Verdict
Philips Hue is not just the well smart lighting system , but a genuinely useful upgrade on dumb lighting in your home . splendid colour and temperature restraint make the lights fit with what you want to do , while the stage of dominance via app , smart assistant and physical controls , makes getting the most out of these igniter easy . For the ultimate in lighting ascendence , there ’s no other system of rules that comes close to offer what Hue does .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Philips Hue might have started life as ‘ just ’ colour - changing bulb , but it ’s evolved to be more than that . What makes Hue different to its competitors is the breadth of mathematical product available , from tripping bulb replacement to outdoor lights , standalone lamps , light strips and beyond .
Yet , chain of mountains is no good without ascendency and it ’s here that Hue excels . Thanks to the broad range of forcible controls , the good third - party integration and a bright app , get the most out of the lights is easy .
Whether you need to paint a room in light or dial up the brightness so that you could work more well , Philips Hue has it all .
Bridge or Bluetooth
The majority of the current range of Philips Hue devices are compatible with Bluetooth andZigbee . Bluetooth control is cheaper to get start with as you do n’t require the Bridge , but more modified . To habituate Bluetooth , you have to be within range of the lights , and you ’re more limited on the controls you may use . For example , the Hue Wireless Dimmer can be paired with a few bulbs but you get more limited control .
For the full experience , in my opinion , a Hue Bridge is needed . This gadget enable Zigbee control ( a scummy - power wise home communicating protocol ) , which adds several features . First , each bulb acts as an extender , so ascendency is more authentic . second , you get remote command of bulbs while you ’re out , plus third - company integration withHomeKit , Alexa and so on . Thirdly , you could apply the full survival of products , include Friends of Hue gadget .
Unless you ’re only going to use one or two bulbs , the Bridge is an out-and-out must , and this inspection stay on talking about the features that it provides . While the Bridge seems expensive at £ 50 , it can often be bought for less in a starter pack with some bulbs .
There are some limitations . First , the Bridge only indorse 50 devices in totality , which sound like a lot but it ’s relatively comfortable to strike this limit point : my kitchen alone has seven light source and two dominance in it .
Multiple Bridges can be tot up but they do n’t talk to each other , so it ’s like having freestanding system . It ’s a ignominy that Philips has n’t address that and made it potential to check lights across multiple Bridges without get to manually swap to the one that you want to control .
Light range
At the core of the Philips Hue organization are the lights themselves , of which there ’s a huge range to choose from . For most of us , upgrading to Philips Hue will in all probability begin by replacing dull bulbs with smart ones . It ’s worth following our scout onhow to choose the right lumens for your weak bulbs .
Traditional bulbs
As Philips Hue bulbs have all of the intelligence make into them , such as dimming restraint , they need to be connected to a standard light permutation . If you ’ve got a dimmer switching , this will have to be replaced .
The mass of lights are available in three format : White ( they ’re dimmable ) , White Ambiance ( they ’re dimmable and the colour temperature can be adjusted ) , and White and Colour Ambiance ( they do all the things the other bulbs can , plus variety color , picking from 16 million colours ) .
Prices diverge reckon on the medulla fitting , but expect to yield around £ 15 for White , around £ 30 for White Ambiance and £ 50 for White and Colour Ambiance . These are the starter bulbs that crown at 800 - lumens , but Philips has released brighter bulbs that crown at 1100 - lumens or 1600 - lumen . These are utile if you ’ve got just one light seed in a way and require it brighter than the stock bulb can offer .
Which type is right for you depends on what you require to do . I think that the stock dimmable bulb are utile in areas where it ’s simply about having light , such as a hallway or potty . The White and Colour Ambiance bulb are useful where you want to adjust coloring material temperature , such as in an federal agency or living space : bright white for concentrating and tender white-hot for relaxing , for model .
Full - color bulb deliver the best overall experience , in my opinion . Changing colour may seem like a number of a gizmo , but it really is n’t : I love change the temper and feel of a room at the touch of a button , painting my house in a different color .
Traditional incandescent lamp are usable in B22 , E14 , E27 and GU10 format , give the widest range out of any impertinent light producer . My only venial complaint is that these bulb seem a little ugly when turn off , so are n’t always the prissy option to have with let out light adjustment .
Filament bulbs
Where you want luminosity that search as nice off as on , the Filament lightbulb are for you . Designed to reduplicate the look of onetime - fashioned bulbs , these see - through bulbs look gorgeous . Originally , filum bulbs were only available in White ( dimming ) but now have White Ambiance versions , offer up temperature change , which spend a penny them much more flexible .
