The Complete Guide to Philips Hue 2024-2025
With so many different Hue bulbs, lights and third party options, this page is a regularly updated resource of new bulbs, there differences, updates on which are new and which are discontinued. If you need to know anything about Hue bulbs or accessories this page will help you.
Best Philips Hue set-up – Bulb Types & Devices
Throughout the years, Philips has expanded its bulb line up to include an array of different Hue lights and bulb types.
Philips Hue lights all work and integrate with Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home and Apple HomeKit allowing you to use your voice to change the lights. As well as smart home hubs the Hue system always with other smart home devices such as Nest heating, and Nest smoke alarms, as well as Ring doorbells and security cameras.
This page includes details of the current range of Hue bulbs, lights and lamps, check out our Hue rumours page for any potential new releases and updates.
Philips Hue Bulbs
There are a few different options and fittings on the market for LED bulbs and for many there is a Hue bulb they can be replaced with. Below we review the range of Hue bulbs and fittings.
Philips Hue Bluetooth Bulbs
In 2019 Hue released bulbs that have Bluetooth built-in, this means you can use these Hue bulbs without the need for a bridge. You can control these bulbs via your Bluetooth enabled phone or tablet, changing their colors, and turning them on and off.
You can control up to 10 bulbs, however you would need to be in the same room to control them, you cannot set timers either so you are limited to features.
Many of the internal Hue bulbs have been updated to include Bluetooth. You can tell if the bulb has Bluetooth as the box will have the Bluetooth logo in the top right.
Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance
When it comes to Hue bulbs the E27 and A19 are the main go to bulbs, and likely to replace many in your home. These will replace any standard bulb in a standard fitting such as a pendant light or lamp.
These models come in white only, or color. The white version allows different shades and temperate of white, from a warmer white glow to a bright clean white that is colder. The color version has this as well as a full spectrum of color, both can be dimmed to suit your needs.
There are currently 3 gens of Hue bulbs, below are images of each and the differences. The older 1st and 2nd generation bulbs had poor blue and green color and were a lot less brighter than the newer model.
If you are unsure on which generation you have and are buying the 3rd gen has gold text on the a white plastic casing.
Gen 3, the one on the right is the latest version, it is brighter and had a better color range than the earlier generations. When buying Hue bulbs, or used bulbs ensure you get the latest model, the older generations are not as good and the colour is certainly impacted.
Read: The Differences Between 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Gen Philips Hue Bulbs
Whats the difference between Philips Hue White Vs White Ambiance?
The Hue White lights allow you to control brightness only. The Hue White Ambiance lights also allow you to adjust colour temperature.
Hue BR30
This is a larger wide floodlight bulb that is available in the US. Again these can be bought as a white only and color bulb depending on your need. This style of lightbulb is designed to be used in floodlights and overhead recessed lighting, be it in a kitchen, hall way or other room in the house.
This larger floodlight bulb is 9 watts, and 650 lumens.
The Philips Hue Phoenix Dimmable LED Smart Recessed Downlight is a 4 inch spotlight that can be dimmed working with the Hue app like other bulbs.
Filament Smart Light Bulb
The hue filament smart bulbs are vintage style lights that are great for bulbs that are on show. `there are 3 options however they all have black bases, with a a distinct glowing inner coil and warm amber glass shell.
There are 3 options and fitments for this style of bulb.
- Philips Hue White Filament Standard E27
- Philips Hue White Filament Edison E27
- Philips Hue White Filament Globe E27
The bulbs are white only, a warm white light that is dimmable. They come with Bluetooth and ZigBee, a color temperature of 2,700 Kelvin, and a life expectancy of 5,000 hours , or 15 years of consumption.
Hue E14/E12 (Decorative Candelabra)
For smaller light fittings there is also the candle bulb that can be purchased as a White Ambiance or white and color bulb. It is a slim bulb and looks like a generic ‘normal’ candle bulb that you are likely to be replacing. It can be bought as a E14 or E12 fitting and has a maximum light output of 470 lumens. This bulb can be bought as an individual bulb or a twin pack where you save a little more money if you require more than one.
