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Philips Hue | The wireless LED lighting system Review

Philips Hue | The wireless LED lighting system Review

September 24, 2022

At Philips Hue review, 16 million colors create unique lighting effects.

With the Philips Hue LED lighting system, you can immerse your own four walls in a sea of colors. Using the app, radio switch or voice control, light intensity and color can be spontaneously adjusted to mood or activity. Philips Hue relies on the modern ZigBee radio standard and is therefore compatible with LEDs and gateways from other manufacturers that also use ZigBee (e.g. the particularly affordable lighting solution IKEA TRÅDFRI).

Philips Hue lighting system

The Philips Hue light system can be used independently of a smart health home system as a closed unit. Due to the simple installation, convenient operation and the constantly expanding range of applications, it is particularly suitable for smart health home beginners. A simple starter set with the Hue Bridge is enough to make your own health home “smarter” immediately. Most of our team members tried the smart lighting of their health home for the first time with such a starter set.

Each Philips Hue starter set can then be gradually expanded with additional LED lamps. Up to 50 light sources can be used simultaneously or independently of one another with the Philips Hue system. A hub or other smart health home accessories are not necessary for the control. It is sufficient to connect the Philips Hue Bridge to the health home WiFi router. In addition to the starter sets from Philips Hue, there are of course many other lighting elements for every taste. These range from Philips Hue ceiling spots to garden lamps and flexible light strips.

Philips Hue Starter Set White & Color Ambiance E27 (4th generation)

Most popular starter set in the Hue lamp world, including bridge and dimmer switch, HomeKit and Alexa compatible.

Of course, there are many alternative solutions for intelligent lighting control in the smart health home area, which are part of different smart health home systems and often cost less than the lamps from the market leader. In contrast to Philips Hue, they can usually be used with significantly fewer components from other manufacturers. The Philips Hue components, on the other hand, can be networked with many other inexpensive lighting elements. How this works is shown, for example, in the IKEA TRÅDFRI lamps with Philips Hue control manual.

But the flexibility of the system does not only apply to lamps. Since hardly any smart health home gateway does without the connection option to the Philips Hue Bridge, the light and heating control can also be coupled, for example. Even Amazon Echo, Google health home and Apple HomeKit have integrated Hue directly into their controls, making voice control of the lamps possible.

The countless wiring options that result from the open system make Hue the currently most successful and popular lighting control system on the German market and also a multiple Review winner, as our evaluation comparison shows. Another success factor, in addition to compatibility, is the fact that Signify, as a Philips Hue manufacturer, has built an impressively large universe with dozens of lamps and LED lights around its light control.

Philips Hue offers white and colored lamps for all common sockets

(Signify)

The smart Philips Hue range includes :

LEDs for E14, E27 and GU sockets
Flexible indoor and outdoor light strips
Ceiling lamps (e.g. Fair pendant lamp)
Ceiling spots (e.g. 1 or 2 spot pillar)
Table lamps (e.g. Beyond, Bloom or Phoenix)
Mood lamps (e.g. Philips Hue Go)
Outdoor lighting (e.g. Impress impressions, Welcome floodlights, Turaco wall lights or Lily garden spotlights)
Indoor and outdoor motion detectors

Most popular starter set in the Hue lamp world, including bridge and dimmer switch, HomeKit and Alexa compatible.

More information on the individual models is available on the Philips Hue product pages of the manufacturer.

Philips Hue Review: The Review winner can do our lighting comparison

Good, better, Philips Hue? When it comes to Signify’s high-priced lighting system, opinions are divided. Most find it good, but some prefer to be satisfied with cheap Philips Hue alternatives and do without certain premium functions such as music and film synchronization. We have already set up and used the market leader for many different Review scenarios. In the following Review report we summarize our first experiences with the system.

Review phase 1: Install the Philips Hue system

We have summarized how the Philips Hue components are set up in practice in a ehealth or the following written instructions:

Review phase 2: set the Philips Hue LEDs

When opening the Philips Hue app (iOS |Android ) the room overview is displayed first. There you can, for example, select the living room to see which pears have been installed here. With the lamp name “Hue color lamp 1”, for example, the lamp shown on the right can be used to switch the lamp on or off. If you not only want to use the preset coloring, but want to choose a color from the 16 million color shades offered by Philips, you can do this via the lamp icon to the left of the lamp name.

