I've said it before and I'll say it again, but Philips Hue is in for another huge year if its recent announcements are anything to go by. The brand has launched everything from new smart lights to a collaboration with Nanoleaf, but if you're wondering how your existing Philips Hue setup is going to change, it's the new Custom AI Behaviours feature that's really worth paying attention to.

Exclusive to Hue Bridge Pro users, the new feature removes the need to manually build complicated automations. Instead, you can simply describe what you want your lights to do in everyday language, and the Hue AI assistant will create the automation for you.

I spoke with George Yianni, Head of R&D at Hue Connected; Marco Merolla, Business Leader for Consumer Connected Lighting; and Drago Jozic, Market Leader for Benelux & UK&I, to find out what the new update means for Philips Hue users.

For those with an existing Hue setup, George's initial comments give you a good idea of why the new system is such an improvement. He explained that the current Hue system is "internally templated", meaning users have historically been limited to choosing from predefined options and dropdown menus.

That has worked well for the most common use cases, but it also puts a ceiling on how complicated your automations can become. As George explained, Hue previously didn't allow things such as multiple accessories interacting with each other in more complex ways, or accessories responding to different combinations of time and conditions.

"All of those restrictions go away with the new engine," George told me.

Of course, giving AI more control over your smart home raises the obvious question of how do you make it useful without it feeling intrusive? After speaking to the Hue team, it became clear that this is something the company is very conscious of.

Drago explained that the aim is for the technology to become part of your routine rather than interrupting it, with Hue keen to ensure that people never feel like they're being monitored.

There's also a deliberate effort to keep the user in control. As the team explained, Hue isn't currently trying to create things on your behalf without being asked. Instead, "you tell us how you would like the system behave" and Hue makes it easier to turn that idea into reality.

It's important to note that this could change in the future. The team acknowledged that there is an opportunity for Hue to start suggesting useful automations based on the products someone owns or how they use them. However, that's where the line between being helpful and being intrusive becomes much harder to navigate.

For now, Hue says it is firmly on the non-intrusive side, with Custom AI Behaviours acting as a tool to help users get more out of the system rather than something that dictates how their home should behave.

This is ultimately what makes the Custom AI Behaviours feature more interesting than an AI assistant on its own. It means you can create much more automations tailored to the way you actually use your setup, without having to understand what's happening behind the scenes. The AI is simply the way you tell Hue what you want – the real change is the much more flexible automation system underneath.

Philips Hue has just given its Bridge Pro smart home hub an unexpected price hike. The Philips Hue Bridge Pro and other bulbs and strips from its smart light collection have also been affected, and it’s taken a lot of people by surprise.

September 2026 has been a big month for Philips Hue. At IFA, the brand announced a new range of lighting, including Signe, Festavia and Play lights, as well as new Play Screen Sync and a slimmer 4K HDMI sync box. That’s not all though, as Philips Hue also announced software updates and an unexpected Nanoleaf partnership.

But this latest announcement definitely isn’t as exciting as its new product launches. Instead, Philips Hue products that were only just launched in 2025 have been given some surprisingly high price increases, with the five-star Philips Hue Bridge Pro receiving the biggest hike.

Previously, the Philips Hue Bridge Pro was priced at £79.99 in the UK, $99.99 in the US and €89.99 in Europe. In March this year, the Philips Hue Bridge Pro was given a €10 increase in select European countries, taking it to €99.99 – but that’s nothing compared to the newer prices.

Now in the UK, the Philips Hue Bridge Pro is £129.99. It now costs $139.99 in the US and €149.99 in Europe. This is roughly a 40% increase. The price changes actually rolled out in August, although shoppers have only recently started noticing.

Philips Hue didn’t actually announce the price change, either, so it’s unclear why this increase has happened, especially on newer products from last year. Some sources have speculated that it's due to the global components shortage that’s affected many tech manufacturers – and smart home brands apparently.

It’s not just the Philips Hue Bridge Pro that’s been impacted. As spotted by HueBlog, the 4-pack Hue Essential bulbs, the Hue Flux and the Hue OmniGlow strip have also had their prices increased. Compared to the Bridge Pro, though, it’s not as extreme of an increase, with the Hue Essential bulbs now costing €69.99 compared to the original €59.99.

We gave the Philips Hue Bridge Pro five stars in our review, and found it to be an essential upgrade for Hue users. If you have lots of Philips Hue lights, the Bridge Pro is a necessity, but if you have smaller set-ups, it’s not entirely necessary, so the price hike won’t impact you.

For more advanced lighting systems, you may have to bite the bullet and get the Bridge Pro – or wait until a sale.

Philips Smart Lighting has launched its new Screen Sync, just days after the Philips Hue Play Screen Syncarrived. It essentially brings the Screen Sync concept to Philips' cheaper smart lighting range, but crucially, has a strip light that comes included in the box.

Just like the Hue version, the Philips Smart Lighting Screen Sync uses a fisheye lens to capture the full TV screen from edge to edge and read its colours in real time. Those colours are then recreated using a four-sided RGBIC strip light mounted behind the TV.

There will be two versions depending on your TV size. The 40-50-inch kit costs £79.99/€89.99, whilst the 55-65-inch version costs £99.99/€109.99. Each kit includes both the Screen Sync device and the corresponding strip light, so there's no need to buy any components separately.

In terms of installation, you simply position the Screen Sync device on top of your TV and start the calibration process in the app. It automatically aligns its anchor points with the edges of the screen, although you can make manual adjustments afterwards if needed.

There are several preset sync modes to adjust the effect depending on what you're watching, whilst a built-in microphone can also make the lights react to music.

If you want to take the effect beyond the TV, you can add compatible Philips Smart Lighting bulbs, lightstrips and lamps around the room. That includes a number of products launched back in May, so you can build out the setup without having to stick to the strip light behind the TV.

Check out my guide on Philips Hue vs Philips Smart Lighting for more information on the two guides.

If you missed Philips Hue’s big product announcements last week, there’s quite a lot to catch up on. The company unveiled an impressive number of new products and features, and whilst several of the recent rumours turned out to be spot on – including the Hue Play Screen Sync and Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 4K – there were also a few surprises that I certainly wasn’t expecting.

I was in Berlin for the announcements, which also gave me the opportunity to sit down with George Yianni, Head of R&D at Hue Connected; Marco Merolla, Business Leader for Consumer Connected Lighting; and Drago Jozic, Market Leader for Benelux & UK&I. After following the rumours and developments in the run-up to the event, this was my chance to get some answers directly from the people behind Philips Hue and find out what the company has planned next.

However, there was one thing in particular I was keen to ask about... Philips Hue’s decision to collaborate with Nanoleaf.

Nanoleaf has been in the spotlight quite a bit recently following its acquisition, so seeing the brand team up with Philips Hue immediately raised a few questions for me. Most importantly, I wanted to know whether this was simply a one-off collaboration or the beginning of something bigger for Hue.

After speaking with George, Marco and Drago, the main – and rather exciting – takeaway is that Philips Hue isn't ruling out more collaborations with other smart home brands.

The team wouldn't reveal exactly what's next on its partnership roadmap, but it did confirm that Philips Hue is looking at a range of potential integrations with other brands and platforms.

In fact, when discussing why Hue would choose to partner with another company rather than develop a product itself, George put it pretty simply: “If what’s there is already a great fit, why would we do it ourselves?”

The chat we had also gave me a much better understanding of Philips Hue’s thinking behind the Nanoleaf partnership. The company doesn’t need to build every type of smart lighting product itself, and if another brand already excels in a particular category, working together can ultimately create a better experience for customers.

Nanoleaf was a natural fit because its decorative lighting panels filled a gap in the Hue lineup. In fact, Hue says it had already seen members of its community combining Nanoleaf panels with their Hue setups, which George described as “clearly a gap for people that wanted to have the Hue experience in every room of their house.”

Marco also stressed that partnerships aren't simply about filling gaps in the product range. As he put it, “The consumer experience in some selected areas can be better if we partner with another brand than having to try to fix that gap ourselves.”

Nanoleaf wasn't the only collaboration announced that day, either. Selected Hue switches, including the Hue Tap Dial Switch, can now control Sonos speakers without you needing to open an app. However, the Nanoleaf partnership feels particularly interesting because it's a collaboration between two brands that could otherwise be seen as competitors.

Rather than keeping their products completely separate, Philips Hue and Nanoleaf are finding a way for them to work together. This could make both ecosystems more useful in the process, and if Hue's comments are anything to go by, Nanoleaf may not be the last smart home brand we see it work with.

Signify has officially unveiled its full lineup of Philips Hue launches at IFA 2026, ranging from a bunch of new lights to some interesting partnerships. I’m happy to say plenty of the rumours turned out to be true, including the new 4K HDMI sync box. A few were wide of the mark, though – no giant LED lounge table this time, folks.

There's also a big software update on the way called Custom AI Behaviours, which will be exclusive to the Hue Bridge Pro. Instead of manually building complicated automations, you'll be able to simply describe what you want your lights to do in everyday language, and the Hue AI assistant will create the automation for you.

There's a lot more hardware to get through, so below you'll find the biggest new launches, along with pricing and availability.

1. Philips Hue Liane 360° rope light

One of the more unusual launches is the Philips Hue Liane 360° rope light, which produces light around its entire circumference. Its flexible design means it can wrap around walls, furniture and other features, rather than being limited to the usual straight strip light setup.

It uses Philips Hue's OmniGlow technology to create a continuous diffused gradient and is available from today in the UK, Europe and North America, starting at £379.99/€429.99.

2. Philips Hue Signe and Festavia

The Signe collection is getting bigger too, with new Signe pendant, pendulum and pole designs. The pendant and pendulum are available in Europe from today, starting at £309.99/€349.99, with North American availability following in November. The Signe pole will arrive at a later date.

Festavia is also expanding with new Curtain, Net and Icicle lights, starting at £189.99/€229.99. There are new, more affordable outdoor wall lights and spots too, alongside an OmniGlow outdoor strip light starting at £259.99/€299.99.

3. Philips Hue Play Screen Sync

One rumour that turned out to be true is the new Philips Hue Play Screen Sync, which offers a completely different way to match your Hue lights with what's happening on your TV.

Instead of relying on an HDMI connection, it uses a fisheye lens and automatic calibration to capture what's happening on the screen and extend those colours into the room using the best Philips Hue lights. Crucially, that means it can work with native smart TV apps and broadcast television as well as HDMI-connected devices.

The Philips Hue Play Screen Sync is available from today, starting at £109.99/€119.99.

4. Philips Hue Play HDMI sync box 4K

We were also right about the new Philips Hue Play HDMI sync box 4K. It's a slimmer and simpler alternative to Hue's existing sync box setup, with a single HDMI connection for synchronising your lights with 4K content.

It's available from today, starting at £134.99/€149.99.

5. Philips Hue Play gradient strip lights

Philips Hue is refreshing its Play gradient strip light range as well, and this time the strips are cuttable, making it easier to get a better fit around different TV sizes and setups.

For the first time, there's also an option designed for TVs up to a huge 100 inches. Prices start at £89.88/€99.99, with availability from 15th September.

6. Two new collaborations

Finally, there are two big collaborations to talk about, starting with Sonos.

From November, selected Hue switches, including the Hue Tap Dial Switch, will be able to control Sonos speakers without you needing to open an app. You'll be able to assign Sonos Favorites to buttons, play and pause music, skip tracks and adjust the volume directly from your Hue controls.

However, the more surprising partnership is with Nanoleaf, which will bring compatible Nanoleaf Shapes into the Philips Hue ecosystem. Nanoleaf Hexagons, Triangles and Mini Triangles will be able to join Hue scenes, automations and entertainment setups, meaning products from the two brands can finally work together within the same lighting setup.

You'll need the new Philips Hue Wall Light Module, which is available from today for £34.99/€39.99. Starter kits featuring compatible Nanoleaf panels will also be available in selected markets, starting at £179.99/€199.99.

Philips Hue looks set to launch a more affordable HDMI Sync Box, after a listing for the new model appeared on UK retailers Very and Littlewoods. From the initial images and specifications, the basic functionality appears to be much the same as its considerably more expensive predecessor.

Just like the 8K model, the new Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box Lite is designed to synchronise the colour and brightness of your Philips Hue lights with what's happening on your TV screen. In other words, your best Philips Hue lights can react to films, games and other content in real time, extending the colours on screen into the rest of the room.

For reference, the existing Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8K costs £299.99/$349.99, whilst the new Lite model is listed at just £109.99 (around $150). With IFA now only a week away, it seems likely we'll hear more about an official launch very soon.

