Regardless of the competitors heating up lately, Philips Hue nonetheless affords one of the best smart lighting that you may purchase, and the excellent news is that it is getting cheaper and simpler to trick out your home with the smart gentle.
Lengthy earlier than the likes of Nanoleaf, Govee, Lifx and Ikea Trådfri arrived on the scene, Signify (beforehand Philips Lighting) was providing up an array of related lightbulbs that might be managed from an app in your smartphone.
And its vary has grown since they had been first launched in 2012: Philips Hue Bluetooth bulbs have joined the prevailing Zigbee-powered Philips Hue, which require you to arrange an exterior bridge. And there are even Hue filament bulbs too.
Nonetheless, a contented home of Philips Hue bulbs isn’t essentially the simplest factor to attain. It may be so simple as screwing in a lightbulb to get began, however there’s now a such an enormous vary of Philips Hue bulbs and equipment to select from, and there is getting Google Assistant, HomeKit, SmartThings or Alexa and Philips Hue working collectively.
And we have not even talked about what Matter means for Philips Hue but.
Fortunately, you don’t must do the tough Philips Hue analysis, as we’ve completed it for you. Learn on for our full information to the last word Philips Hue setup.
Replace: We initially printed this information a fewyears again however we maintain it consistently up to date with the newest information on all issues Hue. The most recent replace, in October 2023, consists of the main points on the newest new Hue equipment and a few new options arriving within the coming months.
Bounce to the Hue information you want
The right way to arrange Philips Hue
The normal Philips Hue setup (as with most different smart lighting methods) makes use of Wi-Fi and Zigbee wi-fi alerts to attach nevertheless many smart lighting units you need (properly, as much as 50) inside your personal system, which you management utilizing an app, or a bodily distant.
As soon as put in (into the common bulb sockets in your home, or simply merely plugged in) you’ll be able to management brightness, colours, schedules, and integrations with different smart home tech.
The truth is, because of the likes of Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, you might discover you hardly use the app in any respect – and as an alternative your home’s lighting might be managed simply together with your voice, however we’ll come on to that extra within the subsequent part.
The opposite excellent news is that you just not must have a Hue Bridge or third-party Zigbee hub just like the Amazon Echo to run your Hue smart lights. Again in 2021 Signify introduced that every one new lights going ahead will include the choice of Bluetooth assist; and we have seen the likes of the Lightstrip Plus, Perifo and Bloom arrive with BT on board.
Should you select to depend on Bluetooth you will do all of the controlling straight out of your telephone, however you will be extra restricted in what you are able to do (you’ll be able to’t management them while you’re exterior of that Bluetooth vary, for instance). Take a look at our Hue Bluetooth overview to be taught extra.
It is also necessary to know that the model of the Hue Bridge that’s on sale now, the sq. one, is the 2nd-generation Bridge. The unique Bridge, a spherical model, noticed official assist and entry to the system’s on-line providers terminated in April 2020.
It is extensively rumored {that a} new Third-gen Hue Bridge will arrive quickly… however these rumors have been dragging on for just a few months now.
The right way to arrange a Philips Hue Bridge
1. Plug the Hue Bridge into an influence socket and hook it as much as your router by way of ethernet cable.
2. Proceed as soon as the 4 lights on the Bridge gentle up.
3. Go to Settings > my Hue System > + > within the Philips Hue app.
4. Observe the setup directions.
The right way to arrange a Philips Hue bulb
1. First, ensure the Philips Hue Bridge is all arrange.
2. Go to Settings > Lights > +
3. Hit Search or manually add the serial quantity listed on the bulb.
4. Observe the setup directions, from which level you’ll be able to title your gentle and put it into Rooms.
Arrange Philips Hue with no bridge
A Philips Hue system typically consists of the Hue Bridge and at the least one Hue bulb.
Technically, you don’t really want a Philips Hue Bridge – you’ll be able to simply use a Hue Dimmer swap or join utilizing Bluetooth on the newer bulbs – however you’ll be restricted to only a easy dimming gentle state of affairs, for as much as 10 bulbs, and that’s hardly embracing the smart home revolution, is it?
Should you’ve received an Echo Plus, Echo 4th-gen or one of many newer Echo Present units, which all act as Zigbee hubs, you additionally will not want the Hue bridge to make use of your bulbs.
