Get the right Hue lighting with our information
Regardless of the competitors heating up in recent times, Philips Hue nonetheless affords one of the best sensible lighting which you could purchase, and the excellent news is that it is getting cheaper and simpler to trick out your own home with the sensible 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 linked lightbulbs that might be managed from an app in your smartphone.
And its vary has grown since they have been first launched in 2012: Philips Hue Bluetooth bulbs have joined the present Zigbee-powered Philips Hue, which require you to arrange an exterior bridge. And there are even Hue filament bulbs too.
Nonetheless, a cheerful home of Philips Hue bulbs isn’t essentially the best factor to realize. It may be so simple as screwing in a lightbulb to get began, however there may be 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 troublesome Philips Hue analysis, as we’ve achieved it for you. Learn on for our full information to the final word Philips Hue setup.
Replace: We initially printed this information a fewyears again however we preserve it continuously up to date with the most recent data on all issues Hue. The newest replace, in October 2023, consists of the small print on the most recent new Hue equipment and a few new options arriving within the coming months.
Leap to the Hue data you want
How you can arrange Philips Hue
The standard Philips Hue setup (as with most different sensible lighting methods) makes use of Wi-Fi and Zigbee wi-fi alerts to attach nevertheless many sensible lighting gadgets you need (effectively, 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 house, or simply merely plugged in) you’ll be able to management brightness, colours, schedules, and integrations with different sensible dwelling tech.
Actually, due to the likes of Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, it’s possible you’ll discover you hardly use the app in any respect – and as an alternative your own home’s lighting can be managed simply along with your voice, however we’ll come on to that extra within the subsequent part.
The opposite excellent news is that you simply now not have to have a Hue Bridge or third-party Zigbee hub just like the Amazon Echo to run your Hue sensible 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.
If you happen to select to depend on Bluetooth you will do all of the controlling immediately out of your cellphone, however you will be extra restricted in what you are able to do (you’ll be able to’t management them while you’re outdoors of that Bluetooth vary, for instance). Take a look at our Hue Bluetooth overview to study extra.
It is also vital 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.
How you can arrange a Philips Hue Bridge
1. Plug the Hue Bridge into an influence socket and hook it as much as your router through 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.
How you can arrange a Philips Hue bulb
1. First, ensure that 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 out a bridge
A Philips Hue system typically consists of the Hue Bridge and no less than one Hue bulb.
Technically, you don’t really need 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 sensible dwelling revolution, is it?
If you happen to’ve bought an Echo Plus, Echo 4th-gen or one of many newer Echo Present gadgets, 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 gadgets do certainly provide greater than the fundamental Dimmer swap management, it’s nonetheless not the total Hue bells and whistles. You’ll want a Bridge “to unlock the total Philips Hue expertise” – Signify’s phrases, not ours… however it’s true nonetheless.
With out a Bridge, you’ll be lacking out on key options resembling lights approaching or off routinely while you enter or depart your own home, sensible 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 completely different routes you’ll be able to take, together with change 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 out there, with GU10 bulbs on provide, extra bulbs, Hue buttons and extra.
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On the high finish of the spectrum (spectrum, get it?) you’ll get a Bridge and 4 multi-colored lights for $199.99, or if you happen to’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 completely different packs and gadgets on the final rely.
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In each the US and UK, Signify has a dedicated Hue Store the place you should buy the most recent lights and equipment, whereas the model additionally has a storefront on Amazon as effectively – and there are sometimes reductions on there.
Right here’s a rundown of what to look out when searching for one of the best Hue lights and gadgets…
Philips Hue lightbulbs
The very first thing you could resolve 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’ll screw into just about any gentle becoming or lamp in your house.
The excellent news is that there’s a variety of styles 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 on your spotlights.
Within the UK, the names are barely completely different however the choices are just about on par. It’s E27 and E14 on your gentle sockets with screw sockets, GU10s on your spotlights and likewise the old-style B22 Bayonets as effectively, if that’s what you want.
