The Best Smart Light Strips of 2023
Sometimes all it takes is a fun new gadget to completely transform your home. One of the most noticeable (and overlooked) upgrades for your space is adding LED light strips. It’s an affordable way to illuminate places like the underside of kitchen cabinets and add mood lighting along hallway baseboards.
The LIFX Lightstrip Color Zones
(available at Amazon)
is the best LED strip light thanks to the variety of lighting features, easy setup, and integration with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri for hands-free voice control. For an even more affordable alternative, Govee’s LED Strip Lights (available at Amazon) are full of fun lighting features and smarts. There are plenty of other intriguing choices too, each of which has something to offer.
Credit:
Reviewed / Rachel Murphy
We fell in love with the LIFX Lightstrip with Color Zones for their incredibly simple set up, ease of use, and variety of awesome features.
Best Overall
Easy to install, the LIFX Lightstrip with Color Zones impressed us from the start. In what felt like a blink of an eye, we had these RGBW LED lights connected to Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. Each enabled voice control to turn the lights on/off, change the color, and adjust the brightness level.
At 1,400 lumens, these weren’t the most radiant lights we tested, but we had no issues illuminating a dark room even at 30% brightness. The most unique feature is that it offers eight different color zones.
Each zone can be set to a different color (there are millions to choose from), allowing you to get creative with your custom lighting setup. The strip light is available in two lengths: 40 inches and 80 inches. Additional 40-inch extension strips can be added for up to 33 feet, or you can cut the strip down to a smaller size.
The LIFX app is loaded with useful controls like scheduling and grouping, plus a bevy of fun lighting effects and preset color themes. The LIFX app can even make the lights dance to the beat of a song or the sound of a movie via your phone’s or tablet’s microphone.
Overall, the LIFX light strip is the best you can buy. It works with all three major smart assistants, offers impressively cool lighting features and effects, and features color zones for a completely customizable lighting experience.
Nội Dung Chính
Pros
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Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri
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Great lighting effects
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Bright, vivid colors
Cons
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App doesn’t offer two-factor authentication
Buy now at Amazon
$69.99 from Best Buy
Buy now at Home Depot
Credit:
Govee
Govee’s smart light strip is the perfect blend of affordability and smarts.
Best Value
Govee’s RGB LED Strip Lights offer a slew of fun and useful lighting features. It uses either a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection, has a quick and simple setup, and an all-around pleasant user experience at an affordable price. The rolls of LED strip lights are all connected to one power adapter and can be trimmed to size to fit your space.
The lights work well with voice control via Alexa and Google Assistant (there’s no support for Siri), but the Govee Home app is what really makes these lights a pleasure to use, allowing you to adjust the brightness level and create schedules. You can also choose between warm and cool color tones from over 16 million colors, and pick from over 60 preset lighting scenes.
If you prefer, you can control the lights with the included remote. You can even use your device’s microphone to sync to whatever sound is playing—be it from a speaker, TV, or your own voice.
On the downside, these lights have the thinnest strip of any we tested. This makes them easy to install and maneuver around corners. Unfortunately, they’re too flimsy for us to recommend moving them more than once or twice.
That said, if you’re looking to add an affordable splash of color to your home, Govee’s RGB LED Strip Lights offer fantastic value. These LED strip lights are bright, responsive, and boast plenty of useful features at a fraction of the price of other smart strip lights we tested.
Pros
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Awesome lighting features
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Google Assistant and Alexa support
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Bright and colorful
Cons
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No support for Apple HomeKit
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Flimsy build quality
Buy now at Amazon
Other Smart Light Strips We Tested
Philips Hue makes the best smart bulbs, so we had high hopes for this light strip. TLDR: It’s wonderful, but unless you’re already invested in a Philips Hue ecosystem, we’d recommend skipping this light strip.
Bluetooth-only control is available with the Philips Hue Bluetooth app, available for iOS and Android, but you’ll need to be within range to use it. The light strip works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Microsoft Cortana, SmartThings, and IFTTT.
Offering 1,600 lumens, the Philips Hue Light Strip Plus is one of the brightest on the market. In the app, you can set the lights to one of 16 million colors or opt for one of the many awesome preset light settings.
One feature that impressed us is that cut segments can be reused and reconnected to other portions of the strip using the Philip Hue connector. This is not the case for most smart light strips.
