照明(Lighting)不仅仅是方便。您拥有的照明类型说明了您的风格。就像枝形吊灯与荧光顶灯(overhead light)讲述不同的故事一样,某些类型的智能灯将自己与竞争对手区分开来。
在我们关于预算中最好的智能灯的文章中,我们专注于实用程序和成本(utility and cost)。本指南将完全相反,而是完全关注具有风格的最佳智能灯,而不考虑成本。
如果您正在装饰游戏室(game room)、人洞(man cave)或家庭影院(home theater),并且想要绝对最酷(absolute coolest)的灯光,那么本指南适合您。两家公司在这份名单中占据主导地位:LIF 和 Nanoleaf(LIF and Nanoleaf)。
最适合家庭影院:Nanoleaf Rhythm(亚马逊(Amazon))(Best For Home Theater: Nanoleaf Rhythm (Amazon))
Nanoleaf是首批凭借(Nanoleaf)Nanoleaf Aurora以高端、高性能智能照明脱颖而出的公司之一。只要一侧与另一侧接触,三角形瓷砖可以排列成任何形状和图案,用户利用这一点在墙上创造出复杂的图案——从(shape and pattern)太空入侵者(Space Invaders)到DNA螺旋,应有尽有。
Nanoleaf Rhythm(Nanoleaf Rhythm)通过提供超过 1600 万种颜色组合扩展了相同的模块化。Rhythm(Rhythm syncs)与音乐实时同步,并随着节拍及时改变(real-time and changes colors)各个图块的颜色。
借助新的Screen Mirror 等附加功能(Screen Mirror feature),Nanoleaf Rhythm可以在您的(Nanoleaf Rhythm)电视或计算机显示器(television or computer monitor)上反射环境色彩,以获得终极的家庭影院(home theater)或游戏体验。
缺点是成本:一个 15 件的入门套件(starter kit)(称为“Smarter Kit”)在亚马逊(Amazon)上的售价为 299.99 美元。
最适合一般照明:Philips Hue Color(亚马逊(Amazon))(Best For General Lighting: Philips Hue Color (Amazon))
虽然飞利浦 Hue White(Philips Hue White)是一个很好的预算选择,但对于(budget option)彩色版本(color version)却不能这样说。一个飞利浦 Hue Color A19 灯泡在(Philips Hue Color A19 bulb)亚马逊(Amazon)上的售价约为 47.49 美元,而带有 3 个灯泡和必要的飞利浦 Hue Hub的(Philips Hue Hub)入门套件(Starter Kit)售价为 159.00 美元。
装饰您的整个房屋将花费一分钱,但飞利浦 Hue 彩色灯泡(Philips Hue Color bulbs)非常值得 - 它们是市场上最好的智能灯之一。用户可以访问超过 1600 万种颜色变化、语音控制(voice control)和大量预建场景可供选择。
飞利浦 Hue “实验室”不断为灯泡发明新的应用程序,可以从应用程序下载,例如使灯光像蜡烛一样闪烁的能力。您还可以通过将飞利浦 Hue 灯泡(Philips Hue bulbs)与其他智能家居设备或Hue 调光开关或 Hue 运动传感器等(Hue Dimmer Switch or Hue Motion Sensor)Hue 品牌(Hue-brand)产品配对来扩展其功能。
最适合重点照明:LIFX Beam(亚马逊(Amazon))(Best For Accent Lighting: LIFX Beam (Amazon))
LIFX Beam的独特之处在于它并非旨在以任何方式提供整个房间的照明,而是作为空间的重点。每个面板宽 1.4 英寸,长 11.8 英寸,但可以端到端连接以覆盖更长的距离,例如门框(door frame)周围。
LIFX 凭借(LIFX)其专利的Polychrome 技术(Polychrome Technology)使其智能灯与众不同。每个面板都有几十个单独的LED(LEDs),可以播放任何可用的颜色,允许用户在整个设置中创建彩虹光。
LIFX智能灯的独特之处还在于它们不需要中央集线器。每个面板都单独连接到 WiFi,这使得安装就像将Beam(Beams)连接在一起并将系统连接到您的网络一样简单。
LIFX Beam可以通过所有主要的智能助手进行语音控制,入门套件将花费 149.99 美元购买一个带有一个(LIFX Beam)角连接器(corner connector)的六件套设置。
最佳瓷砖式智能照明:LIFX Tile ( LIFX )(Best Tile-Style Smart Lighting: LIFX Tile (LIFX))