That said, there are a few compromises to be aware of. The Sync Box Lite has just one HDMI input, compared with four on the more expensive 8K model. That means it's better suited to someone with a single device they want to sync, rather than a setup involving multiple consoles, or streaming devices.

Resolution and refresh rates are also lower, with the Lite supporting 4K content at up to 60Hz, whilst 1080p content can reach 120Hz. As its name suggests, the more expensive model goes considerably further, supporting 8K at 60Hz and 4K at 120Hz.

Still, the important part is that the core experience appears to remain intact. If you only need to connect one HDMI device and aren't bothered about 8K, the Lite could offer a much cheaper route into Philips Hue's TV syncing setup.

Due to the intensely hot weather we’ve been experiencing in the UK, I’ve been spending more and more time in my garden. The evenings stay bright for quite a long time, but I’ve been looking to upgrade my outdoor smart lights so I can enjoy the summer nights for longer.

Philips Hue lights are some of my favourites, and I have plenty of indoor bulbs set up around my house. My outdoor space is severely lacking in smart lights, but I just found this cheap deal on the Philips Hue Smart Outdoor Floodlight at John Lewis which will be a great addition to my outdoor smart light set-up.

Shop the Philips Hue Smart Outdoor Floodlight deal

Originally priced at £149.99, the Philips Hue Smart Outdoor Floodlight is now just £74.99 in the John Lewis sale. I’ve done some price checking, and this is the cheapest the Philips Hue Smart Outdoor Floodlight has ever been so it’s well worth taking advantage of if you’re in the market for new outdoor lighting.

The Philips Hue Smart Outdoor Floodlight is a no-fuss white LED light which is great for lighting up the outside of your home. For your back garden, it adds extra lighting to set the mood and occasion, while at the front of your house, it can be used to light the way to your door when it’s dark, or scare off potential intruders.

With the Philips Hue app, you can control the Philips Hue Smart Outdoor Floodlight with your smartphone, as well as Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Homekit voice controls. Pair it with a Philips Hue Bridge and you can integrate the Philips Hue Smart Outdoor Floodlight with your other smart lights, and set timers and routines.

As an outdoor light, the Philips Hue Smart Outdoor Floodlight is IP44 rated, meaning it’s water resistant and can handle wet weather conditions. It’s also incredibly easy to install so if you’re looking for a new outdoor light, this is the deal I’d recommend.

Philips Hue appears to have accidentally leaked an unannounced product on its own website. The discovery was first spotted by Fabian at Hueblog, who noticed the phrase: "Check out Philips Hue Play Gradient Strip Lights and Play Gradient Lightstrip Pro."

The mention is notable because Philips Hue doesn't currently sell a Play Gradient Lightstrip Pro, suggesting the company may have inadvertently confirmed a new addition to its Play lineup ahead of an official announcement.

In recent weeks, various other leaks have pointed to a Hue Screen Sync Camera, whilst another hinted at an unexpected smart lounge table. Together, they suggest Philips Hue is preparing for a significant product showcase at IFA, which kicks off in just a few weeks. If so, the Play Gradient Lightstrip Pro could be one of the headline announcements.

Whilst details remain scarce, the 'Pro' branding suggests it could sit above the existing Play Gradient Lightstrip range, potentially offering enhanced features or performance. That could also mean a higher price tag, especially given Philips Hue recently expanded its more affordable Essentials range.

As part of the Play family, the new lightstrip would almost certainly be designed for TV entertainment. Philips Hue's Play products synchronise your smart lights with what's happening on screen, extending colours from films, TV shows and games beyond the edges of your television and onto the surrounding walls for a more immersive viewing experience.

We'll update this story as soon as Philips Hue confirms more details.

The Philips Hue Play Table Lamp is now available to buy after being unveiled last month. It launches alongside several other new Hue products, including two additional Play lamps, new candle smart bulbs and smart switches.

The Play Table Lamp looks like a mini version of the original Philips Hue Signe Floor Lamp, standing at 60cm tall. It's designed to sit neatly beside your TV, monitor or gaming setup, and is fully compatible with the Philips Hue entertainment system.

Priced at £69.99/$79.99, the Play Table Lamp is available now from the Philips Hue online store. The brand is also currently running a Member Days promotion, where signing up gives you a 20% discount code when you add two or more Hue products to your basket.

The Play Table Lamp features RGBWWIC gradient lighting alongside Chromasync precision colour matching, creating smooth lighting effects. As with the rest of the Hue Play range, it can synchronise with your TV using either the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box or the Hue Sync TV app on compatible televisions.

Early impressions have been overwhelmingly positive, with one customer writing: "I have two of these either side of my desk monitor, having previously used the old Play Bars. They look fabulous and the gradient effect is stunning. The price is good, too."

If you're looking to expand your smart lighting setup, it's well worth checking out the other best Philips Hue lights, especially whilst the current promotion is running.

Philips Hue could be about to launch a giant smart lounge table, despite initially being revealed as an April Fools' joke. According to Fabian from Hueblog, the massive lounge table has appeared multiple times in video footage from Capital Markets Day 2026, where the rumoured Hue Play Screen Sync Camera was also spotted.

From the few glimpses we've seen, the lounge table appears to be designed for outdoor use, with a power cord clearly visible in the footage. That means it won't be portable like the standard Hue Go 2.0, but it's a small detail that adds more credibility to the rumours. After all, why would Philips Hue include a visible power cable on a product that was supposedly only intended as a joke?

Signify has since edited the video, removing almost all of the sections that showed products that haven't yet been officially announced. However, the image used as the cover for the article is still online, whilst another brief glimpse of the product can also be spotted for just a second in the video.

Fabian has also reportedly heard that the launch was originally planned for spring but was later postponed. Hopefully, we'll get some more concrete information in September at IFA, where Philips Hue is expected to unveil several new products.

IFA 2025 saw one of the biggest Philips Hue launches in years, including the long-awaited Hue Bridge Pro, so it remains to be seen whether this year's event will be quite as exciting. However, if the giant smart table does make an appearance, it would certainly be one of the more unexpected products we've seen from the brand.

Philips Hue has confirmed that it will replace a select number of Hue Bridge Pro units affected by a recent firmware update issue, after users reported that their devices became completely unresponsive.

At the time, Philips Hue advised affected users to get in touch and apply for a replacement under warranty. Now, the company has confirmed that it will replace every affected unit free of charge, regardless of its warranty status.

Philips Hue hasn't yet provided a specific timeline for when the free replacement units will be sent out, although it continues to process affected cases as more reports come in.

Philips Hue told Ars Technica that the issue appears to be limited to users who had switched off automatic updates and were running older firmware for some time. The problem was reportedly triggered when an update that had already been downloaded to the Bridge was manually installed more than 10 days later, outside the device's usual update window.

Unfortunately, getting a replacement won't necessarily make the whole process seamless. Anyone affected will still need to set up their best Philips Hue lights, scenes and automations again from scratch, which could be a headache if you've spent a while building your setup.

Philips Hue could soon be launching its own TV backlight camera, according to a new report from HueBlog. Rumoured to be called the Philips Hue Screen Sync Camera, it's expected to make its debut at IFA 2026 alongside several other new Hue products.

Govee has long dominated the TV backlight camera market, with several popular models that use a camera mounted on top of the TV to mirror on-screen colours with compatible smart lights. Whilst Philips Hue already offers an impressive entertainment setup with the Hue Play HDMI Sync Box, it relies on an HDMI connection, making it less flexible than a camera-based system..

Pricing and an official launch date are still unknown, but if HueBlog's report is accurate, IFA in September is expected to reveal all.

From the single leaked image, the new accessory appears to clip onto the top edge of a TV or monitor, where it uses a built-in camera to monitor what's happening on screen. It then analyses the image and sends colour data to compatible Philips Hue lights, extending the action beyond the display and into the room.

TV backlight cameras have been a huge success for Govee in recent years, so it'll be interesting to see how Philips Hue's take compares. Personally, I think it could be a fantastic addition, especially for anyone looking to create a more immersive home entertainment setup without relying on an HDMI Sync Box.

It's been reported by Hueblog that the latest firmware update for the Philips Hue Bridge Pro appears to be causing significant problems for a number of users. Alongside reports on Reddit, users are describing that after installing the latest firmware update, the Hue Bridge Pro becomes completely unresponsive and displays only a solid red status LED.

Unfortunately, the issue seems to be fairly serious for those impacted. According to Hueblog, restarting the bridge doesn't resolve the problem, with the only solution currently being to have the Hue Bridge Pro repaired or replaced by Signify.

Several users commenting on the original article have echoed this experience, with some saying they've had to switch back to the original Hue Bridge whilst waiting for a replacement Pro model to arrive under warranty.

The Hue Bridge Pro only launched at IFA last September, and we recently awarded it a full five stars in our review, so it's disappointing to see a minor firmware update cause such a significant issue.

For now, it's being recommended that users who haven't yet installed the latest firmware temporarily disable automatic updates until more is known. That's especially important because the Hue Bridge Pro still doesn't offer a backup or restore function, meaning recovering from a failed update isn't as straightforward as it could be.

We'll keep you updated as soon as Philips Hue or Signify shares more information on the issue or confirms when a fix will be available.

Hate loud alarms? If you have smart lights set up in your house, you can use them as timers and alarms instead – here’s how.

Replacing your ‘normal’ light bulbs with smart ones is a must if you want to take advantage of thousands of colours, different brightness levels and remote use. There are plenty of handy tricks you can use your smart lights for – like having them tell you if someone’s broken into your house – but an underrated feature that I recently discovered is you can use your smart lights as timers.

A loud, blaring timer or alarm can get annoying very quickly. When I set a timer on my phone while I’m cooking, I always find myself nearly jumping out of my skin when it goes off. So, to avoid this, I’ve started using my Philips Hue smart bulb as a timer instead.

The Philips Hue app offers light alarms and timers, so it’s extremely easy to set these up if you have a Philips Hue lighting ecosystem. How the timers work is that you can set a specific lighting scene to show after a certain amount of time, or you can customise the light to turn from one colour to another, with the latter colour signalling that time is up.

In the Philips Hue app, head to the Automations section, tap ‘+’ and select Timer. From there, you can choose how long you want the timer to last which you can choose from as little as a minute and as long as 24 hours. Next, choose the room – you can choose a specific room or all rooms in your home with bulbs in – and pick the lighting scene or colour you want to show when the timer is up.

That’s it! Once you’ve set everything up, your timer will show up in the app with a play button next to it. To trigger the timer, simply press play and the timer will do everything for you.

I’ve found this to be extremely handy, and much less jumpy than when I use my phone timer! I have a cooking timer set up for 20 minutes for my kitchen light bulb, and when the timer ‘goes off’, the light flashes a bright pink colour. The possibilities really are endless with this, and can be used for multiple different timers and functions around your home.

This timer feature could also be used for waking you up in the morning in place of your phone alarm or alarm clock. It’s a handy trick which allows you to turn your smart lights into a wake up light if you want to wake up more naturally, and you want to take advantage of your existing lighting before making the move to an actual wake up light.

It was a pretty big moment when the Philips Hue Bridge Pro was finally unveiled at IFA last year after months of rumours – and thankfully, it turned out to be far more impressive than anyone expected.

Not only did Philips Hue give the hub a physical redesign, but it also massively upgraded what it can do behind the scenes. With support for up to 150 lights and 50 accessories, alongside entirely new features like MotionAware technology, it immediately felt like one of the biggest Hue launches in years.

I’ve already rounded up the five things to know before switching to the Hue Bridge Pro, but now that I’ve had the chance to properly put it through its paces, my full verdict is finally in.

Price and availability

The Bridge Pro has an RRP of £79.99/$98.99 via Philips Hue's website, which is almost double the price of the original Hue Bridge. That sounds steep at first, but it does make a lot of sense.

Philips Hue fans will also know that the Bridge Pro is available in a number of starter kits too, which can actually work out far better value if you’re planning to expand your setup or start fresh entirely.

Unboxing and set up

Inside the box, you’ll find the Bridge Pro itself, a power adapter, an Ethernet cable and the usual quick start paperwork. Setup is very simple, especially now that the Bridge Pro supports both Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity. That means you can still hardwire it directly to your router for the most stable connection, but you’re no longer forced to keep the hub right next to it.

Once powered on, you simply download the Philips Hue app, scan the QR code on the Bridge Pro, and follow the guided setup process. The app walks you through connecting the hub, updating firmware, and adding lights, accessories, entertainment zones or automations.

