CBS News
The best outdoor smart lights for 2024 can turn night into day
Amazon/Govee
Raise your hand if you’re ever stumbled over a rock or tree root in your backyard at night. Now raise your hand if you did anything about it. You should have added some outdoor lighting to your space then. But now’s a great time too, especially since spring is here and you’ll spending more time outside. So go, frolic in your backyard — but do it safely this year with the best smart lights for outdoors.
You can outfit your backyard and patio right now with helpful, great-looking lights that’ll make your patio a nighttime paradise. Even if you haven’t dabbled in smart home technology, now’s the perfect time to grab some and get to work.
But which smart light is best for you? What’s ultimately going to make your yard easier to navigate if you have to take the dog out for a midnight bathroom break? We’ve done all the hard work for you. Shop our top picks for the best outdoor lights in 2024 below.
The best outdoor smart lights in 2024
Philips Hue Lily White & Color outdoor spot light base kit: $320 (6% off)
Amazon
Versatility, efficiency and smart-home compatibility make this Philips Hue base kit one of the best outdoor lighting options for most situations.
You get three spotlights with 16 million color options and dimmable white light, so you can create the ideal atmosphere for any occasion.
The base kit is compatible with smart-home systems such as Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant, which lets you add voice control seamlessly into your smart home setup.
In addition to bright lighting even on the darkest night, this light boasts reduced energy consumption, making it an eco-friendly and cost-effective option.
Feit Electric PAR38 smart light bulb: $16 (34% off)
Amazon
Don’t need any bells and whistles, just a simple smart light to use outside as you please? This budget-priced light is just the thing.
It’s a floodlight that you can get for less than $20, but it outperforms even more expensive competitors when it comes to overall brightness. It doesn’t require a smart hub to set up, and offers a variety of settings to choose from, including scene control, fun lighting effects, and additional colors to choose from beside white.
If all you need is a reliable, bright light that can come on when someone passes by or at a certain hour of the day, this bulb is your best bet. Plus, it’s affordable enough to get a few, so you can completely illuminate your yard if need be.
Plus, this bulb is discounted right now during the Amazon Big Spring Sale. You can get it for just $16, or 34% off.
Philips Hue Smart outdoor light strip: $92 (29% off)
Amazon
The Philips Hue Smart outdoor light strip is a great choice for adaptable and customizable outdoor lighting. Because of its flexibility, you can shape and cut the strip to fit any outdoor space.
You get a 7-foot strip to work with here, so you’ll need to buy multiple if that isn’t enough length. Each LED is capable of 16 million colors and adjustable white light, allowing you to create the perfect ambiance for any occasion. It’s compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant, and supports voice commands.
Overall, it’s the best strip light option you can find. Philips Hue can help you turn a drab outdoor space into a fun and inviting one.
Govee Outdoor string lights: $65 (20% off + $15 off coupon)
Amazon
Who doesn’t like hanging lights – especially those with cost- and energy-efficient LED bulbs?
Govee outdoor string lights offer warm white light, multiple colors and dynamic effects, so you can customize your outdoor lighting situation for parties, hangout sessions and more formal occasions, too.
The lights’ Bluetooth app lets you change modes, brightness and set timers from your smartphone. They also boast an IP65 waterproof rating, which means they can withstand various weather conditions.
Right now, these string lights are on sale for $65, thanks to Amazon’s 20% off sale and an additional $15 off coupon. Don’t forget to clip the coupon to get the biggest discount possible here.
Govee Outdoor flood lights: $75 ($25 off coupon)
Amazon
These fun floodlights are quirky little square-shaped lighting options with a wide range of color temperatures (2700-6500K) and RGB color options.
Designed for seamless integration with smart-home systems, these floodlights are compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant — they can be controlled with your phone or your voice.
With a few taps, the dedicated Govee app lets you set schedules, adjust brightness and change colors. The flood lights come with an IP66 waterproof rating so they work in rain, sleet and snow.
You can get a set of these flood lights for just $75, thanks to an on-page $25 coupon. Be sure to clip it when checking out.
Govee Outdoor ground lights: $60
Amazon
The Govee outdoor ground lights are great for giving your outdoor spaces a splash of fun and color.
They’re a top choice to spruce up your garden or backyard, especially if you like funky hues. They’re designed to withstand a variety of weather conditions and have an IP65 waterproof rating, so they’re good to go even in the elements.
Whether you want to highlight particular areas or set the mood for outdoor get-togethers, these multi-color LED lights have your back, especially with their included app, which lets you set timers and schedules.
While the lights aren’t currently on sale, keep an eye out – Govee lights are often discounted or see coupons available often.
Ring Solar Pathlight: $30
Amazon
The Ring Solar Pathlight is an eco-friendly solution for lighting up those darker areas around your yard.