The following factor you could take into account 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 sensible filament bulbs to the combination, which have that uncovered Edison-style classic look to them, and are available in A19, ST19 and G25 sizings. They’re a good way to change up the look of various rooms or lights if you happen to’re going an in on Hue bulbs.
Lastly, and the biggie – you could resolve on colours. With the “primary” Hue bulbs, there’s a alternative between white, white atmosphere, and white and colour atmosphere. The final one is the flagship of the vary, providing a staggering 16 million colours and shades.
White atmosphere provides you extra management over the shade and temperature of your white gentle (2200K-6500K) and plain previous white doesn’t have completely different temperatures however remains 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 dwell in June 2020.
The Filament bulbs talked about above shine at 550 lumens with a locked temperature colour of 2100K, so that they’re dimmer than the flagship vary and solely shine in a single warm-orangey colour.
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 completely 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 colour atmosphere one.
Costs fluctuate wildly although relying on what bulb becoming and form you need precisely.
Philips Hue lamps and light-weight fittings
Moderately than making your current gentle fittings and lamps extra linked, Hue additionally affords you the chance to go all out sensible with lamps and light-weight fittings designed to completely change your 20th century lighting.
There’s round 40 completely 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 bought it. Costs begin at across the $40 / £35 mark and go effectively above $350 / £350 relying in your décor preferences.
Philips Hue Lightstrips
One of many coolest methods to gentle up your own home with Philips Hue is utilizing its coloured Lightstrips. These thin strips can be hidden under kitchen counters, behind couches, around skirting boards – pretty much anywhere you want – and they add an array of futuristic looking lights around your home.
There’s even an outdoor version of the Lightstrip – perfect for Christmas or Halloween. They are water resistant and stick to your path via clips rather than sticky tape. Makes sense, as they have to be out in nature’s glory.
You plug one end into your mains socket and then 1m or 2m strips can be joined together to form a chain as long as 10m. Don’t worry if you can’t get an exact fit – they can also be cut to size.
The latest Lightstrip – the Bluetooth packing Lightstrip Plus – was announced in mid-2020 and includes the option to cut the Lightstrip to size and re-attach unused bits, or combine them with others using adapters. You can’t do this on the non-Plus models.
The Plus also allows you to add up to eight extensions, as well – so a maximum length of 16m, based on a device measuring 2m.
There are also specific lightstrips designed for the back of your TV, but we’ll get to that in a bit.
Philips Hue outdoor
Those light strips aren’t the only outdoor goodies, though. Philips Hue’s full outdoor smart lighting range launched in 2018 and there have been an absolute bonanza of new arrivals in the years that have passed since then.
The range 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 highlight design features in your garden and illuminate flower beds and plants.
There’s also the Philips Hue Calla (640 lumens, like the Lily), which is a path lighting option. The base pack includes one bollard, additional ones can be purchased seperately.
If you’re looking for wall mounted fixture lighting then you’ll be interested in the Philips Hue Inara (800 lumens), Lucca (800 lumens) or Ludere (2600 lumens). Philips also has a dedicated outdoor bulb – the white PAR38 which are $29.99 each or $49.99 for a two-pack and are rated at 1300 lumens.
Other new arrivals such as the Daylo, Nyro, Impress and Attract have boosted the amount of outdoor specific Hue lights to nearly 50 options.
You can, of course, use a regular Hue bulb in a waterproof outdoor fixing although Signify advises against it.
Philips Hue in the bathroom
Philips Hue Adore is its bathroom specific range of smart lighting. The star is the Adore White lighted mirror which has a ring of white LEDs and can be controlled by Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit or a dimmer switch. It also has IP44 dust and water resistance.
Also in the range: the Adore Bathroom spot light, the Adore Bathroom mirror light and the Adore Bathroom ceiling light. They’re all white lighting, no colors, with chrome metal finishes and IP44 water resistance.