If you’re upgrading from the older Philips Hue Bridge, the migration process is also much easier than it used to be, and existing lights, scenes and automations can now transfer directly through the app.

Design and features

Compared to its predecessor, the Bridge Pro feels much more focused on larger smart homes, faster performance, and more advanced automations. It’s powered by Philips Hue’s new 'Hue Chip Pro', which significantly boosts both processing speed and overall capacity.

The Pro version also supports over 150 lights and more than 50 accessories, making it far better suited to bigger setups. Philips Hue also claims it’s up to five times faster than the standard Bridge, whilst supporting up to 500 saved scenes at once.

Visually, it still keeps the clean, minimalist design, but the switch to a sleeker black finish instantly helps it feel more modern. The compact square design is also subtle enough to hide away on a shelf or media unit without drawing attention to itself.

One of the biggest new additions exclusive to the Bridge Pro is MotionAware technology. Instead of relying entirely on dedicated motion sensors, the system can now use compatible Hue lights themselves to help detect movement throughout a room. By combining data across multiple lights, the Bridge Pro can then create virtual motion zones that automatically trigger scenes or lighting changes when somebody enters a space.

The Hue Bridge Pro also brings a new SpatialAware feature, designed to map your room and light positions using augmented reality and your phone's camera. Instead of treating each bulb as a standalone light, this spatial understanding intelligently distributes light scenes so colours and gradients transition naturally across your entire space.

Philips Hue has also pushed much harder into immersive entertainment lighting with the Bridge Pro. It unlocks more advanced Hue Sync features for TVs, music and gaming setups, whilst newer features like SpatialAware can map out room layouts and adjust lighting effects based on where lights are physically positioned in the room.

Security has also received an upgrade thanks to Zigbee Trust Centre encryption, which adds stronger protection against unauthorised access across the entire smart lighting network. That’s especially important now that Philips Hue is expanding further into connected home security with cameras, sensors and video doorbells alongside its lighting products.

Performance

Incorporating the new Hue Bridge Pro into my existing Philips Hue setup was far easier than I expected, so much so that a lot of my earlier concerns about upgrading were completely disproven by my own experience. It honestly couldn’t have been much simpler.

One of the biggest improvements is the addition of both Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity, making installation far more flexible than before. I personally opted for Ethernet since I already had a spare port available and planned to keep the bridge close to my router anyway, but knowing I can switch to Wi-Fi in the future is reassuring.

As mentioned, the setup process took around five minutes in total, including a quick firmware update that only lasted a minute or two. The whole experience felt incredibly seamless, and after dealing with frustrating setup processes from rival smart home brands in the past, it served as another reminder of just how reliable the Philips Hue ecosystem has become.

Once everything was set up, the Bridge Pro immediately prompted me to create the new spatial lighting map to get the most out of the upgraded hub. This feature is designed to enhance lighting effects and room awareness, particularly for entertainment setups around a TV, and it was nice seeing the app proactively guide me through the process instead of forcing me to dig through menus to find it myself.

The various automations were also laid out very clearly within the app, although it’s worth noting that many of these features were already available on the previous Hue Bridge. One of the newer additions is Motion Zones, which are easy to configure but do require at least three or four lights positioned throughout a room to work effectively.

Of course, I didn’t come anywhere near the new 150-light limit during testing, and even the previous bridge’s 50-accessory cap was never something I personally struggled with. Still, having that extra headroom makes the Bridge Pro feel significantly more future-proof for anyone planning to expand their setup over time.

As the Hue Bridge Pro also supports Matter, I was able to connect it to my Amazon Echo Show 8 without any issues. Voice commands through Amazon Alexa felt noticeably quicker too, with lights responding almost instantly in some cases.

Verdict

The Philips Hue Bridge Pro is exactly the kind of upgrade smart home enthusiasts were hoping for. Between the effortless setup, expanded device support, Matter integration and useful new features, it feels like a significant step forward for the Hue ecosystem. Whilst casual users may be perfectly happy sticking with the standard bridge, anyone serious about smart lighting will appreciate just how seamless and future-proof the Bridge Pro really is.

Alternatives to consider

There’s still nothing quite like the Philips Hue Bridge Pro on the market, mainly because the wider Philips Hue ecosystem remains one of the best smart lighting systems around. That said, there are a couple of strong alternatives worth considering.

The Aqara Panel Hub S1 Plus is a great option if you want something that feels more like a smart home command centre, thanks to its large touchscreen display for controlling devices, viewing cameras and managing automations.

Meanwhile, the Homey Pro or Homey Pro Mini is ideal for mixed-brand smart homes. Unlike the Hue Bridge Pro, it supports a huge range of protocols including Zigbee, Z-Wave, Matter, Thread, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and infrared, making it one of the most flexible smart home hubs available.

Philips Hue will probably always be known as the premium smart lighting brand. It’s why it tops so many of our best smart light guides, and why it even has its own dedicated best Philips Hue lights roundup. However, things have started looking a little different recently, and it hasn’t been entirely obvious why.

The eagle-eyed among you may have spotted yesterday’s article covering a new range of products from Philips Smart Lighting. The even more observant probably noticed two things straight away – they weren’t branded Philips Hue, and they were also significantly cheaper than most Hue products usually are.

Naturally, I went away and spoke to the brand directly to figure out what’s actually going on, and thankfully the answer is much less dramatic than some people probably feared.

Is Philips Hue going anywhere?

For Philips Hue fans, the good news is absolutely not. Philips Hue remains Signify’s premium smart lighting ecosystem and continues to focus on advanced connected lighting experiences and its bridge-based smart home setup.

In other words, your existing Hue setup isn’t suddenly being replaced, phased out or merged into something else. Hue is still very much Hue, and it’s clearly continuing to sit at the top end of Signify’s smart lighting portfolio.

So...what actually is Philips Smart Lighting?

This is where things get slightly confusing. The first thing worth knowing is that Philips Smart Lighting isn’t technically brand new – it just hasn’t really been pushed very heavily until now.

Under the surface, Philips Smart Lighting is essentially built on the existing WiZ platform and app. Unlike Philips Hue, which relies heavily on the Hue Bridge, Philips Smart Lighting focuses more on simplicity, accessibility and an easier Wi-Fi-based setup.

What Signify is effectively doing now is expanding the Philips Smart Lighting portfolio into more expressive and entertainment-focused products, whilst still using WiZ technology behind the scenes. Since WiZ products have also sat below Philips Hue in terms of cost, Philips Smart Lighting products are more affordable too.

Where does WiZ fit into all this?

WiZ itself isn’t going anywhere either. Instead, it’s becoming clearer that WiZ is effectively the platform powering Philips Smart Lighting products moving forward.

That means Philips Smart Lighting devices will continue working through the WiZ app and ecosystem, alongside standard WiZ products you may already own. However, they won’t directly integrate into the Philips Hue ecosystem in the same way Hue products do.

So essentially, Philips Hue remains the premium bridge-based ecosystem, whilst WiZ technology continues powering Philips Smart Lighting as the simpler, more affordable alternative.

The launch we covered yesterday simply marks a much bigger expansion of what Philips Smart Lighting is trying to become.

Philips Smart Lighting has quietly unveiled a surprisingly large wave of new smart lighting products, including a brand new smart lamp. After Philips Hue’s huge IFA launch last September, it felt like Signify might slow things down for a while, but clearly that wasn’t the case.

If you’re wondering why this isn’t a direct Philips Hue launch, it’s because these products sit under Philips Smart Lighting instead. The range is built on the existing WiZ platform and app, focusing more on simplicity, affordability and easier setup through Wi-Fi connectivity rather than Hue’s bridge-based ecosystem.

I’ve broken down all the major launches, pricing and release details below.

1. HDMI Sync Box 2.1

The new Philips Smart Lighting HDMI Sync Box 2.1 is designed to extend films, TV shows and gaming beyond the TV screen and into the room itself. It syncs your lights in real time with connected HDMI devices, creating a far more immersive experience for any entertainment setup.

The Sync Box 2.1 launches from June 2026, although timing will vary slightly depending on region. It should also be noted that Philips is only selling it as part of a full kit alongside a matching TV backlight strip, rather than as a standalone box.

Two bundle sizes will be available, including one for 55-65-inch TVs priced at £129.99, and another for 75-85-inch TVs priced at £149.99.

2. LED strip range

Philips Smart Lighting has also expanded its decorative lighting range with new Gradient Floor Lamps and Light Bars, both designed to spread dynamic multi-colour lighting across walls and furniture.

Alongside these are new RGB, RGBIC and Neon LED strips, available in lengths ranging from three metres to 20 metres, depending on region. UK pricing starts at £23.99 and rises to £79.90 depending on the configuration.

The wider LED strip lineup begins rolling out from June 2026 across the UK, Europe and North America.

3. Squire Lite table lamp

Another interesting addition is the new Squire Lite Table Lamp. It’s designed to create soft wall-washing lighting effects in smaller spaces whilst remaining affordable.

It launches in black and white for £34.99, with availability starting in June 2026 across the UK and Europe.

4. Smart Dial Switch

Philips Smart Lighting has also introduced its Smart Dial Switch, allowing users to quickly adjust brightness, colours and scenes using simple taps and rotating controls rather than relying entirely on the app.

The Smart Dial Switch launches from June 2026, priced at £24.99.

5. Gradient Bars and Floor lights

Finally, the new Gradient Bars and Floor Lights also contribute to the Philips Smart Lighting ambient lighting range. Designed to extend colour beyond the screen and across walls or furniture, the range will launch from June 2026 with prices ranging between £59.99 and £84.99 depending on the model.

Govee has quietly launched a new smart table lamp globally, and it looks incredibly similar to one of Philips Hue’s most popular models. The new Govee Table Lamp Classic uses RGBICWW lighting technology to combine vivid colours with adjustable white light, all within a compact, portable design that should slot easily into a variety of setups.

If you know your smart lighting, you’ll probably immediately spot the resemblance to the Philips Hue Go, which we reviewed back in 2023. The overall shape and portable form factor are very similar, and even the brightness levels are nearly identical. Govee’s version delivers up to 500 lumens, whilst the Hue Go reaches 530 lumens.

However, the biggest difference is the price. The Govee Table Lamp Classic launches at just £69.99/$79.99, which is roughly half the cost of the Philips Hue Go at £139.99/$159.99. There’s also currently a launch offer available through Govee’s website, bringing the price down even further with the code TL4110 at checkout.

The Table Lamp Classic joins a growing list of recent smart lighting launches from Govee, including the brand’s three new smart floor lamps announced last week. Interestingly, the table lamp itself was actually spotted earlier this year after appearing in a CSA certification listing back in January, although very little was known about it at the time.

Elsewhere, the lamp includes a 4800mAh battery which Govee says can last up to 30 hours in Night mode. You also get access to millions of colours, 72 preset scene modes and three music-reactive lighting modes designed to sync effects with audio playback.

As expected, it also supports Matter, meaning it can integrate with your preferred smart home ecosystem, alongside full control within the Govee Home app.

Philips Hue has announced a new feature called Sports Live, launching in time for the Championship 2026 tournament. Designed to make watching football at home feel more immersive, the feature gives fans a way to experience the atmosphere of live matches beyond just the TV screen.

Powered by integrated live sports data, Sports Live has been built specifically around live viewing. Users can adjust timing settings to account for slight broadcast delays, and if a match is paused, the lighting effects pause too before syncing back up once playback resumes.

“This feature will be available for a limited time across compatible Philips Smart Lighting (formerly known as WiZ) and Philips Hue smart lights during major international football matches starting 11th June, and will continue throughout the tournament period.

As moments happen during a game – whether that’s a goal, yellow card or red card – compatible smart lights react instantly, extending the action into the room itself. During quieter periods of play, the lighting adapts more subtly, showing your chosen team’s colours, the leading team’s colours, or warm white lighting when the score is level.

To set the feature up, users simply choose their favourite team and assign compatible colour-capable smart lights through either the Philips Hue or WiZ apps. For Philips Hue users, the feature works via the Hue Bridge, whilst WiZ users can access Sports Live directly over Wi-Fi without needing any extra hardware.

One of the more interesting things about the launch is that Sports Live doesn’t rely on an HDMI sync box or any external syncing device. Instead, everything works through live match data, meaning it can run alongside existing entertainment features like Hue Sync or WiZ TV syncing without requiring a separate setup.

