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The Best Smart Outdoor Floodlights in 2024

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Are you ready to take your outdoor lighting game to another level? There are some great and, of course, smart outdoor floodlights out there suitable for your garden, backyard, or space that needs some enlightenment.

This article will cover top smart outdoor floodlights in different categories, such as eco-friendliness, integration, high-resolution video, and more. We’ll provide an in-depth review of each product, mentioning their pros, cons, and unique features to help you make an informed decision. So, let’s dive in and explore the world of smart outdoor lighting!

Why Choose a Smart Flood Light Over a Regular One

The reasons are many why you would want to take a smart outdoor floodlight over a regular one. It is an endless list, and I don’t want to bore you with all that. To cut it short, there are two important things that a smart one can do while the other can’t.

The first one is customization. You can set it to reflect your mood, and you would never run out of ideas due to the possibility of selecting up to 16 million colors in some particular lights and massive libraries of light scenes. Everything is within a few taps on your screen, from the Arctic aurora to the Savana sunset.

The second one is so important that you wouldn’t call it the smart one otherwise: automation. You can automate the lights to go on/off, change scenes, or react to certain triggers.

Smart Rectangular Wall Flood Lights

The rectangular wall-mounted outdoor flood lights are beautiful and can spread the light nicely over a large area. So, if you are trying to lighten up, for example, your automated garden or pathway, these lights can do wonders.

Philips Hue Welcome White

Philips Hue Welcome

Philips Hue Welcome

The Good

  1. Can be paired with Nest and Samsung SmartThings accessories
  2. Light is bright and spreads nicely
  3. IP44 weatherproof

The Bad

  1. Requires a hub
  2. On the expensive side

Form Factor: Wall mount

Output: 2300 lumen

Temperature: 2700 kelvin

Color: White

Price: Check Here

Hub Required: Yes (Philips Hue Bridge)

Compatible with: Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings

Philips Hue Welcome is designed to be mounted outdoors on a wall and suitable for places where a rich flood of light is needed (e.g., pathway, backyard). You can pair this up with a Philips Hue Outdoor Motion Sensor, and it would be an ideal security light for your home.

On the technical side, it houses 2x PAR38 LED bulbs inside, which amounts to a 2300-lumen light output. Light customization is very easy with their proprietary app and can also be controlled via voice assistants.

Philips Hue Discover White & Color Ambience

Philips Hue Discover

Philips Hue Discover

The Good

  1. 16M colors with adjustable color temperatures
  2. Plenty of ambient light scenes to choose from
  3. IP44 weatherproof

The Bad

  1. Requires a hub
  2. Expensive

Form Factor: Wall mount

Output: 2300 lumen

Temperature: 2000-6500 kelvin

Color: 16M

Price: Check Here

Hub Required: Yes (Philips Hue Bridge)

Compatible with: Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings

Philips Hue Discover is the twin brother of Hue Welcome, which we just talked about. The difference is that this light is equipped with 16M colors instead of only white, and it can make the output cooler or warmer.

While most other features remain the same, Discover, the color variant, comes with a set of light scenes as a default. Should you need more, you will have access to their library called Hue Labs where they post new scenes regularly.

Novostella Flood Light

Novostella Flood Light

Novostella Flood Light

The Good

  1. Bargain for a pack of 2
  2. 20W, 60W, and 100W variants
  3. Does not require a hub
  4. IP66 waterproof

The Bad

  1. Compatible with 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band only
  2. Only a few light-scene presets (but you can create your own)

Form Factor: Wall mount or stand

Output: 2000 lumen

Temperature: 2700-6500 kelvin

Color: 16M

Price: Check Here

Hub Required: No

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

Novostella is known as the Philips Hue killer in the segment of flood lights for what it offers at an amazing price point. You get not only one but two RGB lights in a pack. While this basic variant is 20W (2000 lumen), you have the option to select this in 60W (6000 lumen) or 100W (10000 lumen) if you need to cover larger areas.

It is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and does not require a central hub (works via app). It also has a pretty good connection strength up to 65 ft from your router.

Smart Flood Lights with Motion Sensor

If you planning to hang some lights in your dark pathway, it makes more sense to get a smart light that is already equipped with a motion sensor. While there is always an option to bind most smart lights with a third-party motion sensor, some outdoor smart lights have this built-in, saving you from some hassle.