The E12 candelabra bulb is 40W, offering 570 lumens and support for dimming.
Word of warning, do double check where you plan to install these bulbs, they are slightly longer than your traditional and standard candle bulb that you may already have installed. The bulb dimensions are 2.2 x 3.5 x 6.5 inches.
Hue GU10
In 2019 Philips released an updated model of the GU10 bulbs which also include Bluetooth. The new colour GU10 bulbs are smaller and now the same size as a traditional spotlight bulb making it a straight swap. They also have richer colours meaning they have vastly improved green and cyan colours. These bulbs are also brighter at 350 lumens.
As you can see from the image below you can see the size difference between the first and second gen GU10 colour bulbs.
The updated bulbs are brighter, have better colour range, good diffusion and also the reduced size makes them a lot more suitable for swapping them over in your home.
It is important to note that the first gen/previous gen GU10 bulb is the same size as the white ambience Hue bulb, however the color GU10 bulb is longer and therefore may not fit into your spotlight housing. If the spotlight housing is not deep enough it can be very difficult to change this without damaging your ceiling, so it is worth measuring to see how much room you have and it can accommodate the taller GU10 bulb.
Hue Lux – Discontinued
Although the Hue Lux bulb was discontinued officially, you can still find it on auction sites and some online retailers. Essentially, it almost resembles the Hue White bulb although boasts a relatively lower output. According to some folks, these bulbs seem to emit less heat too.
Light strips
The light strip is a popular hue option and has many possibilities, the bright light it offers and the now extendable version allows you to use it in many ways. The strip is cuttable allowing you to adjust it to the size your require.
Behind the TV – A common use for these is behind the TV, giving it a light glow which can look really great, combining this with an app that allows you to sync the lights with the one screen action makes the film or movie more dynamic and the viewing experience that little more immersive.
Office/Desktop – Similar to the TV option you could ad them behind your desktop monitor, or along the back of your desk creating a bright light or warm glow along the back depending on what you are doing, it can be really fun for gaming set ups where you can change the color to suit the game you are playing.
Kitchen – With the length of the strips and the fact they are extendable you can easily run these along the tops of kitchen wall units, under the units or the foot run at the bottom. These are great for creating a bright working environment in your kitchen, or adjusting to suit the mood, great for entertaining or parties.
Bedroom – These again are great for running under the bed or around a headboard, ideal for mood lighting. Combing this with the sunrise and sunset routines on the Hue app makes a great and useful effect in the evenings when nodding off to sleep.
Roof Lights – Run these around your roof lights in your home to create beautiful lighting effects that shine up.
Lightstrip Plus
A light strip can be run them along the shelves, under or behind your TV or wrapped around your favorite painting, there are a lot of clever way to use these. Bought in a 2m length these can also be cut to reduce the length if needed, at set cut points.
The lightstrip is color only, and allows you to change it to any color you desire as well as adjusting the brightness. You can still set it to a warm white glow or cool white too. The lightstrip is controlled as one color, so you cannot set one section to one color and another part to another color, if you wanted to do this, you would need to have two separate light strips.
The lightstrip can be extended by using the below extension pack. There are also third party fittings from Litcessory that can be used to extend your lightstrip, you can see these here – Philips Hue Lightstrip Extension, Splitter & Connectors
These fittings make it easier to extend the lightstrip in areas where it is not needed, and allow for the use of an ethernet cable to help extend it around corners.
Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus Extension
Using this 1m extension strip, you can extend the light strip up to 33ft by adding this extension with full color consistency just from the first to last extension. This extension just connects to the end of your light strip using 4 pin connectors that just push in.
Please note – This is an extension that must be added to a Hue Light strip, you cannot use a extension light strip on its own.