Philips Hue: The accessories
Right, so you’re all kitted up with the lights – now you just need a way of controlling them. The app is obviously your best bet (more on that next) but there are physical controllers too.
We’ve already mentioned the Hue Dimmer switch, but if you want something smarter then you’ll be looking at the $50 / £50 Hue Tap Dial. Working off kinetic energy – no batteries required – the Tap Dial lets you choose your four favorite scenes anywhere, at the touch of a button. You can stick it on a wall or use it as a remote control.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for a minimalist option, there’s Hue smart button that’s literally just a solitary push button. It can stick to fridges or metal magnetically, and long presses can be used for more control, but at $19.99 / £19.99 it’s an interesting option.
There are Hue Motion sensors which turns bulbs on based on movement. The indoor version costs $39.99 / £34.99, it’s $10 / £10 more for the outdoor model.
Both have a daylight sensor so you can choose to only have them operational when it’s dark. (Pro-tip… you could always use cheaper motion sensors and trigger your Hue bulbs using Alexa Routines and the like).
Signify debuted this long-awaited Wall Switch Module in 2021. With a Hue Wall Switch Module into your existing light switch, your smart bulbs are always usable, no matter the state of the switch.
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 positive for some desktop gaming, however if you would like it in your TV or lounge console, you needed to hook it as much as your PC through HDMI, Chromecast or different means.
That downside went away with the Hue Play Sync Field, an HDMI pass-through that additionally capabilities as a Hue system, so you’ll be able to plug in your numerous TV packing containers and have all of the on-screen motion sync up along with your lighting.
The field helps HDMI CEC and HDMI 2.0, so you’ll be able to run 4K HDR content material by it at 60Hz. You’ll be able to join as much as 4 gadgets into the field through 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 suits into this leisure facet of the Hue line-up effectively. It’s a follow-up to the Gradient Lightstrip, and affords a stable tube of LED lights fairly 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 achieved.
Philips Hue has additionally up to date a few its traces with Gradient tech. This lets Hue lights show a number of colours without delay, fairly than biking by flat tones.
The Hue Signe desk and ground lamps are Gradient fashions, for $199.99 (desk) and $299.99 (ground).
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 sensible assistants
As nice on the Hue app is, it is now not as important because it as soon as was. And that’s due to Philips’ Associates of Hue program. Hue has all the time been open with the likes of IFTTT, Logitech and Xfinity however has added Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit and Amazon Alexa to the combination.
This implies not solely voice controls for turning your lights on and off, however further safety measures like having your entire lights activate if movement is detected by a sure digital camera, for instance.
Utilizing voice assistants or IFTTT you may as well create elaborate scenes throughout your entire linked tech resembling having your temperature set to your good sleeping stage, whereas on the identical time having your lights turned off, your blinds closed and your safety alarm armed.
The situations are seemingly countless and Hue is definitely probably the most supported sensible dwelling platforms – you’ll battle to seek out linked equipment that doesn’t play properly with it.
Hue and Matter
And there is, in idea no less than, further smarts out there to Hue customers due to Signify embracing the Matter sensible dwelling customary… kind of.
You’ll be able to pair your Hue Bridge to a Matter controller and get all the advantages of the rising sensible dwelling 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 be capable of reap the benefits of every little thing that comes with that.
At current, the one Hue system that’s Matter licensed is the Bridge – the bulbs and lights will solely be capable of play part of a Matter sensible dwelling system when linked to the Bridge.
For now, you are most likely asking your self why precisely you’d even trouble utilizing Matter, fairly than say Echo Ability, to sync up your Hue bulbs to your sensible dwelling ecosystem of alternative.
The primary cause, for now no less than, is it might take a number of the heavy lifting off of the cloud-based integrations we presently all use, and convey 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 light-weight strips will pulse in time with the music, and use colour shades that match the observe.