LIFX Tile(LIFX Tile)与听起来很像:近 8 英寸 x 8 英寸的瓷砖,拥有与 LIFX Beam 相同的多色(LIFX Beam)技术(Polychrome Technology)。您可以按照您想要的任何排列方式将这些图块连接在一起(或者像许多人所做的那样在您的墙上 模仿俄罗斯方块)。(Tetris)
LIFX的主要卖点之一是它的应用程序;由于直观的界面和易于理解的控件,(interface and easy-to-understand controls)大多数用户更喜欢它而不是竞争对手。与其他LIFX智能灯一样,Tile不需要中央集线器。每个面板都有一个内置的WiFi 适配器(WiFi adaptor),无需中介即可连接到您的家庭网络。(home network)
一个LIFX Tile的售价为 79.99 美元,而三件装的售价为 149.99 美元,性价比更高。这些灯非常适合在您的墙壁上创建口音或仅用作对话件(conversation piece),但创建一个广阔的展示会花费您。
最佳游戏智能灯:Nanoleaf Canvas(Nanoleaf)(Best Smart Light For Gaming: Nanoleaf Canvas (Nanoleaf))
Nanoleaf Canvas(Nanoleaf Canvas)在外观上很像LIFX Tile,虽然更小。每个Canvas 瓷砖(Canvas tile)的尺寸约为 6 英寸见方,而不是 8 英寸。但在LIFX 瓷砖(LIFX Tile)用作艺术品(art piece)的地方,Nanoleaf Canvas包含了很多功能。
Canvas tile可以像(Canvas tile)Nanoleaf Rhythm一样与音乐同步,但您也可以将Canvas tile(Canvas tile)用作其他智能家居设备的触摸控件。想在卧室打开咖啡壶吗?(coffee pot)设置(Set)一个Canvas 瓷砖(Canvas tile)来控制您的智能咖啡壶(coffee pot),并在您醒来时轻按一下。您还可以使用Canvas tile玩基于光的触摸游戏。
使用前面提到的Nanoleaf Mirror ,您可以设置(Nanoleaf Mirror)Canvas以反映屏幕的特定部分。您可以让它们在您的 HP 变低时闪烁红色,或者在出现特定加电时闪烁不同的颜色。
与其他Nanoleaf产品一样,Canvas智能灯可与大多数主要智能助手配合使用。四件套“Smarter”套件售价 119.99 美元,而更宽大的 9 件Canvas 套件(Canvas kit)售价 229.99 美元。
The Best Smart Lights When Style Matters
Lighting is about so much more than convenience. The type of lighting you have speaks to your sense of ѕtyle. In the same way that a chandelier tells a different story than а fluorescent оverhead light, certain kinds of smart lights separate themselves from the competіtion.
In our article about the best smart lights on a budget, we focused on utility and cost. This guide will be entirely the opposite and instead focus wholly on the best smart lights with style with no regard for cost.
If you’re decking out a game room, man cave, or home theater and you want the absolute coolest lights, this guide is for you. Two companies dominate this list: LIF and Nanoleaf.
Best For Home Theater: Nanoleaf Rhythm (Amazon)
Nanoleaf was one of the first companies to set itself apart with high-end, high-performance smart lighting with the Nanoleaf Aurora. The triangle-shaped tiles could be arranged in any shape and pattern as long as one side was touching another, and users took advantage of this to create intricate patterns on the wall – everything from Space Invaders to DNA helices.
