The Bridge Pro from Philips is finally here after years of anticipation and frustration with capacity limitations. Priced at £79.99, this upgraded control hub is a game-changer in the Hue ecosystem, offering new capabilities and addressing the device limit bottleneck.
The Bridge Pro retails for £79.99, a £25 premium over the current bridge’s price. Considering the quality and premium price point of Hue products, the Bridge Pro is a reasonable investment for those needing extra capacity.
The most significant improvement with the Bridge Pro is the increased capacity, supporting up to 150 lights and 50 accessories compared to the current bridge’s 63-device limit. This upgrade eliminates the need for multiple bridges in most installations and simplifies management.
The hardware specifications of the Bridge Pro represent a generational leap, with a 1.7GHz quad-core Cortex-A35 CPU and 8GB DDR4 SDRAM, offering faster performance and expanded memory for complex automation routines.
Connectivity enhancements include Wi-Fi support and USB-C power delivery, providing more flexibility and ease of use. The MotionAware technology is a standout feature, turning standard Hue bulbs into motion sensors, reducing the need for additional hardware.
Enhanced security controls and future-proofing measures ensure the Bridge Pro is secure and compatible with emerging smart home standards. Migration tools and compatibility features make upgrading to the Pro model seamless for existing users.
Despite some limitations in Entertainment zone functionality and unchanged wireless range, the Bridge Pro is a solid upgrade for users with extensive installations. The performance improvements and new features justify the investment for serious Hue users.
In conclusion, the Bridge Pro offers a significant upgrade to Philips’ current offerings, addressing user complaints and introducing innovative new capabilities. Whether the investment is worth it depends on your setup’s complexity, but for Hue enthusiasts, this upgrade is a long-awaited and necessary improvement.