Philips Hue Outdoor Light Strip
As well as the indoor strips above Philips have also released a 2m and 5m outdoor strip designed for use outdoors and is IP67 rated. They are waterproof, a little more bulkier than the indoor version however the light is diffused a lot better than the indoor version.
The LEDs on this light strip are a lot closer together so the overall light and diffusion is a lot better than the indoor lightstrip, although designed for outdoor use they are certainly worth considering using indoors.
Unlike the indoor lightstrip these cannot be cut or extended, this is to ensure the strip remain waterproof.
With the outdoor light strip it comes with a power adaptor, clips to fit the light strip to balustrades, as well as the 2m or 5m strip.
Indoor Vs Outdoor Lightstrip – The Differences
The outdoor version is waterproof and designed for outdoor use, it is thicker and cannot be cut or extended, this is to ensure it remains watertight.
The indoor light strip can be cut and can be extended, it is more flexible and a little thinner. In terms of the light they are both coloured, however the diffusion on the outdoor light strip is a lot better, the LEDs are closer together and there is a frosted cover, so the light looks a lot better.
If you want the best light effect and it doesn’t matter about the thickness then the outdoor light strip is the better model, although it is more expensive and cannot be cut or extended.
Outdoor Lights
Hue have a range of outdoor lights that work the same way as other Hue lights, controlled in the same way allowing you to create scenes, timers and colors.
Philips Hue Outdoor PAR38
These PAR38 spotlight bulbs are designed for outdoor use, they can be fitted into outdoor lights you may already have allowing you to just change the bulb over.
They come in white and can be bought as a twin pack, and are 13 watts each. These floodlights bulbs are ideal for security and can be easily paired with an outdoor motion sensor to activate them at night if any movement is sensed.
Philips Hue Lily Outdoor Spot Light
This outdoor downlight is an adjustable spot light that can be fixed into the ground with the included spike, or fixed to the wall and pointed upwards or downwards. This can be bought as a set of 3 or individually. You can connect up to 5 of these lights to a single power run.
An extension cable can also be bought to extend the length of the run if your lights are further apart. The lights them selves are well built and watertight, do note, the bulbs are inbuilt and cannot be replaced.
Philips Hue Calla Outdoor Pathway light
A bollard style light perfect for driveways, pathways or around patios, a stylish light that can be fixed into the ground with the included spike, or you can screw the base into concrete giving a firm fixing, ideal for paths and drives. Read our Calla outdoor light review here.
Philips Hue Inara White Outdoor Lantern
A more traditional looking light fitting that includes a Hue white bulb, this will not adjust to color, it is white light only. It can be adjusted by your phone or tablet via the hue app allowing you to change the brightness, white color and shade.
Philips Hue Lucca Outdoor Wall Lantern
Another wall light fitting that has a more modern and sleek design compared to the Inara above.
Philips Hue Ludere White Outdoor Security Light
An outdoor floodlight that which is 1,350 lumens and uses two PAR38 bulbs. Like the Lucca and Inara lights above it is white light only and doesn’t change color.
Philips Hue Lamps & Lights
When adding bulbs to your hue system you don’t just have to change the bulbs in your fittings and lamps, Philips also have a range of lamps and lights that you can buy that are designed to work with the Hue lighting system.
These are stylish and well designed products that make ideal lamps for your living room and around the home, or how about new bedside lights, some of these are perfect.
Hue Play
With the release of Hue Entertainment and Hue Sync the Hue Play lights are perfect for this, allowing you to place these lights behind or around your TV. A well diffused light that is 530 lumens, it can be placed down or stood up right, it also comes with sticky pads allowing you to stick it to the back of your TV or computer screen. The lights can be bought individually in black or white, or as a two pack.
A base kit with two Play bars, two base stands and the power supply, one bar to go on the left hand side and the other on the right hand side of the TV. You can connect up to 3 Hue Plays with a single power supply. The additional Hue Play will cost $60 on their own.
