Another Philips Hue review here. Honestly, I only buy open‑box options or wait for Prime Day because the price is steep for my taste. But it’s the ONLY smart lighting system I’ll use. The superiority comes from the Zigbee hub setup. Back when I was using Wi‑Fi bulbs, they constantly searched for a better signal—even when they already had the best connection. With 50 devices on my ultra‑fast 1TB internet, 30 of them were smart bulbs, and the constant chatter bogged everything down. Switching to Hue solved that problem. All the lights connect through a single hub, so my Wi‑Fi is fast again, and the bulbs respond instantly. The color options are excellent, the app is reliable, and the system scales beautifully across the house. Expensive, yes—but if you care about performance and stability, Hue is the smart lighting system to trust. Read more
I’ve been accumulating these bulbs for the past 10 years. I can say these still mach the color rendering of the first batch. The Hue app has been slowly updated over the years to include some nice features including lighting effects and security features. I will say that it is a bit annoying that the app requires an account and login to use the remote features but that has become the norm with IoT devices. I can say that the color rendering and smoothness of dimming is still superior to most of the less expensive alternatives on Amazon. Once you add in the quality of the control app as well as very good Apple HomeKit integration, the Hue lights and system are still the superior option. Read more
Even given the price point for these smart color bulbs, I have continued to purchase them because of their ease of use to change the mood in the particular room you use them in, the fact that they will likely be the last light bulb you will ever purchase, and they are transferable if you decide to move from your current home or apartment. They fit into your standard light socket and are built for quality and durability. If the fact that they only draw 7.2 watt doesn't attract you, get them for the fun they create during the holidays. Read more
Love these smart bulbs because you only need to download an app to turn them on, change color & brightness. As easy to install as screwing in a lightbulb. Easy to control as tapping on your app icon. No other equipment necessary unless you want to use a dozen or more of these bulbs. Lasts for years. Functions as described. Read more
These bulbs are great, I have about 60 of them around my house. These were to replace a couple that died, but most bulbs are lasting over 7 years even outside in post lights. The programs you can use to make them change colors for holidays is great, definitely use the app. You can also buy remote switches you can program to the room so you can turn on and off the lights remotely. Read more
I don’t have the Phillips hub and just connect them via Bluetooth but WiFi is an option I just don’t want to make a Phillips account. I got these bulbs to replace the ones in my ceiling fan. Set up is simple just scan the QR code and plug them in and that’s it you’ve got light which was ultimately all I needed. My only complaint is that I don’t know how to control both bulbs colors at once without using the “my scenes” pre selected colors. I’m sure it’s possible but I don’t want to do the research. Read more
These are the best bulbs on the market that I’ve found. They work flawlessly within their Hue ecosystem and integrate easily into Apple Home. Unfortunately you’ll need the Hue Bridge to make it matter. I hate proprietary technology for the sake of its own propriety. That’s an absurd and offensive notion to me as a capitalist. Unless it works so well that you forget about being imprisoned by something you bought and paid for. The Hue bridge is necessary to make these worth their price, but that’s the point of it, isn’t it? On their own, connected through Bluetooth, they work fine. But for them to really shine(fully intended, apologies) you need the bridge. So let’s take it to the bridge! The whole setup for a small house will set you back a grand, depending on how many lights you outfit. If you’re rich and have a big house this doesn’t apply to you bc you get your money for nothing and your chicks for free. If you’re on a budget like a poor schmuck, this is a big ask. I have yet to see how long they’ll last, but based on how many of them failed on arrival(none), I think they should be good for the long haul. (As a side note, I first bought cheap Chinese no name brand. Then moved up to GE Cync, which were awful. And then finally bit the bullet and bought these. They’re the winners.) Read more
Love these. Go all in on it for everything in your house if you decide to use this brand. It’s easier to just get used to it all on your phone. Well not all at once. Yes it’s expensive but very convenient. Love setting the mood and being able to dim in general. Also you can now set timers for when things come on. Handy this time of year to buy the plug adapter for turning the Christmas tree on and off Read more