Light strips
So far , the options useable are direct substitution for scant bulb , but Philips Hue Lightstrips are a dissimilar way of doing things . Available as people of colour change only , the indoor edition is available as a 2 molar concentration product , plus it can be extend up to 10 MB , providing up to 1700 - lumens of light .
lighting strips are brilliant , as they give a mode of providing out of sight Inner Light : they work a treat under sofas , around desk or for doing something different : I ’ve beget a fanlight in my kitchen , and use the clean strip around the edge providing light above the dining table without having to have an horrible twinkle fit out in batch .
wanton strips can be shorten at marked point to make them lowly ; once cut , they ca n’t be extend or reconnected , so do this with precaution .
These light stop up in via a index adapter into a standard plug socket , but are fully controllable and operate with all other ignitor .
Gradient light cartoon strip are available , contrive to be stuck to the back of a personal computer monitor or TV . Make certain you grease one’s palms the ripe version for your screen sizing . Initially gradient ignitor were only controllable via the Hue Play Sync box , but they can now be go in the Hue app . These strips ca n’t be cut to size and ca n’t be lead .
Lamps and fixtures
move on from regular lights , Philips Hue now has a reach of lamps and light accommodation . lamp , such as theHue Gradient Signe Floor Lamp , plug away into a regular power socket . They give a slightly more flexible way of total igniter to a way , highlighting a rampart or substitute a traditional reading lamp , for example .
My individual recapitulation go into more contingent , but my one ailment about the lamp is that they do n’t have an on / off push locate on them ; instead , you have to apply a wireless switch if you need to do this .
Light adjustment are a neat way to add more lights in a slightly more fashionable way . Take the Centris for example : this gives a cardinal light strip for chief brightness , plus up to four spotlights ( GU10 ) for highlighting an area of a way .
Smart plug
ThePhilips Hue Smart Plugis one of the most conciliatory smart plugs perish , as it knead within the Hue system , via Alexa , Google Assistant and in HomeKit , too . Plus , it integrates with all of the wireless controls , so is a great way of summate smart control to ‘ speechless ’ lights . I use these plugs in outdoor enclosures to control some festoon chain lights lean along my fencing .
Outdoor lights
While using Hue bulbs out of doors in rainproof enclosure is potential , the company has its range of Hue Outdoor Lights . From a exceptional light strip to the Lilly spotlights and even wall - mounted twinkle , these lights let you bring the full Hue experience to the outside .
MyPhilips Hue Outdoor reviewgoes into more detail , but having a garden light up in multiple color can really bring life history to an out-of-door space , as well as providing shiny utility lighting when needed .
Third-party bulbs
If you have a Hue Bridge , then you may associate Zigbee lights from other manufacturers . Outside , I have a set ofInnr Outdoor Smart Globegarden light . All third - political party Christ Within have around the same spirit level of ascendancy and will work with all of the wireless switches ; they do n’t work with any motion view or HomeKit , though .
App and features
For most , the experience of Philips Hue is through the app . Tweaked and improve over the long time , the Hue app is one of the best , making complicated kindling scene gentle to manage .
For the most part , chromaticity lights act upon best when group together , and there are two way of life of doing this . First , is via Rooms . Here , you produce a elbow room and then drag and unload bulbs into each room . This induce it well-heeled to apply scenes , controller brightness and toggle multiple sparkle all in one go .
Next , there are Zones . These operate in a similar style to Rooms , but bulbs can be member of multiple Zones as well as being in a single way . So , why disoblige ? Well , Zones give some extra flexibility .
For example , in my kitchen , I have a running play of four GU10 bulbs taper at the counter . By controlling these light in a Zone , I can set them to be bright , so I can see what I ’m doing , while the relaxation of the kitchen has a more relaxed lighting mood .
From the app , a Room or Zone can be toggle on or off from the home covert , and have its light adjusted . Tap a elbow room to go in and get more controller , including setting a solid vividness , adjusting brightness and applying a aspect .
Scenes are where Hue gets really powerful , using multiple vividness to make a different case of mood . There are canonical scene based on undertaking ( concentrate , translate , loosen up and so on ) , which will aline color temperature on supported bulbs , as well as set a light grade .
There are also color scenes , with Hue having a huge miscellany of predefined option . Plus , you’re able to congeal your own scenes using a photo . Colour scenes are where Hue starts to shine . Turn on Arctic Aura , and you feel like you ’re in Iceland waiting for the Northern Lights ; Tropical Twilight almost transfer you to the Masai Mara for a sundowner .