With the play you can attach them to the back of your TV so it acts like an ambilight screen, you would have one on the left, right and then horizontally across the top. This creates Bias Lighting, so light shows around the screen to match the colors on screen, the image below shows this effect.
The Philips Hue Play Light bar has the usual 16 million colors, and is up to 530 Lumen (6W). They can be placed vertically or horizontally and measure 9 inches in length. In the set you get 2 play lights, a power plug which can connect up to 3 lights, and then attachments to mount on the back of your TV, or standing them upright vertically as shown in the image above.
The lights are connected to a single power adaptor that allows for 3 bars to be plugged into one single plug.
Read our full Philips Hue Play Light Bar Review here.
The Hue Play is a coloured light so can be adjusted to any color or a white Hue, it can be adjusted infidually like any other Hue bulb, or synced with music or on screen colors using the Hue sync app.
For lighting behind your TV this is certainly better than a light strip, the light is better diffused, and also it allows you to set a different color for different areas behind the TV, instead of one light strip running around behind your screen, you can have 3 play bars, one to the left and right, and one for the top.
Philips Hue Signe
Similar in function to the Play, the design is slimmer and taller. It is a tall slim pole like design that emits like, almost like a stylish light saber from one side.
The stylish Signe emits light onto and up the walls, making them ideal for lighting up corners or dark areas of a room. The designs are the same just the height and size differs, one being a floor lamp and the other a table lamp.
The floor light measure 59 inches in height, while the table lamp is 24 inches tall.
Key Details
- Length: Table Lamp: 62.8cm / Floor lamp: 149cm
- Lifetime up to: 25,000 hours
- Brightness: 1,000 / 2,500 lumens
- Colors: 16 million
Hue Go light
The Hue Go is the ideal bulb that can help you light spaces in creative and brand new ways. It stands out as a highly versatile light at home. When you plug it to a power outlet, you can surely utilize it to color walls with more than 16 million colors or a bright white light. The Hue Go transforms to become a portable centerpiece anytime you detach it your mains. You can carry it in order to set the mood and then bring the best light for activities.
A rechargeable battery that lasts up to three hours powers this rechargeable internal battery. You can control the bulb using your smart device. It brings with it an in-built smart battery management that guarantees maximum usage. As much as the bulb isn’t waterproof, it’s incredibly designed to withstand even the highest humidity.
The bulb enables you to control your way effortlessly, quickly and conveniently even without the need for a smart device. You can activate light settings directly through pressing the bulb’s smart control. Select from seven different light effects. Connect the bulb to the bridge and discover endless possibilities.
Philips Hue Bloom
Working in a smiler way to the Hue Go however this is not a portable light.
This is a colored bulb built into its own holder, the bloom is an angled light making it ideal for creating mood lighting in the home that shines up the wall.
In the corner – With the way the bloom is angled it is ideal for being used against a wall and by placing it in a corner you create a great mood light that will brighten up any dark corner in the home. Perfect for mood lighting or using with apps such as Hue Disco for parties.
Sunset and Sunrise – Use these lamps in your bedroom to create the sunrise and sunset routines perfect for helping you nod off or wake up in the morning.
Again it is ideal for the home and capable of displaying millions of colors and shades of white light, all ideal for syncing with movies and music in your home. A stylish looking lamp that is great for creating moods and lighting scenes in the home.
The Hue go and Bloom are similar, read our article on Philips Hue Go vs Bloom – What’s the Difference?
Philips Hue Phoenix LED Ceiling Spot Light
This recessed ceiling downlight will deliver you with dimmable warm to cool white light and this for sure will match your daily moments. You can connect via Hue Bridge to your Wi-Fi network and enjoy effortless control via your Smartphone. You’ll get better light whatever you do and you can set right ambience for any moment with different range of natural white LED light.