After months of waiting, Philips Hue’s anticipated SpatialAware feature is finally available for Hue Bridge Pro users. The latest 5.66.0 version of the Philips Hue app has not only unlocked SpatialAware, but it’s also added new features for its video doorbell users – here’s what you need to know.

The new SpatialAware software feature was announced in January 2026, but at the time, it was being very slowly rolled out. Now, it’s finally here, so Hue Bridge Pro users can take advantage of the feature which is designed to make the lighting in your rooms feel more natural and immersive.

How SpatialAware works is by analysing your room to make a SpatialMap. It takes less than 10 minutes to do this, according to Philips Hue, and as it scans, it uses augmented reality technology to understand the layout of the room and positioning of your Philips Hue lights. Users can do this for every room in their home, and via their smartphone or tablet.

From there, SpatialAware designs and applies different smart lighting gallery scenes in the room to suit its specific layout, design and light options. This makes the colour and brightness of your lighting look more natural and tailored to your living space, and means you don’t have to manually adjust anything.

If you add more lights to your room or move lamps around, users can use SpatialAware to quickly rescan the room and update the scene. Half the scenes in the Light Scenes Gallery have already been optimised to work with SpatialAware, so you should be good to go with the new feature, provided you’ve got the new app update.

This new software update has also added improvements for the Philips Hue video doorbell. When someone rings the doorbell, you can now enable simulated video calls and respond to who’s at the door. Pre-recorded messages are now available too, which play automatically when you can’t answer the door.

To be honest, these new video doorbell features are things that automatically come with doorbells from other brands so this seems like a no-brainer. But it’s good to have those functions regardless of when they popped up, so I’m sure Philips Hue doorbell users will be happy to have them.

Smart lighting brand, WiZ is taking on Philips Hue with its very own smart light bars. The WiZ Gradient Light Bars – which originally came out back in May 2025 – offer multi-colour lighting and displays to complete your TV and entertainment set-up – and they’re surprisingly affordable.

The design of the WiZ Gradient Light Bars is similar to one of Philips Hue’s bestselling smart lights, the Philips Hue Play Light Bar. The long bar-like shape lends itself well to backlighting TVs and gaming consoles which is why many brands have created their own versions – even IKEA has launched a similar-looking smart light.

The WiZ Gradient Light Bars come in a two-pack and have a gradient design which allows them to display multiple colours at a time. Using RGBIC technology, the light bars are extremely colourful and bright, and can display different colours, themes and modes that you can design yourself or pick from WiZ’s extensive colour library.

Measuring 17.1cm in height, 7.4cm in length and 41.3cm in width, the WiZ Gradient Light Bars can be positioned horizontally or vertically to light up a room or behind your TV. The bars offer a 100° rotation so you can widely spread the light and its effects to set the mood in your home.

To sync the WiZ Gradient Light Bars with your TV, you’ll need a HDMI Sync Box. This allows the lights to ‘react’ to your music or streaming to make it feel more immersive. The WiZ Gradient Light Bars are also Matter-certified so you can control them via your smartphone app, and with Alexa, Apple Home and Google Home.

The WiZ Gradient Light Bars are available to buy for £54.99 at select retailers, like Amazon and John Lewis. Depending on what retailer you shop at, you can find the WiZ Gradient Light Bars for less. For example, at John Lewis, you can buy them for £38.49 which is significantly cheaper than the Philips Hue Play Light Bar which starts at £64.99.

Launched back in 2019, the Philips Hue Econic Outdoor Wall Light might not be the newest addition to the brand's lineup, but it still sits comfortably within one of the most trusted smart lighting ecosystems around. Philips Hue has built a reputation for producing some of the best smart lights on the market, known for their reliability and useful automations – and the Econic brings all of that outdoors.

Blending a classic design with full smart functionality, it promises to be more than just a standard wall light. However, with its very high price tag and a slightly tricky setup, the question is whether it still holds up today.

Price and availability

The Econic Outdoor Wall Light is priced at £169.99 in the UK and $186.99 in the US via Philips Hue’s online store, which is undeniably expensive. I’ll get into whether it justifies that price in a bit, but there’s no getting around the fact that this sits firmly in the premium category.

There are also other options within the Econic range, including a square wall light and a pedestal version, so you can match your outdoor lighting across different areas.

Set up and installation

As a mains-powered outdoor light, installing the Econic Wall Light is never going to be as simple as some other options, but it does feel a bit more fiddly than it needs to be. It’s fairly heavy at around 2.6kg, which you really notice if you’re installing it solo – especially if, like me, you’re positioning it higher up on a wall.

Unlike some indoor Hue lights, there’s no mounting plate or anchor system to temporarily hold it in place whilst you wire it up, so you’re essentially balancing the entire unit whilst trying to connect everything.

What’s also slightly surprising is that it doesn’t come with installation tools or fittings either – something you’d reasonably expect at this price level. The actual process involves securing the wall mount, attaching the light and tightening it with a top nut, but even that final step felt more fiddly than it should have been.

Design and features

The Econic has a lantern-style design that strikes a nice balance between modern and traditional, so it works just as well above a front door as it does on a garden wall. It's also IP44-rated, meaning it's suitable for most outdoor placements.

The light source itself is fully integrated, rather than using a replaceable bulb, and it offers just over 1,000 lumens. There's also a frosted internal diffuser that helps spread the light evenly, creating a really nice effect that immediately stands out compared to harsher outdoor lighting.

With the original Hue Bridge, you still get the core essentials like app control, voice support and scheduling, but things step up noticeably with the Hue Bridge Pro. It unlocks more advanced features such as geolocation-based automation and smarter sunset/sunrise routines, as well as the ability to link lights with motion sensors so they only activate when needed.

Performance

Once it’s up and running, the Econic is incredibly impressive, and I can comfortably say it's one of the best outdoor smart lights I’ve tested from Philips Hue so far. It’s one of those products where the setup is the hardest part, but once it’s in place, everything else feels seamless.

The build quality is immediately noticeable and it has a reassuring weight to it, blending a classic design with contemporary functionality. It’s also on the larger side at just over 30cm tall, but in my case, that actually worked in its favour and made it a great replacement for my previous outdoor light on the front of my house.

In terms of performance itself, it delivers bright illumination without being overpowering, and the diffuser does a fantastic job of softening the output. It feels thoughtfully designed, and you can tell a lot of attention has gone into how the light actually looks and behaves at the same time.

Then there’s the wider Philips Hue system, which – if you’ve read any of my reviews before – you’ll know I rate very highly. With access to 16 million colours, a huge range of preset scenes and some of the best automation features around, it’s still one of the most complete smart lighting systems out there. It’s not cheap, but there really isn’t much else that matches it

Verdict

The Philips Hue Econic Outdoor Wall Light is a tricky smart light to install, but it performs brilliantly where it matters. The build quality, powerful illumination and seamless integration with the Hue ecosystem make it a standout option if you’re already invested in smart lighting – or willing to be. It’s not the most accessible choice, but if you want something that looks as good as it performs, it’s absolutely one of the best in its category.

Alternatives to consider

As mentioned, there’s nothing quite like the Philips Hue system, so the closest alternative to the Econic out there has to be the Philips Hue Appear Outdoor Wall Light. It has a more modern design compared to the Econic, which is great if that’s the look you’re going for. However, the difficult installation still remains.

When I think back to IFA 2025, I still can’t quite get over just how many products Philips Hue announced. Whilst the new Hue Bridge Pro undoubtedly stole the show, there were plenty of other launches that caught my attention – and the new Philips Hue Festavia Globe Outdoor String Lights were definitely one of them.

Fast forward a few weeks and a set landed on my doorstep, giving me the perfect opportunity to test them properly. I’ve been using them throughout the harsh British winter, which – as anyone in the UK will know – is a pretty unforgiving test for any outdoor lighting. You’ll find all my thoughts below.

Philips Hue Festavia Globe Outdoor String Lights review: price and availability

The Hue Festavia Globe lights are available in several different buying options. There are two base kits to choose from – a 7-metre version and a longer 14-metre version. Philips Hue also offers extension kits in these lengths, as well as a larger 21-metre extension pack. The 21-metre option includes the connector needed to link it to an existing set, making it easy to scale your lighting across larger outdoor spaces.

I’ll include the full UK and US pricing further down the guide, but those base prices should give you a good idea of where they sit in the market.

You can pick them up directly from the Philips Hue website, as well as retailers like John Lewis and Amazon.

They also work best when paired with a Hue Bridge, so if you’re new to the Hue ecosystem, that will add an extra cost. I’ve included today’s best prices for the Bridge below:

Philips Hue Festavia Globe Outdoor String Lights review: unboxing set up

For installation, I decided to keep things simple and drape the lights across my garden fence. However, the bulbs themselves have small eyelets above each one, which means they can easily be strung between posts, or hung across a festoon pole.

They also use a low-voltage system, so installation includes just plugging the power supply into a standard outdoor socket. Not all of the best outdoor lights make setup this easy, but it’s something Philips Hue tends to get right.

The lights can also be integrated into a wider Hue outdoor setup using compatible connectors, meaning multiple strings can run from the same power unit in certain configurations. I haven’t gone that far with my own setup yet, but it’s nice to know the option is there if you want to expand later.

Connecting them to the Hue app is just as simple. Once plugged in, the lights appeared automatically during setup and were ready to control within a few seconds. If you’re already using Hue products, the process will feel very familiar, but if you’re new to the system, our guide to Philips Hue lights goes into more detail on how the setup works.

Philips Hue Festavia Globe Outdoor String Lights review: design and features

The Philips Hue Festavia Globe Outdoor String Lights combine the classic look of globe-style festoon lighting with Hue’s connected lighting platform. Each bulb is noticeably larger than the tiny LEDs used on the original Festavia lights, giving them a much more decorative look.

They use a distinctive Lightguide-style design with a visible inner tube that spreads colour and brightness evenly through the globe. Even when switched off, the glass-effect bulbs still look like part of the décor, which helps them feel more premium than standard outdoor fairy lights.

Each string uses integrated full-colour LEDs that can produce both vibrant colours and white light. Hue’s lighting effects and gradient features also work here, allowing multiple colours to appear along the string at the same time. Scenes can animate slowly across the bulbs, and if you’re using Hue Sync with music or entertainment setups, the lights can react to sound as well.

The bulbs are weatherproof and waterproof with an IP65 rating, and they’re also shatter-resistant, which means they’re designed to stay outside year-round.

Each bulb produces around 50 lumens of brightness, which admittedly doesn’t sound like much at first. However, that’s largely because these lights are designed for ambience rather than illumination. It’s also worth remembering that brightness adds up across the string, so if you have 20 bulbs, that’s roughly 1000 lumens combined, so the longer versions naturally produce more overall light.

One feature I particularly like is that each bulb can be individually replaced if it gets damaged. With many string lights, a broken bulb can mean replacing the entire set, so this design choice helps extend the lifespan of the product and reduces unnecessary waste.

Philips Hue Festavia Globe Outdoor String Lights review: performance

Overall, I really like the Philips Hue Festavia Globe Outdoor String Lights, mostly because it’s the first time the brand has released string lights designed primarily for outdoor use. The second generation of the original Festavia lights technically works outside as well, but they still remind me of Christmas tree lights, so I much prefer the Globe version.

I’m already heavily invested in the Philips Hue ecosystem, so controlling them and selecting effects felt very natural. They fitted seamlessly into my existing setup, and I quickly scheduled them to turn on at sunset and switch off automatically at 10pm when I usually head to bed.

You can’t control individual LEDs within each bulb directly, but you can use the colour wheel to create smooth gradients across the entire string, and there’s also a diffuse mode that lets you mix up to five colours at once.

I used the lights consistently throughout winter, and they’ve held up well to their IP rating without any issues at all. To be honest, I was expecting that anyway, especially as these lights are quite expensive. Since they’re still a relatively new product, discounts are fairly rare at the moment. If you’re not in a rush, it might be worth waiting for a sale, although with warmer weather on the way and the lights still being new, it’s hard to say when that might happen.

Philips Hue Festavia Globe Outdoor String Lights review: verdict

The Philips Hue Festavia Globe Outdoor String Lights are a premium set of smart lights that prioritise design, reliability and seamless integration with the wider Hue ecosystem. They’re not the brightest, but they excel at creating atmospheric, colourful lighting for outdoor spaces. If you’re already invested in the Philips Hue system, they’re an easy recommendation, but if you’re starting from scratch, cheaper alternatives may offer more flexibility for the price.