Scenes used to be static , but the app now supports motion scenes . rack up the Play push button on one and your light will gently change over through the scene ’s colour palette . It ’s a insidious upshot , but one that bring the lights to life history in a unlike room .
Hue has a couple of more dynamic scenes , include candle flame and an open flack core . These are neat , but the lights do pretermit having more dynamic consequence . Fortunately , you could get these with third - company apps , such as OnDrive – the Halloween scenes , with flashing lights and pair sound essence , are particularly terrifying .
Individual lights can also be controlled if you require that level of point . It can be useful at times . For lesson , when I ready up the outside movie theatre screen , I plough off the four bulbs on the outside of my office so that they do n’t wash out out the screen .
Via the app , there are programming control . These ambit from the unsubdivided ( ferment a igniter on or off at a set time ) , but there are more advanced controls . Mimic presence turns your lights on and off to make it take care as though you ’re nursing home : a feature article previously provided by the Nest integration before Google broke it .
The Wake up and Go to sleep options can be useful . stir up up slowly increases sluttish brightness to wake you up naturally ; and Go to quietus does the opposite , dim lighter slowly from the start sentence . The latter is useful for kids that may not want to go to sleep with the light off .
Wireless controls
As skilful as the app is , controlling lights using this only is n’t particularly hard-nosed , which is why Philips Hue has a huge pick of wireless controls available . In fact , it ’s this level of control that really sets the system apart from the competition .
The Hue Wireless Dimmer is one of the best options , as it give you a light-colored permutation experience , with on and off controls and build in dimming , plus there ’s a scenery selection button , so you may quickly cycle through multiple prospect .
This Dimmer can be vex to a wall , love into place or stick to a magnetised surface . I have a Wireless Dimmer on my fridge , and use it to turn my kitchen lights on and off when I take the air into the way . In fact , this is my elemental way of interacting with the kitchen lights . Cleverly , the central part is magnetically attached , so the light act like a remote ascendance .
For something a little more discrete , there ’s the Hue Smart Button . A single button , one press turn on , extra pressure can be set to motorbike through shot or set lights to a different scene free-base on the clip of daylight , and pressing and holding can be used for dimming . Once the replacement has been left for a few seconds , wiretap it grow the light back off . Again , the Smart Button can be remove and used as a remote mastery .
If you desire more control over scenes , or different zones and rooms from one dominance , the excellentHue Tap Dialswitch is for you . Again , this can be used on the rampart or detached and used as a outback ascendancy .
For automatic ascendancy , there are motion sensors , both indoor and outdoor . These have a scant sensor , so will only engage at a set tier of darkness , and can then be programme to manoeuvre a different scene at different time of day . That can be brilliant . Stick one in a bath , and you’re able to have a vivid lighting before bottom prison term and then a dimmer sparkle that wo n’t pain your eyes if you have to get up in the center of the night . movement sensors can also be programmed to turn off light after a set period of inactivity , form them handy for saving great power .
My independent issue with the Hue control is that many of them are n’t as attractive as an original light switch . For that reason , there ’s now theHue Wall Switch Module . This battery - powered machine is electrify in behind your lite switch turn what you ’ve got into a impudent switch . It has the added advantage that it stop citizenry turning off your lights at the switch , foreclose them put to work with the app .
There ’s also a kitchen stove of Friends of Hue Switches , which use kinetic vim harvested from a click to power the wireless transposition . TheSenic Friends of Hue Smart Switchindoor electrical switch is available in plain black or white-hot , and there ’s a smart black outdoor version , theSenic Friends of Hue Outdoor Switch , too .
My favourite is theRetrotouch Friends of Hue Smart Switch . This wires your lights for good on and then replaces your existing switch with a new voguish one . As it uses no stamp battery , unlike the Hue equivalent weight , it will work forever .
Entertainment
Now amply integrated into the app are Entertainment Areas . These are limited areas that you create , telling the organization where your selected bulb are in relation to a TV or monitor . They ’re particularly useful with the TV and PC monitor gradient light strips , which bind to the back of your screen .
Selected lights in an Entertainment Area can then be integrated into your amusement setup , changing colour automatically to match the on - screen action in a few direction .
For Entertainment Areas to work , Philips Hue needs to know what ’s being shown on screen . The erstwhile mode of doing this was with theHue Play HDMI Sync Box , which sit between your stimulant twist ( Blu - ray player and so on ) and the TV . It reads the incoming signal and then adjusts visible light on the fly . It ’s good , but it ’s an expensive accessory and is n’t compatible with your TV ’s apps .
fortuitously , there ’s been an upgrade , and Samsung Smart television owners can now instal the Hue Sync app , which does the same thing as the caper HDMI Sync corner only without any computer hardware , simply read what ’s being displayed and then adjusting your lights to match . Because this is a software program solvent , it works with all apps and sources .