Philips Hue Wellness Dimmable LED Smart Table Lamp
A stylish ambiance lamp that has a warm white to cool white light. Ideal for use in the home creating a relaxing usable light that allows you to see, be it studying or reading a book before bed. In the box you get the Philips Hue White Ambiance Wellness Table Lamp with Hue White Ambiance A19 60-Watt equivalent LED light bulb and two-year warranty.
Philips Hue Beyond Dimmable LED Smart Table Lamp
On its own this is a very stylish and beautifully designed lamp that really looks stunning, not only is it a lamp but it can be hooked top with your Philips Hue bridge so you can adjust, dim change the colour and add to scenes.
It works great with the Hue Dimmer switch, Hue Tap, or Hue Motion Sensor. Philips produce a range of Hue Light Fixtures and Lamps as well as outdoor lights too.
Philips Hue Wellner Table Lamp
A ambiance light with warm white to cool white light, looking like a strange blob it is an unusual looking lamp, but it makes an ideal reading light or quirky bedside light.
Ideal for reading, so use as a night light it gives a relaxing warm glow that will make you feel calm and relaxed making it ideal for use before going to bed.
Philips Hue Being Smart Flushmount
This sleek slim and flush fitting light with brushed aluminum accents creates ambiance with warm white to cool white light.
Hooking up to your bridge this isn’t just a bulb it is a stylish slim light that you can install to the ceiling of any room.
Philips Hue Centura
The lights have a White and Color Ambiance GU10 spot light bulb and also have Bluetooth. The bulb is replaceable, so you are getting a stylish GU10 fitting that will house the Hue GU10 color bulb.
The decorative recessed spot lighting creates a cozy ambience in the living area. You can use the spot for both direct lighting and accent lighting. Play with light and choose from 16 million colors in the Hue app to match your mood. Sync your light with music, movies and games using Hue Sync. The control is easy via Bluetooth and Bridge.
Switches and Sensor Devices
As well as a range of bulbs there are a range of switches and sensors from Philips as well as approved third party switches that are classed as ‘friends of hue’.
Motion Sensor
The motion sensor is a small white device that can be fitted to a wall or positioned on a side board. It will detect any motion and then can be used to turn on lights or off lights when activated. The sensor used infrared and will work day or night. The device uses 2 x AAA batteries and is quick and easy to set up. This sensor comes in white only.
This sensor can be used to turn nightlights on in the evening or if you get up at night, lights could automatically turn on in a dimmed state so you can see, it can be used to turn lights on when you walk into a room, or as a security measure.
Outdoor Motion Sensor
As part of the outdoor lighting range a outdoor motion sensor was also released, it works in the same way as the indoor version however it is designed for outdoor use and is IP54 rated. This is designed to be wall mounted, and is a bit larger than the indoor sensor, it takes 2 AA batteries and only comes in black.
Hue Smart Button
The latest button from Hue is the small smart button, a simple push button that comes with a wall mount. The button itself has a magnetic back so it can be placed on a magnetic surface such as a fridge door or stuck using the sticky back to a flat surface.
The switch can be set to turn lights on and off, and a push and hold can dim lights too. A small and simple button that allows you to have a physical switch for turning Hue lights on and off.
Hue Dimmer Switch
The Hue dimmer switch is a well built and very useful switch, running of a single coin battery (1x CR2450) there are 4 switches, but a lot of possibilities when it comes to setting up. The buttons can be adjusted to suit other settings as well as just being an on, off and brightness setting.
The switch comes with a magnetic wall plate which can be mounted, the dimmer is like a small remote and can be placed back into the mount when not in use, or you can just use it as a wall mounted switch.
Hue Tap
The 3 button tap switch that uses no batteries, this clever little device uses kinetic energy when the button is pressed to power it. The buttons can be set to different scenes turning on and off your lights.
