Okay, so I finally caved and got these Amazon Basics smart bulbs – the 4-pack with color changing and Alexa control. Here’s the real tea after using them for a few weeks.

The Good: Setup was STUPID easy. Screwed one in, opened Alexa app, and bam – it just appeared like magic. No hubs, no extra apps. The colors? Fun as heck. Movie nights with purple lighting? Yes please. Voice control works 90% of the time ("Alexa, bedroom lights to 50%" is my nightly ritual).

The Annoying: Had one bulb out of four that refused to connect no matter what voodoo I tried. Also noticed they’re not quite as bright as my old Philips Hue when using colors – fine for mood lighting but don’t expect daylight brightness.

Pro Tip: If you’ve got a ton of smart devices already (like me), check your WiFi bandwidth first. These little guys clogged my network until I upgraded my plan.

Final verdict? For the price, they’re solid – when they work. Just maybe don’t buy them all at once in case you get a dud.