The entire range of colors from Philips Hue appears under the name “Colors”. The “Recipes” tab, on the other hand, is intended for the selection of pre-set color moods. The lighting scenes “Read”, “Concentrate”, “Activate” and “Relax” are available. The editorial staff’s Philips Hue endurance Review showed no problems in controlling the smart lamps. The connection between smartphone, bridge and lamp also ran smoothly. The response time was usually less than one second.

Review phase 3: Set and control scenes and routines using the Hue app

The core competence of the Hue app, in addition to real-time control, is to define routines. In the main menu you open the item “Routines” and can now choose between “health home & Away”, “Wake up”, “Go to sleep” and “My routines”. All settings can be made here to coordinate the lighting control in everyday life. For example, the automatic switching on of the light when you return or the gradual dimming down in the evening. A timer allows you to set a period of time after which a certain action is automatically initiated, such as switching off the bedroom light and switching off the Smart Tv after one hour when the user is already asleep. The presence simulation is almost the opposite of a routine – the setting suggests to potential burglars by randomly and variedly (de-) activating lights, shutters, TV, radio and other household appliances that someone is in the house. You can find out more about burglary protection in our guide to measures for safe living.

Philips Hue users can conveniently access all networked lamps via the app

(Signify / artemp1 / Adobe Stock)

Avoid application errors of the Philips Hue lamps and appIf you equip a ceiling lamp with a Hue bulb, which is normally operated with a switch, you have to consider that this switch can no longer be used. In order for the Hue lamp to be switched on and off via the app, the conventional wall switch must always be in “ON” mode, i.e. the circuit must always be open. The Hue bulbs do not change from on to off, but from on to standby. The standby mode consumes just 0.5 watts, so the electricity costs for a lamp are less than one euro a year. Initially, it can of course happen that the lamp is switched off as usual using the wall switch. It still works. However, the app cannot then switch the lamp back on, the wall switch must first release the circuit.

Review conclusion: Philips Hue is particularly worthwhile in combination with voice control

“High-quality and reliable lighting system with numerous expansion options – clear purchase recommendation”

Simple installation and operation
Long life span
HomeKit, Google Assistant and Alexa compatible
Individual light scenes
Long range
IFTTT connection

From our Philips Hue practical Review, we were able to learn that the app works well when it comes to setting defined scenes and routines. We also found the synchronization of the Philips Hue lights with videos and music tested in another Review scenario to be practical.

To switch the spontaneous light on and off, searching for the cell phone was too annoying for us. For us it is clear that the lamps are only really fun and practical if you either complement them with suitable Philips Hue radio switches such as the wireless dimming switch or the Hue Tap or with voice control such as Alexa or Siri or Google Assistant. We will introduce these tax options later.

There are, without question, systems that are cheaper than the Philips Hue range (for example, smart lamps from OSRAM Smart +). However, the luminous efficacy is significantly lower here and operation is significantly less convenient. In terms of the versatility of the product range and the many compatible apps from third-party providers, the options for lighting with Philips Hue are also significantly more versatile. Those who value comfort, ambience and a strong, reliable system are well advised with the Philips Hue. Accordingly, Philips Hue also achieved 1st place in our lighting system comparison. Responding to rain, reporting when there is news on social networks, celebrating when the favorite team hits “ESPN” – all of this can only be done Philips Hue. If the Philips Hue system still seems too expensive for you, we recommend our article on possible Philips Hue alternatives.

Philips Hue reviews and ratings

Philips Hue has been convincing testers with its intelligent illuminants since 2014 and has almost always received top marks. We have summarized some of the latest reviews here at a glance:

Philips Hue lamps also act as a light alarm clock, timer or warning signal

With a smartphone, tablet, radio switch or a smart voice assistant – the various Philips Hue functions, such as the brightness or the color values of the smart lamps, can be controlled directly. In addition to wake-up time, timer, warning and notification light effects, rules or scenes can also be programmed to accompany the user through the day. In the morning, for example, you are woken by high-dimming warm light, as if the sun was just about to rise. The lightening of the environment stops the release of melatonin – the sleep hormone. Waking up becomes much easier and more relaxed. In addition, the connection to IFTTT is also possible.

Philips Hue can also be integrated into a health home entertainment system. In combination with a compatible television set, the TV pictures become even more rousing and real with suitable lighting effects. Alternatively, the aforementioned synchronization with music or gaming PCs is also possible.