Philips Hue Festavia Globe Outdoor String Lights review: alternatives to consider

If you want to stay within the Hue ecosystem but spend a bit less, the second-generation Festavia lights are worth considering. They’re rated for both indoor and outdoor use, and although they look more like traditional fairy lights, they still look great.

Another option I’d recommend is the WiZ Outdoor String Lights. Visually they’re quite similar, and since WiZ and Philips Hue are owned by the same parent company, the reliability is still there. I’ve actually compared the WiZ outdoor string lights with the previous generation of Festavia lights before, so that’s worth checking out if you’re deciding between the two.

It was announced last week that Philips Hue was launching three brand new smart lights after weeks of rumours, all of which belong to the Turaco range. Not only has the Turaco Wall Lantern had a full refresh, but two additional models have joined the lineup as well, so it’s a pretty exciting update for Hue fans.

Of course, whenever new models arrive, older versions usually start to drop in price – and since deal-hunting is part of my job, I’ve gone looking for the best ones for you.

Right now, Amazon seems to be the place to shop, as Philips Hue’s own spring sale hasn’t kicked off yet. Below, you’ll find five of the brand’s best outdoor smart lights with some impressively hefty discounts.

Philips Hue has officially announced three new outdoor smart lights in its Turaco range, and they’re all upgraded versions of existing models. We first suspected a refresh after the new Turaco Wall Lantern appeared on Amazon earlier this year, but it’s now been confirmed that three models are coming instead of just one.

The updated Turaco Wall Lantern (€99.99), Turaco Post (€159.99) and Turaco Pedestal (€129.99) all get a significant brightness boost, jumping from 806 to 1,100 lumens. They also now offer both white and colour lighting with adjustable brightness, rather than the previous white-only output.

For now, the new Turaco lights are only available in select European countries via the Philips Hue online store, whilst the older versions remain listed in the UK. We’ll update you as soon as they arrive here, and whether a US launch is expected too.

As mentioned, the Turaco refresh was first rumoured after Amazon listings surfaced earlier this year. Other models, including the Flourish table lamp and Lucca outdoor lights, appeared in similar listings and are also expected to be upgraded down the line.

The news also follows the recent UK launch of the new Essentials Light Strip, suggesting Philips Hue is expanding and refreshing its lighting lineup across multiple regions right now.

The Philips Hue Essential Light Strip is finally available to buy in the UK after first launching at IFA in September 2025. It was available in the US not long after, but as the brand’s most affordable light strip yet, UK smart lighting fans have had to wait for it to arrive.

The new Essentials range is designed to make Philips Hue more accessible, offering a more affordable way to add smart lighting around your home. Alongside a selection of A19 bulbs, GU10 spotlights and starter kits, there are two light strip options, and it’s the cheaper of the two that’s now available to buy in the UK.

The Philips Hue Essential Light Strip is priced at £49.99 for the 5-metre version. Right now it appears to be exclusive to Very and isn’t even listed on the Philips Hue website yet, but that should change soon. In the US, it’s already available direct from Philips Hue for $59.99.

Despite the lower price, the Essential Light Strip still delivers both white and colour gradient lighting effects. Users can tweak brightness and choose from a temperature range between 2,200K and 6,500K, and once paired with a Hue Bridge, advanced features like Matter integration and wider smart-home compatibility are available too.

There are a few compromises compared to Hue’s premium light strips. It only dims down to 2%, and its colour blending is less sophisticated and unable to extend. That said, you can cut it to size, and for the price, it's still a very appealing way to get started with the best smart lights.

Being T3’s resident smart lighting expert definitely has its perks. I get to test the very best models from the biggest brands, and it means I have a pretty strong idea of what’s actually worth recommending. However, there are so many great options out there that picking favourites isn’t easy... except when it comes to Philips Hue.

I’m a huge fan of Philips Hue, so I’ll always jump at the chance to test whatever the brand launches next. After years of trying the best Philips Hue lights, I’ve got a pretty clear idea of which models truly stand out – and now, the verdict’s in.

I’ve rounded up my three favourites and explained exactly why they’re worth your money. Keep reading to see which ones made the cut, and how much they’ll cost you.

1. Festavia Globe Outdoor String Lights

This is the newest addition to my list, launching alongside the Hue Bridge Pro back in September 2025 – and they’ve very quickly climbed to the top.

These shatterproof globe bulbs deliver beautifully saturated colour and crisp white light, whether you’re setting a soft gradient across a fence or along a garden wall. The 21-metre length is generous, and the low-voltage system means you can plug them into a standard outdoor socket using the included power supply. One of my favourite features is that each bulb is replaceable, so if one fails, you don’t have to repurchase the whole set.

Some of you may know that I’ve long been a fan of the WiZ Smart Outdoor String Lights, mostly because Philips Hue didn’t have a true alternative. I was therefore very excited when the Festavia Globe String Lights arrived, and it's no secret that they’ve completely won me over.

Buy the Festavia Globe Outdoor String Lights for £249.99

2. Play Wall Washer (2-pack)

There was a time when the Hue Play Bar would have made this list, but the Play Wall Washer has now firmly taken its place.

I’ve already written about the five reasons why the Philips Hue Play Wall Washer is one of the best smart lights I’ve tested, but it really comes down to brightness and coverage. It delivers up to 1,035 lumens, and also introduces Philips Hue’s new ColourCast technology, bringing in an advanced LED setup with three controllable zones. This results in rich gradients and cinematic lighting effects that really elevate a living room setup.

I’d strongly recommend the two-pack for maximum impact, especially if you’re working with a TV wall or entertainment space, but you can opt for a single unit if that suits your setup better.

Buy the Wall Washer (2-pack) for £299.99

3. Go Portable Accent Light

This one’s a bit of a golden oldie, but the Hue Go Portable Accent Light (often called the Go 2.0) is still one of my all-time favourites.

Portability is surprisingly rare in the Philips Hue lineup, which makes the Go stand out straight away. You can move it wherever you like, and on full brightness, you’ll get around 2.5 hours of battery life. However, a softer effect like Cosy Candle can make it last up to 18 hours.

You can of course control it through the app, but you can also use the button on the back to cycle through scenes and colours. At 4000K, it delivers up to 530 lumens, which isn't the brightest in the Hue range, but that’s not really the point. This light is all about creating ambience and atmosphere, and it's still one of the best models the brand offers.

Buy the Go Portable Accent Light for £79.99

Philips Hue is back again with another smart light upgrade. This time, it’s the Lucca lights line-up that are due to get an exciting update – but not in the way you might think.

Philips Hue has been upgrading many of its outdoor lights recently, including the Turaco Outdoor Wall Light. Most updates have included refreshed designs, full colour support and improved brightness, but for the Lucca series, the lights are getting entirely new bulbs.

The Lucca products set to be upgraded include the path light, wall light and pedestal light. The new update will give the Lucca lights the Philips Hue White and Colour E27 bulb, a common bulb used in most of Philips Hue lighting, but it will mark the first time it’s introduced to the Lucca line-up.

The E27 bulb will give the Lucca lights up to 1,100 lumens of brightness, which is a significant improvement from the previous 800 lumens. Colour effects will also be expanded, so users can indulge in more colours and scenes than before.

Aside from the new bulb, the Philips Hue Lucca range will stay the same, so the external designs and dimensions won’t change. So if it’s a new design you’re looking for, you might want to check out Philips Hue’s other outdoor lighting selection of which there are plenty of different styles to choose from.

As of writing, pricing and availability of the updated Lucca lights hasn’t been announced. Hue Blog – who originally reported on the new upgrade – has stated that prices are expected to remain unchanged, but this hasn’t been officially confirmed.

The current Philips Hue Lucca line-up starts at £89.99 / $109.99 so we’d expect the prices to be similar if not a bit higher to account for the new bulb – but we’ll have to wait and see.

It was only last month that Philips Hue announced it was working on an update for both of its Bridges, focused on a new automation tool. However, details were small and that was about all we knew – until now.

The new automation tool is now starting to appear in the Philips Hue app, sitting alongside the familiar sections you’ll already recognise. These include My Scenes, which shows your saved scenes, Lights, where you’ll find all your connected devices, and Controls, which lists your connected accessories.

Now, there’s also a dedicated Automations tab, which neatly lists all the automations linked to a specific Room or Zone, making them much easier to view and manage in one place.

This update follows another Philips Hue rollout from last week, which added three new languages to its AI assistant. Whilst the assistant was first introduced in June 2025, it launched in English only, meaning the latest update opens it up to a much wider audience.

It’s still not entirely clear why the new automation tool wasn’t detailed when it was first announced, but at least it hasn’t been long coming. You can download the latest version of the Philips Hue app now from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Philips Hue has just released a new update that gives more people access to its AI assistant. The tool first appeared back in June 2025, but at the time was limited to English only. With this latest update, support has now expanded to Spanish, German and Dutch, opening it up to a much wider audience.

This update has arrived quickly after the previous one, which laid the foundations for smarter automation controls across both Hue Bridges. That said, it’s not unusual to see Philips Hue pushing out multiple updates in a short space of time – the brand even managed two updates in a single month last year.

If you’re keen to try it out, you can download Philips Hue app version 5.60.1 now from the Apple App Store on iOS or the Google Play Store on Android.

As for what the AI assistant actually does, it lets users speak or type commands to personalise their lighting setup. It allows you to create scenes based on your mood, the occasion, or even your personal home decor taste.

The assistant is free to use and can be found in the Home tab of the Hue app, alongside the existing search function. There are also built-in feedback tools, making it easy for users to share what’s working and what isn't, helping Philips Hue continue to fine-tune the experience over time.

Philips Hue has quietly upgraded its popular Turaco Outdoor Wall Light, which first launched back in 2018. The new version comes with a higher lumen output and, perhaps more importantly, is no longer limited to white lighting. Instead, it can now produce both white and coloured light, bringing it up to standard with the rest of the brand's smart lighting lineup.

The Turaco is designed to wash light across the exterior walls of your home, similar to the Appear Outdoor Wall Light, but with a flatter, more rectangular look. We actually compared the original Turaco with the Philips Hue Impress back in 2021 if you're interested.

The new Philips Hue Turaco Outdoor Wall Light is currently available for £99.99 on Amazon, whilst the older version is still "temporarily out of stock" on the Philips Hue website. We’ll update you once the upgraded model officially appears there too.

The updated Turaco now uses an A60 bulb capable of both white and colour lighting. It also now delivers up to 1,100 lumens compared to the previous model’s 806 lumens, which is a pretty noticeable jump.

This update also follows a similar decision from Philips Hue with the previously discontinued Flourish Table Lamp, which has reappeared on Amazon with the same brightness upgrade. This shows that Philips Hue is giving some of its older favourites a much-needed improvement, which of course, is nothing to complain about.

Philips Hue might be about to bring back the Flourish table lamp after a new listing has appeared on Amazon Germany, first spotted by Fabian over at HueBlog. The lamp has been marked as “no longer available” on Philips Hue’s own website since 2022, after seemingly being edged out by newer favourites like the Iris table lamp and the Hue Go 2.0.

This new version looks set to come with a noticeable upgrade. The brightness is reportedly jumping from 806 lumens to 1,100 lumens, which should make it far more practical as an everyday light source. The original model launched at £129.99/$153.99, so it wouldn’t be surprising if a price increase arrives as well.

There’s still no word on an official launch date or pricing, but Philips Hue has a habit of quietly releasing products on Amazon first, so there’s a good chance this one will make a proper return.

One thing that still sets the Flourish apart from other Hue lamps is that it doesn’t have a built-in light. Instead, it uses a standard Philips Hue E27 bulb, which is included in the box and can be swapped out whenever needed. It makes the Flourish feel more like a traditional lamp, just a much smarter one.

We didn’t review the original version on the site, so we’ll be holding off judgement until this updated model officially launches. If it does, we’ll be keen to see whether it earns a spot amongst the best Philips Hue lights.

Philips Hue has teamed up with Logitech to create a work-from-home tech bundle that will making your setup feel more calming and productive. The bundle pairs Logitech’s sleek, eco-friendly Signature Slim Solar+ wireless keyboard with a Philips Hue A60 smart bulb twin pack, blending smart lighting with everyday desk essentials.

You’ll get the Hue A60 bulbs in either B22 or E27 fittings, alongside the Signature Slim Solar+ keyboard. Whilst the offer is specific to these products, they’re both standout picks from their respective brands and together they promise a better workspace that’s easier to focus in.

The bundle is exclusive to Argos and available until 2nd February, and saves you £28.50 compared to buying the products separately.