Its solar-powered design harvests sunlight during the day so you have plenty of power at night for all your outdoor get-togethers. This light also features an integrated motion sensor, which detects movement and automatically turns on the light to help you find your way.
You can hook this light up to the Ring Bridge as well and manage it through the Ring app, making it easy to fit in your Ring ecosystem if you already have the brand’s other products.
Ring products often go on sale at Amazon, so keep checking back for potential discounts going on during the Amazon Big Spring Sale, which is happening now through March 25.
How to choose the best outdoor light
Setting up outdoor lighting can be difficult, but it’s well worth it. See where you’re going in your yard at night, set the mood for parties, or just create a great-looking space. Like most smart lights, they can be controlled via a variety of methods, including an app, remote control or vocal commands.
You should consider how you would want to control your new smart lights. Would you prefer an app or voice-based control with support for smart home assistants, such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit?
A voice-activated outdoor light enables you to adjust your outdoor illumination by speaking. It connects to a digital device that “listens” to commands, such as a speaker. When an order is received, an audio sample is sent to a remote server to “understand” the request. The instructions are then transmitted back to the smart device to execute the command. Using Google Assistant on a device such as a Google Home, for example, you could say, “Hey Google, turn on the porch light,” or something similar. Typically, these lamps are linked via Bluetooth, a smart light switch, or a smart hub.
You must also consider whether your outdoor lighting design requires a smart plug or a hub. Some outdoor lighting is Bluetooth-enabled and can be controlled directly. Others, however, may require a hub for complete functionality, such as scheduling, dimming options, and color adjustments.
The rest of the setup is really up to you. Popular lighting additions include security floodlights, path lights to illuminate your yard and general mood lighting. You can be creative as you want. It’s your space, after all.
A new Barbie has joined Mattel’s lineup of inclusive dolls. The first “Diwali doll” was announced by the toymaker on Friday, a few weeks shy of the Hindu holiday of Diwali, also known as the festival of lights.
The festival, which lasts for five days, is marked on Western calendars to begin on Nov. 1, but some celebrations start on Oct. 31.
The doll, created in collaboration with fashion designer Anita Dongre, features traditional elements including the lehenga skirt, floral print and golden shoes, according to Mattel’s website. The doll is available at major retailers for $40.
“The look is infused with beauty and symbolism to rejoice in victory of light over darkness with contemporary silhouettes,” the description reads for the Diwali doll.
Lalit Agarwal, country manager for Mattel India, said in a news release that through the Diwali doll, the brand is hoping to showcase “India’s vibrant cultural heritage on a global stage while continuing to celebrate the power and beauty of diversity.”
Earlier this year, Mattel announced the first-ever blind Barbie doll and a Black Barbie with Down syndrome.
In addition, to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8 and Barbie’s 65th birthday on March 9, the doll brand announced it was adding new dolls to its Role Models collection, based on real-life singers and actresses from around the world. They’re not for sale – a one-of-a-kind doll was made for each of the honored women.
The dolls are meant to introduce “girls to remarkable women’s stories to show them you can be anything,” according to Mattel.
Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves made his professional auto racing debut on Saturday at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“The Matrix” star, who qualified 31st out of 35 cars, ran as high as 21st before a single-car crash a little more than halfway through the 45-minute race briefly stopped him in his tracks.
Darron Cummings / AP
The 60-year-old spun into the grass without a collision on the exit of Turn 9 when he had about 21 minutes of racing left. He re-entered the course and continued driving, signaling he was uninjured.
Reeves finished 25th.
The actor is competing at Indianapolis in the Toyota GR Cup, a Toyota spec-racing series and a support series for this weekend’s Indy 8 Hour sports car event. He has a second race on Sunday.
Darron Cummings / AP
He is driving the No. 92 BRZRKR car, which is promoting his graphic novel “The Book of Elsewhere.” He is teammates with Cody Jones from “Dude Perfect.”
Reeves has previous racing experience as a former participant in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in the celebrity race. Reeves won the event in 2009.
A passenger successfully landed a small plane on Friday after the pilot had a medical emergency, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The twin-engine Beechcraft King Air 90 was traveling from Henderson Executive Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada to Monterey Regional Airport in California, with a pilot and one other person on board, the FAA said.
The pilot suffered an unspecified medical emergency while flying, the FAA said, forcing the passenger to take the controls and make an emergency landing at Meadows Field Airport in Bakersfield, California.
The Kern Fire Department told CBS News affiliate KBAX that firefighters were called to a report of a medical emergency on the plane. The pilot was reported to be “incapacitated,” the fire department said. Firefighters saw the plane approach and land safely, then “chased” the plane down the runway in emergency vehicles to meet it.
The FAA did not release the passenger or pilot’s identities nor give an update on the pilot’s condition. The pilot was taken to an area hospital by ambulance. The passenger did not report any injuries.
The FAA and the National Transportation Security Board will investigate the incident, the FAA said.
