Available for most light fittings: you can buy smart LED light bulbs for practically any type of light fitting. Modern light bulbs last longer too. Incandescent bulbs only last up to 1000 hours (approx. 6-9 months), while a halogen bulb lasts up to 2000 hours (approx. 1 year), a CFL bulb lasts up to 15,000 hours (approx. 10 years), and an LED bulb lasts up to 50,000 hours (approx. 25-30 years). Smart light bulbs are LED light bulbs with in-built technology that allows them to be connected to and controlled by an app on a smartphone, tablet or speaker. Some connect to the smart device through WiFi, and some connect via Bluetooth. The user can turn the bulb on and off through the app or voice control and control schedules, brightness, and colour. E10 – an Edison screw, 10mm in diameter. Used in decorative lighting such as chandeliers (also referred to as an MES – miniature Edison screw).

The number indicates the diameter of the base or the distance between the pins (depending on the bulb type) in millimetres.

Convenient: they can be controlled remotely through a smartphone or by voice command through a smart speaker. This is very convenient because the user doesn’t even have to leave their seat to dim the lights or switch them off. The light bulb wattage you need will depend on where the bulb will be used and its purpose. If you simply want to replace an old incandescent bulb with an LED one, you may want to find the lumens equivalent for the wattage of the old bulb. If you are swapping a CFL or halogen bulb for an LED (or vice versa), the equivalent bulb will display the same number of lumens, but the wattage will be different. G4 – a multi-pin (or bi-pin) base with two pins 4mm apart. This is a small and compact bulb used in decorative light fittings.

Remote control on bulbs is a convenient option that lets the user control one or more lights from a single place without getting up. Some bulbs come with a remote controller. But there are also smart light bulbs that connect to an app on a smartphone, tablet or smart speaker through WiFi. The bulb can be controlled through the app or by using voice commands.If the light bulb is the type that has pins, there may be a third letter to indicate how many pins it has. In contrast, the GE Lighting Rechargeable Light Bulb provides 760 lumens of brightness and emits a soft white glow. It lasts for up to five hours during a power disruption and is a cost-effective alternative to regular 60-watt bulbs. Doesn’t work well in low temperatures: this makes them unsuitable for use in unheated rooms or outdoors.

In the past, old incandescent bulbs displayed their brightness measured in watts. So, a 100W bulb would be brighter than a 60W bulb. But wattage is only a measure of the bulb’s power consumption, not brightness.Doesn’t work with old dimmer switches: an old dimmer switch might need to be upgraded to one that recognises low electrical loads. There are many benefits to having rechargeable light bulbs in the home, particularly if you live in an area that is prone to power outages. But choosing the right kind of bulb requires careful consideration, weighing up the cost, energy consumption, and how many lumens it supplies. E27 – an Edison screw, 27mm in diameter. Used in standard overhead light fittings (also referred to as an ES). Turning them on/off for short periods will shorten their life span: these bulbs should be left on or off for a minimum of 15 minutes to extend their life. Money-saving: they're more expensive to buy, but they can pay for themselves in energy savings over their lifetime. And their smart functionality can help to reduce electricity usage. For example, lights can automatically be dimmed in the evening or can be combined with smart motion sensors, so lights are turned off when no one is in a room.

Beam angles are relevant to any type of directional light bulb, i.e., bulbs designed for spotlights and downlighters. Beam angles are an important factor when buying these types of bulbs because they tell you how wide the light beam will spread. For example, a low beam angle of around 25° works well in small rooms when multiple lights are fitted close together. Whereas wider beam angles work better in larger rooms.Money-saving: they’re more expensive to buy, but they’re the cheapest option in the long term. The money saved on energy bills means they can pay for themselves within two months. To replace a 60W incandescent bulb in a living room, you'll need a 60 watt LED equivalent bulb of around 806lm, and its power will be 10W. Or, if the incandescent bulb is 100W, the equivalent LED bulb will be 1525lm and 18W.