The Signature Slim Solar+ is powered entirely by ambient light, meaning it's wireless and can retain its charge for months. Logitech even claims the battery can last up to 10 years, which is about as impressive as it gets.

Meanwhile, the Philips Hue A60 smart bulbs deliver instant dimming and rich, colourful lighting. Whether you want warm white light for focused work or some colour to wind down at the end of the day, there's millions of shades to choose from.

If you’re looking for a simple way to upgrade your home office, the Philips Hue x Logitech bundle is available to buy now from Argos.

Philips Hue smart bulbs are undeniably some of the best you can buy, and a huge part of that is down to the wider Philips Hue ecosystem. There’s so much you can automate, but my favourite feature is actually one that tends to fly under the radar.

Just like you can put a smart thermostat into holiday mode, you can do something very similar with your best Hue lights. It’s called Mimic Presence, and it does exactly what you think – makes it look like you’re home when you’re not.

The feature lets you schedule your lights in different rooms to turn on and off throughout the day or evening, cycling through realistic light scenes. Instead of everything switching on at the same time, it mimics how you’d normally use each room, giving the impression that someone’s moving around the house.

How to use Mimic presence automation

Head to the Automations tab in the Hue app, tap Mimic Presence, choose which rooms or lights you want to include, and decide whether it should run all day or only when it’s dark. Hit play, and your lights will randomly turn on and off at believable times.

Before you go, it’s also worth checking out the underrated Amazon Alexa feature that turns your smart speaker into an intercom. That’s another one of my smart home favourites!

Philips Hue is getting ready to update both the new Bridge Pro and its predecessor, the Bridge v2, laying the foundations for some smarter automation controls. According to Signify, the update will be identical across both models, so no one will be missing out.

Back in August last year, Philips Hue made automations much easier to use by introducing a preview feature. Before that, you had to fully save a scene to see how it actually looked, but a new preview toggle now allows you to see a scene in action before committing. It’s believed this upcoming software update could follow a similar approach, letting users preview certain automation features before switching them on properly.

Whilst details are still fairly thin, we do know that automations will be viewable directly on the screen linked to a specific room or zone. The update is also expected to land “in the coming weeks”, so we won’t have to wait too long to see exactly what it can do.

As for the Philips Hue Bridge Pro, it launched back in September and brought with it the ability to control more devices and unlock additional features. There are a few things worth knowing before upgrading, but overall it’s been very warmly received and has slotted into the Hue lineup nicely.

It was also sold out for quite a while, but is now back in stock across most retailers, so check out some prices below:

If you’ve kept up with me on T3 before, you’ll know just how excited I’ve been for the Philips Hue Secure Video Doorbell. Ever since the first rumours started circulating, I was all in – partly because I’m already so deep into the Philips Hue ecosystem, but also because I loved the idea of a more design-led smart security option from the brand.

After it was finally revealed at IFA last year, it took a few more months before it actually arrived, but I couldn’t wait to start testing it properly. You’ll find my full thoughts below – although if you’ve already seen the headline, you’ll probably know where this is headed.

Philips Hue Secure Video Doorbell review: price and availability

The Philips Hue Secure Video Doorbell is priced at £139.99 in the UK and $169.99 in the US, and it’s available via the Philips Hue online store and Amazon. Whilst it’s currently out of stock on the official UK store, it can still be picked up through Amazon.

The doorbell itself needs to be paired with the Secure smart chime, which costs an extra £49.99/$59.99. In the US, there is a bundle available for $199.99, which does soften the blow a very small amount.

Even so, this makes it noticeably more expensive than many competing video doorbells, especially as the chime is mandatory. If you’re not already invested in the Hue ecosystem, you’ll also need a Hue Bridge, which pushes the total cost beyond £200. That’s a lot of money for a wired video doorbell, which brings me neatly onto the set up process.

Philips Hue Secure Video Doorbell review: unboxing and set up

Once installed, the Philips Hue Secure Video Doorbell is very easy to set up, particularly if you already use Philips Hue gadgets. That said, being a wired doorbell does introduce a few complications.

It requires low-voltage 12–24V AC wiring, and in many homes, existing doorbell wiring won’t be compatible. In my case, I had to buy a 24V transformer, which added around £20 to the overall cost. There is also the option to power it using a plug-in adapter, such as the Europe Zopule MYT240050, but this limits where you can install it. Adaptors like this aren’t really suitable for outdoor use, which rather defeats the point of a video doorbell.

This is one of my biggest frustrations with the Hue Secure doorbell. Battery-powered models (or wired ones that work with existing wiring) feel far more flexible, and it also means that if your power goes down, so does your security. It’s the main reason the review score has taken such a hit, especially when you compare it to how effortless Hue lighting products usually are.

Philips Hue Secure Video Doorbell review: design and features

As mentioned, the Philips Hue Secure Video Doorbell is designed to integrate tightly with the Hue lighting and Secure ecosystem. Design wise, it’s clean and understated, with a rectangular body, a large camera module at the top and a clearly defined button at the bottom. The matte black finish feels premium and it’s weather-resistant enough for outdoor use.

It features a 2K camera with a wide field of view, capturing a generous area around your doorstep. Day and night vision are supported, with IR sensors allowing for clear footage in low light. Built-in motion sensors trigger alerts and recordings automatically, and you can define custom detection zones for people and parcels.

The doorbell ties into Hue Secure Video, Philips’ cloud-based video and event system. With Secure Video enabled, footage is stored in the cloud, motion events are tagged, and the system can distinguish between people and objects. Everything is accessible through the Hue app, including video history and shared alerts for multiple users.

There’s no local storage option, such as an SD card, which is a shame – particularly if you’re used to running video doorbells without a subscription. However, once connected to a Hue Bridge, the doorbell sits neatly alongside your existing Hue devices, and Matter compatibility means it can also work within wider smart home platforms like Apple Home, Google Home and SmartThings.

Other features include two-way audio, configurable motion zones, and Hue-specific automations. For example, you can trigger lights to turn on, change colour or flash when motion is detected or when the doorbell is pressed.

Philips Hue Secure Video Doorbell review: performance

After setting up the Philips Hue Secure Video Doorbell, I was instantly impressed by how seamlessly it slotted into my existing Philips Hue system. It lives under the Security section of the app, where you can pair its built-in motion sensor with your Hue lights, allowing you to tweak brightness, colour and behaviour depending on what’s detected. This works really effectively, and I loved being able to tell someone was approaching in the evening simply because a lamp would flash a few times before the chime sounded.

That light-based alert is also a great alternative if you don’t want the chime going off at full volume, which is particularly useful if you’ve got children or pets asleep in the house. Initially, I wasn’t a fan of the fact that the doorbell itself didn’t light up when someone approached, but a recent software update has thankfully fixed this.

Another standout point is notification speed. Alerts are fast and often near-instant, which isn’t something I can say about every video doorbell I’ve tested. Having real-time feedback makes a big difference when it comes to feeling confident about your home security, especially if you’re relying on notifications rather than constantly checking the app.

On the subscription side, one thing I really appreciate about Hue’s approach is that it doesn’t force you behind a paywall for basic features. You get a 30-day free trial to access more advanced tools, but once that ends, you still retain 24 hours of free video history without paying anything. This isn't ideal if you regularly need to look back over longer periods, but if you’re quick enough, you can download clips within that 24-hour window and revisit them later. Ultimately, it comes down to how you use your doorbell.

Image quality is another strong point. The 2K resolution is sharp and detailed, and the night vision is impressively clear, with detail visible well into the distance. The extended view is also really useful, as it makes it easy to see both people at the door and parcels left on the ground. Live view is smooth and responsive too, with little to no delay – although, as always, that does depend on having a solid internet connection.

As for the chime, it sounds premium and offers a wide selection of ringtones, with full control over volume levels. It needs to be plugged in indoors and positioned fairly close to your front door, but that’s fairly standard for this kind of device.

One unexpected bonus I’ve noticed is that the doorbell itself doesn’t fog up. With the UK going through some fairly cold mornings lately, several other doorbells I’ve tested have struggled with condensation, sometimes staying foggy until mid-morning. I haven’t been able to find an official explanation for why the Hue Secure doorbell hasn’t had this issue, but it does make me wonder if Philips Hue is using some kind of special lens coating. Whatever it is, it works.

Philips Hue Secure Video Doorbell review: verdict

The Philips Hue Secure Video Doorbell is a clever device that performs well if you’re already deep into the Hue ecosystem. Its seamless integration with Hue lights, fast notifications, excellent 2K video quality and genuinely impressive night vision make it a strong performer in everyday use, and the lighting automations add a level of awareness that few rivals can match. However, the wired-only installation, lack of local storage and the overall cost quickly take the shine off what is otherwise a very well-executed product. For Hue loyalists, it will still make sense – but for everyone else, there are easier, cheaper and more flexible video doorbells available.

Philips Hue Secure Video Doorbell review: alternatives to consider

If you want a video doorbell that’s easier to install and offers both wired and battery options, Ring is still a safer bet. The Ring Battery Video Doorbell (2024) is a great model to go with, and significantly cheaper.

Alternatively, if you want strong image quality, good night vision and local storage, the Reolink Video Doorbell is another excellent option – and again, much more affordable.

Philips Hue has announced a brand new software feature called Hue SpatialAware, and it promises to upgrade your lighting experience in an extremely clever way. Instead of treating your best Philips Hue lights as individual bulbs, Hue SpatialAware actually analyses the layout of your room and the position of each light to create scenes that make far more sense in your setup.

The announcement came a little out of the blue, especially after Philips Hue’s big hardware launch at IFA back in September. That said, a smart software update feels like the perfect follow-up, particularly given the extra power and capabilities the Hue Bridge Pro has brought along.

Saying that, it's worth noting that Hue SpatialAware will be exclusive to Bridge Pro users only, with the rollout expected over the next few weeks. Once it arrives, you’ll find SpatialAware-optimised scenes in the Scene Gallery, with the option to switch back to the current mode if you prefer.

Right now, Hue scenes apply colours without really understanding where your lights are placed. Hue SpatialAware changes that by intelligently distributing colours based on each light’s position, creating scenes that better mimic natural light and movement. It’s a potentially game-changing update for anyone living in darker countries with shorter days, where lighting plays a big role in mood and energy.

As a huge Philips Hue fan, this is one update I’m really excited about – and I’ll be keeping a close eye on my app so I can share thoughts as soon as it goes live.

Having made its name with smart lights, Philips Hue now offers several contenders for our best security camera list, including the Philips Hue Secure 2K Wired camera reviewed here – a 2K resolution upgrade for the 1080p camera that remains on sale.

Having set up the camera and used it for a couple of weeks around my house, I can tell you everything you need to know about the Philips Hue Secure 2K Wired: from how simple the setup process is, to the tricks you can do with it through the companion mobile app.

When you've worked your way through this review, you should be able to judge whether or not this is the right security camera for you. If you're looking for more smart home kit, check out our expert guides to the best smart bulbs and the best video doorbells.

Philips Hue Secure 2K Wired Camera review: price and availability

The Philips Hue Secure 2K Wired is out and available to buy now: at the time of writing you can pick it up direct from the Philips Hue store or Amazon for £149.99 in either white or black, though the widgets available on this page should lead you directly to the best prices for the device currently available on the web.

The camera isn't sold yet outside of Europe, including in the US. A version with a desktop stand will cost you an extra £20.

Philips Hue Secure 2K Wired Camera review: design and setup

This is a camera that's reassuringly sturdy: it feels like a quality device when you pick it up, and of course, a little extra weight doesn't really matter for a camera that's going to be permanently stuck to the wall. I like the compact, curvy design too – it's a cut above a lot of the other security cameras on the market in terms of aesthetics. The device is also IP65 rated for protection against rain or snow.

Unless you pay extra for the desktop stand, you'll need to use the magnetic mounting kit to fix this to the wall: the mounting bracket, screw, and screw sleeve are included, though you'll have to bring the drill and the screwdriver. It shouldn't take you long though, and it's a relatively simple DIY job. Bear in mind though that you need to locate the camera somewhere where the power cable can connect to it.

The cable is of a generous length – it's 3 metres long in total – but it features a rather awkward connection at the camera end, and getting it threaded through the mounting bracket can be a bit fiddly. Still, it's far from the most complicated home security camera setup I've ever come across, and you get full instructions included in the box (and you can always pay a little extra for the stand).

