According to industry experts and manufacturers, the latest smart bulbs can last 25,000 hours or more. Assuming the lights are on for an average of five hours per day, that equates to 13 years (or more) of use. Of course, your results may vary depending on the make and model as well as how you actually use your lights. So let’s talk about how long smart bulbs actually last, according to real, regular people.
A thread on Reddit attracted widespread comments after a user claimed their Philips Hue lights died after less than a year. Several very positive reviews reported the opposite experience, saying their smart lights still worked after seven or even ten years. One user claims that only one in 50 light bulbs in their home has gone out in 10 years, while another user said two in 30 light bulbs have gone out in the same period.
This suggests that most smart bulbs will last close to 10 years or more, but it’s also not extremely rare to encounter random circumstances in which a smart bulb will die sooner than that. This raises the question of whether smart bulbs can stop working for reasons other than their age. Wiring issues and switch incompatibility can sometimes affect the longevity of a bulb or make it appear like it’s dying when that’s really not the case. Some potential problems can be alleviated by purchasing the best Bluetooth smart bulbs you can buy on Amazon, which get high user review scores for their reliability and functionality.
How to make your bulbs last longer
One of the main benefits of a smart bulb, besides the ability to change its color or brightness, is that you can set it to turn off automatically. Despite some age-old myths, it’s actually not cheaper to leave your lights on most of the time when you leave a room. You can use smart sensors or related apps with scheduling features to make sure your smart lights turn off when you’re not home. It’s energy efficient and cost effective, and it will help your bulbs achieve that 10+ year lifespan.
If longevity and savings are your priorities, you might decide that smart bulbs aren’t as worth it as smart switches. With a smart switch, you can use traditional bulbs while still having the option to set up auto-off. Since some smart bulbs can cost more than $10 apiece, a single smart switch may be a more practical solution for some.
However, it should be noted that traditional bulbs often have a much shorter lifespan than modern smart bulbs. The most common types of traditional light bulbs include incandescent bulbs, which last up to 1,200 hours, and compact fluorescent lights, which typically last 6,000 to 15,000 hours. So even in cases where homeowners report that their smart bulbs didn’t last as long as advertised, they often offer better longevity than non-smart alternatives.