Philips Hue lamps harmonize perfectly with the Ambilight function of Philips Smart TVs

(Signify)

Differences between the 4 Philips Hue generations

Philips Hue lamps come in 4 generations. We have summarized all differences and similarities in the following overview table.

Guide: Which Philips Hue starter pack is right for me?

Anyone who deals with the smart lamps quickly realizes that there are not only several generations, but also very different product lines. These are geared towards different needs. In order to benefit from the Philips Hue light control, a starter set is required. This consists of a bridge, several LED lamps and partly also a radio dimmer switch, which can be used instead of the wall switch.

Philips Hue White Starter SetThe Philips Hue Starter Set White includes two LED bulbs (E27 socket) and a bridge. It is intended to generate warm white light and can either be preprogrammed or varied spontaneously using an app or voice control. However, no bright colors and changes between warm white and cold white light nuances can be realized. The color temperature is constantly 2700 Kelvin. This corresponds to a warm white tone.

Philips Hue Starter Set White E27

Two lamps including a bridge, dimmable, warm white light, controllable via app, compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit

Philips Hue White Ambiance Starter SetThe Philips Hue White Ambiance starter set is a little more extensive and contains two LED bulbs (E27 socket) and a bridge as well as a dimmer switch. It can be used, for example, to simulate a sunrise because it can reproduce warm white as well as cool white light nuances. In addition, the dimmer switch included in the scope of delivery includes four pre-programmed lighting recipes (relaxing, reading, concentrating, recharging your batteries). So you are not dependent on the smartphone as a control element.

Philips Hue Starter Set White Ambiance with dimmer

Two E27 lamps including bridge and dimmer switch, all shades of white, controllable via app, compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit

Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance starter setThe Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance starter set offers 16 million colors to choose from and is supplied with 3 LED lamps (E27 socket) and a bridge. For example, it can be paired with a Smart TV and appropriately backed up with films. In addition, this starter set in conjunction with a smart smoke detector is suitable for alerting deaf or hard of hearing people to dangerous situations by means of certain light signals.

Philips Hue White, White Ambiance or White and Color Ambiance, which one suits me?

At first glance, the functions of the three product lines appear similar. At second glance, however, it becomes clear that the range of functions is very different. While lamps with the “white” categorization only fulfill a few basic functions, those with the “White and Color Ambiance” designation have more than twice as many functions. They are therefore particularly suitable for technology fans who really want to design all living and living areas with smart elements.

The three product lines in comparison

Overview of Philips Hue lamps and sockets for E14, E27, GU10

Philipes Hue for E14 socket: is also known as a mignon socket and is suitable for incandescent lamps up to 40 W with candle-shaped glass bulbs. (In exceptional cases also for lamps with 60W). E14 sockets are often found in the flat light housings of wall lights, bedside lamps, refrigerators, ovens or chandeliers. Unfortunately, the smart lamps with E14 socket are not yet available in the White version, but only as White Ambiance or White and Color.

White Ambiance (E14) candle lamp
SceneSwitch (E14) candle lamp.

Philips Hue for E27 socket: Standard socket for all 230 V incandescent lamps (up to 60 W). Is used for all common types of lamps, for example ceiling and floor lamps. Smart Philips Hue lamps with E27 socket are available in all three versions. For example this:

Philips Hue white (E27) single lamps
SceneSwitch white ambiance (E27) standard lamps
Philips Hue white and color (E27) single lamps

Philips Hue single lamp White & Color Ambiance E27

Colored single bulb with E27 socket to expand the system

Philips Hue for GU10 socket:Special lamp holder for the rotary locking of high-voltage reflector lamps (230 V). There is also a wide selection of suitable lamps for the GU10 socket. For example the following:

GU10 white spot (available as 1,2,3 version)
Philips Hue white Ambiance LED GU10 spot single lamps
Philips Hue ambiance LED spotlight round ceiling spot white
SceneSwitch reflector GU10
Philips Hue LED lamp GU10

Philips Hue single lamp White Ambiance GU10

Single lamp with GU10 socket for use in ceiling spots

Philips Hue Bridge with IKEA lights

If you like, you can also integrate the significantly cheaper IKEA TRÅDFRI lamps for E27, E14 or GU 10 sockets, as well as the smart IKEA light panels into your Philips Hue system instead of the Philips Hue LEDs. Instructions can be found here: Connect IKEA TRÅDFRI bulbs to Philips Hue – how it works.