Which to buy – Hue Tap or Hue Dimmer? Between the tap and the dimmer, we would recommend getting the dimmer switch, the battery powered version does work better and the option of 4 customisable buttons also works better.
Friends of Hue
As well as the official Hue switches and sensors, there are also some great third party options that come under the ‘friends of Hue’ banner.
Read more about Hue compatible switches here.
Philips Hue Compatible Bulbs
We have started of a list of 3rd party hue bridge compatible devices and bulbs.
| Compatible with Hue? | Works with Hue Switches and Sensors? | Colored Bulbs? | HomeKit Support? | Our Verdict | |
| Innr | Recommended | ||||
| ERIA Smart Bulb | Recommended | ||||
| Gledopto | Recommended | ||||
| Cree Connected | Recommended | ||||
| GE Link | Recommended | ||||
| Osram Lightify | - | Recommended | |||
| Ikea Tradfri | Not Great | ||||
| LIFX | |||||
| Nanoleaf Ivy | |||||
| Belkin Wemo bulbs | |||||
| Elgato Eve plug |
Ikea TRÅDFRI
Ikea have released their own collection of smart bulbs which work with their own lighting system, however these bulbs can also be used with Philips Hue.
The bulbs are not yet compatible with HomeKit but this is something we are expecting in the near future. These Ikea bulbs and Philips hue both use the ZigBee protocol allowing the both to work together.
Innr Bulbs
Innr have a range of smart bulbs that will work with Philips Hue or the Osram Lightify bridge & app, however as a third party bulbs they do not support Apple HomeKit. Using your Hue bridge the lights can be controlled by Amazon Echo, Google Home or SmartThings.
These are cheaper than Hue bulbs, however there are comments about the brightness and responsiveness with there being a split delay and also not being as bright as like for like Philips bulbs.
GE Link Smart Bulbs
In the US you can buy GE Link LED smart bulbs that will work with your home hue hub however Apple Home kit will not see them. They offer a range of bulbs with different fittings, however recent reviews and feedback suggest there is an issue with relativity and their life span with reports of them breaking in under a year.
Which bulbs are available in the UK are compatible with a hue hub?
- Ikea TRÅDFRI
- Innr (Europe)
- Dresden Elektronik
Using Third Party Bulbs
If you wish to save some money then the Inner bulbs are best, the Ikea bulbs do work, however the bulbs themselves are not great, if you just want white bulbs then they maybe acceptable for your use.
Osram Lightify bulbs do with with Hue, however they are tricky to connect and set up, however once done they do work well.
When it comes wot third party bulbs there isn’t really a clear winner or a standout choice, none are ideal and if you want a seamless set up at the moment sticking to Hue bulbs is the best way, even if they do cost more than cheaper bulbs on the market.
Pairing 3rd Party Bulbs
Installing and paring a third party bulb is very simple and nothing that should be feared, follow these simple steps and you should be set up in no time.
- First off install the bulb in the fitting, be it a ceiling light of lamp.
- Switch the light on, and leave it on.
- Open the Hue app and go to Settings, Light Setup and click the + button.
- Now press the Search button to find your new bulb.
- If the bulb is not found then click “Add serial number.”, enter the code on the bulb, make sure it is fitted and on again, then search again.
Other Supported Devices
Hue is compatible with a wide range of different smart home devices, here is a list of some of the top smart gadgets that Hue will work with.
- Ring Doorbell
- Nest Thermostat
- Nest Camera
- Nest Smoke alarms
- Logitech Harmony
- Amazon Alexa
- Google Home
- Apple HomePod
View more about these and our full list of hue supported smart home devices.
Starter Kits
If you are new to Philips Hue then a starter kit is the place to start, it is the best value and cheaper to get some bulbs to get you going, and it also includes a Hue bridge which is also needed. One bridge will work with up to 50 bulbs officially.