Ring Floodlight Wired

Ring Floodlight Wired

Ring Floodlight Wired

The Good

  1. 180° field of view for the motion sensor
  2. Customization and instant notification on the app
  3. Battery-powered variant available
  4. Weatherproof (rating unknown)

The Bad

  1. Requires a hub

Form Factor: Wall mount

Output: 2000 lumen

Temperature: 3500 kelvin

Color: White

Price: Check Here

Hub Required: Yes (Ring Bridge)

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa

Ring Floodlight Wired is motion-activated security light for the Ring system and you would need a Ring Bridge to connect it. It can work in conjunction with other Ring accessories such as the doorbell, camera, etc.

The lights and the motion sensor are nicely tunable on the app. You can change the sensitivity to the level you need and can also configure the go-off time. This version of the device is wired, however, if you need it, you can find the battery version of the same light.

Arlo Security Light

Arlo Security Light

Arlo Security Light

The Good

  1. Wire-free setup with rechargeable batteries
  2. Arlo Bridge included in the package
  3. Instant notifications to phone or email
  4. IP65 weatherproof

The Bad

  1. Low brightness
  2. Works on 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band only

Form Factor: Wall mount

Output: 400 lumen

Temperature: N/A

Color: 16M

Price: Check Here

Hub Required: Yes (Arlo Bridge)

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa

Arlo Security Light is a rechargeable battery-based smart security light system that has zero involvement with wires. It requires an Arlo Bridge to work, and luckily, one is included in the box. Light can be controlled via their app or an Amazon Alexa device.

This light comes with a handful of security features. The motion sensor can be used in a versatile way as it has a range of 23 feet. It can also be set up to receive instant notifications on a phone or an email, and can be paired with Arlo security cameras to start recording in parallel.

Smart Flood Lights with Security Camera

Recording videos alongside lighting up dark spaces can be a great addition to any home security system. Some smart outdoor lights come preoccupied with a camera, so you don’t have to buy one separately and go through the process of integration.

eufy Floodlight Camera

Eufy Floodlight Camera

eufy Floodlight Camera

The Good

  1. Videos stored locally with 256-bit encryption
  2. 2080p video recording with a 140° field of view
  3. Does not require a hub
  4. IP65 weatherproof

The Bad

  1. Supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band only

Form Factor: Wall mount

Output: 2500 lumen

Temperature: 3000 kelvin

Color: White

Price: Check Here

Hub Required: No

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

While most companies make customers buy storage plans for their security cameras, eufy Floodlight Camera allows saving data on local storage with strong 256-bit encryption. Even though the storage (4GB) is really small these days, it is quite sufficient for security video captures.

The recorded videos can be accessed and downloaded from multiple devices through the interface that eufy provides. It can record 1080p full HD videos with a 140° field of view. There are other competitive features as well, such as 2-way talking, smart siren, instant notifications, etc.

Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera

Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera

Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera

The Good

  1. 2k HDR video recording with night vision and auto-focus
  2. 2-way audio communication
  3. Advanced security features with Arlo Smart
  4. IP65 weatherproof

The Bad

  1. Videos can not be saved without an Arlo Smart subscription

Form Factor: Wall mount

Output: 2000 lumen

Temperature: 4000 kelvin

Color: White

Price: Check Here

Hub Required: No

Compatible with: Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings

Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera includes all the features you could ask for in a security device. It can record 2K videos with HDR, and a large area can be covered by its 160° field of view. The recorded videos are clear even when it is recorded at night. Some other interesting features are automatic sirens, 2-way duplex audio communication, and a 6-month long battery life.

While this device works without any mandatory need for a hub, it is best to be paired with one or at least the Arlo Smart cloud service. It does not have internal storage, but if you subscribe to Arlo Smart, the videos for the past 30 days will be saved on the cloud. You would also get more benefits such as smart detection for objects, auto 911 calling in emergencies, etc.

Ring Floodlight Cam

Ring Floodlight Cam

Ring Floodlight Cam

The Good

  1. 1080p video recording with night vision and live view
  2. 270° motion sensor radius
  3. 2-way audio communication capability
  4. Siren can be activated from the app

The Bad

  1. Videos can not be saved without Ring subscription
  2. Only compatible with 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band
  3. Weatherproof electrical box required

Form Factor: Wall mount

Output: 1800 lumen

Temperature: 3000 kelvin

Color: White

Price: Check Here

Hub Required: No

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa

Unlike other Ring products, Ring Floodlight Cam is independent of their ecosystem, however, a Ring storage plan is required to save videos on the cloud. If you don’t need video recording, you can skip the plan and use it as a live camera.

