(Pocket-lint) - If you're looking to add a layer of security to the outside of your home, installing a solar motion light - or several - can be a great way to achieve some peace of mind.
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Since most outdoor solar lights come with a motion sensor, you're able to gain an idea of whether someone (or someone's pet) is potentially sneaking around your four walls without having to splash on a smart security camera.
Put simply, the best solar motion lights act as a great deterrent and can be run efficiently in all weather conditions.
To help you decide which set is right for your home, though, we've gathered some of the top picks - explore the outdoor solar lights below and take your home security up a notch.
Best outdoor solar motion lights available now
Aootek
Aootek 120 LED Solar Lights (Four-Pack)
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For
- Value pack
- Good lighting
- Great features
Against
- Not that pretty
If you're looking to surround your home with the power of solar motion lighting, Aootek's four-pack is a great place to start.
The best feature of this set, undoubtedly, is the three optional modes for users to pick between. 'Security Mode' will show the light for 15 seconds when it detects motion, 'Smart Brightness Mode' keeps the light dim continuously and shines brighter if motion is detected, while 'Permanent Mode', well, shines permanently.
The rechargeable light can detect people up to 26 feet within a 120-degree angle, with the 120 LED design also remaining IP65 rated for waterproofing.
Litom
Litom 300 LED Solar Lights (Two-Pack)
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For
- Good sensor
- Strong lighting
- Weatherproof
Against
- Also ugly
Litom's pair of solar motion lights are a top consideration for large spaces, offering a powerful 300 LED array and a 270-degree beam range.
The motion sensor can detect activity within the 26 feet and 120-degree sensing angle, with three light modes to pick between (strong, medium, and dim).
Thanks to the IP67 waterproof design, you can also freely place this anywhere outside your home, while the solar panel and LEDs mean the whole operation remains incredibly efficient.
HMCity
HMCity 120 LED Solar Lights (Two-Pack)
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For
- Two in one pack
- Wide-angle sensing
- Bright lighting
Against
- Stays on a bit long
HMCity offers a great mix of specs and affordability, making this duo a top consideration for those on a budget.
With the PIR motion sensor detecting movement up to 26 feet and within the 120-degree detection angle, they're a viable option for any area around your home.
When motion is detected, the lights spring into action and shine for 30 seconds (and then an additional 30 seconds if motion is detected again in that time), with the 120 LED array lighting up a 270-degree angle.
As is standard, the HMCity pair are also waterproof, thanks to their IP65 rating.
Mpow
Mpow 140 LED Solar Lights (Two-Pack)
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For
- Good pricing
- Decent sensors
Against
- Brightness could be better
Mpow serves up another budget-friendly two-pack with its 140 LED solar lights, which are great for back gardens and side entrances.
While the brightness isn't top-end, it's more than enough to light up the surrounding 16 square meters and 270-degree angle with ease. It'll also do this automatically when it spots motion within 26 feet and the 120-degree viewing angle.
Like other lights on this list, there are also three modes of light to choose between (strong, medium and dim), as well as an IPX7-rated design for waterproofing.
Luposwiten
Luposwiten 28 LED Solar Lights (Four-Pack)
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For
- Four in one pack
- Good for bigger areas
Against
- Middling brightness
- Limited modes
Four-packs of solar motion lights can sometimes be a bit of an expensive proposition, making Luposwiten's set a very viable consideration for those who need to light up several areas cheaply.
The 28-LED array of each light isn't the brightest on the market, but the 400 lumens it pumps out when motion is detected (within 16 feet) should be more than enough for most driveways, gardens, and side entrances.
Just be aware there's also not a great variety of modes, compared to other lights, with just a simple on/off switch existing in the IP65 rated lights.
More about this story
Every product in this list has been tested in real-life situations, just as you would use it in your day-to-day life.
Buying an outdoor light can be tough, so we've used all the options on this list extensively to see how they hold up in the real world. We've tested real performance, rather than just benchmarking, and given you all the data you need to help with your buying decisions.
Of course, pricing is a big factor, as is build quality and reliability.
As with any roundup, it's not possible to deliver a list that works for every type of user, but we lean on the experiences and opinions of the wider Pocket-lint team - as well as thoroughly assessing the areas above - in order to do our best in this regard.
What we always tend to avoid when compiling these picks are needless spec comparisons and marketing lines; we just want to provide an easy to understand summary that gives you an idea of what each light is like to use. Our verdicts are concise, but this is purely in the interest of brevity. Rest assured all the things on this list have been fully tested.
Writing by Conor Allison.