When it comes to Amazon's Prime Day 2 deals event, I'm a small deals guy. Some may call my penchant for deals under $25 cheap, I prefer to think of it as purposeful. Today I looked at a bunch of deals on basic smart bulbs, not because I have a thing for lighting (okay, maybe I do), but because I have a persistent need for one reliable smart bulb for the backyard. Maybe I think it's easy to find the right smart bulb for your needs, but I disagree. There are so many brands, choices, bundles, features and different levels of intelligence and standards.

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I just wanted a light bulb. Note that I need a new light bulb that can turn on and off on a schedule, lighting my back door and yard to keep an eye on (and ward off) potential intruders. Don't get me wrong, I don't live in a crime zone – but the illusion of life that an automated smart light provides can be enough to deter even unwanted neighbors passing by and animals coming to scratch at my door. As far as I'm concerned, there's no better time to buy these types of utility products (smart plugs, light bulbs, thermostats, etc.) than Amazon Prime Day. This is the kind of thing you really don't want to pay a lot for, and the deals I've seen on Amazon are as much as 46% off. That can significantly reduce the price of a box of smart lights.

Lighting Considerations

As I mentioned, buying a smart bulb isn't as easy as you might think. While I'm shopping, I look at:

• Installation and operation. How difficult is it to set up the illuminator? Screwing it into the lamp socket is just the first step. Many rely on proprietary apps on iOS and Android. While some offer a direct connection to your WiFi network (some only connect to a 2.4 GHz WiFi network), many require a hub. Then there's the matter (get it?) of platform support. Most smartbulbs you'll find on Amazon start with Alexa support. The majority also support Google Home. It seems that fewer will support Apple Homekit. However, if you find a light that supports the new Matter standard, it may work on all platforms. I say maybe because even this super standard doesn't seem to solve all the smart home interoperability issues.
• You may, like me, want a bright white light bulb, but almost all the smart bulbs I looked at support multiple colors (yellow to repel bugs?) and brightness settings. I'm fine with any of these color choices as long as I can easily find a way to set the lamp to bright white.
• I also want a bright lamp. LEDs always show watt equivalencies and most are about as bright as a 60W bulb (somewhere around 800 lumens). I would love to have an LED that can get as bright as a 100W incandescent bulb, but that can be quite a challenge.
• Many of the lights I looked at come in multiples. Amazon Basics is one of the few that sells one bulb, but others usually come in bundles of two or three. That means you might end up spending more than you'd like for your new smart bulb. Yes, I'm talking about myself here. I'm almost excited about the two-piece Kasa Smart Light Bulbs, but then I have to wonder where I'm going to use the second bulb and if I'm thinking about standardizing on one brand of smart bulbs throughout my home.
• Even though my backyard light is partially covered, I don't think every light is suitable for full outdoor use. I have to make sure they can handle more than just a little moisture.
• Another thing to keep in mind is that some LEDs and smart bulbs don't work with dimmable switches, perhaps because they have a built-in dimming function.

Anyway, these are some of the best smartbulb Amazon Prime Big Deal Day deals right now, and they're all ones I'm actively considering. Maybe you can help me decide. Keep in mind that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to qualify for any of these Big Deal Day deals. You can sign up here.

More of the best Prime Day deals