If you want flexible white light without downloading an app, choose color selectable lighting. If you want remote control, scheduling, and voice commands, go smart. Both options from Feit Electric save energy and fit standard fixtures — the difference is simply how much control you want and how you want to get it. This guide breaks down both in plain language so you can buy the right light the first time — because shopping for LED lighting can get confusing fast. Color selectable? Smart bulbs? Adjustable white? Tunable white? If you've stood in the lighting aisle wondering what any of it means, you're not alone.
Both options from Feit Electric save energy and fit standard fixtures. The difference is simple: Color Selectable offers flexible white light adjusted by a physical switch directly on the bulb (no app, no Wi-Fi). Smart Lighting connects to Wi-Fi to unlock remote control, automated scheduling, voice commands, and millions of colors.
What Is Color Selectable Lighting?
Color selectable lighting (also called "adjustable white") lets you switch between preset shades of white light using a physical switch on the fixture or bulb itself — no app, no Wi-Fi, and no pairing setup.
Feit Electric color selectable bulbs typically let you choose between 5 shades: soft white (2700K), bright white (3000K), neutral white (3500K), cool white (4000K), and daylight (5000K) all in one product.
Explore Color Selectable light bulbs →What Is Smart Lighting?
Smart lighting connects directly to your standard 2.4 GHz home Wi-Fi and gives you control through an app, voice assistants (Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit), or automated schedules.
With smart bulbs, you can adjust brightness, tune your whites continuously from warm to cool, or choose from up to 16 million colors. Setup takes under five minutes with the free Feit Electric app — with no hub required.
Explore Smart light bulbs →
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Color Selectable | Smart Lighting |
|---|---|---|
| App Required | No — adjusted via physical switch | Yes — free Feit Electric app |
| Color Temperature | 2-5 Preset Whites (2700K–5000K) | Tunable White (2700K–6500K) + 16M Colors |
| Control Options | Physical switch on bulb/fixture | App, Voice, schedules & automation |
| Dimming | Smooth (compatible wall dimmers) | Digital (built-in; not for in-wall dimmers) |
| Setup Complexity | Instant — screw in and turn on | Quick Wi-Fi pairing (< 5 mins) |
When Should You Choose Color Selectable Lighting?
Choose color selectable lighting when you want flexibility without adding technology to your routine. It's the right call if any of these sound like you:
- You want different light for different activities or rooms but don't want to manage an app.
- You're buying lights for multiple spaces, don't want to think about which color temperature you need, and want to keep costs down.
- You're installing lights in a rental, vacation property, or shared space.
- You're a contractor or installer who wants to stock one SKU for multiple job types.
- You want a future-proof fixture that works with any use case or aesthetic.
Best Rooms
Double-duty spaces. A home office/guest room can easily flip from energizing 5000K daylight for deep-focus work to a cozy 2700K warm white for guests — without a phone. Also ideal for garages, laundry rooms, and workshops.
When Does Smart Lighting Make More Sense?
Choose smart lighting when you want your lights to work with your life, not the other way around. It's worth the quick setup if you want:
- Schedules — Automated routines that turn on at sunset and off at bedtime.
- Voice Control — Ask Alexa, Google, or Siri to adjust lights without lifting a finger.
- Remote Access — Instantly monitor and control fixtures from anywhere in the world.
- Color & Ambiance — Millions of shades for movies, hosting, sleeping, or gaming.
- Ecosystem Sync — Pairs smoothly with existing smart hubs, routines, and automations.
Smart Home Entry
Feit Electric smart bulbs are highly affordable and pair in minutes via the free Feit Electric app. No hubs, no complicated wiring, and no extra hardware are needed to completely upgrade your home lighting system.
Can You Use Both in the Same Home?
Absolutely — and most homeowners end up doing exactly that.
A highly effective setup utilizes color selectable lighting in utility spaces like garages, workshops, bathrooms, and hallways, while reserving smart lighting for living rooms, bedrooms, and exterior security lighting where ambiance, scheduling, and remote access matter most.
Find the Right Feit Electric Lighting for Your Home
The choice comes down to how much control you want. If you want the right white light for any room with zero setup, color selectable is the simplest path. If you want scheduling, remote access, voice control, and color, smart lighting is worth the few minutes of pairing.
You don't have to choose just one. Explore Color Selectable Lighting for the spaces that just need flexible white light, and browse Smart Lighting for the rooms where control and ambiance matter most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between color selectable and smart lighting?
Color selectable lighting lets you switch between preset shades of white light using a physical switch on the fixture, with no app or Wi-Fi needed. Smart lighting connects to your home Wi-Fi and is controlled through an app, voice assistant, or schedule, and can offer tunable white plus millions of colors. Choose color selectable for simple app-free flexibility; choose smart for remote control, scheduling, and voice commands.
What does color selectable mean on a light bulb?
Color selectable means a single bulb or fixture contains multiple preset white color temperatures that you switch between using a physical toggle. Feit Electric color selectable products commonly offer soft white (2700K), bright white (3000K), neutral white (3500K), cool white (4000K), and daylight (5000K) in one product, so one bulb works across different rooms.
Is adjustable white the same as tunable white?
Not quite. Adjustable white, also called color selectable, uses a physical switch to step between a few fixed white settings with no app required. Tunable white is a smart-lighting feature that adjusts white light on a continuous sliding scale from warm to cool through an app or voice assistant. Adjustable white is manual and app-free; tunable white is app-controlled.
Do color selectable bulbs need an app or Wi-Fi?
No. Color selectable bulbs work with no app, no Wi-Fi, and no pairing. You install the bulb or fixture and choose the white shade using the built-in switch, then control it like any standard light. Feit Electric color selectable products are designed to work the same way you have always used a light switch.
Can smart bulbs be used with a dimmer switch?
No. Feit Electric smart bulbs are not compatible with in-wall dimmer switches; dimming is built in and controlled through the free Feit Electric app or a voice assistant. If a fixture already has a wall dimmer, set it to full power and dim through the app instead. Color selectable bulbs, by contrast, can dim with a compatible dimmer switch.
Do Feit Electric smart bulbs require a hub?
No. Feit Electric smart bulbs connect directly to your home's 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi using the free Feit Electric app, with no bridge, hub, or extra hardware required. They also integrate with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit out of the box.
Which is cheaper, color selectable or smart lighting?
Color selectable lighting is typically the more budget-friendly option because it needs no Wi-Fi radio or app connectivity. Smart lighting sits in the mid-to-premium range in exchange for remote control, scheduling, voice control, and color. Many homeowners use color selectable in utility spaces to save money and reserve smart lighting for living rooms, bedrooms, and outdoor areas.
Can I use color selectable and smart lighting in the same house?
Yes. Both Feit Electric product lines are built to mix and match. A common approach uses color selectable lighting in garages, workshops, bathrooms, and hallways, and smart lighting in living rooms, bedrooms, and outdoor areas where ambiance and automation matter most. You can start with either and add on as needed.