You can sync them with your home entertainment system, which is a really cool feature, but the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box is required to make it work.
Overall, this light strip is sleek, easy to use, and full of awesome features. But due to cost, it’s best for people who are already invested in Philips Hue lights or want to start using them for their smart lighting system.
Pros
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Robust lighting effects and presets
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Bright
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Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri
Cons
-
Hub required to access best features
Buy now at Amazon
$99.99 from Best Buy
$64.98 from Walmart
$99.99 from Target
The Kasa Smart Multicolor Light Strip makes it easy to create custom eye-catching light displays. Powered by the Kasa app, these lights are incredibly quick and easy to set up, and they have a bubble-like polyurethane coating that helps to protect the diodes.
The lights are easiest to install with two people—one person to hold the strip up and another to peel off the backing and place the strand—but the adhesive is strong and won’t be going anywhere until you remove it yourself.
The strip itself has quite a bit of writing on it that makes it somewhat unattractive when the lights are off, so you may only want to use this option in concealed locations.
The Kasa Smart Multicolor Light Strip offers incredible functionality. The 16-foot strand has 50 customizable color zones that you can set to 16 million colors. Thanks to the strip’s built-in integrated circuit chip, the zones can be controlled separately, creating fun custom patterns.
The Kasa app comes programmed with color effects like rainbow and candy cane, but you can also create your own designs through the color-painting function. The app even includes an energy-tracking tab to show you how much electricity the lights are using.
These Kasa lights are easy to sync up with Alexa, Google Assistant, or Samsung SmartThings—no hub needed. However, one downside of the KL420L5 is that it can’t be connected or spliced to increase the strand’s length, so you have a maximum length of 16.4 feet to work with.
We also tested the Kasa KL430 strip lights, which have fewer color zones and can be extended to up to 33 feet long.
For something short, sweet, and full of features, the Kasa Multicolor Smart Light Strip is a vibrant choice.
Read our review of the Kasa Smart Mutlicolor Light Strip.
Pros
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Easy to install
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Great lighting features
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Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
Cons
-
Can’t be spliced
Buy now at Amazon
$47.63 from Walmart
$34.99 from Newegg
The Govee Glide RGBIC Wall Light uses adhesive for installation and displays a lovely range of colors, but it’s a bit of a different take on a light strip. Made from plastic, the 7-piece gadget snaps together to create a thick bar of light that’s ideal for gaming and watching movies.
It uses Govee’s RGBIC technology, enabling it to display multiple colors at the same time in a neat “flowing” effect.
While it took some elbow grease to lock the pieces into place, that small frustration was soon forgotten after watching the strip transform into an immersive lighting experience. A built-in mic can listen for nearby sound to create a reactive light show when music sync mode is enabled. (You can also use the mic of any device running the Govee app to activate this setting.)
The wall light connects over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. It also responds well to voice control with Alexa and Google Assistant to adjust the colors, brightness levels, scene modes, and power.
The wall light comes with six straight pieces and one angled corner piece. In total, it has 19 lighting segments that can display up to 57 vibrant colors at once.
One downside is the light’s limited configuration options. Due to the positioning of the power cord, it can only be installed going in one direction. Another downside is that you can’t connect multiple wall lights together.
But as long as you don’t mind the limited orientation, this is a fantastic accent lighting option that can easily enhance a game room, home theater, or anywhere you want a quick pop of smarts and color.
Pros
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Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
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Awesome lighting features
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Great for gaming and watching movies
Cons
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Can be hard to assemble
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No Apple HomeKit support
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Limited options for installation
Buy now at Amazon
Get ready to host the living room dance party of your dreams, thanks to the countless bright colors and patterns the Govee M1 LED Strip Light delivers. Its RGBIC technology allows for multiple hues to display simultaneously on a single strip, giving you the opportunity to customize its vivid colors with the touch of a button.
It’s easy to set up and adhere to almost any surface, a simple pair of scissors shortens the length of the strip with ease, and a QR code on the box will lead you straight to the app—which is where all the magic happens, from timers and brightness to themed color groupings and flashing patterns. The Music DreamView feature even syncs your playlist with the lighting effects, giving a nightclub feel when you’re feeling energized or a subdued, dreamy ambiance when it’s time to settle down.
