The 9 Best Smart Christmas Lights of 2022

Why Buy Smart Christmas Lights

Smart Christmas lights are more versatile, longer-lasting and offer better holiday aesthetics than traditional lights. Along with a wide range of colors and blinking patterns to choose from, you can also find different sizes, from tiny twinkle lights to jumbo bulbs to fit the desired holiday style. Smart flood lights are a favorable choice if you don’t have the time or ability to hang up string lights. You can even make them shine brighter with these Christmas light hacks and Christmas tree light hacks.

Smart lights keep energy costs down as well. All the options listed below feature light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, which, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, use at least 75% less energy than incandescent lighting. This is welcome news for your electric bill if you plan to turn on multiple strands of lights for several hours a day.

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. These best indoor and outdoor Christmas lights are ready to deck your halls. P.S. If you’re struggling with a couple of burnt out bulbs, this Christmas lights repair tool will come in handy.

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 Fairy Smart Christmas Lights

Popotan Smart Fairy String Lights

For a more delicate look, the Popotan Smart Fairy String Lights give off an elegant glow that works for a small room or patio. Control the lights with the app or use voice control—the lights are compatible with Amazon Echo Dot and Google Assistant. Unlike some LED lights, these fairy ones offer a “warm white” setting (in addition to other color combinations) for a cozy glimmer.

Pros:

• Delicate bulbs for smaller spaces
• Available in 16- to 66-foot lengths
• Budget-friendly

Cons:

• Can’t change the color of individual bulbs

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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

Brizled Faceted LED Christmas Lights

Faceted Christmas lights, like the Brizled 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.

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

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