Smart bulbs aren’t the only way to add smart lighting to your home. You can also replace traditional bedside lamps with a connected smart bedside lamp.
The Best Smart Bedside Lamps in Australia
Here are the best smart bedside lamps that are currently available in Australia:
Philips Hue Go
The Philips Hue Go is both a wired and wireless smart lamp. It’s compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant out of the box and if you have a Philips Hue Bridge it also works with HomeKit. The Go will also work with the Hue App on iOS without needing the bridge.
The Hue Go can be controlled via the App or voice assistant and there is also a button on the back. The lamp also supports dynamic lighting scenes such as candlelight. You can also setup scenes to adjust the temperature and brightness.
When used with the Bridge you’ll be able to control the light through the Apple Home app and Siri. You’ll also be able to setup automations (such as turn off when the last person leaves the house).
I’m a huge fan of the Philips Hue range. It’s what I use in my smart home, and what I recommend to others. The lights last forever (I haven’t had to replace a bulb yet) and when used with the Hue Bridge, the connection is super reliable.
Meross Smart Bedside Lamp
The Meross Smart Bedside Lamp is a great wifi lamp that’s compatible with HomeKit, Google Assistant and Alexa.
There are touch controls on the top of the lamp to turn it on/off as well as change the brightness and colour.
If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to the Philips Hue Go, this is a great choice. I find Meross smart home products to be quite reliable and are a cost effective alternative to the more expensive brands.
Ikea SYMFONISK Smart Lamp and Speaker
The Symfonisk Smart Lamp also has a Sonos speaker inside. If you’re looking to combine a lamp and smart speaker in one, this is the best option available in Australia. It’s quite a pricey smart lamp, but it does have a Sonos quality speaker.
The Lamp can also be used with the DIRIGERA hub from Ikea. This Hub is Matter ready which means it should work with all smart home systems in the future (as they support matter). Using the DIRIGERA hub and Ikea Home app you’ll be able to control the lights remotely as well as setup automations.
Xiaomi Mi Bedside Lamp
The Xiaomi Mi Bedside Lamp is a smart lamp that works with the Mi ecosystem. It’s also compatible with HomeKit and connects via Wifi. The Xiaomi lamp has touch controls and can also be controlled using the Mi App.
I didn’t find it as bright as the Meross Lamp. It does have a claimed brightness of 400 lumens. I also prefer the button placement on the Meross compared to the Mi Lamp which has the buttons on the side.
Smart Bulbs + Smart Switch
If you have an existing bedside lamp you could replace the bulb with a smart bulb. The best smart bulb brands like Hue and Lifx offer candle style bulbs that are suited to bedside lamps.
I would recommend getting a smart switch as well. This way you can turn the light on and off with physical controls. I use the Philips Hue Button which attaches magnetically to the bedside table.
What I looked for when putting together this list:
- Controllable via Hardware, App and Voice – For convenience I think I smart bedside lamp should be controllable with physical buttons (or touch controls) as well as connect to an App or smart home system. This way you can still control the light using an app or voice assistant but have the option to turn the light on and off when you’re sitting in bed.
- Automations – The best smart lamps support automations. This is great if you want to wake up to a bright light or automatically dim the lights late at night.
- Smart Home Ecosystem Support – The smart bedside lamps on this list all connect with the popular smart home systems like Alexa, Google Home and HomeKit.
- Australian power plug – A lot of the cheap smart lamps available online come with overseas power adapters. Some of them will also only work on 110volts. All the options I’ve included ship with Australian plugs.
- Other Features – I did look at a number of lamps that had bluetooth speakers and wireless chargers built in. I found that none of them worked that well, and none of them connected into smart home systems like Alexa or Google Home. I think you’re better off getting a dedicated wireless charger and then a good connected speaker like a HomePod mini or Echo.
Other Options
Philips Smart Sleep
The Philips Smart Sleep and Philips Wake Up Light are not available in Australia. It doesn’t look like Philips is planning to sell them locally. It is possible to import them, but they don’t work on our voltage or plug type.
Amazon Echo Glow
Amazon sells a smart lamp called the Echo Glow. It’s designed for kids, but works well as a bedside lamp. Unfortunately it’s not available for sale in Australia.
Philips Hue Iris
The Philips Hue Iris is a table lamp designed to throw a soft light against a wall. It’s available in Australia (although it’s limited in availability). I wouldn’t use it as a bedside lamp as it needs to be controlled via the App, voice or a smart switch. There are much more practical options available.