There are a few downsides, such as wasted product if you trim the length (which renders the remaining portion useless), a less-than-attractive exposed tech look when the lights aren’t on, and once you’re ready to remove it someday, it may take some of your paint with it.
Overall, this model is a breeze to install and will add amazing ambiance to any room in your house.
Read our full review of the Govee M1 Smart LED Strip Light.
Pros
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Easy to install
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Customizable
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Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
Cons
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May leave residue behind upon removal
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Limited trim options
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Unattractive when not in use
$99.99 from Amazon
There’s not much we didn’t like about the TP-Link Kasa Smart LED Strip Lights. Offering 16 color zones, these multicolor lights were simple to set up with Alexa and Google Assistant. The app offers a slew of fun features to brighten up your home. The Kasa Smart LED Strip Lights offer 16 million colors, the ability to trim or extend the lights, and a brightness of up to 1400 Lumens.
What makes this light strip shine (excuse the pun) is the Kasa app. The app offers animated lighting effects, scenes and scheduling features, and the option to group the strip lights with other Kasa smart lights.
These lights are thick and felt like bending a garden hose during installation. Sealing down the corners and edges wasn’t impossible, but required more effort than other lights. While it works best in a straight line, you can cut it to size or extend the strip.
Pros
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No hub needed
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Works with Alexa and Google
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Easy to use
Cons
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Nothing we could find
Buy now at Amazon
$97.89 from Walmart
$58.41 from B&H Photo Video
The Cync LED Light Strip is an improvement over the previous version, which required a smart bridge for features like smart assistant integration or remote access away from home.
Now, you can use hands-free voice control with Alexa or Google Assistant (but not Siri) to adjust the brightness to a certain percentage, change the color or scene, and power the lights on/off without needing additional devices.
The strip works with extenders for additional length. It’s on the lower end of the brightness scale at just 800 lumens, but it does a fine job of illuminating a dark room at full brightness.
We also like that the Cync app sends email account notifications if someone attempts to log into your account, which helps keep your account secure.
In the app, you can choose from a wheel full of colors, as well as white light settings like cool white, warm white, and sunset. Scenes and schedules are available in the app, but there are no preset lighting features, color zones, or home entertainment integrations.
Overall, the strip is responsive, easy to set up, and offers account verification, but it lacks certain lighting features and effects that make LED light strips fun to use around the house.
Pros
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No hub needed
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Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
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Email account verification for new logins
Cons
-
Limited lighting effects
-
No support for Siri
Buy now at Amazon
$41.99 from Best Buy
$29.97 from Walmart
Buy now at Home Depot
Minger, which is owned by Govee, doesn’t offer any integration with Alexa or Google. Still, we had no problems controlling this light strip in the Govee Home app. One thing to note is that the lights use Bluetooth instead of Wi-Fi, limiting the connection range.
Minger’s adhesive LED lights have a built-in mic that automatically syncs with any nearby sound, including from a speaker or TV.
The bonding tape on the back of the lights started losing its stickiness after a couple of days, and we had trouble sticking the lights back in place after moving them once. But a small set of support hooks is included with the lights, so you can use those if the adhesive gives out.
If you’re looking for LED strip lights that don’t use a smart speaker or smart assistant app, Minger’s DreamColor LED Strip Lights are the right choice.
Pros
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App is easy to use
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Light syncs with any sound
Cons
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No integration with smart assistants
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Bluetooth-only
Buy now at Amazon
$43.40 from Walmart
The Geeni Prisma Plus didn’t give us any trouble during setup or installation. The light strip works with Alexa and Google. Uniquely, they’re also waterproof, and can be used outdoors.
Like others, Geeni’s strip lights can be trimmed to size or combined with extender pieces. You can create schedules, choose colors, or dim the lights. You can also choose one of nine premade lighting scenes.
These lights are attractive, fairly bright, and feel well-made, but the humming noise coming from the power adapter each time we adjusted the color seemed to cheapen the product.
Another thing we didn’t like was that the remote control lacks adhesive tape, leaving no easy way to attach it to the wall.
We were also unable to log into the Geeni app on both an iPhone and Android at the same time, which could create a problem for households with multiple users. However, the app does offer two-factor authentication to help secure your account.
Geeni’s Prisma Plus Strip Lights are a great option for anyone looking to add smart lights outdoors, but there are better options overall.