The Nanoleaf Rhythm expands on that same modularity by offering more than 16 million color combinations. The Rhythm syncs to music in real-time and changes colors across individual tiles in time with the beat.
With added features like the new Screen Mirror feature, the Nanoleaf Rhythm can reflect the ambient colors on your television or computer monitor for the ultimate home theater or gaming experience.
The downside is the cost: a 15-piece starter kit (called the “Smarter Kit”) will run you $299.99 on Amazon.
Best For General Lighting: Philips Hue Color (Amazon)
While the Philips Hue White is a great budget option, the same can’t be said for the color version. A single Philips Hue Color A19 bulb runs about $47.49 on Amazon, while the Starter Kit with 3 bulbs and the necessary Philips Hue Hub will cost $159.00.
Decking out your entire home will cost a pretty penny, but Philips Hue Color bulbs are well worth it – they’re some of the best smart lights on the market. Users have access to more than 16 million color variations, voice control, and plenty of pre-built scenes to choose from.
The Philips Hue “Lab” constantly invents new applications for the bulbs that can be downloaded from the app, such as the ability to make the lights flicker like candles. You can also expand the functionality of Philips Hue bulbs by pairing them with other smart home devices or Hue-brand products like the Hue Dimmer Switch or Hue Motion Sensor.
Best For Accent Lighting: LIFX Beam (Amazon)
The LIFX Beam is unique in that it isn’t intended to provide whole-room lighting in any way, but rather to be an accent for a space. Each panel is 1.4 inches wide and 11.8 inches long, but can be connected end-to-end to cover longer distances, such as around a door frame.
LIFX sets its smart lights apart due to its patented Polychrome Technology. Each panel has dozens of individual LEDs that can broadcast any available color, allowing users to create a rainbow of light across the setup.
LIFX smart lights are also unique in that they do not require a central hub. Each panel connects to WiFi on its own, which makes installation as simple as connecting the Beams together and hooking the system to your network.
The LIFX Beam can be voice-controlled through all the major smart assistants, and the starter kit will run you $149.99 for a six-piece setup with one corner connector.
Best Tile-Style Smart Lighting: LIFX Tile (LIFX)
The LIFX Tile is a lot like it sounds: a nearly 8 inch x 8 inch tile that boasts the same Polychrome Technology as the LIFX Beam. You can connect these tiles together in any arrangement you want (or do as many people have done and emulate Tetris on your walls).
One of the main selling points of LIFX is its app; a majority of users prefer it over the competition due to the intuitive interface and easy-to-understand controls. Like other LIFX smart lights, the Tile does not require a central hub. Each panel has a built-in WiFi adaptor that allows it to your connect to your home network without an intermediary.
A single LIFX Tile will cost you $79.99, while a three-pack offers a better bang for your buck at $149.99. These lights are great for creating accents on your walls or just to serve as a conversation piece, but creating an expansive display will cost you.
Best Smart Light For Gaming: Nanoleaf Canvas (Nanoleaf)
The Nanoleaf Canvas is a lot like the LIFX Tile in appearance, although smaller. Each Canvas tile comes in at about 6 inches square, rather than 8. But where the LIFX Tile serves as an art piece, the Nanoleaf Canvas packs a lot of functionality.
The Canvas tiles can sync with music much like the Nanoleaf Rhythm, but you can also use the Canvas tiles as touch controls for other smart home devices. Want to turn your coffee pot on from the bedroom? Set up a Canvas tile to control your smart coffee pot and give it a tap when you wake up. You can also use the Canvas tiles to play light-based touch games.
With the Nanoleaf Mirror mentioned earlier, you can set the Canvas up to reflect specific parts of your screen. You can have them flash red when your HP gets low, or flicker a different color when a specific power-up appears.
Like other Nanoleaf products, the Canvas smart lights work with most major smart assistants. A four-piece “Smarter” kit will cost $119.99, while the more expansive 9 piece Canvas kit costs $229.99.