LED lights, the unique qualities they have make up for this; especially when you consider that the majority of them have a lifespan of up to more than a decade of continuous usage.
Smart lights are the way to go if you want to make a cheap investment in cutting-edge home technology that will improve your routine and add some flair to how your house appears, whether you're entertaining or just unwinding. You can be confident that you're getting excellent value for your money if anything has a lengthy lifespan.