That is doable as a result of the Hue app will get entry to Spotify’s observe metadata, which incorporates info on a tune’s tempo, style, temper and extra. It’s the knowledge Spotify makes use of to assist categorise its tens of millions of tracks into countless 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 along with your bulbs outdoors 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, the truth is. Most are garbage – that’s all the time the best way with an open API – however there are just a few gems that add options to the combination that the official app doesn’t permit for.
Prime picks embrace Hue Disco for including some colour to your own home occasion and OnSwitch for grouping your Hue bulbs along 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 (really you’ll, however you’ll must do some digging): you don’t really need Philips Hue bulbs so as to have a Philips Hue system.
Philips Hue is a part of the Zigbee Gentle Hyperlink customary protocol and, as such, Zigbee Gentle Hyperlink compliant merchandise and gadgets work with the Hue Bridge.
It may be a bit fiddly, however you will get cheaper bulbs resembling Ikea’s, GE’s and Osram’s all arrange in your Hue system. To study extra, check out our information explaining 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 Out of doors Swap pictured above) – and, though they are not official Hue merchandise, they act as if they’re.
You add them by the Hue app they usually connect with your Hue Bridge utilizing Zigbee.
Take a look at our information to one of the best Associates of Hue switches on your Philips Hue system.
Listed here are just a few extra how-tos to get you going…
How you can reset Philips Hue bulbs and Bridge
In case your bulbs or Bridge aren’t responding, you will have to do a tough reset. In relation to bulbs, you are able to do this reset by the app, however if you happen to’re not utilizing the Hue Bridge or app, you will must go through whichever hub you are linked by. Head to our full explainer for extra.
How you can arrange Philips Hue with Alexa
1. Be sure your Philips Hue gentle is turned on and able to join.
2. Obtain the Philips Hue Ability in your Alexa system.
3. Say “Alexa, discover my gadgets” and look ahead to 45 seconds whereas the assistant scans the realm for any new gadgets.
4. As soon as a bulb is found, you’ll be able to join it up by the Alexa app and management it manually or by your voice. Simply ensure that to call it one thing straightforward to say.
5. Whether or not you might have a bridge or not, you’ll be able to management your lights utilizing simply your voice. Strive a command resembling, “Alexa, flip bed room gentle to 50%”.
Verify our full information to Philips Hue and Alexa.
How you can sync your Hue lights with the climate
Whether or not it is for setting the temper otherwise you simply fancy being a little bit extra in contact with nature, one of many coolest Hue tips you are able to do is have them replicate a sure sort of climate or modify to sync with the situations outdoors. It is not even that troublesome to do – this is how.
How you can sync Philips Hue with films and video games
As we talked about up above, one other trick the Hue Sync app affords is with the ability to add further immersion to films and video games by having your Hue bulbs modify to what’s occurring on-screen. Head to our full information to learn the way.
Add a Associates of Hue swap too the combination
Associates of Hue sensible switches are successfully sensible buttons that mean you can management your Hue lights. And it is simple to set these up immediately within the Hue app.
Senic’s Associates of Hue Out of doors Swap is one in all our favorites on this space.
Philips Hue: The competitors
Philips Hue may be the main gentle within the sensible lighting world, however there are many sensible lighting options now on sale.
Lifx is the obvious pretender to Hue’s crown – it’s a bridge-less system that gives 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 positive and take a look at our complete Lifx information.
Nanoleaf, which began out as a wise gentle panel specialist has emerged as a real Hue different previously couple of years, because it expands into lightstrips, bulbs and spotlights too.
The Ikea Trådfri vary turned up on the sensible lighting occasion in early 2017 and, whereas there nonetheless aren’t many bells and whistles, sensible assistants, coloured bulbs and elevated compatibility are respiration 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 sensible lighting area are Innr, Nanoleaf, Osram, Wemo, Hive, Wyze, Sengred, Govee and Elgato. Take a look at our sensible lighting hub web page to remain updated with all of the information, critiques and evaluation.
