Making the switch to LED light bulbs may seem like an expensive proposition upfront. However, they will make up for this cost over time. The savings come in the form of lower power consumption, with a 40-watt equivalent LED bulb using just 10 watts or less. LED bulbs can also provide conveniences such as dimming and motion sensing, so you can put them anywhere. Cree's bright white LED light bulbs pack quite the punch with their combination of brightness and their unsurpassed lifespan. We have gathered all of the best LED light bulbs around to help you choose the best for your needs.
Best Overall: Cree Bright White Light Bulb
You can always trust iMore. Our team of Apple experts have years of experience testing all kinds of tech and gadgets, so you can be sure our recommendations and criticisms are accurate and helpful. Find out more about how we test.
Cree's bright white LED light bulbs focus on providing high levels of performance unmatched by other manufacturers. Rated at 1,000 lumens, these bulbs can light the darkest of areas while consuming just 12 watts of power, a far cry from the 75-watt equivalent bulbs that these replace.
Cree's light bulbs are also dimmable for those situations where lighting can set the mood, or when used at night. Unlike many other light bulbs on the market, Cree's line is suitable for completely enclosed fixtures. It keeps the purchasing process simple by removing the need to worry about buying specific bulbs for around the house.
Best of all, Cree's light bulbs are made to withstand the test of time, offering an astonishing 22-year life expectancy. If that wasn't enough, Cree includes a 10-year limited warranty with their bulbs, ensuring that your investment to switch to LED will pay off in the long run.
Cree's bulbs are designed for the long haul with a fantastic 22-year life expectancy and are suited for use in enclosed fixtures.
Best Value: AmazonBasics 60W Non-Dimmable Bulb 24-Pack
The AmazonBasics line is synonymous with cost-effective solutions to everyday essentials, and their LED light bulbs offer just that. These low priced bulbs are no slouch when it comes to brightness, with their 60-watt equivalents providing 800 lumens of output.
Despite their low cost, Amazon's bulbs have a life expectancy of nine years or 10,000 hours. Even though these bulbs are not dimmable, they do offer other high-end features such as instant-on LED technology. This allows them to light up your rooms without delay.
AmazonBasics' LED bulbs provide bright, instant-on light at an affordable price. This 24-pack can cover the needs of most homes.
Best for Sleep: GE Relax HD Dimmable Light Bulb
GE's Relax HD line of LED light bulbs specializes in providing softer lighting for usage in areas such as bedrooms. Softer color temperature means that these bulbs will output more yellow light rather than white or blue light that comes with daylight bulbs.
As its name suggests, GE's relax series strive to help stave off blue light, which has been seen as a disrupter to sleep patterns through this softer yellow light. GE's bulbs also work with dimmer switches, and they even work in damp locations if desired.
GE's dimmable Relax bulbs offer softer lighting with less blue light output than others, making them great for bedside lamps.
Best Dimming: Philips Dimmable with Warm Glow
The Philips Dimmable LED bulb line is famous for its compatibility with a wide variety of dimmer switches. True compatibility with most dimmers ensures that your shiny new LED light bulbs will operate without buzzing noises or light flickering. That side effect is unfortunately commonplace with some lower-priced bulbs.
These bulbs also promise instant-on capability, meaning that they will respond with their peak level of brightness as soon as the paired light switch turns on. Philips also includes their "Warm Glow" lighting effect with their dimmable LED line, which adjusts the color temperature of light that is output to a softer hue of yellow as it is dimmed.
Philips dimmable bulbs are compatible with most dimmers, and Smart Glow technology changes temperature based-on brightness levels.
Best Filament Style: Sylvania 74589 Filament Bulb
The Sylvania 74589 Filament LED light bulb brings modern energy-saving technology to the classic light bulb style. Sylvania's filament style bulbs provide up to 800 lumens of light, which is the equivalent of a 60-watt incandescent bulb, all while using just 6.5 watts of power.
Even though filament style bulbs are typically installed in clear fixtures, which shows off their simplistic beauty, Sylvania's offering can also work outdoors if desired. Unlike the traditional filament light bulb, the Sylvania 74589 LED bulb is compatible with dimmer switches, allowing owners to set the perfect level of light for the moment.
The Sylvania dimmable filament bulb combines energy savings with traditional design, perfect for adding visual charm to any space.
Best for Outdoors: Govee Motion Sensor Light Bulb
Govee's Motion Sensor LED light bulbs are made for both indoor usage and out. These bulbs go beyond just providing light, though, as they include both security and convenience features while maintaining a price point similar to premium LED lights.
Built-in motion sensing allows these bulbs to act just like the traditional floodlights that many have around the home. This can help to light up your front porch at night and keep intruders at bay. Govee's bulbs also include a daylight sensor, which enables them to turn on automatically at dusk and back off again at the break of dawn.
Govee's Motion Sensor Light Bulbs are a convenient way to light up the outdoors with built-in motion and daylight detection.
Shine a light on things
LED light bulbs are the best and easiest way to cut back on your energy usage and to save a little extra money. Despite the initial higher cost of entry, LED light bulbs offer substantially reduced energy consumption. Plus, they can last significantly longer, meaning that your investment will pay off after just a few years.
We love Cree's bright white line of LED light bulbs for their amazing 22-year lifespan rating and their 10-year warranty. These bulbs can lighten up any space with their eye-popping 1,000 lumens of brightness, and they can also dim to suit any occasion. Cree's bulbs even sip energy when compared to their traditional counterparts, reducing energy consumption by 63 watts when compared to a 75-watt equivalent light bulb.
