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Instead of running on Wi-Fi like most smart home devices, the Philips Hue smart lights’ main mode of connection is the Zigbee protocol. Using Zigbee enables each smart light to connect to each other efficiently, creating a seamless flow of operation – without relying on a Wi-Fi network to communicate.

In order to control these lights, many people purchase the Hue Bridge. The Hue Bridge does just what it indicates – acts as a bridge between Zigbee and your home’s internet:

However, the Bridge connects to your home’s Ethernet, not Wi-Fi. In order to do this, you will need to use an ethernet cable to connect the Hue Bridge directly to your Wi-Fi router or a connected network switch.

The Hue Bridge itself can be controlled within the Hue app, where you can utilize its many functions.

Your Hue bulbs and lights then connect via this Bridge, or via a mesh network which is part of Zigbee – this typically results in much greater reliability than having loads of WiFi bulbs:

Multiple smart Hue lights, connecting to each other and the Bridge to form a mesh network

Philips Hue

Let's start with the smart lights that can do location-based lighting triggers all on their own. The most obvious example is Philips Hue, which remains the most popular and well-developed smart lighting system on the market.

There are all sorts of different smart lights in the Hue catalog. The cheapest are the standard Hue White bulbs, which cost just $15 each, but you can automate any Hue bulb or fixture provided it's connected to the Hue Bridge, which plugs into your router and translates the lights' Zigbee signals into something your home network can understand.

For my money, the four-bulb Hue White starter kit, which comes packaged with the Hue Bridge for about $90, is your best way in.