Yeah, switches do seem simpler overall, but good to know bulbs can handle rough weather too. Might give those weatherproof bulbs a shot—curious how they'd hold up on my old porch fixtures...
I've tried both setups, and honestly, switches have always been my go-to. Bulbs might seem convenient at first, but in my experience, they can get finicky—especially outdoors. A couple years back, I installed some weatherproof smart bulbs on my deck fixtures thinking they'd be a quick upgrade. They worked great initially, but after a few months of heavy rain and temperature swings, I started noticing connectivity issues. Sometimes they'd randomly disconnect from the network or reset themselves to factory settings after power outages. It got pretty annoying having to re-pair them every few weeks.
Eventually, I swapped them out for smart switches and regular LED bulbs. Haven't had a single issue since. The switches are tucked safely inside the house, away from the elements, so they're way more reliable long-term. Plus, if a bulb ever burns out or breaks (which inevitably happens), it's just a cheap replacement rather than another pricey smart bulb.
Not saying bulbs can't work—maybe they've improved since then—but if your porch fixtures are older like mine were, you might run into similar headaches. If you're set on trying bulbs though, I'd suggest starting with just one or two to test how they hold up before committing fully. Could save you some frustration down the line...
I ran into pretty much the same issue with smart bulbs outdoors. Thought it was just me or maybe my wifi at first, but nope—it was definitely the bulbs. I had them on my front porch fixtures, and they were great for a bit, but every time we had a storm or even just a quick power flicker, they'd reset or lose connection. Got old fast having to reconnect them constantly.
Switched over to smart switches last summer, and it's been smooth sailing ever since. I actually prefer the simplicity of just using regular LED bulbs outdoors anyway. They're cheap, easy to replace, and if one breaks or dies, you're not out much money. Plus, the switches themselves are indoors, so weather isn't a factor at all.
One thing I'll say though—indoors, I've had pretty decent luck with smart bulbs. I put a few in lamps and ceiling fixtures inside the house, and they've been rock solid. Maybe it's just that outdoor conditions are tougher on electronics? Either way, I'm sticking with switches outside from now on.
If you're still leaning towards bulbs, I'd second the advice about trying just one or two first. Better to figure out if they'll hold up before you drop a bunch of cash on them. Learned that one the hard way myself...
Definitely agree with you on the switches being a better bet outdoors. Did you ever notice if your smart bulbs had moisture build-up inside? I had some supposedly outdoor-rated bulbs that still ended up fogging internally after heavy rain...not sure if it was just a bad batch or what. Anyway, since switching to smart switches, haven't had any issues either. Regular bulbs are just easier—and cheaper—to replace in the long run.
I had the same issue with moisture inside my bulbs! Thought I was just unlucky or something. Mine were supposed to be waterproof too, but after a couple storms, they fogged up and eventually stopped working entirely. Swapped them out for regular bulbs on smart switches, and it's been smooth sailing ever since. Plus, I like being able to grab cheap bulbs from any hardware store rather than hunting down expensive smart replacements...
