Use your phone to control these smart Christmas lights and take your holiday display to the next level!
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The 8 Best Smart Christmas Lights of 2024
Updated on Jun. 05, 2024
Say goodbye to that dusty pile of tangled Christmas lights with half the bulbs burnt out that are taking up space in the garage. With these smart Christmas lights (the perfect complement to smart Christmas trees), you can change the color or pattern of your decorations and sync them to music—all from an app on your phone.Smart Christmas lights offer greater versatility, longevity and enhanced holiday decor compared to traditional lights. “They are available in a wide range of colors, patterns and sizes,” says Gary McCoy, a lighting expert and Lowe’s store manager. There’s a design to suit every preference. “Just determine what style and aesthetic you want to achieve,” advises McCoy.
Smart lights keep energy costs down as well. This is welcome news for your electric bill if you plan to turn on multiple strands of lights for several hours a day. Some smart holiday lights may initially cost more, but their energy-savings capabilities make them worth the investment over time, confirms McCoy. Forgot to turn off the lights before bed? You can put these smart options on a schedule, so you don’t have to think about turning them on or off all season long. Thanks to their color-changing abilities and discreet profiles, many smart lights can be left up year-round. Imagine never having to climb up on the roof again!
Like so many other aspects of technology, Christmas lights are following suit and getting smart. Read on for the best indoor and outdoor Christmas lights to deck your halls.
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Most Splurge-Worthy Smart Christmas Lights
Twinkly Multicolor Holiday String Lights
Reviewers agree, Twinkly is a reliable Christmas light brand that’s worth the higher price point. These Multicolor LED Holiday String Lights come in different lengths, including a set of two 78-foot strings with 600 LED bulbs. The app, which is compatible with iOS and Android devices, allows you to change the light colors. In fact, you can make each individual bulb a different color, resulting in 16 million (!) light combinations. Set them on a timer, sync them to music and download preloaded lighting designs for extra holiday cheer. They’re also weatherproof and appropriate for both indoor and outdoor use.
Pros:
- 16 million light combinations available
- Preloaded and customizable design options
- Appropriate for indoor and outdoor use
Cons:
- On the expensive side
- Light strings can’t be connected end-to-end
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Best Strip Smart Christmas Lights
LE LED Strip Lights
Unlike string lights with individual bulbs, strip lights look like one continuous line of luminous light. These indoor or outdoor LE LED Strip Lights come with a voice control setting. You can also use an app on your phone, an included remote or a small controller connected to a cord. Light them up in red and green for Christmas or choose classic white to set the mood in your cheerful space.
Pros:
- Strip design offers unique lighting look
- Dimmable feature
- Can be connected end-to-end
Cons:
- No gradient or multicolor option
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Best Large Bulb Smart Christmas Lights
Govee Smart Outdoor String Lights
Large bulb string lights look bold hanging over a patio, on a balcony or across your yard for a beautiful holiday effect. When the season is over, keep them up for year-round ambiance. Each individual bulb of these Smart Outdoor String Lights can be set to a different color by using voice control or an app. The durable plastic bulb material is waterproof and shatterproof to survive all types of unpredictable weather. Don’t know how to put up these lights? Here’s how to hang Christmas lights and brighten the neighborhood with festive cheer.
Pros:
- Large, bold bulbs built to survive knocks and falls
- Music sync mode reacts in real time
- App recognizes photos to recreate light displays
Cons:
- Power adapter isn’t waterproof
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Best Icicle Smart Christmas Lights
Twinkly LED Smart Icicle Lights
If you prefer icicle-style Christmas lights, look no further than these LED Smart Icicle Lights. The icicles vary in length for an eye-catching display. The powerful mapping tool of the Twinkly app locates the position of each light (even on strings that aren’t connected), so you can design professional, pixel-perfect patterns and animations using red, green and blue color palettes.
