I typically avoid anything smart, but given practicality, I’m looking for general tips or recommendations for smart bulbs?

I have just started self-hosting home-assistant, and would prefer ones which integrate well with that.

What should I look out for when buying them? Any brands to avoid? Any cybersecurity concerns you’ve come across? Or should I avoid them altogether?

**Thanks everyone for the responses! I may not get back individually, but it’s a great point to jump in from

  • rmuk@feddit.ukEnglish
    1·
    1 day ago

    ZigBee is a fully local mesh protocol. Matter is a local protocol that can run over either WiFi or over Thread, a local mesh protocol designed to replace ZigBee. Zigbee, Matter and Thread are your friends.

    I cannot even begin to recommend this highly enough:

    https://sonoff.tech/en-nl/products/sonoff-zigbee-thread-usb-dongle-dongle-plus-mg24

    Get one of those - or an equivalent device from another manufacturer - to allow Home Assistant to talk directly to your bulbs using Zigbee or Thread. With that, you HA can speak directly to any bulb that uses Zigbee, Thread or Matter which is 99% of the bulbs worth bothering with.

    Anything that connects to WiFi without explicitly using Matter should be avoided at all costs and especially if it uses Tuya - look for the mark of the beast hidden on the packaging of kit sold under other brands.

    IKEA Tradfri (ZigBee) and Kajplats (Thread) bulbs are excellent, especially for the low price. Philips Hue (ZigBee/Thread) is the gold standard but not cheap.

    Devices running ESPHome or Tasmota are rarer but also highly hackable and work entirely over local WiFi. Take a look at Local Bytes for some good kit like that.