All starter kits come with a Hue bridge, you can then select a pack that has the types of bulbs you would want, from colored bulbs or just white, to the different bulb type fitting. It is a good idea to think about which bulbs you are replacing and the type of fitting they require, and also if you want to go for coloured or white bulbs depending how you intend to use them and the rooms they are going in.
The starter pack includes 2-4 bulbs depending on the kit, which can simply screw into your current lamps and Hue Bridge which you can plug into your home Wi-Fi router. You can control up to fifty bulbs on a single bridge.
You can create lighting scenes based on your favorite photos it will signal a new era to your home lighting both in the way you think about as well as experience light in your homes. It will enable you to create and control your light using your Tablet or Smartphone. This item will bring endless possibilities to aid you get creative and also personalize your lighting to suit your family’s lifestyle.
Bridge
All starter kits come with a bridge, the latest version is square with rounded corners. The old first generation bridge is round and support will end April 2020, already newer features such as Hue Sync and ‘Friends of Hue’ supported switches and bulbs are only compatible with the latest version.
Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Starter Kit
This Phillips Hue starter kit comes complete with 3 color LED light bulbs and a bridge that has the ability to connect to about 50 lights, wirelessly. The bridge comes in handy in controlling the lights simply as all you need is a Smart device, you can make your adjustments right from any point as long as you are Wi-Fi connected, and you have the Hue app installed in your device.
This product is also diverse allowing you to use it with other apps such as Apple Home Kit, Nest, as well as SmartThings. The bulbs are brighter so its works in different settings. It gets even better with the ability to sync your lights with your music, television, as well as games to bring out that desired effect.
This starter kit is ideal for individuals looking to bring out a desired effect depending on the activity n question. The white variance allows you to brighten or dim your bulbs. In addition, it is advisable for individuals having devices operating on varying operating systems.
From starter kits to bulbs, we look at the different bulbs that you can purchase for the Hue system.
Guide to How Philips Hue Works
How does Phillips Hue work? Before answering that, let’s go back to the basics to make it easier for starters to fathom this product. That said, Philips Hue is a multifunctional solution for homes and businesses. Through its various functions, this Hue smart lighting system can boost the comfort, elegance, and practicality of your home or business to a greater extent. That’s not to mention promote safety and security.
With that said, this article enlightens you more on this incredible line of smart lighting systems from a respected brand that has existed since 1891. It looks at the key features of this smart light system, explains how it works, and highlights a few fascinating things these lights can do.
In this guide we look at what the Hue light system is, its key components and how it all works.
How Does Phillips Hue Work?
Going back to the above question; basically, this product works with either a Bluetooth controlled setup or a bridge controlled one. Users can choose whichever setup they want to exploit the endless possibilities provided by their smart lighting system.
You’ll need a Bluetooth enabled device like a smartphone for the former or a bridge (special hardware that enables you to activate and control your smart lighting setup) for the latter. Philips offers nice plug-and-play hardware known as “Hue Bridge” for this purpose. Just plug it into your setup and use the Hue app to do more with your smart bulbs.
The Hue bridge gives more benefits to the hue system, allowing you to connect more bulbs, control them from other rooms and away from home, and use switches and sensors too. Bluetooth function is great to use one or two bulbs in a room before upgrading and investing in a bridge.
1. A Bluetooth-Controlled Philips Hue Smart Lighting Setup
To set up a Bluetooth-controlled Philips Hue smart lighting system in your home after purchasing the product, download the BlueTooth app on Google Play using your smartphone.
Once you install the app, you can follow the simple instructions provided to configure it with your BlueTooth device so that you can start enjoying the many functions of your smart lights.
2. A Bridge-Controlled Philips Hue Smart Lighting Setup
It is important to note that a BlueTooth set-up does not allow you to utilize all the functions provided by your Philips Hue smart lighting system. On the other hand, a bridge-controlled setup does.