Pros
-
Works with Google Assistant, Alexa, Microsoft Cortana
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No hub needed
Cons
-
Noticeable “hum” sound when changing between light colors
Buy now at Amazon
$24.99 from Best Buy
$19.99 from Walmart
$19.99 from Target
The Wyze Light Strip doesn’t have as many bells and whistles as other light strips in our guide, but, as we’ve come to expect from Wyze, it does have some cool features at a relatively low price point.
The LED strip light works with Alexa and Google Assistant, comes with 16 million color options (including RGB and tuneable whites), and can sync to the beat of a song or a movie playing nearby.
The digital setup and physical installation are painless and should only take a few minutes. With features like a remote control and timers, the Wyze app makes it easy to manage the LED light strip from anywhere.
The app also includes fun, useful extras like Sleep Routines (to simulate the sunrise/sunset for an easier wake-up), Vacation Mode (randomly turns lights on/off to give the appearance you’re home), and Sun Match (mimics the natural sunlight).
The RGB colors are vibrant and look great, but the true “white” color gives off a noticeable blue hue compared to others. When using voice commands for Alexa or Google Assistant (there’s no Siri support), you can control the power, brightness, and colors.
However, you’ll need the Wyze app to activate any of the preset lighting scenes. Additionally, the Wyze Light Strip can only display one color at a time, instead of multiple colors simultaneously.
The strips are trimmable but cannot be extended. The strip is flexible and easy to work with for outlining your TV or lining baseboards.
Unfortunately, it lacks the thick protective coating of many other strips. This could hinder its long-term durability and make it harder to clean dust and debris from the strip’s nooks and crannies.
Despite a few shortcomings, the Wyze Light Strip is a reliable and affordable option for basic LED strip lighting, and it’s an especially tempting choice if you’ve already loaded up on other Wyze gear.
Pros
-
Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
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Syncs up with sound
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Useful features
Cons
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No true “white” color
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No protective coating
Buy now at Wyze
At 1,800 lumens, the Eve Light Strip is among the brightest we’ve tested, offering a wide array of full-spectrum white and colors to choose from. While we had a nice and easy experience with the Eve strip, there are a few shortcomings.
This strip light isn’t as customizable as some others. It doesn’t offer any fun lighting effects or presets—you’re limited to single colors only.
It’s also only compatible with Apple’s Siri, skipping other smart home assistants. With Siri voice control, you can change the color, adjust the brightness, and turn it on/off.
To control these lights away from home using Siri, you need an iOS device that functions as an Apple home hub, like an iPad, Apple TV, or Apple HomePod.
The light strip also supports Apple’s HomeKit Adaptive Lighting, an iOS feature that automatically adjusts the color temperature as the day goes on. Additionally, the Eve Energy app, which can also be used to control the light, is only available for iOS. For these reasons, Android users should avoid this light strip.
Like most strip lights, Eve’s can be trimmed to a smaller size, or you can add a few of Eve’s extension strips up to 32.8 feet. We had issues with the adhesive backing, which tore off in a few spots during setup and made the lights hard to stick into place.
If you want a strip light that only works with Apple HomeKit, this is the one to buy.
Pros
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Supports Apple HomeKit’s Adaptive Lighting
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Very bright
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Reliable connection
Cons
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Not compatible with Android devices
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Limited lighting effects
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No Google Assistant or Alexa support
$60.31 from Amazon
$80.66 from Walmart
$60.31 from B&H Photo Video
Sengled’s Smart LED Multicolor Light Strip is easy to arrange and was overall pleasant to use. The strip is 6.5 feet long but can be extended using Sengled’s Smart LED Multicolor Light Strip Extensions, or trimmed for a smaller space.
The Sengled app offers lots of features like scheduling, group control, color/temperature choice, and brightness. The app also offers email account verification to confirm new logins. These lights also offer something unique among products we tested: energy monitoring. While it’s not a necessary feature for strip lights, it can be useful for tracking consumption.
One thing to know is that these lights do require a hub. While a compatible smart hub is an extra cost, it may be worth the money if you plan on expanding your smart home with other Sengled smart bulbs.
We paired the strip lights with a Sengled Smart Hub and were almost instantly connected. Sometimes hubs can be tricky to get up and running, but we were pleasantly surprised by the ease of the entire process.
All things considered, we’d recommend this LED multicolor light strip to anyone who already uses Sengled smart bulbs.