Pros:
- Synchronize up to 4,000 lights
- Customize the color, tint and shade of each light
- Control with the app, Google Assistant or Amazon Alex
Cons:
- Each connected light string must be the same length
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Best Faceted Smart Christmas Lights
iBaycon Faceted LED Christmas Lights
Faceted Christmas lights, like the iBaycon Faceted LED Christmas Lights, have a classic design and disperse the light at unique angles, so they appear brighter than smooth lights. Although these faceted lights may look old-fashioned, they’re very much smart. Control the color, flashing light patterns and music sync modes with the app.
Pros:
- Classic faceted design for twinkly look
- Built-in memory chip to save lighting modes
- Control with app or remote
Cons:
- Only four music rhythm modes
- No replacement bulbs included
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Best Smart Christmas Light to Synch with Music
Tjoy Music Sync LED Strip Lights
Hang these Music Sync LED Strip Lights for your holiday party, turn on the Christmas tunes and watch the show! The highly sensitive built-in audio sensor allows the lights to flash in sync with the music beats, creating a fun ambiance your guests will love. Choose from 22 unique patterns. The adhesive strips easily stick to the wall, ceiling or on the dance floor.
Pros:
- Sensitive audio sensor synchs with music
- Affordable price
- 50-, 100- and 200-foot options
Cons:
- Indoor use only
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Best Smart Flood Lights
Melpo Color Changing LED Floor Lights
Smart Christmas lights also come in the form of flood lights, which are much easier to set up and don’t run the risk of a Clark Griswold roof fall. This two-pack of Color Changing LED Flood Lights shines up on your house or landscape for a professional lighting display that’ll impress your neighbors. Use the app to change the colors, set them on a timer and sync to music. If you want your holiday lights to blink, then you should buy red-tipped Christmas lights.
Pros:
- Flood lights are easier to set up than string lights
- Usable for other holidays and year-round
- Custom color options and 12 preset modes
Cons:
- No voice control
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Best Cluster Smart Christmas Lights
Twinkly LED Smart Light String Cluster
Ready to switch up the same old decor you go with each year? The LED Smart Light String Cluster features 400 RGB LED lights spaced at various lengths to add depth and thickness. They make a big impact laying across a mantle or bordering the bottom of a Christmas tree. And, of course, you can customize the colors, create effects, set a timer, dim lights and switch between multiple strings with the high-tech Twinkly app.
Pros:
- Cluster design provides fuller look
- Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
- More customizable than other brands
Cons:
- Twinkly music accessory sold separately
via merchantWhat to Look for When Buying Smart Christmas Lights
To ensure you end up with the best smart Christmas lights for your home, here are some factors to keep in mind:
Types of Smart Christmas Lights
- Icicle lights: This design gives your home a snow-covered look and often features color customizations. “If a consumer wants a more traditional look, strip lights might be a better option,” advises McCoy.
- Fairy string lights: “These are less bright than other options, which makes them ideal for indoor and smaller spaces,” says McCoy. String lights may offer less color customization than other options, he adds.
- Strip lights: This pick features a unique design of multiple strings connected to each other, so they appear to be a continuous strip of light, explains McCoy. They are favored for highlighting specific areas like walkways or paths, or to create a specific design.
- Floodlights: “Floodlights shine up on your house to give your entire exterior a colorful display,” says McCoy. “They are the easiest holiday light option to install since you don’t need to climb on your roof to set them up,” he adds. You can even make them shine brighter with these Christmas light hacks and Christmas tree light hacks.
Other Considerations
- Compatibility and Integration: Some Christmas lights are compatible with existing smart home ecosystem, such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home or Apple HomeKit. Others may lack these features or offer limited support through a standalone app. Usually, those compatible with big-name smart ecosystems have to get approval from the parent brands, which can mean they’re more reliable than those that aren’t.