You get the Philips Hue Secure 2K Wired connected to Wi-Fi through the official Philips Hue app for Android or iOS, which is friendly and intuitive. You don't have to use a Philips Hue Bridge plugged into your router to use this camera, but if you do have a Bridge, you can use motion alerts from your camera to trigger Philips Hue smart light routines.

Philips Hue Secure 2K Wired Camera review: Video and features

As the name suggests, the headline upgrade here is the 2K resolution: video footage looks really clear and sharp from the Philips Hue Secure 2K Wired, even if it could be argued that you don't really need video quality at this resolution when you're only checking the feed through your phone screen.

The infrared night vision is nice and crisp too, though it's in black and white rather than colour – and because there's no integrated light, you can't really see much in the gloom once you get more than a few steps away from the camera. This isn't the camera to get if you want to be able to see all the way down to the bottom of your garden in the dark.

During my testing, the motion detection features worked exactly as advertised: as soon as motion is sensed in front of the camera, you get a ping on your phone through the app. You can get blackout zones to protect your privacy around the home, and video is fully end-to-end encrypted too, which is a welcome bonus.

The app does a really nice job of ordering the captured motion events and letting you browse through them in the app – these clips are kept around for 24 hours, free of charge. It couldn't be any easier to dive into your video history, and if you do spot a problem, you can enable two-way audio or even sound a siren on the camera itself.

Then there are various paid-for features, yours with a subscription that costs from £3.99 a month. You get 30 or 60 days of video history to browse through, plus the ability to set out specific activity zones in the camera's view that trigger alerts when motion is detected, as well as the ability to detect between packages, vehicles, and people.

You get a free trial of these advanced features with your purchase, and in my testing the smart detection was very accurate – which is handy if you only want alerts when people pass by. Through the app, you can have the camera alert you about some kinds of motion detection and not others, and customise the alerts based on whether you're at home or away (based on the location of your phone).

The 110-degree field of vision is somewhat limiting, and there are of course security cameras that go up to 4K resolutions now. However, even if it doesn't have the best specs in the business, the Philips Hue Secure 2K Wired is still a very competent smart home device that's simple to set up and simple to use.

Then you've got the easy integration with Philips Hue lights. You can get your lights to react to motion detection alerts if you'd like, which can work better than a ping on your phone sometimes – and it's a useful automatic security measure to have certain lights turn on when movement is detected, late at night or while you're away from home.

Philips Hue Secure 2K Wired Camera review: verdict

While the Philips Hue Secure 2K Wired doesn't exactly excel in any particular area, it doesn't disappoint in any area either. The video feed is of a high quality, the motion detection and other camera features work as advertised, and it's easy to set up and mount to a wall – it's definitely above average in its design and aesthetics too.

One of the main reasons why you might choose this camera over any other is because of the excellent integration with the Philips Hue ecosystem, and the quality of the Hue app. If you already have Philips Hue lights and a companion bridge device, this camera is an obvious next pick – you can sync lighting scenes to motion alerts, and have your home and garden light up when movement is detected while you're away.

While the camera doesn't offer any local storage options, and does put some useful features behind a paid subscription (including smart person and package detection), you can at least keep your video clips for 24 hours for free – which should give you enough time to review and respond to any security problems that might be happening.

If you don't already have any Philips Hue products then it's a somewhat tougher sell, but the reliability, build quality, ease of use, and mobile app polish that the Philips Hue smart bulbs are known for is in evidence again here. It's a product I'd gladly recommend to others, though there are some strong competing devices out there as well.

Philips Hue Secure 2K Wired Camera review: alternatives to consider

There's plenty of choice out there for the discerning home security camera buyer. Take the eufyCam S4, for example, which brings some of the advanced features the Philips Hue Secure 2K Wired doesn't have: solar power, a 4K resolution, motorised panning, and local storage. It is rather bulky though, and costs significantly more than the Philips Hue model.

Another alternative is the Ring Outdoor Camera Plus Battery – and that battery power means it is of course easier to install and position anywhere. It also has a 2K resolution and is more affordable than the Philips Hue Secure 2K Wired, though it's not quite as easy on the eye, and does need a paid subscription for most of the best features.

Philips Hue has absolutely excelled itself this year when it comes to product launches and software updates. As someone whose job it is to keep you lovely lot up to speed, it’s been a lot to keep up with – not that I’m complaining, of course.

However, the brand has just dropped a new software update that I had to share, simply because it’s the best one we’ve seen in a quite a while. Philips Hue app version 5.57.0 is an impressive update filled with lots of useful new features, especially if you own some of the best Philips Hue lights.

It follows the previous update, version 5.56.0, which arrived a few weeks back with a handful of minor stability tweaks and bug fixes. However, there was nothing groundbreaking, so this new release really stands out.

With version 5.57.0, users can now migrate multiple Hue Bridges to a Bridge Pro, which was one of the biggest frustrations people had when the Bridge Pro first launched. It was also something I pointed out in my 5 things to know before switching to the Hue Bridge Pro, so it's great to see Philips Hue listening and improving here.

You’ll also now find a device count in Settings > Devices, and users can filter their lights by each Hue Bridge, which is really handy for anyone with a bigger setup.

There are a couple of nice upgrades for Philips Hue Secure users too. The Hue Secure Wired Camera can now detect the sound of a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm, and users can set up push notifications for these events under the Detections section. On top of that, there’s a new daily peak activity view in the Insights section of the Security Centre.

Finally, Philips Hue has added battery replacement instructions and troubleshooting tips to the edit screen of all switches and sensors. This is a small update, but very welcome.

Users can download Philips Hue app version 5.57.0 today from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

I’m absolutely loving the smart home deals this Black Friday. Usually the lineup is slightly underwhelming, but this year, there are loads worth shouting about.

I’ve already rounded up the three discounted gadgets I used to build my own smart home, as well the 5 smart home deals I really wish had existed when I first started. Now, it’s time to take a look at the ones I think genuinely deserve your attention. Below, you’ll find five discounted smart home gadgets that are well worth a look.

After reviewing and testing so many of the best devices, I always get asked what people should actually buy when these big shopping events roll around. Well – here you go! You'll find them all below.

I’m pretty pleased with how far my smart home has come over the years – especially considering how many different gadgets I’ve added along the way. Black Friday is always my favourite time to top up my collection with things I haven’t picked up yet, and this year’s deals are making it very tempting.

However, it’s also the perfect moment to share the gadgets that have worked for me, and, of course, track down the best prices on them. Below are the three products I’ve basically built my smart home around, all from brands I trust completely.

I’ve also found the best Black Friday deals for each one, which you’ll find below too.

1. Amazon Echo Show 15

When I first started building my smart home, I decided to go with Amazon Alexa as my chosen ecosystem. If I were starting today, with so many more Matter-compatible choices around, maybe I’d have had more to consider – but I’m still pretty happy I stuck with Amazon.

Whilst the Echo Spot was the smart speaker that kicked everything off for me, the Amazon Echo Show 15 is what I’d buy now. It’s a gorgeous 15.6-inch Full HD smart display that’s perfect for the kitchen, letting you control devices with your voice or with quick taps on the smart home dashboard.

As it’s nearly 25% off on Amazon for Black Friday, there’s no better time to grab your own.

2. Aqara Smart Doorbell Camera G410

Aqara is undeniably one of the best budget smart home brands, and after testing several of its devices, the Aqara Smart Doorbell Camera G410 has become my favourite video doorbell in a long time.

You can wire it in or run it on batteries, and it also uses an mmWave radar sensor instead of a traditional motion sensor, which means a lot less false alarms. However, the feature that really stands out is the fact it has a built-in Matter controller, so it doubles as a hub for Aqara Zigbee devices and practically any Matter device.

This doorbell is actually what inspired me to expand my smart home with even more Aqara gadgets, and I’ve recently picked up the G100 Security Camera and the G3 Camera Hub – both of which I’ll be testing soon.

Right now, the G410 is reduced to just under £100, so grab it before the deal vanishes.

3. Philips Hue Bridge

Finally, I had to mention Philips Hue – the smart home brand that's had my whole heart for many years now. I probably own more of the best Philips Hue lights than I’d ever admit, but none of the magic would be possible without the Philips Hue Bridge.

I’m currently reviewing the Philips Hue Bridge Pro, but until then, the original Bridge is still the one I’d recommend. Whilst some Hue devices work without a hub, having the Bridge unlocks the more advanced features and gives you the seamless experience the brand is known for.

I haven’t found the Bridge discounted on its own yet, but this starter kit is even better. Currently 50% off, it includes the Bridge, two B22 smart bulbs and a smart button for just £40. Considering the Bridge alone usually costs £49.99, that’s an unbeatable deal.

Philips Hue has officially launched its 2025 Black Friday sale, which means you can finally grab a bargain on everything from its best smart lights to its Secure smart security lineup. The official Hue store only has a handful of single item discounts, because the main focus this year is a mix-and-match offer which lets you choose any two or more products and get 30% off your total.

It’s a great deal if you’re building out your smart home, and you can browse all the eligible products in one place. However, if you’re just after a single item, don’t worry –we’ve rounded up the best standalone Philips Hue deals from other retailers below.

Read on to find discounts on everything from smart bulbs to security devices, and don’t forget to check out our main Black Friday Philips Hue deals hub as well.

One of my great joys in life these days is building my smart home, and if you think that sounds boring, I’m afraid you might be in the wrong place. I love adding new gadgets to my setup, and whilst it usually happens slowly throughout the year, Black Friday is the perfect time to stock up.

Now that the deals have properly kicked in, there are some brilliant discounts on smart home tech. You can check out our smart home live hub for the full list, but since I’ve been doom-scrolling deals for days, I thought I’d round up a few favourites I wish I’d spotted sooner.

1. Amazon Echo Show 8 (2025)

When I first started building my smart home, I would’ve loved the newest Echo Show 8 to be its central hub. That wasn't possible because it only launched two months ago, but if I were starting from scratch today, this would be my first buy.

The redesigned 8.7" display gives you 15% more screen space than the 2023 model, and there's Omnisense tech for better personalisation. The audio also got a big upgrade, with up to 2x more bass compared with the original.

Its Black Friday discount isn’t huge (just £20 right now), but I’m keeping a very close eye on it in case it drops further.

2. Philips Hue Smart Plug (2-pack)

My smart home is pretty much 80% Philips Hue, especially when it comes to the best smart lights. However, when it comes to smart plugs, I somehow wandered over to Meross and Eve. If I’d seen this deal though, I’d have added them to my Philips Hue portfolio.

At Argos, the 2-pack is just under £36, which works out to less than £18 per plug. For Philips Hue, that’s basically unheard of, so I'd really recommend snapping it up as soon as possible.

3. Reolink Video Doorbell (Battery)

Reolink is a newer smart home brand for me, but I’ve been really impressed ever since finding it. I reviewed the Reolink Video Doorbell earlier this year and ended up keeping it – which is a lot rarer than you'd think.

If I’d known in previous years that it would drop by £36 for Black Friday, I would’ve jumped on it sooner. It has brilliant battery life, excellent video quality and colour night vision, and pretty much ticks every box I have for a video doorbell.

4. Nanoleaf Desk Dock (2-pack)

One of my favourite smart home finds this year is the Nanoleaf Pegboard Desk Dock. It’s part smart lighting, part desk organiser, which if you know anything about me, is completely up my street.

The only downside was the price…but now that's a totally different story.

Right now, both the single pack and the 2-pack are discounted in Nanoleaf's Black Friday sale, but the 2-pack is much better value. I also think they look so much nicer side-by-side, and my whole desk setup feels calmer since adding them.

5. Alexa Smart Kettle

Every Black Friday, I consider buying the Alexa Smart Kettle. I love the idea of adding smart kitchen appliances to my ecosystem, and whilst it would be extremely hard for me to betray my beloved Smeg KLF03, I’m not ruling anything out.

You can switch it on from anywhere using Alexa, and you can even control it with your voice. You know what… I’m still very tempted. This might be the year.

We Philips Hue fans were over the moon when the brand finally launched its Secure video doorbell after months of rumours. I was especially excited as my house is already filled with some of the best Philips Hue lights, so adding a Hue doorbell into the mix just made sense.

I haven’t had the chance to fully review the doorbell yet (the chime has arrived… but I’m still waiting on the actual doorbell) but that hasn’t stopped me from keeping an eye on everyone else’s experiences. Reviews have been positive so far, but early users did point out that visitors struggled to see the doorbell at night, and often pressed the upper camera instead of the actual button.

