Philips introduces affordable Hue bulbs as part of a significant portfolio change

 

Since its inception, we have covered Philips' range of color-changing, Wi-Fi-enabled Hue lights. Because of their early success, these lights were included into numerous smart home systems at the same time that smart doorbells, smoke alarms, speakers, and thermostats were becoming increasingly popular.

The extensive redesign of the lineup today might be of interest to those who are already part of the Hue ecosystem or to those who have avoided it due to the comparatively expensive cost of the accessories. Hueblog provides a thorough overview of the new flagship bulbs, light strips, hub, Matter-over-Thread compatibility, and numerous other accessories that Philips and parent company Signify are launching.

The new Hue Essential bulbs are the most significant addition to the range for those who have avoided the Hue lineup due to the exorbitant costs. The standard A19/E26 versions of these bulbs are priced between half and one-fourth the usual price of a Hue bulb, at $25 per bulb individually or as low as $15 per bulb when purchased in a four-pack. However, they are not as able to dim as low as the flagship Hue bulbs and do not support as many colors or white levels.

The price increases the firm announced earlier this summer due to tariffs should be somewhat offset by these new low-cost bulbs. BR30 and GU10 bulbs bearing the Hue Essential brand are also offered.

Additionally, the standard Hue bulbs will be upgraded. According to Philips, the new models can produce the entire spectrum of visible color temperatures (from 1,000 to 20,000 K, as opposed to the Essential bulbs' 2,200 to 6,500 K range), and they can dim to as low as 0.2 percent (as opposed to the Essential bulbs' 2 percent).

The new Hue Bridge Pro, the first new bridge attachment to be added to the Hue ecosystem in ten years, is likely the next most significant addition to the ecosystem. The new $99 bridge is faster and supports "150+ lights" and "50+ accessories," which is at least three times as many as the previous Bridge (which is still available for $66 as a less expensive accessory for smaller installations). It will ultimately be possible for users who have several Hue bridges to swap them out for a single Bridge Pro, but according to Hueblog, this feature won't be accessible until "later this year."

A $170 Hue Secure video doorbell, Festavia-branded outdoor string lights, and indoor and outdoor strip lights—including less expensive varieties sold under the new Essential brand—are among the other new Hue goods. The doorbell won't be sold until October, and many of the strip and string lights won't be available until November or December, but the new hub and the majority of the new bulbs are being introduced in North America today. All of the accessories' precise prices and availability are listed in Signify's news release.