Ecosystem – Tutor Dasher

Please note that any links to online stores in this article may be affiliates. The company or PR agency has provided most of the review samples. However, they have no control over the content, and the opinions expressed are my own. Philips Hue has recently unveiled a major update to its smart lighting range, introducing the more accessible Essential series alongside significant expansions to its strip lighting and security offerings. These updates, part of the "Reimagine Your Home" campaign, aim to make smart lighting more appealing to a wider audience while also enhancing features for existing users. For a more detailed look at the Philips Hue Bridge Pro, you can check out my article here. Philips Hue Essential Range Makes Smart Lighting More Accessible The new Philips Hue Essential range addresses one of the key barriers to smart lighting adoption – cost. These products offer the core Philips Hue experience while providing simplified lighting performance at more affordable price points. The Essential lineup includes A19 bulbs starting from £19.99 for single packs, GU10 spotlights at the same price point, and versatile strip lights. All Essential products are compatible with the main Philips Hue line in terms of software and connectivity protocols. Essential bulbs offer full control over white and color spectrum, dimming capability down to two percent of total brightness, and easy plug-and-play setup. Users can manage these lights through the Hue app or popular voice assistants, with options to automate lighting based on daily routines or preferences. Starter kits are available for newcomers, with the Essential E27 two-piece starter kit plus Hue Bridge V2 priced at £69.99. Other variations include three and four-piece kits for £79.99 and larger setups respectively. Strip Lighting Receives Comprehensive Overhaul Philips Hue has completely revamped its strip lighting range, introducing seven new models that significantly expand brightness capabilities and application scenarios. The updated lineup goes beyond decorative uses, with some strips now capable of providing primary room lighting. Premium OmniGlow Technology The flagship Philips Hue OmniGlow strip light represents the most advanced offering, utilizing chip-scale-package (CSP) technology to deliver uniform, spot-free lighting. With brightness of up to 4,500 lumens, OmniGlow strips can effectively illuminate entire rooms while maintaining smooth color gradients along their length. OmniGlow strips will be available in three lengths: 3m at £119.99, 5m, and 10m variants, set to launch in Q4 2025 for the UK market. Expanded Strip Light Portfolio The new range covers a wide range of application scenarios: - Philips Hue Flux strip light provides customizable decorative mood lighting for indoor spaces, available from £59.99 for 3m lengths. - Philips Hue Flux ultra bright strip light offers enhanced brightness with accurate white reproduction and rich colors, suitable for both functional and decorative applications at £84.99 for 3m. - Outdoor variants include the Flux outdoor strip light (£129.99 for 5m) and neon outdoor strip light (£119.99 for 3m), both offering IP-rated weather protection for year-round outdoor use. - Essential range strips offer budget-conscious options with the standard Essential strip light (£49.99 for 5m) and Essential flex strip light (£84.99 for 5m) for customizable neon-style installations. Most strips offer cutting, extending, and reusing capabilities, supported by purpose-built accessories including extensions, connectors, and mounting brackets. Festavia Range Expands Outdoor Lighting Options The popular Festavia permanent lighting range gains two new products designed for year-round outdoor ambiance. Festavia permanent string lights mount along building facades or rooflines, providing customizable lighting for any occasion without the need for seasonal installation and removal. Available in 9m (£99.99) and 18m (£249.99) lengths, these IP65-rated lights offer full app control with dynamic scenes and effects suitable for holidays, celebrations, or everyday ambiance. The new Festavia globe string lights feature unique lightguide-style bulbs that create distinctive filament-effect illumination. These complement the permanent range with elegant lighting for balconies, pergolas, and outdoor entertainment areas. Pricing starts at £139.99 for 7m lengths, with 14m and 21m options available. Both Festavia products support Spotify synchronization for music-driven light displays and maintain weather resistance for continuous outdoor operation. Enhanced Security Through Hue Secure Expansion Philips Hue has significantly expanded its Hue Secure portfolio with new hardware and software features that integrate lighting with home security monitoring. New Video Doorbell and Smart Chime The Hue Secure video doorbell (£139.99) offers 2K high-resolution monitoring with a 180-degree fisheye lens and Starlight night vision technology. The doorbell integrates with existing Philips Hue lights, automatically activating them when motion is detected or when someone rings the bell. Two-way communication allows users to interact with visitors remotely, while integration with the broader Hue ecosystem enables customized lighting responses to doorbell activity. The accompanying Hue Smart Chime (£49.99) ensures users receive audible notifications throughout their home when the doorbell rings. The chime offers customizable sounds and can trigger nearby Hue lights for visual alerts, with scheduling options for quiet hours and different tones based on the time of day. Expanded Camera Portfolio New 2K wired cameras (£149.99) deliver enhanced image quality with plug-and-play installation via included PSU-C power supplies. These cameras integrate with Hue Secure's advanced features, including automatic light and sound alarms triggered by detected activity. Software Enhancements and MotionAware Hue Secure receives several software updates, including free 24-hour video history access (previously requiring a subscription), smoke alarm signal detection with emergency lighting responses, and planned AI-powered facial recognition for 2026. The new MotionAware feature, exclusive to Hue Bridge Pro users with Hue Secure subscriptions, transforms existing Philips Hue lights into motion sensors. Over 95% of Hue lights support this functionality, creating an extensive detection network that can trigger alerts and lighting responses when movement is detected throughout the home. Bridge Pro and Technical Improvements The Hue Bridge Pro provides the foundation for advanced features, supporting up to 150 lights and 50 accessories. The new bridge enables MotionAware functionality and offers improved performance through its enhanced processor and memory configuration. Standard Philips Hue A19 bulbs receive significant updates, including up to 40% efficiency improvements compared to previous generations and dimming capability down to 0.2% of total brightness. All new bulbs, including those in the Essential range, now support Matter over Thread connectivity alongside existing Zigbee and Bluetooth protocols. Partnership and AI Development Philips Hue has announced a partnership with Sonos to integrate smart lighting with audio systems. Initially, Sonos Voice Control users will be able to operate Philips Hue lights through voice commands, with further integration planned. AI capabilities are expanding following the early 2025 debut of the generative AI assistant, now available in most markets. The assistant creates lighting scenes based on user mood, style, or occasion descriptions. Upcoming features include AI-powered automation creation and enhanced Hue Sync PC app functionality that uses AI to extract relevant on-screen events for more responsive entertainment lighting. Availability and Pricing Most products are set to launch in September 2025, with Essential A19 bulbs, GU10 spotlights, and starter kits available immediately. Strip lights will follow varied schedules, with Essential strips arriving in December 2025 and premium options including OmniGlow launching in Q4 2025. Hue Secure products, including the video doorbell and smart chime, will be available in October 2025, while Festavia permanent string lights are expected to arrive in December 2025. These updates mark Philips Hue's most extensive product refresh in recent years, addressing accessibility concerns with the Essential range while expanding capabilities for advanced users through enhanced security features and improved connectivity options. The combination of more affordable entry points and sophisticated new features positions the ecosystem to appeal to both newcomers and existing smart home enthusiasts.

Tag: Ecosystem

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