ctrlspace
// Good value, tied to a cloud we would rather avoid

Yeelight

Attractive ceiling lights, strips and bulbs at competitive prices, with a LAN control mode that makes local operation possible. The catch is that the LAN mode has to be enabled through the vendor app and the ecosystem sits inside Xiaomi's world.

Why we use Yeelight

  • LAN control mode gives genuinely local, fast control once enabled.
  • The ceiling fittings are good value and look better than most smart-lighting hardware.
  • Colour and tunable white performance is respectable for the price.

Where we do not, and why

  • LAN mode must be switched on in the Yeelight or Mi Home app, which means setting up a vendor account first.
  • Regional server selection has caused devices to disappear from integrations after firmware updates.
  • Wi-Fi based, so it counts against the network budget.

Pros and cons at a glance

Pros
  • Local LAN control once enabled
  • Good-looking ceiling fittings
  • Competitive price for the light quality
  • Well supported in Home Assistant when in LAN mode
Cons
  • Requires a vendor app and account to enable local mode
  • Firmware and regional server changes have broken setups
  • Wi-Fi device count
  • Ecosystem tied to Xiaomi

The technical position

Main protocol
Wi-Fi, some Bluetooth mesh
Local control
Yes, with LAN mode enabled
Vendor hub needed
No
Home Assistant support
Good in LAN mode
Singapore availability
Widely available

Where it fits in a CtrlSpace build

Used where a client already owns them, or where a specific ceiling fitting is the right look for a room. We enable LAN mode at commissioning and document it, because a firmware update can turn it off again.

// Frequently asked

Yeelight, answered plainly

What is Yeelight LAN mode?

A setting that lets the light accept commands directly on your local network instead of through the vendor cloud. It has to be enabled in the vendor app, and it is worth re-checking after firmware updates.

Would you choose Yeelight for a new build?

Usually not as the main lighting. Smart switches with good fittings cost less and avoid the account entirely. For a specific ceiling light that suits a room, it is a fair choice.
// 7 more in this category

See others in lighting

Zigbee Philips Hue The best smart lighting, at the price you would expect Zigbee IKEA Honest value, modest ambitions Wi-Fi · open firmware WLED The best way to run addressable LED strip Thread · Matter Nanoleaf Decorative, early on Thread, expensive Wi-Fi · Bluetooth Govee Cheap and cheerful, and mostly cloud Wi-Fi · Matter Meross Budget devices, best in their Matter form Wi-Fi LIFX Excellent local API, awkward everything else

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