IKEA lampshades suitable for Philips Hue lampsIf you don’t want to buy a new Philips Hue lamp with a matching lampshade, you can combine the intelligent bulbs with (already existing) lampshades from IKEA instead. Our article IKEA lamps meet Philips Hue bulbs provides some creative suggestions.

Philips Hue bulbs add color to IKEA lampshades

(IKEA)

Philips Hue Lightstrip for even more design freedom

Philips Hue Lightstrip (120 lumens)Whether adjusted to the temperature or the music, with the LightStrips from the Philips Hue range, beautiful (everyday) experiences are put in the right light. The LightStrips disappear invisibly under furniture, surfaces and corners, simply deliver indirect light without being noticed. As a basic version, this Lightstrip is a good solution, but it can be done even better. Our expert tip: Buy the lightstrip version with 1,600 lumens, which is much more powerful, as shown below.

Light strips (here from Philips Hue) set nice accents and reduce the risk of tripping

(Signify)

Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus (High light output: 1,600 lumens)The Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus is the premium version of the normal light strip, so to speak, because it has a particularly high light output. The following variants of the Lightstrip Plus are available:

Hue Lightstrip Plus Basis & Bridge (2m Lightstrip, with bridge)
Hue Lightstrip Plus base & extension (2m lightstrip with bridge and 1m additional lightstrip)
Hue LightStrip Plus extension (1m Lightstrip – without bridge)
Hue Lightstrip Plus Basis (2m Lightstrip – without bridge)

Our guide on Hue LightStrip Plus provides further information.

Philips Hue wall, table and ceiling lights at a glance

In addition to the starter sets and the LED bulbs, Philips completes the range with table, hanging and floor lamps in high-quality designs. However, these are not a prerequisite for putting the Philips Hue system into operation. The LED bulbs themselves are equipped with radio technology so that any old lamp can be used at health home.

Philips Hue table lamps: put every meal in the limelight

Philips Hue LED table lamp Wellness
Philips Hue table lamp Beyond
Philips Hue table lamp Bloom
Philips Hue table lamp Wellner
Philips Hue table lamp Phoenix
Philips Hue Living Colors table lamp Iris (extension for Philips Starter Set)
Philips Living Colors table lamp Iris (without Hue in the name, including remote control)

Philips Hue White Ambiance Phoenix, table lamp

Extension for all starter sets, dimmable, all shades of white, controllable via app, white, compatible with Amazon Alexa (Echo, Echo Dot)

Philips Hue recessed ceiling spotlights: provide illumination

Philips Hue LED Spot Runner (1, 2 and 3 series)
Philips Hue LED Spot Pillar (1 and 2 series)
Philips Hue recessed ceiling spotlight Phoenix
Philips Hue White Ambiance Milliskin recessed spot (round or square available)

The timeless Philips Hue Spot Pillar is available as a single or double spot

(Signify)

Philips Hue ceiling pendant lights: for an individual feel-good atmosphere

Philips Hue pendant lamp Amaze
Philips Hue pendant lamp Beyond
Philips Hue pendant lamp Cher
Philips myLiving pendant lamp chiffon
Philips myLiving pendant lamp Corkwood
Philips myLiving pendant lamp Ecru
Philips Hue pendant lamp Fair
Philips myLiving pendant light mohair
Philips Hue pendant light Phoenix
Philips myLiving pendant light ring
Philips myLiving pendant light Sandalwood

Philips Hue White Ambiance Fair, pendant lamp

dimmable, all shades of white, controllable via app, white, compatible with Amazon Alexa (Echo, Echo Dot)

More Philips Hue ceiling lights: for individualists

Philips Hue LED ceiling lamp Being
Philips Hue Beyond ceiling lamp
Philips Hue LED ceiling light Fair
Philips Hue LED ceiling light Still

The Being ceiling light integrates particularly discreetly into its surroundings

(Signify)

Small and medium-sized Philips Hue lights: for bright accents

Philips Living Colors Aura (with remote control)
Philips Hue myLiving Colors Bloom (extension for Philips Hue starter sets / without remote control)
Philips myLiving Colors Bloom (without “Hue” in the name, including remote control)
Philips Hue Go

The Philips Hue Go mood light makes starting the day easier with soft light

(Signify)

Philips Hue outdoor and garden lighting

Smart health home fans need not limit themselves to the interior when implementing their lighting ideas. Because Philips Hue also sells various weatherproof illuminants for the garden or path lighting. These include, for example, the following components:

Philips Hue outdoor wall lights:

Fuzo (17444/30 / P7)
Lucca (17401/93 / P0)
Tuar (17404/47 / P0)
Turaco (16472/93 / P0)

Philips Hue Tuar, outdoor lamp

dimmable, warm white light, controllable via app, compatible with Amazon Alexa (Echo, Echo Dot)

Philips Hue outdoor pedestal lights

Lucca (17402/93 / P0)
Tuar (17405/47 / P0)
Calla (17423/30 / P7)

Philips Hue path lights

Lucca (17420/30 / P7)
Tuar (17403/93 / P0)
Turaco (16474/93 / P0)

More outdoor lamps

Lily garden spotlight (17414/30 / P7)
Welcome floodlights (17436/30 / P7)
Philips Hue Outdoor Lightstrip 2 or 5m (8718696804650)

Philips Hue Lily, outdoor lamp

dimmable, up to 16 million colors, controllable via app, compatible with Amazon Alexa (Echo, Echo Dot)

There is more information here:Set up Philips Hue outdoor winter light scenes – how it worksPhilips Hue outdoor LED lights for garden, terrace and balcony

The Philips Hue outdoor lights are complemented by a recently available motion sensor that e.g. B. can ensure the automatic lighting of the driveway.

Philips Hue indoor motion sensor: price and features

Motion sensors play a role in every modern smart health home because they help to automate processes and save energy. For example, the motion in the driveway can be activated via a motion sensor when the residents come health home.

In addition, an alarm system in conjunction with the Philips Hue lamps can flash the entire house in warning red if strangers gain unauthorized access. The night light in the hallway is also automatically switched on by a Philips Hue motion detector.

A compact Smart health home motion sensor completes the Philips Hue lighting system

(Signify)

Philips Hue socket: price and features

With the introduction of an intelligent socket, Philips Hue is taking another step towards a fully-fledged smart health home. The release date of the Philips Hue socket has not yet been determined, but according to insiders, the market launch should take place in 2019. Among other things, the radio-controlled socket should be HomeKit-compatible.

Philips Hue Tap – portable light switch

The light switch from the Philips Hue range is wireless and still works without a battery. But how does the Philips Hue Tab switch work? The information is transferred to the end devices via the bridge, the function of the buttons is programmed using the app.

The switch can be used freely movable or attached to the wall. He gets the energy from the friction when a button is pressed. You can find our detailed article under Philips Hue Tap.

The Philips Hue Tap switch works kinetically and therefore does not require any cables or batteries

(Signify)

Philips Hue dimmer switch – the lamp remote control

This also wireless dimmer switch quickly makes it comfortable because it creates smooth transitions between very different lighting moods. If desired, it can also be remotely controlled via the app.

A single Philips Hue dimmer switch can control up to ten different smart lamps and, according to the manufacturer, has a range of up to 30 meters. You can find more information on this in our guide to using the Philips Hue dimmer switch.

Philips Hue Set White with dimmer

In the Hue app, you can continuously choose between warm white light for relaxing and reading to cooler, brighter light for concentration and recharging your batteries.

Philips Hue Bridge as the control center of the lighting system

The bridge is the heart of the Philips Hue system. All other elements can only be controlled with it. It is included in all Philips Hue starter sets, but can also be purchased individually. It serves as a control center for up to 50 bulbs. You can find out more about this topic in our guide to Philips Hue Bridge.

Control center for the Philips Hue system, controls up to 50 lamps, enables remote access to the lighting system

Installation and commissioning of the Philips Hue Bridge and LEDs

The first impression of the Philips LEDs: They are much heavier than normal light bulbs. However, this does not bother the lamp holder or the user. The Hue Bridge comes with an Ethernet cable that connects to the Internet router and, of course, a power connector. The Hue Bridge must therefore be placed near the router. Since it is not larger than the palm of a hand, it can be stowed away easily. It shines continuously in a pleasant shade of blue. The bridge forms the interface between smartphone and LED bulbs. While communicating with the smartphone via WLAN, she speaks to the LED bulbs in ZigBee radio language.

Use beta features of Hue Labs

Various additional functions for the Philips Hue system can be activated via Hue Labs. For this purpose, so-called “Hue Labs” are listed in the “Discover” menu item. These range from activating the light at nightfall, networking several motion detectors to personally defined wake-up scenarios. For more information, please see our Hue Labs guide.

Philips HueLabs is also accessible through the Hue app for iOS

(Signify)