Nonetheless – there’s a small disclaimer right here. Whereas these Echo units do certainly provide greater than the essential Dimmer swap management, it’s nonetheless not the complete Hue bells and whistles. You’ll want a Bridge “to unlock the complete Philips Hue expertise” – Signify’s phrases, not ours… however it’s true nonetheless.
And not using a Bridge, you’ll be lacking out on key options akin to lights approaching or off mechanically while you enter or go away your home, smart switches and sensor controls, get up and sleep routines, customized scenes, syncing your lights with music, video and gaming, and entry to third-party apps.
Head over to our full information on this for extra in-depth directions on the totally different routes you’ll be able to take, together with tips on how to exchange the hub with an Ikea gateway.
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Philips Hue: Starter Kits
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Starter Kits provide a mixture of the Bridge and various kinds of bulbs and there is a vary of choices to select from. Costs begin from $69.99 / £69.99 for a equipment that comes boxed with the Bridge and two warm-white E26 lightbulbs.
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There are additionally loads of different bundles accessible, with GU10 bulbs on provide, extra bulbs, Hue buttons and extra.
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On the prime finish of the spectrum (spectrum, get it?) you’ll get a Bridge and 4 multi-colored lights for $199.99, or in the event you’re within the UK, you will get a pack of three bulbs and a Hue Dummer swap for £169.99.
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You’ll be able to, in fact, purchase a Bridge by itself for $59 / £49 after which add bulbs to it as you please. Even non-Hue, cheaper, ones; however we’ll get to that in a bit.
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Philips Hue: What to purchase and the place to purchase them
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There’s an absolute plethora of Philips Hue equipment presently on sale – greater than 100 totally different packs and units on the final depend.
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In each the US and UK, Signify has a devoted Hue Retailer the place you should purchase the newest lights and equipment, whereas the model additionally has a storefront on Amazon as properly – and there are sometimes reductions on there.
Right here’s a rundown of what to look out when looking for one of the best Hue lights and units…
Philips Hue lightbulbs
The very first thing it’s worthwhile to determine is the place you need your Philips Hue lightbulbs to go after which verify the sunshine fittings for these locations. Hue bulbs are like common lightbulbs – they may screw into just about any gentle becoming or lamp in your home.
The excellent news is that there’s a spread of shapes and sizes for screwing your bulb in. Within the US you’ll be able to choose up A21, E26, E12, BR30 and PAR16 screw-in bulbs and GU10 bulbs in your spotlights.
Within the UK, the names are barely totally different however the choices are just about on par. It’s E27 and E14 in your gentle sockets with screw sockets, GU10s in your spotlights and likewise the old-style B22 Bayonets as properly, if that’s what you want.
The following factor it’s worthwhile to think about is bulb form. There are common spherical lightbulbs, candle formed bulbs, flat bulbs for ceilings and likewise slick-looking curved atmosphere bulbs too. Most of those can be found throughout the vary of fittings talked about above.
Hue’s additionally added smart filament bulbs to the combo, which have that uncovered Edison-style classic look to them, and can be found in A19, ST19 and G25 sizings. They’re a good way to change up the look of various rooms or lights in the event you’re going an in on Hue bulbs.
Lastly, and the biggie – it’s worthwhile to determine on colours. With the “primary” Hue bulbs, there’s a selection between white, white atmosphere, and white and coloration atmosphere. The final one is the flagship of the vary, providing a staggering 16 million colours and shades.
White atmosphere offers you extra management over the shade and temperature of your white gentle (2200K-6500K) and plain outdated white doesn’t have totally different temperatures however continues to be dimmable like each different Hue bulb.
On the entire, all of them shine round 800 lumens; though the brightest white bulb in Hue’s armory, an A21 bulb with 1600 lumens, went stay in June 2020.
The Filament bulbs talked about above shine at 550 lumens with a locked temperature coloration of 2100K, in order that they’re dimmer than the flagship vary and solely shine in a single warm-orangey coloration.
With all Hue lightbulbs – all LED bulbs, clearly – you’ll get 25,000 hours of life from a 9.5-10W most output.
You should purchase bulbs in single, double or totally different sized multipacks, relying in your location, with costs ranging from $14.99 / £14.99 for a single white bulb to $49.99 / £49.99 for a solitary coloration atmosphere one.
Costs fluctuate wildly although relying on what bulb becoming and form you need precisely.
Philips Hue lamps and lightweight fittings
Moderately than making your current gentle fittings and lamps extra related, Hue additionally affords you the chance to go all out smart with lamps and lightweight fittings designed to completely exchange your 20th century lighting.