The motion sensor on this device has a long radius, and the camera is capable of recording Full HD videos. It is preoccupied with a siren system that can be triggered manually from the app. This device also supports two-way communication through an Amazon Alexa device. One major drawback is the weatherproofing which requires an additional weatherproof electrical box.

Smart Solar Flood Lights

Ring Solar Floodlight

Ring Solar Floodlight

Ring Solar Floodlight

The Good

  1. 2W solar panel that keeps that light charged
  2. Adjustable motion sensor with 180° field of view
  3. Battery can also be charged via USB
  4. IP66 weather-resistant

The Bad

  1. Requires a hub
  2. Can not stay on longer than 15 minutes

Form Factor: Wall mount

Output: 1200 lumen

Temperature: 3500 kelvin

Color: White

Price: Check Here

Hub Required: Yes (Ring Bridge)

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa

Ring Solar Floodlight is for those people who don’t want to worry about charging a device. The 2W solar panel can keep the light charged when it is put against direct sunlight. Due to the fact that it is solar-powered, the brightness is just enough to lighten up a dark area.

As a backup methodology, this light can also be charged via a micro USB cable, and it is particularly useful when the sun does not show up for days. It requires a Ring Bridge to operate, and the sensor can be customized on its proprietary app.

Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera and Solar

Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera And Solar

Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera and Solar

The Good

  1. Don’t have to worry about recharging batteries
  2. 2K, 2560 x 1440 pixel videos with HDR and autofocus
  3. Compatible with most voice assistants and works without a hub
  4. Rated IP65 weatherproof

The Bad

  1. Requires Arlo Smart plan for saving recorded videos
  2. Expensive combo

Form Factor: Wall mount

Output: 2000 lumen

Temperature: 4000 kelvin

Color: White

Price: Check Here

Hub Required: No

Compatible with: Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings

Arlo Pro 3 Solar is identical to the normal Arlo Pro 3 Camera that we talked about in this post. The difference is that it is solar powered so you won’t have to worry about the battery dying anymore. The solar system in this device will keep itself and the connected flood light charged.

Like the other one, it has a 2000-lumen LED floodlight, 2K HDR video recording with a 160° field of view, and a two-way duplex audio communication system. This device works without a hub, but you will need an Arlo Smart subscription to save recorded videos.

Smart Flood Light Bulbs

Replacing just the floodlight bulbs with smart ones is the most affordable option. I personally recommend that you take flood light bulbs over those panel-type lights if this would work, or at least try to add a few in the mix.

Philips Hue PAR38 White

Philips Hue Par38 White

Philips Hue PAR38 White

The Good

  1. Very bright and warm light
  2. Easy installation and setup
  3. IP44 weatherproof

The Bad

  1. Requires a hub

Form Factor: PAR38

Output: 1300 lumen

Temperature: 3000 kelvin

Color: White

Price: Check Here

Hub Required: Yes (Philips Hue Bridge)

Compatible with: Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings

Philips Hue offers a flood bulb for outdoor that you can screw into your existing PAR38 fixture. It comes with an IP44 rating which can withstand dust and water spray from all directions. If you used hue products before, you should probably know how well they work, having almost zero latency.

One thing you should remember is that this light requires a Hue hub. If you don’t have one already, you have to buy one separately. The light has to be located within 30 ft from the hub or 60 ft from another Philips Hue light.

Choosing the Right Smart Outdoor Floodlight for Your Needs

When selecting the right outdoor smart bulb for your smart outdoor floodlight, consider factors like:

  • Brightness
  • Device integration
  • Eco-friendliness
  • Your budget

Analyzing your specific needs and preferences will help you narrow down the options and choose the best floodlight for your home.

For instance, if you prioritize eco-friendliness, the Ring Solar Pathlight would be an excellent choice. On the other hand, if seamless integration with existing smart home devices, such as a smart light switch, is your main concern, the Ring Smart Lighting Floodlight or Nest Cam with Floodlight may be more suitable as a smart light fixture.

Those on a tight budget can opt for the Otdair Solar Floodlight, while users seeking high brightness may prefer the Amico 3500LM LED Security Light or LEONLITE Outdoor Floodlight. With these options, finding the perfect smart lights for your needs becomes an easier task.

To conclude, outdoor smart lights, as well as indoor smart lights, do not have a one-size-fits-all solution. By carefully considering your specific needs and preferences, you can find the perfect floodlight that will not only enhance the security and visibility of your outdoor spaces but also complement your home’s aesthetics and smart home ecosystem.