Top 4 compared
The best E27 white smart bulbs
Lamps that come on by themselves, dim for the evening and switch off from your phone or by voice.
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The top 4 at a glance
The screw cap on most table and floor lamps, and on plenty of pendants, is an E27, often called an Edison screw. A white smart bulb with that cap takes its orders from an app, a schedule or a voice assistant, and plain white light is all most lamps ever need.
Tapo’s join home Wi-Fi directly, Philips Hue starts on Bluetooth and adds a Bridge later, and Hive’s bulb needs the Hive Hub. Leave the lamp’s switch on, so the app or a voice command does the switching. For colour as well, see our E27 colour smart bulbs.
What matters
- About 800 lumens to replace a 60W bulb.
- A warm white around 2,700K for living rooms.
- Voice control from the assistant your home uses.
- A two-pack if you have a pair of matching lamps.
#1Philips Hue White A60 smart bulb, E27, 1055 lumens
£10–£20
Philips Hue’s plain white bulb: a warm 2,700K light at 1,055 lumens, about the light of an old 75W bulb, in a screw (E27) cap. It runs from the Hue app over Bluetooth, works with Alexa and Google through an Echo or Nest speaker, and a Hue Bridge adds Apple Home.
What owners say: Owners say it is well made, fast to set up and easy to dim, with an app that makes sense, and like the Alexa connection and the timed switching. Value is mixed, with some finding it pricey.
A closer look: Pair it from the Hue app with your phone close by, then group it with the room’s other Hue lights. Without a Bridge it works within Bluetooth range; with one, it can be switched from outside the home and joins Apple Home.
- Dims smoothly from the app
- Works with other Hue lights
Best for: Screw-cap lamps and ceiling pendants
- Shade of white
- Warm white, 2700K
- Brightness
- 1,055 lumens
- Connection
- Bluetooth; Zigbee with a Bridge
- Hub needed
- None (Bridge optional)
- Voice assistants
- Alexa, Google; Apple Home with a Bridge
- Pack size
- 1 bulb
#2Tapo L510E smart bulbs, E27, dimmable warm white (2-pack)
£18.99 RRP
A pair of plain warm-white bulbs for screw-cap lamps that join your Wi-Fi with no hub and answer to Alexa and Google. Away Mode switches them on and off at random while you’re out, so the house looks lived in.
What owners say: Owners say they take about ten minutes to set up and program, pair with both Alexa and Google, and dim instantly, with set brightness levels. For some, the connection gives trouble.
A closer look: They pair over the router’s 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, so set them up within good range of it, and dim from 1% to full. Group the two in the Tapo app and one tap or voice command switches both, which suits a pair of matching lamps; TP-Link covers them for two years.
- Away Mode while you’re out
- Dims down to 1%
- Two-year warranty
Best for: Two matching lamps, one tap
- Shade of white
- Warm white, 2700K
- Brightness
- 806 lumens
- Connection
- Wi-Fi
- Hub needed
- None
- Voice assistants
- Alexa, Google
- Pack size
- 2 bulbs
#3Hive smart light bulb, E27, dimmable warm white
£10–£20
For homes already running Hive heating: the bulb joins the Hive app beside the thermostat, so lights and heating sit on one screen, with their schedules side by side. It gives 806 lumens of dimmable warm white and is rated for 25,000 hours.
What owners say: Owners find it works well through the Hive app and is simple to set up, and are happy with the quality, though some think it costs too much.
Heads up: It only works with a Hive Hub, sold separately.
A closer look: Most homes with Hive heating already have the hub; pair the bulb from the devices screen in the Hive app, then set its schedule beside the heating’s. A morning schedule can turn it on before the alarm, and an evening one can switch it off at bedtime.
- Same app as Hive heating
- Schedules beside the heating
- Rated for 25,000 hours
Best for: Hive thermostat owners
- Shade of white
- Warm white, 2700K
- Brightness
- 806 lumens
- Connection
- Through the Hive Hub
- Hub needed
- Hive Hub (required)
- Voice assistants
- Alexa, Google, Apple Home (through Hive)
- Pack size
- 1 bulb
#4Philips Hue Filament A60 smart bulb, E27, warm white
£22.99 RRP
A vintage-style bulb with a spiral filament glowing inside amber glass, for a bare pendant or a lamp where the bulb is on show. It gives a soft golden glow rather than a bright light, and works with the rest of Hue over Bluetooth or a Bridge.
What owners say: Owners like the quality and the warm, golden colour of the light. Brightness is mixed: some find it bright enough and others don’t, and a few think it expensive.
A closer look: Use it where the bulb is the feature, such as a bare pendant over a table or a cage lamp, and pair it with a brighter light for reading. The glass is tinted, so even at full brightness the room takes on a golden, candle-like tone.
- Spiral filament on show
- Amber-tinted glass
Best for: Bulbs on show in bare fittings
- Shade of white
- Golden white, 2100K
- Brightness
- 580 lumens
- Connection
- Bluetooth; Zigbee with a Bridge
- Hub needed
- None (Bridge optional)
- Voice assistants
- Alexa, Google; Apple Home with a Bridge
- Pack size
- 1 bulb
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 4.
| Feature | #1Hue White | #2Tapo L510E | #3Hive bulb | #4Hue Filament |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best budget | Best for Hive homes | Best filament style | |
| Picked Rating | 9.1 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 8.9 |
| Price | £10–£20 | £18.99 RRP | £10–£20 | £22.99 RRP |
| Shade of white | Warm white, 2700K | Warm white, 2700K | Warm white, 2700K | Golden white, 2100K |
| Brightness | 1,055 lumens | 806 lumens | 806 lumens | 580 lumens |
| Connection | Bluetooth; Zigbee with a Bridge | Wi-Fi | Through the Hive Hub | Bluetooth; Zigbee with a Bridge |
| Hub needed | None (Bridge optional) | None | Hive Hub (required) | None (Bridge optional) |
| Voice assistants | Alexa, Google; Apple Home with a Bridge | Alexa, Google | Alexa, Google, Apple Home (through Hive) | Alexa, Google; Apple Home with a Bridge |
| Pack size | 1 bulb | 2 bulbs | 1 bulb | 1 bulb |
| Best for | Screw-cap lamps and ceiling pendants | Two matching lamps, one tap | Hive thermostat owners | Bulbs on show in bare fittings |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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