Is Home Automation Getting Overwhelming with So Many Brands Out There? Looking for Suggestions

Smart Home
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Marcus said:
@Luke
Are you talking about brightness in white mode? I found that cheap bulbs have very weak colors. Paying more for better brightness seems worth it.

Yes, both white and color. I can’t confirm the exact lumens, but visually, the cheaper bulbs are definitely brighter, especially colors like blue. I have a vaporwave theme in my house, and I had to dim the blue bulbs.

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@Luke
Could you share the link to those affordable colorful bulbs? A lot of my friends don’t want to spend $60 for each bulb!

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Marcus said:
@Luke
Could you share the link to those affordable colorful bulbs? A lot of my friends don’t want to spend $60 for each bulb!

Sure! I found them on Amazon for $30 for a pack of 4. The brand is Lightinginside, and they’re the Matter 100w equivalent.

Edit: link

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Here are my favorite Zigbee devices Zigbee Smart home - Best Buy Tips | vd Brink Home Automations

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How much you want to invest depends on how extensive you want your system to be and how much you want to automate. I have cameras from Eufy and I’m not impressed with the quality of either the hardware or the software. Ring is much better in my opinion.

I also have various Aqara sensors, which are okay for simple tasks but can be glitchy. The Aqara app isn’t great, but they work well with other platforms like Apple Home or Hubitat.

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Insteon offers a variety of devices, including smart light switches in different styles and colors. They have standard switches and unique options like 6 or even 8 button switches. They also provide mini remotes that can control Insteon switches or multiple devices.

Insteon is fast and flexible, able to work simply by linking devices or with the Insteon Hub. You can also use an ISY controller for more complex setups. With the Insteon Hub, you can manage your devices through their app, create automation routines, and manage lights through their app. They even have features for controlling curtains and window blinds.

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You might want to consider smart plugs like Meross or Wyze. They are reasonably priced and work seamlessly with Alexa and Google Home.