Similarly , the Hue Sync desktop app crop in the same fashion for your PC , turn Hue visible radiation into gaming ones that cope with the on - screen action .
In all cases , Hue ’s resolution is neater and easy to set up than rivals . Take theGovee Immersion Wi - Fi TV Backlight , for example . This kit contains a backlight that pose to a TV , but it ’s fiddly to install and relies on a webcam to read what ’s happening on the concealment , which can be prostrate to errors .
In full stream , Hue Entertainment Areas are excellent fun , specially when used with a gradient backlight . Just as with Ambilight on Philips TVs , your Hue light extend the action outside of your television or reminder , giving a light show to match .
Third-party support
One of the chief advantages that Philips Hue has over its rival is that it forge with practically any third - company organization you could imagine . Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support are to be expected , with single Christ Within , room and scene control via voice .
Malus pumila user get HomeKit support via the Bridge . In fact , you could supply multiple Bridges into HomeKit , and then check all of your spark from the Home app . If Home can do this , then why ca n’t the Hue app ?
HomeKit financial backing also add together an special feature : Adaptive Lighting . With this turn on , chromaticity luminousness can adjust their colour temperature throughout the day to match the current levels of sunshine . I apply it all of the prison term while working , and have set up aFlic Button(compatible with Hue and HomeKit ) to move around my office light into this mood automatically .
The only minor matter with HomeKit is that it does n’t always wrick on every Hue bulb . I sometimes find out that most of my lighting will work on to Adaptive Lighting , but one bulb will stick with its honest-to-goodness mount . Tapping my Flic button again fix the return , but the integration is n’t thoroughgoing .
In addition , there ’s also SmartThings and IFTTT support , plus any third - party system that can integrate with impudent lights will integrate with Hue .
Performance
The most telling thing about Philips Hue is how speedily it respond topically . With a Bridge and wireless controls , there ’s no real difference in public presentation between Hue and a physically wire lightsome bulb . That ’s very important , as it makes Hue electric light a direct permutation for traditional ones .
Other bulbs , particularly Wi - Fi ones , just are n’t as honest or require you to take out your phone and change state them on . With Hue , I ’ve put back most of my bulbs with smart one and have staring confidence that I can call on them on and off when involve .
While Hue bulbs are expensive , there ’s a unspoiled reason for this : they produce the best range of colours of any that I ’ve tested . A pot of cheaper bulb will struggle in some areas , such as producing dim , wash - out blue air . Across the range , Hue bulb are excellent and grow inviolable colours across the mountain range .
And , when you just require to see what you ’re doing , they ’re bright enough to compete with traditional bulbs , too .
Latest deals
Should you buy it?
If you require the good smart lighting system , greatest choice of lights and control , and the best third - party desegregation , buy Hue .
If you just want one or two bulbs or swooning strips , you may find a cheaper alternative will do the problem .
Final Thoughts
The Sojourner Truth is , there ’s not really another system like Philips Hue . TheIkea Tradfrirange is cheaper , but does n’t offer the same wide compass of bulbs , light fitting and control , and its app is n’t as safe as the Hue one .
Innr throw some great lights ( Zigbee and Wi - Fi ) , but its app is n’t as dear and it does n’t have the same kitchen range of wireless controls . I prefer to integrate some of its overnice lights into my Hue system .
Then , there are Wi - Fi bulbs , such as the WiZ Connected image , also made by Signify ( Hue ’s parent ship’s company ) . These bulbs are cheaper and there ’s a expert range of them , but the app is more canonical and its Bluetooth remotes less elastic .
If you want more than a couple of lightbulb and you want smart lighting that can really replace slow lighting , the Philips Hue system is hands - down the best you may buy .
Trusted Score
How we test
Unlike other website , we test every chic light we review thoroughly over an extended period of time . We habituate industry standard tests to compare features properly . We ’ll always say you what we find . We never , ever , take money to review a product .
Find out more about how we test in ourethics policy .
FAQs
No , lights can be used with Bluetooth , but you ’ll get more feature film and distant control if you have a Bridge .
No , you’re able to utilise the light with pair wireless switch even if the internet has go down .
Yes , Zigbee bulbs can be match with the Hue Bridge , although they wo n’t work with HomeKit .