After this popped up again and again, Fabian over at Hueblog recently uncovered that Philips Hue has quietly rolled out a free update to fix the problem.

Now, the LED ring around the doorbell button automatically lights up when someone approaches your door, making it much more obvious where to press. That said, it looks like users can’t currently adjust this motion-triggered lighting in the settings, which suggests it’s been added automatically – either through the latest Hue app update (version 5.55.0) or via a firmware update to the doorbell itself.

The Hue Secure Wired Video Doorbell is currently available for £139.99/$169.99/€169.99 on the Philips Hue site and from other retailers. It’s such a new product that we’re not expecting any Black Friday discounts, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the Hue range won’t be on offer. You can always check out my Philips Hue Black Friday deals hub to stay up to date.

By late autumn, daylight can feel in short supply. Your garden, terrace, or balcony might spend half the day in shadow, and by the time you’re home from work it’s already dark. But with the right low-energy lighting, those outdoor spaces don’t have to disappear for the season.

Smart LED lighting is the simplest way to keep your garden glowing through winter. They’re energy-efficient, weather-resistant, and far more flexible than the halogens and fairy lights of old.

Winter does add a few complications, of course. Short days mean limited solar charging, cold temperatures drain batteries faster, and damp weather can challenge cheaper fixtures.

The trick is choosing lighting that’s built for year-round use: efficient LEDs powered by low-voltage or mains connections, with sturdy IP65-rated housings and smart home control to handle everything automatically.

Buy smart: your winter-proof checklist

When the temperature drops, not all outdoor lights are up to the task. The best winter setups strike a balance between efficiency, durability, and smart control.

Start with power and efficiency. LEDs are a must: they use a lot less energy than halogen bulbs and last far longer, even in freezing weather.

Mains-powered or low-voltage systems such as the Philips Hue Outdoor range deliver steady brightness all year, while solar-powered lights can still add a decorative touch but tend to struggle through December and January.

Weatherproofing is equally vital. Look for fittings rated IP65 or above to resist rain and frost, and don’t forget about connectors or drivers – these are often where moisture gets in. Durable housings like those found on Hue’s Appear wall light are designed to handle winter damp.

Smart automation and control make a big difference, too. App or voice-controlled schedules let you dim lights overnight or trigger motion-based boosts as someone walks by, keeping your garden bright only when needed.

Finally, consider colour and layering. Warm whites (around 2700K–3000K) create a cosy glow on patios and seating areas, while neutral whites suit paths and steps.

Architectural and feature uplighting

The first step to great outdoor lighting is giving your garden structure after dark. Architectural or feature 'uplighting' adds definition to walls, trees, and planters, creating a sense of depth that flat, overhead lighting can’t match.

When we tested the Philips Hue Lily Outdoor Spotlights, we found them ideal for this kind of work. Their low-voltage design keeps power use minimal, while the Hue app lets you tweak brightness or colour temperature to suit the season.

Point them upwards to silhouette an evergreen or wash light gently across a brick wall, and you’ll instantly add warmth and definition. Because they’re part of the Hue ecosystem, you can automate scenes to dim late at night or adjust with the weather.

The Philips Hue Appear Outdoor Wall Light works brilliantly alongside the Lily. Its sleek, up-and-down design creates crisp columns of light that frame entrances or highlight pergola pillars.

Built to an IP65 standard, it’s tough enough for frost and heavy rain, and looks far smarter than traditional bulkhead fittings.

Paths and edges

Good path lighting isn’t just decorative – it’s practical, guiding your way on dark, frosty evenings and reducing the risk of slips.

The trick is to achieve safety lighting without flooding your garden in harsh white glare. Low-level, directional fixtures are best for this: they illuminate the ground clearly while keeping the rest of the space calm and inviting.

The Philips Hue Nyro Pedestal is one of the smartest options we’ve tested for this layer. Its sleek, architectural design fits neatly along borders, steps, or driveways, producing a gentle downward wash that’s bright enough for visibility but never overpowering.

A simple automation routine works wonders for energy saving. Try setting your path lights to come on at dusk at reduced brightness, dim that around midnight, and jump to a higher brightness when motion is detected.

Ambient strings and seasonal sparkle

With your main lights in place, it’s time to add atmosphere. Ambient lighting gives your garden warmth, depth, and a soft glow that makes winter evenings feel inviting rather than off-limits.

The Philips Hue Festavia (2nd gen) string lights are ideal for this. Once indoor-only, they’re now outdoor-rated, with tougher cabling and weather sealing that makes them perfect for fences, pergolas, or railings.

For broader smart-home compatibility, the Nanoleaf Matter Smart Holiday String Lights are a great alternative. Supporting Matter and Thread, they connect easily to Alexa, Google Home, or Apple Home.

Run strings at head height around seating areas or along fences, keeping brightness modest. Warm whites and low-intensity hues create the most inviting glow while sipping power

Portable, grab-and-glow table lighting

Not every corner of your garden needs a permanent fixture. Portable lighting adds flexibility and is ideal for dining tables, balconies, or tucked-away seating areas where running cables isn’t practical.

The Philips Hue Go Portable Table Lamp remains one of the best examples we’ve tested. Its built-in battery lasts up to 48 hours on low brightness, and it’s splash-resistant to IP44, so it can handle drizzly evenings or light frost.

The soft, diffused glow is perfect for table lighting, and the integrated Hue controls mean you can adjust colour temperature or dim levels straight from your phone.

How to save energy in winter

Smart lighting isn’t just convenient, it’s one of the easiest ways to cut energy use without losing ambience. With long nights ahead, automation ensures your garden only shines when needed.

Start with schedules. A dusk-to-bedtime routine keeps lights responsive to seasonal daylight, switching on as it gets dark and dimming automatically overnight. Systems like Philips Hue let you set smooth brightness changes, so energy isn’t wasted at full output.

Add motion sensors for paths and driveways to trigger lights only when movement is detected, fading gently afterwards. Lastly, check weather seals and connectors before winter. Even smart fittings can lose efficiency if moisture seeps in.

With the right schedules, sensors, and maintenance, you’ll keep energy bills low and your garden glowing all season.

This week’s feeling extra spooky with Halloween landing on Friday, and what better way to get in the mood than by lighting up some of the best Philips Hue lights. Sure, some people might be all about the chocolate and sweets, but you know how we roll at T3.

Philips Hue hasn’t added any new scenes this year, although nine autumn-inspired dynamic effects appeared under the banner of Harvest Hue last month. It’s been a while since the brand released this many at once, so we’ll forgive it for skipping Halloween-specific ones.

That said, I’ve rounded up my favourite scenes below so you know exactly what to fire up for some spooky vibes.

1. Trick or treat

This playful Philips Hue scene captures the essence of Halloween night perfectly. Expect a cheerful mix of orange, purple and soft white tones that bring a warm, welcoming glow to your hallway or front porch.

2. Glowing Grins

Glowing Grins fills your home with rich, fiery oranges and subtle yellows that flicker like candlelight. It’s perfect for those who love traditional Halloween décor, and the warm, golden tones create a comforting yet slightly mischievous feeling.

3. Spellbound

Spellbound will bring a touch of mystery and magic to your Halloween setup. Deep purples, eerie greens and midnight blues swirl together like a bubbling potion, casting an enchanting glow over your room. It’s perfect for anyone who wants their smart lights to feel more like part of a witch’s cauldron than a regular bulb setup.

4. Witching hour

This one’s for those who like their Halloween lighting a little darker. Witching Hour uses shadowy purples, blues and subtle red accents to mimic the feeling of midnight magic. It’s moody, cinematic, and slightly chilling – great for setting the tone before a horror movie marathon or for adding atmosphere to a Halloween party.

5. Phantom

Phantom provides soft whites, cool greys and flashes of icy blue that mimic moonlight filtering through mist. It’s a brilliant scene for creating a subtle horror vibe without plunging everything into darkness.

6. Hocus Pocus

Finally, Hocus Pocus mixes warm oranges, electric purples and flashes of green to give your home a magical, theatrical flair. If you love the sparkle and spectacle of Halloween, this scene will be your go-to every year.

7. Toil and Trouble

Think swirling greens and smoky purples that create the illusion of a bubbling potion or magical energy brewing in the air. Toil and Trouble playful but still mysterious, making it great for themed parties or immersive Halloween setups.

After months of rumours, I was so excited when Philips Hue finally confirmed the new Hue Bridge Pro during the biggest product launch the brand has ever done. Not only did it include many of the features I had been hoping for, but it was also available to buy straight away.

Mine arrived pretty quickly, and whilst I’ll be putting together a full, in-depth review in the coming weeks, I wanted to share a quick list of the five things you should know before making the switch based on my own understanding and research so far.

Below, you’ll find my top takeaways, and keep an eye out for the full review – it’s coming soon!

1. Be prepared to manually add products

Whilst the new Hue Bridge Pro is designed to be extremely user-friendly, it’s not simply a matter of swapping it in for your old bridge. You’ll still need to connect it to your Wi-Fi router, power it on and then go through the Hue app migration process. Philips Hue has even said that some products may go missing from your setup, and its advice is to "reconnect them manually after migration."

As mentioned, I haven't fully began this process yet, so it'll be interesting to see what happens when it does. I also have quite a large setup which I'm expecting to take some time to migrate over. However, the Philips Hue app is brilliant, so I'm expecting it to guide me through each step clearly.

2. Scenes and automations might need rebuilding

It's pretty likely that some of your old settings won’t automatically transfer to the Pro. That means any time-based routines, motion-triggered automations or special light scenes you created may need to be recreated manually as well.

However, I'm pretty excited to use this as an opportunity to rethink my setup. I have a lot of old routines and settings that I don't use anymore, so it'll be good to consolidate these and start afresh.

3. Your old Bridge can’t run in parallel

Once you’ve fully migrated to the Hue Bridge Pro, your previous bridge will no longer control your lights. Unlike some systems where you can keep multiple hubs online simultaneously, the Hue setup requires a full migration.

Make sure all your devices are ready to pair with the new bridge and that you won’t need the old bridge for any legacy setups. I'm going to pass my old one onto a friend who is thinking of buying Philips Hue smart lights for the first time!

4. You'll have a more responsive experience

One of the biggest immediate benefits of switching to the new Bridge Pro is speed and reliability. The Pro has a more powerful processor and more memory than previous models, meaning it handles more bulbs and accessories without lag.

If you’ve noticed delays with your existing setup, it's pretty likely you’ll notice a clear improvement. It’s especially helpful in larger homes or setups with 50+ devices, where the previous Bridge might have started to feel sluggish.

5. Embrace the Matter integration

The Hue Bridge Pro supports Matter, which means adding new smart devices from other brands is much simpler. You won’t have to worry as much about ecosystem exclusivity, as many different lights, sensors, plugs or other Matter-compatible devices can now work seamlessly alongside your Hue system.

Whilst your existing bulbs and switches function the same, this makes expanding your smart home far easier, and ensures that whatever you add in the next few years will integrate smoothly.

Prime Big Deal Days are here! If you’re looking to upgrade your home’s lighting, Amazon’s latest sale has huge savings on smart bulbs, strips, bars, strings and more.

Right now, you can get up to 50% off the best smart lighting from Philips Hue, Govee and Nanoleaf. To help you find the best savings, I’ve rounded up the top nine deals on smart lighting that you should buy this Prime Day – check them out below.

It’s no secret that Philips Hue has had a massive few months, especially after its big product launch at IFA 2025. The brand has already rolled out what feels like every product under the sun in the past few weeks, but it's now gone and treated us to yet another update, this time in the form of brand new lighting scenes.

As spotted by Fabian from Hueblog.com, nine autumn-inspired dynamic effects have quietly appeared in the Hue scene gallery under the cosy banner of Harvest Hues. I absolutely love this time of year so they’re right up my street – especially since my smart home setup is pretty much exclusively made up of the best Philips Hue lights at this point.

The latest update (version 5.51.0) only landed a few weeks ago, and these scenes weren’t mentioned in the release notes, so the arrival has come as a pleasant surprise for many.

The new lineup includes a mix of warm and whimsical colour options. There’s Golden Hours, a 24-hour scene that shifts with your circadian rhythm, as well as a range of orange-inspired shades like Amber Robin, Pumpkin Patch, and Autumn Harvest. If orange isn’t your thing, you’ll also find cooler options like Downtown Drizzle, November Haze and Woodland Toadstool.

You can try them all now by updating to the latest version of the Philips Hue app via the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Before you go, make sure you check out our five reasons to be excited about the new Philips Hue doorbell as well.