How long do smart light bulbs last? This a fair question to ask if you’re going to install smart lights as a first step of automating your house. Smart bulbs are quite efficient and long-lasting in comparison to traditional ones. However, let’s see how long these can last.
Smart lights are basically LED (light emitting diode) lights. These come with a wide variety of features. But, the most important thing is, smart bulbs have a longer lifespan than any other type of bulb. Wondering how long do smart light bulbs last? Keep reading to learn that.
After reading this article, you will also learn what factors affect smart lights’ lifespan and how you can maximize their lifespan. So, let’s dive in.
Lifespan Comparison Between Traditional Bulbs And Smart Bulbs
Consider you need to light your house or office 3 hours a day. In this case, if you use a traditional light or incandescent bulb, it will last for around a year. On the other hand, a smart bulb can last for over 20 years.
Traditional incandescent bulbs have an average lifespan of 1,000 hours, whereas smart LED bulbs’ average lifetime is 25,000 hours. There are several reasons smart bulbs last longer than traditional bulbs. The major two reasons are:
- Build Material: Incandescent bulbs light through heating the thin Tungsten-made filament. This thin filament can easily burn out due to frequent use and voltage fluctuation. On the other hand, smart light bulbs are made of ‘Light-emitting diodes’ or tiny semiconductors that don’t burn out as quickly as traditional bulbs.
- Heat Issue: Traditional bulbs can convert only 5-10% of the energy into light. And, the rest energy is produced into heat. This excessive heat causes the filament of the traditional bulb to weaken and break eventually. In comparison, smart LED lights convert 90% of the energy into light. Moreover, their built-in heat sink absorbs heat and prolongs its lifespan.
Factors That Affect The Lifespan Of Smart Bulbs
How long do smart light bulbs last depends on several factors. The four most important factors that determine how long smart light bulbs last are given in the following.
1. Ambient Temperature And Environmental Condition
The temperature of the location where the light is installed largely influences the lifespan of the bulb. The higher temperature in the roof space, high humidity, and lack of airflow around the heat sink of the bulb can reduce the lifespan of the smart light.
2. Usage Of The Light Bulb
The more you use the light bulb, the shorter lifespan you should expect. Smart LEDs are designed for frequent use, but excessive usage can be detrimental to the life of a smart light.
3. Quality Of The Components Used In The Bulb
Smart LED bulbs are made of complex pieces of devices and parts. Generally, the LED Smart Bulbs are made of the following components:
- LEDs
- Electronic Control Module
- power Supply
- Heat Sink
- Base
The quality of each component used in the bulb determines how long do smart light bulbs last.
4. The Cooling Method Of The Smart Light
Excessive heat is the main problem with light bulbs. In smart LED bulbs, heat sinks are installed to absorb and reduce the heat. How long do smart light bulbs last depends on the size, shape, orientation, and material of the heat sink used in the smart light.
Find a related blog about Can You Plug A Smart Plug into A Power Strip here.
Variants Of Smart Bulbs And Their Lifespan
Smart light bulbs come with many advantages, including higher energy efficiency, adjustable brightness and color, and so on. You can also control them through mobile apps from anywhere in the world. But, after all the features, a question remains: how long do smart light bulbs last?
Well, the plain answer is, the average lifespan of a smart bulb is 15,000-25,000 hours. And in some cases, it can be up to 50,000 hours. And, this lifetime depends on the type and variation of the lights made by different manufacturers.
Let’s learn how much can be the lifespan of smart bulbs depending on various brands and manufacturers in the following.
| Brand or Manufacturer | Average Lifetime in Hours | Usage of Hours per Day | Lifespan in Years |
| Phillips Hue | 25,000 | 3 | 22.8 |
| Wyze | 25,000 | 3 | 22.8 |
| Sengled | 25,000 | 3 | 22.8 |
| Cree | 25,000 | 3 | 22.8 |
| Feit | 25,000 | 3 | 22.8 |
| Sylvania | 15,000 | 3 | 13.7 |
As you see, most of the smart bulbs available in the market have a lifespan of 25,000 hours, which is about 22 years if you use them for 3 hours daily.
However, the smart lights don’t burn out completely. Rather, these start dimming day by day. It may be time to change the bulb when you find the brightness 30% less than the initial state.
Maximizing The Lifespan Of Smart Bulbs
Smart lights may cost you $35 to $50, which is 10 to 15 times costlier than regular LED lights or traditional bulbs. So, you must want to maximize the lifespan of your smart bulbs. Here we mention four tips to maximize your smart bulbs’ lifespan.
Proper Usage And Installation
Though smart bulbs last longer than traditional CFL or incandescent bulbs, excessive use or lighting for a long period can make it deem with time. For proper usage and installation, you should do the following.
- Keep your smart light turned off when not in use.
- Avoid switching your bulb frequently on/off.
- Install your smart light in a well-ventilated area to reduce heat.
Regular Maintenance And Upkeep
Smart LED light bulbs require regular maintenance. Regular maintenance and upkeep measures include:
- Keep your mobile app for the smart light updated.
- Let the bulb cool down before switching it on again.
- Keep the bulb’s outer shell clean for proper brightness.
Choosing The Right Type Of Smart Bulb
Choosing the right type of smart bulb according to your requirements and environment is very important. For instance, if you live in an area of high temperature, choose the bulb made for this environment. On the other hand, if you need to install smart bulbs outdoors, choose the right bulb for the outdoors.
Choosing The Right Brightness Level
Choose the right brightness level at night and at different times of the day. It’s best to opt for the self-adjustment feature to increase the lifespan of your smart bulb.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s answer some questions that are often asked about smart light bulbs.
Do Smart Bulbs Last Longer Than Regular Bulbs?
Yes, smart bulbs last longer than regular bulbs. Smart bulbs last for 25,000 to 50,000 hours on average. On the other hand, regular incandescent bulbs last for 1,000 hours, and CFL bulbs can last for 10,000 hours.
Do Smart Light Bulbs Run Out?
Smart lights don’t burn out frequently like other traditional bulbs. Smart lights don’t also run out as they are not run on batteries. Smart lights can last for around 25,000 hours.
Are Smart Light Bulbs Worth It?
Smart light bulbs are highly energy efficient, long-lasting, and have features of adjustable brightness & colors and control remotely. So, smart light bulbs are good one-time investments, and these are worth trying.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Smart Light Bulbs?
The disadvantages of smart light bulbs are minimal. The biggest disadvantage considered in terms of smart lights is, it’s expensive to buy initially. Moreover, smart lights remain connected to the internet all the time. So, it can be vulnerable to hackers.
Do Smart Bulbs Stop Working?
Smart bulbs don’t stop working suddenly, either there are any major technical problems with the components. Rather, smart bulbs start dimming with time, and the brightness starts to decrease over time.
Check out a related blog on Is Smart Switch Faster here.
Can You Leave Smart Bulbs On All The Time?
Smart bulbs need constant power. Because they need to be connected to the network. You can leave smart bulbs on all the time if it runs on motion sensors. But, it is better to keep your smart bulb off when you don’t need to use it.
Conclusion
Smart lights can be your lifetime investment as they serve continuously for a decade. Their efficiency and long lifespan made them useful over incandescent and CFL bulbs. As they are relatively expensive, people keep asking about their lifespan. Hopefully, this article helped you to get an answer to your question, “How Long Do Smart Light Bulbs Last”.
You can also read this article on Smart Plug.