You can buy the necessary bridge hardware anytime and create this setup for full exploitation of your smart lighting system from Philips. Once you do that, just go to Google Play and download the necessary app for this. Thereafter, configure the app with the hardware and start benefiting from your setup.
Founder & Editor
Mike is the founder of Hue Home Lighting, a huge Hue fan with far too many lights, covering home and garden. A smart home gadget addict and also enjoys the odd bit of DIY
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Walter
When will outside light bulbs be available for sale and will they work in porch lights that are the typical covered wall mounted sconces
Hue Home Lighting
Official outdoor hue bulbs could be available this summer, or hopefully at least announced, although there is very little detail on what to expect.
Tomas
Does Philips have plans to produce the 4 th generation A19 hue bulbs/ 3 rd generation Hue Bridge in 2019? What will be the main improvements?
Hue Home Lighting
No mention of anything, what would you like to see? They could be made brighter which always seem to be an concern with some people.
Anders Aarsoe
Would love to see a new hub with support for more devices or a new software interface that can handle multiple hubs. According to what I can read online my v2 hubs should support app 50 units but I was forced onto a second hub already after 30 units.
John
I’m confused – I read online that the BR30 bulbs are meant to be used in recessed lighting but the box explicitly says do not use in enclosed or recessed lights. Which is right?
Mike
I have this question too. I am assuming the person asking the question has a Philips Hue BR30 and the box has this caution. Comments on Amazon suggest the BR30 is suitable for use in recessed ceiling lights.
But if the box says not to use, I’d like to see someone from Philips comment.
Per D.
I have experienced flicker with the new GU10 Color/bluetooth as opposed to the E27 Color/non bluetooth bulbs.(which I have used for years)
Are there any diffrence in frequency on the GU10 and other bluetooth enabled bulbs compared to non bluetooth bulbs ?
I run all on HUE bridge, not bluetooth.
Smurfy
When will the light strip be updated? Wish it was thinner and had better color.
Hue Home Lighting
No news on any updates.
Rehan Qureshi
Which ones would work on 220V 50Hz power supply in South Asian countries like Pakistan ? Please advise on email.
Chris MacKechnie
Why is it so hard to find out how bright the lights can be. I went to Hue in first generation and my home is lit like a tomb. Are newer bulbs brighter?
Chris
What is the difference between the GEN 1, 2 and 3 color bulbs? Other than the obvious looks 🙂
Hue Home Lighting
Check out this article – https://huehomelighting.com/key-differences-1st-2nd-3rd-gen-philips-hue-bulbs/
Gen 3 bulbs have better and richer colors.
Jenna
My hue lightbulb recently “popped” and no longer works. It states that it should work for 15,000 hours or 15 years. I have only had the bulb for 3 years, if that.
Hue Home Lighting
Might be worth contacting Philips to see what they say.
Ina
Hi,
Are here any plans of a G9 HUE light bulb?
Rick
Is there a brighter Philips Hue White Ambiance A19? 60W equivalence is the highest I can find. I’d like to see the same same type of bulb at, say, 75 or 100W equivalence.
Hue Home Lighting
No.
Tac
I would like to see an app interface overhaul. Rooms and zones are a good step, but the app needs to be designed from the user experience first. Example, having multiple bridges due to quantity of lights becomes a pain. Who wants to switch between a bridge to get lights working? The app should handle any number of bridges and to the user, it should be seamless experience to control the lights. Groups of lights should be graphically represented in the group so you can manipulate them as you see fit individually or grouped from simple interface. Multiple users with permissions should be added to the app and hub brain. Parent accounts (need 2 minimum) gets full admin control over example over every light, can add rooms and zones for groups. other accounts (child, room mate, tenet, etc) should be able to access only lights they are permitted and should only see the rooms, zones or lights they have been given permission to see. They should only be able to adjust the lights colors if given express permission as well.
marsha
my lights outside and inside suddenly are not turning on or off from the timer I set. i have had to do it mannually from the app on my phone. How do I get it working again?