- Control/App Options: “Some smart holiday lights can be connected to a phone or app for easy on-and-off capabilities,” says McCoy. Other options use remotes or even voice activation. Make sure you’re looking into the user interface and functionality of these apps, however, as some can be buggy and may cause additional difficulty. That said, some offer even handier options, like mapping lights in 2D or 3D, to help you better visualize and control them. We recommend turning to user reviews to check app functionality and ease of use.
- Customization and Lighting Effects: Some smart lights offer little control other than the ability to turn them on and off via voice or smartphone app control. Others have full suites of customization options, including the ability to change the lights’ colors, create flashing patterns and otherwise create unique displays.
- Design: Decide what effects you want, like pre-set options or color-changing and dimming capabilities. “Also consider the lights’ size and look when turned off,” adds McCoy. “Smart lights are becoming sleeker and more discreet, so you may not have to take them down with the season.”
- Installation: Choose lights that are easy to set up and install. “You should also consider how much time you have to hang the lights,” notes McCoy. “For example, if you’re short on time, LED flood lights might be the way to go.”
- Energy Efficiency: Opt for LED lights to save on electricity costs. All the options on our list feature light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, which, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, use at least 75% less energy than incandescent lighting.
- Brightness Control: Some smart lights also allow for brightness control, in addition to the ability to turn them on and off and create flashing patterns. This allows for even greater energy efficiency and may be a feature you want to consider seeking.
- Weather Resistance: If you plan to use the lights outside, ensure they are weather-resistant to withstand rain, snow and cold temperatures.
- Pricing: Christmas lights can run the gamut of price depending on their lighting type, number of bulbs, length, smart features and more. Furthermore, better-known, high-tech brands (like Nanoleaf and Twinkly) also tend to come with a premium. You’ll have to decide whether the investment into bigger, more technical, big-name options is worth it.
Why You Should Trust Us
I’m a freelance writer specializing in home trends and lifestyle topics. I regularly contribute to Family Handyman, giving advice on home decor, organization, cleaning, landscaping and DIY projects. I also consider myself a Christmas connoisseur, having written about colorful Christmas lights, front porch Christmas decor, decorating your fireplace, Christmas stockings and much more.
To ensure the most informed recommendations, we sought input from industry professionals, including Gary McCoy, a Lowe’s store manager and lighting expert in the Charlotte area. With decades of experience in the home improvement industry, McCoy possesses first-hand knowledge of sales trends and customer needs.
Sean Tirman, Content Updates Editor at Family Handyman, updated and contributed research to this piece. Sean has written shopping guides since 2016 and is a former associate editor at Gear Patrol.
How We Found the Best Smart Christmas Lights
When selecting the best smart Christmas lights, we wanted to ensure a seamless festive experience that combined technology and tradition. We began by exploring various styles and designs available on the market, considering factors such as smart home compatibility, color options, price and ease of use. We also analyzed user reviews to assess reliability, functionality and overall customer satisfaction. Additionally, we consulted with lighting experts to gain insights into the latest trends and innovations in smart Christmas lights.
FAQ
What Christmas lights do the professionals use?
According to our research, one thing to look for specifically when shopping for professional Christmas lights is “commercial-grade” labeling. This suggests these lights are used on a professional level. That said, if you want to get more specific, the two most popular lighting sizes for professional usage are C7 and C9, which accompany E12 and E17 lighting strings, respectively.
Which Christmas lights are bright?
Traditional Christmas lights relied on incandescent filaments to light up, which are warm but not particularly bright. These days, LED lights—which are much more common—are cooler but far more bright and energy efficient. LED lights also often come with the option to customize the colors, making them far more versatile than traditional filament lights, as well.
How do I make my Christmas lights look like a pro?
Getting quality, long-lasting Christmas lights is the first step to making your display look professional. However, another factor is how you arrange them. Making a plan ahead of time for a cohesive, well-thought-out display (and not cutting corners) will go a long way toward making your Christmas lights look more professional. There are a lot of online tutorials for this, as well, if you want some additional help.