There’s round 40 totally different kinds to select from; the UK has a barely bigger choice than the Hue retailer Stateside.
There are wall lights, desk lamps, spotlights, suspension lights, ceiling lights, runner lights, recessed lights, mirror lights – you title it, Signify has received it. Costs begin at across the $40 / £35 mark and go properly above $350 / £350 relying in your décor preferences.
Philips Hue Lightstrips
One of many coolest methods to gentle up your home with Philips Hue is utilizing its coloured Lightstrips. These skinny strips will be hidden below kitchen counters, behind couches, round skirting boards – just about anyplace you need – and so they add an array of futuristic trying lights round your home.
There’s even an outside model of the Lightstrip – good for Christmas or Halloween. They’re water-resistant and keep on with your path by way of clips relatively than sticky tape. Is sensible, as they must be out in nature’s glory.
You plug one finish into your mains socket after which 1m or 2m strips will be joined collectively to type a sequence so long as 10m. Don’t fear in the event you can’t get a precise match – they will also be reduce to measurement.
The most recent Lightstrip – the Bluetooth packing Lightstrip Plus – was introduced in mid-2020 and consists of the choice to chop the Lightstrip to measurement and re-attach unused bits, or mix them with others utilizing adapters. You’ll be able to’t do that on the non-Plus fashions.
The Plus additionally permits you to add as much as eight extensions, as properly – so a most size of 16m, primarily based on a tool measuring 2m.
There are additionally particular lightstrips designed for the again of your TV, however we’ll get to that in a bit.
Philips Hue out of doors
These gentle strips aren’t the one out of doors goodies, although. Philips Hue’s full out of doors smart lighting vary launched in 2018 and there have been an absolute bonanza of latest arrivals within the years which have handed since then.
The vary consists of wall mounts, bulbs, spotlights and the already-mentioned Lightstrips. The Philips Hue Lily, which comes as a starter pack consisting of three spotlights and is designed to spotlight design options in your backyard and illuminate flower beds and crops.
There’s additionally the Philips Hue Calla (640 lumens, just like the Lily), which is a path lighting possibility. The bottom pack consists of one bollard, extra ones will be bought seperately.
Should you’re on the lookout for wall mounted fixture lighting then you definately’ll have an interest within the Philips Hue Inara (800 lumens), Lucca (800 lumens) or Ludere (2600 lumens). Philips additionally has a devoted out of doors bulb – the white PAR38 that are $29.99 every or $49.99 for a two-pack and are rated at 1300 lumens.
Different new arrivals such because the Daylo, Nyro, Impress and Entice have boosted the quantity of out of doors particular Hue lights to almost 50 choices.
You’ll be able to, in fact, use an everyday Hue bulb in a water-resistant out of doors fixing though Signify advises towards it.
Philips Hue within the rest room
Philips Hue Adore is its rest room particular vary of smart lighting. The star is the Adore White lighted mirror which has a hoop of white LEDs and will be managed by Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit or a dimmer swap. It additionally has IP44 mud and water resistance.
Additionally within the vary: the Adore Lavatory spot gentle, the Adore Lavatory mirror gentle and the Adore Lavatory ceiling gentle. They’re all white lighting, no colours, with chrome metallic finishes and IP44 water resistance.
Philips Hue: The equipment
Proper, so that you’re all kitted up with the lights – now you simply want a means of controlling them. The app is clearly your finest wager (extra on that subsequent) however there are bodily controllers too.
We’ve already talked about the Hue Dimmer swap, however if you need one thing smarter then you definately’ll be trying on the $50 / £50 Hue Faucet Dial. Working off kinetic vitality – no batteries required – the Faucet Dial helps you to select your 4 favourite scenes anyplace, on the contact of a button. You’ll be able to stick it on a wall or use it as a distant management.
Alternatively, in the event you’re on the lookout for a minimalist possibility, there’s Hue smart button that is actually only a solitary push button. It may keep on with fridges or metallic magnetically, and lengthy presses can be utilized for extra management, however at $19.99 / £19.99 it is an fascinating possibility.
There are Hue Movement sensors which turns bulbs on primarily based on motion. The indoor model prices $39.99 / £34.99, it is $10 / £10 extra for the out of doors mannequin.
Each have a daylight sensor so you’ll be able to select to solely have them operational when it’s darkish. (Professional-tip… you could possibly at all times use cheaper movement sensors and set off your Hue bulbs utilizing Alexa Routines and the like).
