I've noticed the same thing with outdoor bulbs. Indoors, my cheap smart bulbs have been solid for years, but outside was a different story. I put some budget bulbs in the yard fixtures thinking they'd be fine...but after a few rainy days and cold snaps, connection got spotty and response times slowed way down. Ended up swapping them out for switches—no issues since. Seems like bulbs just aren't built to handle weather extremes as well as switches are.
Totally agree, bulbs outdoors can be hit or miss. The issue usually comes down to weatherproofing and durability—most cheap bulbs aren't sealed enough for moisture or temperature swings. If you still prefer bulbs for color or dimming options, look specifically for IP-rated outdoor smart bulbs (IP65 or higher). Otherwise, switches are definitely the way to go: they're indoors or sheltered, less exposed to elements, and generally more reliable long-term. Learned this the hard way myself after replacing a few "weather-resistant" bulbs...
Interesting points, but I'd gently push back on the idea that switches are always the safer bet. I've been restoring an older historic home for a few years now, and one thing I've learned is that wiring can be a real wildcard—especially outdoors. In my case, installing smart switches meant dealing with outdated wiring, tricky junction boxes, and sometimes even needing to upgrade circuits entirely. It quickly became a bigger project than I anticipated.
On the other hand, I've had surprisingly good luck with outdoor-rated smart bulbs (IP65+ as mentioned). Yes, they're pricier upfront, but they've held up remarkably well through heavy rains, snowstorms, and temperature swings. Plus, bulbs offer flexibility that's hard to match with switches—like easily changing colors or brightness levels for different seasons or events. Last Halloween, I set up a spooky purple-orange theme in minutes; at Christmas, it was warm whites and reds. Doing that with switches would have required separate fixtures or complicated setups.
Of course, durability can vary by brand and model, so it's worth researching carefully. But I wouldn't dismiss bulbs outright just because some cheaper ones fail. If you're dealing with older wiring or want more creative freedom in your lighting design, quality outdoor-rated bulbs might actually be the simpler and more versatile solution in the long run.
"Doing that with switches would have required separate fixtures or complicated setups."
Fair point, but honestly, bulbs can get pricey fast if you're lighting a larger area. I went the budget route last year—grabbed some decent outdoor-rated smart plugs paired with regular LED string lights. Way cheaper, and setup was super easy. Sure, no fancy color-changing tricks, but scheduling and remote on/off worked perfectly. Might be worth considering if cost is a factor and you don't mind skipping the fancy colors...
Good call on the smart plugs—I did something similar for a client's patio last summer. They were hesitant at first (wanted fancy bulbs), but honestly, once it was all set up, they loved the simplicity and reliability. Sometimes less really is more...