Intro
Philips Hue is a smart lighting system that allows you to control your lights from your smartphone, tablet, voice assistant, or smart home hub. You can create scenes, routines, and automations to customize your lighting according to your mood, activity, or time of day. This post serves as a quick overview of the Philips Hue ecosystem and some of the products they offer.
Philips Hue was launched in 2012 as one of the first smart lighting systems on the market. Since then, it has grown to become one of the most popular and versatile smart lighting solutions available, although it is one of the most expensive. Philips Hue works with a wide range of devices and platforms, such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT, and more.
To shop for Philips Hue lights and accessories, check out their Amazon store here.
How Hue Works
The Philips Hue system creates a network of smart bulbs, accessories, and controls for lighting. The central component is the Hue Bridge, which connects and manages the lights. The Bridge acts as a secure link between Hue lights through the Zigbee protocol, a short-range low-power communication technology, and the internet for control using the app or other smart home platforms. A single bridge can manage up to 50 lights, create rooms, automations, and offer global control. Its stable connection remains unaffected even during power loss, ensuring uninterrupted performance without overburdening Wi-Fi.
The Hue Bridge is now optional due to the widespread incorporation of Bluetooth into Hue lights. However, not utilizing it could restrict features and accessory compatibility. When purchasing Hue lights for Bluetooth capabilities, look for the Bluetooth symbol on the package, as not all Hue lights are Bluetooth-compatible.
The Philips Hue app is the user interface, offering an intuitive interface for creating and managing lighting scenes, routines, and automations. Many people think that the color wheel could be improved because it is tough to pick the exact color they want; however, I have personally been able to get the color I want with relative ease.
Starter Kits
Best Starter
Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Starter Kit
This Philips Hue starter kit has everything you need for smart color lights. It has three bright A19 bulbs that can show 16 million colors. There is also a Bridge that acts as the brain of the system. It lets you control up to 50 lights, make rooms look different, create special actions, and control everything from far away. There is also a Smart Button that is easy to use, which is perfect for guests or people who do not have the app. This kit is the best way to start with Hue lights.
Budget Starter
Philips Hue White Starter Kit
This Philips Hue starter kit provides essential elements for your starting smart lighting configuration. It is the most cost-effective way to begin your Hue ecosystem. The kit comprises the Hue Bridge and 4 white A19 75W equivalent bulbs. These bulbs offer white light exclusively, which contributes to their affordability. They are, however, still dimmable.
Bulbs
Our Pick
Philips Hue A19 Smart Bulb
The A19 bulb is a common choice in the Hue collection, fitting standard A19 sockets. It is available in three brightness levels: 800, 1100, and 1600 lumens, similar to 60W, 75W, or 100W regular bulbs. There are three color options: white, white ambiance, and color. The white variant emits soft white light, while white ambiance offers varying shades of white, and color versions provide a full palette of 16 million colors. All bulbs are dimmable and have a lifespan of 20,000 hours. The price increases with brightness and color options. Newer versions also feature Bluetooth for users without a bridge.
Other Bulb Form Factors
In addition to the A19 shape, Philips Hue also provides lights in other common form factors such as BR30, PAR30, GU10, E12, and others. These form factors are helpful if you wanted to replace all your lights in your house with Hue lights without replacing the fixtures or getting adapters. Click here to explore these.
Lightstrips
Our Pick
Philips Hue Color LightStrip
The Philips Hue Bluetooth Smart Lightstrip Plus is a bendable LED strip that is part of the Hue system. It is 80 inches long and offers the same 16 million colors as Hue bulbs. It can shine at a maximum of 1700 lumens in bright white, with slightly lower lumens for colors. You can even extend it up to 10 meters by adding more 40 inch strips.
There is also a waterproof outdoor version available, and a gradient lightstrip that is perfect for TVs as it can display multiple colors in separate segments for ambient lighting.
These can be a great addition to your home theater lighting, either around your screen, behind wall panels or even behind acoustically transparent screens to highlight your speakers at the beginning and end of a viewing session.
Lighting Fixtures
Philips Hue also offers numerous different standalone lighting fixtures which offer unique and stylish lighting solutions to complement your system. Check them out here.
Favorite Accessories
Philips Hue offers multiple accessories. Here is a list of our favorites below:
- Philips Hue Smart Dimmer Switch with Remote: The Philips Hue Dimmer switch streamlines control of Hue smart lights, enabling easy adjustments with a single touch – perfect for guests, kids, or anyone without the app or voice device. From toggling lights and dimming, to cycling through favorite scenes and aligning with the day’s rhythm, this switch offers seamless versatility. Easily placed anywhere with long-lasting battery life, it enhances your Hue experience when connected to a Hue Bridge-controlled system.
- Philips Hue Smart Plug: The Hue Smart Plug broadens your Hue setup to non-connected lights. Like a Hue light point, you can control it through the app, voice, or accessories. This integrates non-Hue lights with your scenes and schedules. The Philips Hue Smart Plug lets you include any light in your Hue system; however, a hub is required.
- Philips Hue Indoor Motion Sensor: This battery-powered, wireless device can be placed anywhere in your home, activating your lights as you pass by – perfect for hallways, stairs, and night-time use. You can program the lights to turn on and off based on detected motion, making it a practical and convenient addition to your Philips Hue system.
- Philips Hue Outdoor Motion Sensor: The Philips Hue Outdoor Motion Sensor activates your indoor and outdoor Philips Hue Smart Lights. It detects infrared radiation changes, triggering lights with adjustable sensitivity. This device needs to be used with the Hub. Its built-in dusk-to-dawn sensor conserves energy by activating only in darkness. It is tested for outdoor use and UL-certified, so it can endure heavy rain and varying weather conditions. With a wide view angle, it covers a 39ft x 8ft area, suitable for various ranges. Install on flat walls or corners, with a 110V voltage range.
More Products
While we have not listed every Philips Hue product here to keep things concise, you can explore their complete product range by clicking here.
Conclusion
Being an early adopter of Philips Hue lights has allowed me to witness the product line’s steady expansion over the years, with continuous additions. Despite the higher cost compared to other smart lighting options, I have remained loyal due to their exceptional quality and extensive third-party integrations. While Philips Hue stands as one of the pricier smart lighting systems, it may not be the ideal choice if you are seeking just one or two bulbs. However, if you are aiming to connect multiple lights or implement smart home automations, Philips Hue emerges as a preferred option. While they may not provide the most budget-friendly solution, the seamless integration and reliability they offer make them a worthwhile investment.
For other smart lighting ecosystems, check out our article Smart Lighting for Home Theater.
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