Signify debuted this long-awaited Wall Swap Module in 2021. With a Hue Wall Swap Module into your current gentle swap, your smart bulbs are at all times usable, irrespective of the state of the swap.
The Philips Hue Wall Module is $39.95 for one or $69.95 for a two pack.
In 2018 Signify launched the Philips Hue Sync App for Home windows 10 PCs and Macs, which analyzes the content material you are taking part in (or watching) and syncs up your Hue lights so you’ll be able to bathe your room in colours that match the motion.
That was high quality for some desktop gaming, however if you need it in your TV or front room console, you needed to hook it as much as your PC by way of HDMI, Chromecast or different means.
That downside went away with the Hue Play Sync Field, an HDMI pass-through that additionally features as a Hue system, so you’ll be able to plug in your numerous TV containers and have all of the on-screen motion sync up together with your lighting.
The field helps HDMI CEC and HDMI 2.0, so you’ll be able to run 4K HDR content material via it at 60Hz. You’ll be able to join as much as 4 units into the field by way of HDMI, and sync with as much as ten color-changing Hue lights.
Fairly neat, and it is simpler than ever to arrange with new Play-focused lights such the Gradient lightstrip.
The Philips Hue Play Gradient Gentle Tube matches into this leisure facet of the Hue line-up properly. It’s a follow-up to the Gradient Lightstrip, and affords a strong tube of LED lights relatively than a strip you’ll want to connect to a wall or different floor. Simply place it above or under a TV, or wherever you want, and also you’re completed.
Philips Hue has additionally up to date a few its strains with Gradient tech. This lets Hue lights show a number of colours directly, relatively than biking via flat tones.
The Hue Signe desk and flooring lamps are Gradient fashions, for $199.99 (desk) and $299.99 (flooring).
Philips Hue lighting is getting extra dynamic, and the brand new model of the Philips Hue App 4 leans into this. It launched dynamic scenes, which is able to — for instance – change the character of lighting all through the day.
Philips Hue: Syncing with smart assistants
As nice on the Hue app is, it is not as important because it as soon as was. And that’s due to Philips’ Associates of Hue program. Hue has at all times been open with the likes of IFTTT, Logitech and Xfinity however has added Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit and Amazon Alexa to the combo.
This implies not solely voice controls for turning your lights on and off, however additional safety measures like having all your lights activate if movement is detected by a sure digicam, for instance.
Utilizing voice assistants or IFTTT you may as well create elaborate scenes throughout all your related tech akin to having your temperature set to your good sleeping degree, whereas on the identical time having your lights turned off, your blinds closed and your safety alarm armed.
The eventualities are seemingly limitless and Hue is well one of the crucial supported smart home platforms – you’ll battle to search out related equipment that doesn’t play properly with it.
Hue and Matter
And there is, in principle at the least, additional smarts accessible to Hue customers because of Signify embracing the Matter smart home commonplace… kind of.
You’ll be able to pair your Hue Bridge to a Matter controller and get all the advantages of the rising smart home platform.
These advantages aren’t going to make a lot of a distinction to Hue customers simply but however, as Matter matures within the months and years forward, Hue customers will have the ability to reap the benefits of every part that comes with that.
At current, the one Hue system that’s Matter licensed is the Bridge – the bulbs and lights will solely have the ability to play part of a Matter smart home system when related to the Bridge.
For now, you are most likely asking your self why precisely you’d even trouble utilizing Matter, relatively than say Echo Talent, to sync up your Hue bulbs to your smart home ecosystem of selection.
The primary cause, for now at the least, is it could take a number of the heavy lifting off of the cloud-based integrations we presently all use, and produce issues in home.
Philips Hue and Spotify
Again in 2021, Spotify partnered with Philips Hue to develop “deep integration of lighting and music”. Bulbs and lightweight strips will pulse in time with the music, and use coloration shades that match the monitor.
That is attainable as a result of the Hue app will get entry to Spotify’s monitor metadata, which incorporates data on a music’s tempo, style, temper and extra. It’s the data Spotify makes use of to assist categorise its tens of millions of tracks into limitless playlists.
As a result of Philips Hue has been round for some time, and since the platform is so open, there’s a heck of much more you are able to do together with your bulbs exterior the official app and ecosystem.