Pros
-
Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Samsung SmartThings
-
Offers energy monitoring
Cons
-
Hub required
Buy now at Amazon
$39.99 from Best Buy
$34.95 from Walmart
How We Tested Smart Light Strips
The Tester
Hi, I’m Rachel Murphy, Reviewed’s home editor. I live in a home full of smart home devices like cameras, plugs, speakers, and an oven. During my tenure at Reviewed, I’ve tested smart plugs, smart water leak detectors, and other gadgets that can be controlled remotely or via smart assistants.
Testing in this guide was also completed by longtime freelance writer and reviewer Camryn Rabideau.
The Tests
We put each light strip through a series of in-depth, hands-on tests to fully understand each one’s capabilities, features, and downsides. We also looked for important app security features like two-factor authentication and reviewed the amount and types of data the apps collect about you.
We set the lights up in a variety of indoor locations throughout my home, testing to see which ones work the best in low light, offer the best connectivity, and integrate with smart assistants for easy control. We also tested the companion apps on both iOS and Android devices to get a feel for their connectivity, ease of use, and features.
What You Should Know About Buying Smart Light Strips
Smart Home Integration
There are a few things to consider when purchasing smart LED light strips for your home. First, check to see whether or not the light strip requires a hub. Unless you already have a compatible smart home hub, we’d recommend choosing a smart strip light that doesn’t require you to purchase another device.
The second thing is to select a strip light that easily integrates with your existing smart home environment.
Finally, while most of the lights we tested connect over Wi-Fi, some use only Bluetooth, and others can use either. We found Bluetooth connections to be unreliable and slow at times, so we’d recommend selecting a strip light that offers Wi-Fi.
Installing Smart Light Strips
Credit:
Reviewed / Rachel Murphy
Govee’s strip light (pictured in front) was the thinnest strip we tested, making it easy to install but less ideal for moving around multiple times. For comparison’s sake, the C by GE light strip (pictured in back) is much thicker and harder to arrange around corners.
All of the smart light strips we tested had an adhesive backing. Before installing, make sure to dust, wipe down, and dry the surface where you’ll be placing the lights. Skipping this step can decrease the grip on the back of the lights, lessening their lifespan.
You can also move the lights around, if needed. During testing, we relocated each light strip to a new location after the initial installation. Almost all of the strips had no problem sticking a second time, but we wouldn’t recommend doing this more than once. The more you move them, the less they stick.
If and when your lights do lose their stickiness, you can try replacing the adhesive backing with heavy-duty double-sided tape for strip lights.
Strip Light Placement
Credit:
Reviewed / Rachel Murphy
The bathroom and bedroom are two areas of the home where we tested smart strip lights.
Think strategically about where you need extra lighting. Smart strip lights are often seen in home theater setups. But the bendable, sticky lights are a quick and easy way to brighten up the dark spots in your home. During testing, we installed strip lights around TVs and mirrors, along baseboards and door trim, on bookcases and office desks, and under kitchen cabinets.
If you’re unsure about where to place your strip lights, try arranging them in an area of your home and lightly securing them with a gentle tape before you install them for good.
Another factor to consider is whether or not the light strips can be adjusted to the size of your space. The good majority of strip lights we tested can either be cut down or extended with additional light strip sections. However, not all of the lights are as customizable.
LED strips are a versatile lighting option that can be added almost anywhere inside your house (but not outdoors). They’re also a popular holiday decoration, especially along interior window sills. Some smart strip lights we tested offer pre-made holiday light settings that flash red and white like a candy cane or orange and black for Halloween.
Privacy For LED Light Strips
There’s always a potential privacy risk involved when you use internet-connected devices at home. To help safeguard your smart home, there are some steps you can take.
First, look for devices that offer two-factor authentication, which sends a code to your mobile device to verify it’s really you. That way, if someone tries to hack into your account, you will receive an alert and can quickly take care of the problem. Many devices also allow you to activate email or other push notifications in the settings to alert you if someone has logged on.
Additionally, make sure to use a unique, strong password composed of multiple characters, numbers, and letters for each of your smart home accounts. Data breaches feel like the norm as of late, making it all the more important to use different passwords across multiple websites and apps.
When using any devices with smart assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri, you can further protect your privacy by regularly deleting your voice recordings and muting the speaker’s mic when it’s not in use.
Looking for more privacy tips? Read our guide to securing your smart home.