In addition to the official app you’ll discover a tonne of third-party Hue apps throughout Google Play and the App Retailer – greater than 700, actually. Most are garbage – that’s at all times the best way with an open API – however there are just a few gems that add options to the combo that the official app doesn’t enable for.
High picks embody Hue Disco for including some coloration to your home social gathering and OnSwitch for grouping your Hue bulbs together with your Lifx ones in the identical app. Take a look at our information to one of the best Philips Hue apps for extra.
Right here’s one thing you gained’t learn on the Signify’s web site (truly you’ll, however you’ll must do some digging): you don’t really want Philips Hue bulbs as a way to have a Philips Hue system.
Philips Hue is a part of the Zigbee Gentle Hyperlink commonplace protocol and, as such, Zigbee Gentle Hyperlink compliant merchandise and units work with the Hue Bridge.
It may be a bit fiddly, however you will get cheaper bulbs akin to Ikea’s, GE’s and Osram’s all arrange in your Hue system. To be taught extra, check out our information explaining tips on how to arrange Ikea Trådfri on Philips Hue or getting your Innr bulbs working with Hue.
Associates of Hue
The Associates of Hue initiative, whereby you purchase equipment – assume switches and the like (just like the Senic Outside Swap pictured above) – and, though they are not official Hue merchandise, they act as if they’re.
You add them via the Hue app and so they hook up with your Hue Bridge utilizing Zigbee.
Take a look at our information to one of the best Associates of Hue switches in your Philips Hue system.
Listed here are just a few extra how-tos to get you going…
The right way to reset Philips Hue bulbs and Bridge
In case your bulbs or Bridge aren’t responding, you will must do a tough reset. In terms of bulbs, you are able to do this reset via the app, however in the event you’re not utilizing the Hue Bridge or app, you will must go by way of whichever hub you are related via. Head to our full explainer for extra.
The right way to arrange Philips Hue with Alexa
1. Make sure that your Philips Hue gentle is turned on and able to join.
2. Obtain the Philips Hue Talent in your Alexa system.
3. Say “Alexa, discover my units” and watch for 45 seconds whereas the assistant scans the world for any new units.
4. As soon as a bulb is found, you’ll be able to join it up via the Alexa app and management it manually or via your voice. Simply ensure to call it one thing straightforward to say.
5. Whether or not you will have a bridge or not, you’ll be able to management your lights utilizing simply your voice. Strive a command akin to, “Alexa, flip bed room gentle to 50%”.
Verify our full information to Philips Hue and Alexa.
The right way to sync your Hue lights with the climate
Whether or not it is for setting the temper otherwise you simply fancy being a bit extra in contact with nature, one of many coolest Hue tips you are able to do is have them replicate a sure kind of climate or regulate to sync with the circumstances exterior. It isn’t even that tough to do – this is how.
The right way to sync Philips Hue with motion pictures and video games
As we talked about up above, one other trick the Hue Sync app affords is having the ability to add additional immersion to motion pictures and video games by having your Hue bulbs regulate to what’s occurring on-screen. Head to our full information to find out how.
Add a Associates of Hue swap too the combo
Associates of Hue smart switches are successfully smart buttons that mean you can management your Hue lights. And it is easy to set these up straight within the Hue app.
Senic’s Associates of Hue Outside Swap is one in every of our favorites on this space.
Philips Hue: The competitors
Philips Hue could be the main gentle within the smart lighting world, however there are many smart lighting options now on sale.
Lifx is the obvious pretender to Hue’s crown – it’s a bridge-less system that provides and app that (dare we are saying it?) is barely higher and simpler to make use of than Hue’s, with cheaper value factors and an ever-growing military of bulbs and equipment. Watch this area for certain and take a look at our complete Lifx information.
Nanoleaf, which began out as a smart gentle panel specialist has emerged as a real Hue various up to now couple of years, because it expands into lightstrips, bulbs and spotlights too.
The Ikea Trådfri vary turned up on the smart lighting social gathering in early 2017 and, whereas there nonetheless aren’t many bells and whistles, smart assistants, coloured bulbs and elevated compatibility are respiratory life into the platform – and as talked about above, you’ll be able to even get Ikea’s cheaper bulbs taking part in properly inside your Hue setup. Learn our Ikea Trådfri overview for extra.
Different names vying for area in an ever-expanding smart lighting enviornment are Innr, Nanoleaf, Osram, Wemo, Hive, Wyze, Sengred, Govee and Elgato. Take a look at our smart lighting hub web page to remain updated with all of the information, critiques and evaluation.